Enjoy a cruise to Bridgetown with Royal Caribbean cruises.
Bridgetown Harbour © Andrea 44
Overview: There are many Eastern Caribbean cruises that board and disembark in Barbados, an island nation justly famous for its friendly locals, superb beaches, excellent snorkelling and dive sites, and both natural and historic attractions. One of the most popular ports of call for cruise ships in the Caribbean, Bridgetown is literally the place to be in Barbados; it's the island's only city and more than half of the population lives there. This means that cruise passengers calling in Bridgetown have a chance to get a real taste of life in Barbados, even if they're only there for a few hours. There are a number of island attractions accessible from the Bridgetown Port, including the world renowned 'Platinum Coast' beaches running north from Bridgetown, intriguing cave networks and historical Jacobean buildings. A variety of activities like swimming, sun-tanning, snorkelling, hiking, and sightseeing are available to cruise passengers, as well as various shopping and dining options. Cruise ships in Bridgetown dock at the pier about a mile (2km) from the city centre. Some visitors never even leave the state-of-the-art cruise terminal, which has a wide selection of Barbados' popular duty-free shopping.
Contact:

Barbados Tourism Authority

Tel: +1 (246) 427-2623

btainfo@barbados.org

www.barbados.org

There is Tourist Information available at the port and the main offices are on Harbour Road, Bridgetown.

Transport: Bridgetown is fairly small and most attractions are within walking distance in the city centre. Attractions further afield like the rum factories are best reached by taxi. There are car rental facilities right outside the cruise terminal for visitors who want to explore on their own.
Attractions: There are many interesting attractions in Bridgetown, ranging from museums and historical buildings to exciting events like horse racing and cricket matches. A number of lush gardens provide a great place for a picnic, or you can go underground exploring the caverns of Harrison's Cave by electric tram. Some of the most popular attractions in Bridgetown though, are the tours of the cigar factories and rum distilleries in town, including the famous Mount Gay Rum Distillery.
Restaurants:
  • Waterfront Café - Bajan influenced café serving great Creole stir-fries
  • 39 Steps - family bistro with live jazz
  • Mama Mia Deli - cosy restaurant serving great Italian food

Best dish: Creole seafood stir-fry

Shopping: Shopping in Bridgetown is centred on Broad Street, and bargain-hunters will find plenty to buy in the shopping malls, souvenir shops, jewellery stores and boutiques there. Just outside of town, Pelican Village is the best place to go for local handicrafts like woven bags, batik fabrics and rum cakes. Swan Street, Roebuck Street and Tudor Street are home to smaller shops and a few roadside vendors. There are also more than 30 shops and vendors right in the cruise terminal. Duty-free shopping is plentiful in Bridgetown, and there are some real bargains to be had.

Best buy: Mount Gay rum, handmade leather footwear from roadside stalls throughout town

Excursions:
  • Explore the twists and turns of Harrison's Cave
  • Have a picnic by the waterfall in the Lazaretto Garden
  • Take in the picture-perfect scenery around the village of Bathsheba and sun yourself on Bath Beach
  • Visit the Barbados Museum at the old garrison
  • Take a tour of the Mount Gay Rum Refinery