Barbados is an island in the Caribbean region, but which lies out in the Atlantic many miles east of the Caribbean Sea. Its nearest neighbours 100 miles (160 km) west are Saint Vincent and Saint Lucia, part of the arc of the Lesser Antilles that separate Atlantic and Caribbean. Those islands are a partly-submerged chain of mountains. By contrast Barbados has formed from deposits of coral and has a gentler landscape. It’s fertile, and is sometimes called “Bimshire” or the “Little Britain” of the Caribbean because of its long and uniquely unbroken history of British colonisation and settlement. Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados and its suburbs are in Saint Michael Parish. The top attractions are the historic areas around the Careenage (old harbour) in city centre, and Garrison Savannah to the south which has the George Washington House. The city also hosts Mount Gay Rum Distilleries, Kensington Oval cricket ground, and the bases for scuba-diving and other boat-based activities.
The cruise port is around a 20 – 30 minute walk along the boardwalk into the city – about a 5 minute taxi journey
Local curreny is Bajan Dollar – ost vendors accept USD
Things to do in Barbados
If you are limited for time and only visiting Barbados for a day we have highlighted the top sights to see. Before booking a cruise line excursion to your preferred highlight check out what tours are offered in Barbados by Viator and Get your Guide – you could find a tour which better matches your preferences and could make a significant saving.
Our top attractions in Barbados
Take a full day island tour
Go swimming with turtles
Please Note – when booking a private excursion that is not operated by the cruise line it is your responsibility to ensure that you are back in port in good time for the ‘All Aboard’ time. We suggest allowing at least 1 hour after your ships arrival in port to allow for immigration clearances and plan to be back in port at least 1 hour before ‘All Aboard’ time to allow for any traffic issues etc on your return journey.