Category: Bridgetown (Barbados)

BEST OF BARBADOS

Step aboard your coach for a drive to Flower Forest, which sits on 6 acres of land, some 800 feet above sea level in the central parish of St Thomas. A meandering path winds its way between outcrops of coral, rock gardens, cool shady gullies and ponds.

Continue on through the hills of the countryside to St. John’s Parish Church, which is perched on a cliff, 800 feet above sea level, overlooking coastal St. John and the Atlantic Ocean. The church contains an interesting sculpture depicting the Madonna and Child with the infant St. John.

The graveyard contains the tomb of Ferdinand Paleologus, a descendent of the Byzantine Imperial family, who died in Barbados in 1678 after being a resident for over 20 years. Your last stop, Sunbury House, dates back to 1660. The house was destroyed by fire in 1995 and was gracefully restored and re-opened in 1996. It possesses one of the country’s superior collections of antiques.

The cellars, originally used for storing yams and other root vegetables grown on the plantation, now house a unique collection of antique carriages, the largest collection in the Caribbean, as well as many items used in the domestic life of the plantation. Sunbury Plantation House, located in St. Philip countryside, is a living monument to plantation life of a bygone era, carefully restored and lovingly cherished by its owners for posterity, for the enjoyment of generations to come.

Please note: Camouflage clothing is not permitted in Barbados. Audio guides will be available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. There will be no live guide on this tour

BEST OF BARBADOS ENDING AT THE AIRPORT

Step aboard your coach for a scenic drive through the hills of the countryside to St. John’s Parish Church, which is perched on a cliff, 800 feet above sea level, overlooking coastal St. John and the Atlantic Ocean.

The church contains an interesting sculpture depicting the Madonna and Child with the infant St. John. The graveyard contains the tomb of Ferdinand Paleologus, a descendent of the Byzantine Imperial family, who died in Barbados in 1678 after being a resident for over 20 years. Continue to Tropical Garden, a tropical flower garden in the parish of St George. A meandering path winds its way between outcrops of coral, rock gardens, cool shady gullies and ponds. Your last stop, Sunbury House, dates to 1650. It possesses one of the country’s superior collections of antiques.

The cellars, originally used for storing yams and other root vegetables grown on the plantation, now house a unique collection of antique carriages, the largest collection in the Caribbean, as well as many items used in the domestic life of the plantation. Sunbury Plantation House, located in St. Philip countryside, is a living monument to plantation life of a bygone era, carefully restored and lovingly cherished by its owners for posterity, for the enjoyment of generations to come. Your excursion will end at the airport in time for your return flight home.

Please note: Camouflage clothing is not permitted in Barbados. This tour is intended for guests disembarking in Bridgetown who are booked on a flight from Bridgetown Airport departing after 17:00 hours/5:00 pm for international flights. Guests disembarking in Bridgetown who wish to book and prepay the tour are required to use code BRB05D.

Due to Customs regulations, guests joining this tour should be booked on a flight departing from Bridgetown the same day. Additionally, regardless of flight departure time, guests will be requested to leave the ship upon arrival in port. Depending on the flight schedule, guests with evening departures may be dropped off at the airport a few hours earlier than the typical 2-3 hour window before their flight. This could result in an extended wait at the airport; therefore, we recommend planning accordingly. Luggage will travel on a separate mean of transportation. Upon arrival at the airport, it is the guest’s responsibility to claim their luggage before proceeding to their respective check in counters.

CATAMARAN & TURTLE SNORKEL

This four-hour catamaran cruise leaves the Bridgetown Shallow Draught and, after a journey along the coast, anchors in a bay where you have the choice of swimming, snorkelling, walking on the beach, or just relaxing onboard. A Barbadian buffet is served onboard along with a complimentary glass of wine. After approximately 1.5 hours of relaxation, you will journey to an area to snorkel and swim with turtles. Guests must be at least 5 years old to participate.

Please note: Guests with any type of food intolerance are required to communicate it to the Shore Excursions Office at least two days before the call. Guests must be at least 5 years old to participate. Masks, snorkels, and life jackets are provided are mandatory. Guests are asked to bring swimsuits, towels, sunscreen, and a dry change of clothing for return to ship. Turtle sightings not guaranteed. This tour may operate in reverse order. The snorkel location is subject to change in case of weather and sea conditions.

All participating guests will be required to sign a waiver which may only be available in English. Camouflage clothing is not permitted in Barbados.

ATLANTIS SUBMARINE

Imagine yourself in a real submarine, with big view ports all around, fully submerged in the aquamarine Caribbean Sea, as fish peek in at you and sea fans sway. This fully narrated undersea voyage, can take you to a shipwreck and to depths of 150 feet, in air-conditioned comfort, which in the past has been reserved only for scuba divers. Create memories as you are piloted by a professional crew among coral formations, and tropical marine life, aboard the unique Atlantis Submarine. Guests must be at least 4 years old to participate and at least 3 ft or 91.4 cm.

Please note: Guests must be at least 4 years of age and at least 3 ft or 91.4 cm tall to participate in the excursion. Participants should be fully mobile and able to navigate an 11-step ladder unassisted in order to enter and exit the submarine. Camouflage clothing is not permitted in Barbados.

ISLAND HIGHLIGHTS & BEACH

Get to enjoy two great aspects of Barbados, first enjoy an island tour, then relax on a beach and soak up the sun. Your tour will take you into the interior of the Island and your first stop at Gun Hill Signal Station will provide you with views of the South and West Coasts of Barbados.

From here you continue to cross the Island and eventually you will reach Bathsheba, the famous surfing spot on the East Coast of the Island. You will have some time to take in the waves on the shoreline before continuing along the East. Enjoy the sights of the countryside before you reach the beach. Here your beach chair awaits, where you get to relax and take a dip into the ocean. A complimentary drink will be served, and the staff will be more than happy to assist you with any questions you might have.

Please note: Camouflage clothing is not permitted in Barbados. Audio guides will be available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. There will be no live guide on this tour

OPEN SAFARI TRUCK ISLAND ADVENTURE

Be greeted by your driver/guide as you step into your open safari truck and prepare for a tour of the island. Sit back and take in views of the countryside, sugarcane estates and mansions. You will see the coastal views from the edge of a cliff as well as while riding down the East Coast Road, a.k.a. the Cattlewash, named for the sea spray coming up from the Atlantic. Keep your camera at hand throughout. Then continue through quaint villages to a vantage point that overlooks the interior of the island known as the Scotland District. Your journey back to the port is along the West Coast, also called the Platinum Coast as many of the up-market and five-star hotels are located along this side of the island. Guests must be at least 5 years old to participate.

Please note: Participants must be 5 years of age or older and must be able to walk, they should be in good physical health. Pregnant women and guests with any limited mobility functions, back and heart ailments are not permitted on this tour. Guests must be able to walk unaccompanied. Weight Limit: 125 kilos. Height limit: 7 feet. Participants should wear appropriate clothing & footwear, sunscreen and sunglasses.

Enclosed flat practical shoes are recommended. Maximum number of guests per vehicle is 10. Camouflage clothing is not permitted in Barbados. The type of vehicle used on this tour is an open-air safari truck. This is not a self-driven tour; a driver will be provided. The driver of this tour is also the guide

COAST TO COAST SCENIC DRIVE

Prepare to embark on a journey that will take you to some of Barbados’s most important historical sites. Your journey will begin by heading north along the West Coast also known as the “Platinum Coast”. This coast is not only home to Holetown the site where the first settlers landed in 1627 but also now home to the rich and famous. St. John’s Parish Church is perched on a cliff, 800 feet above sea level, overlooking coastal St. John and the Atlantic Ocean.

The present building was constructed in 1836, after the hurricane of 1831 destroyed the one built in 1660 and also contains an interesting sculpture depicting the Madonna and Child with the infant St. John. Your tour will descend into Bathsheba where you will have a brief stop. Sunbury Plantation is the last stop on this tour. Enjoy a rum or fruit punch and take a stroll around the gardens. Guests must be at least 5 years old to participate.

Please note: Camouflage clothing is not permitted in Barbados. Guests must be at least 5 years old to participate

BEACH BREAK

Bask in the sun on a white sand beach in Barbados. Take a transfer through the historic capital of Bridgetown, making your way to the beach. Upon your arrival, you will be served a complimentary drink and given a brief orientation of the beach and facilities. A beach chair and shared umbrella are provided for your comfort, as well as changing rooms and showers. Additional drinks or light snacks are available for purchase.

This beach has a spot for everyone – just pack your swimsuits, towel and sunscreen and you are ready to go!
Please note: Camouflage clothing is not permitted in Barbados. Guests must have a dry change of clothing for the return transfer to the ship.

HARRISON’S CAVE & SCENIC DRIVE

Harrison’s Cave is a natural phenomenon, quite in a class of its own. Formed from a type of crystallized limestone, this cavern is one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Barbados. Though created over the course of hundreds of thousands of years, Harrison’s Cave has only been accessible to the public for approximately 40 years. The first recorded history of Harrison’s Cave dates to 1796, but it then lay undisturbed until it was rediscovered in 1970 by Ole Sorenson and developed by the Government of Barbados. First, you will watch the short Discover Barbados film to learn more about the destination itself.

After the video you will be taken to the Cave Interpretation Centre where you will watch another short film on the formation of the caves. Then, it is time to put your helmets on and board the electric tram that will take you down into the cave. As the driver pulls away, your guide will commence their commentary and you are on your way to a memorable experience you will see the chambers, stalactites, and stalagmites, bubbling streams, tumbling cascades, plunging waterfalls and emerald pools. Throughout the almost mile long cave the flowstone covered walls glisten in the lights as the calcite laden waters drip down from the roof. At various points, the tram stops to allow passengers to disembark and have a closer look at the beauty at hand. Learn about how long it has taken for these features to form and take in the peacefulness of the cave itself.

There is one stop that takes place at the lowest point in the cave, where a waterfall plunges into an emerald pool. Once you have returned to the surface, stretch your legs on a walk along a nature trail. Reconnect with nature while learning about the local flora and fauna. Then, chill out island-style at the Green Monkey Bar & Grill, browse the Welchman Hall Gift Shop & Boutique, or take in the Mount Gay Rum Experience to learn more about the history of rum in Barbados. Flash photography is permitted – not video – so take your camera.

Please note: Camouflage clothing is not permitted in Barbados. Helmets are provided and mandatory to wear on this tour. Some water droplets can drip inside the cave while on tour.

ISLAND-STYLE BEACH HOPPING

Treat yourself to half a day of exploring some of Barbados’ must-sees from the comfort of a restored, open-sided bus, once common on the roads of Barbados in the 1930s and 40s. Your outing begins in Bridgetown with a drive-by look at the Parliament buildings, Independence Square.

Accompanied by music, rum punch and juice, you will listen to anecdotes told by your tour guide on board your open bus. You will then pass through the Garrison Historic Area a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 18th-/19th-century buildings, a horse racing racetrack and one of the world’s finest collection of cannons on your way to a coastal strip with restaurants and shops, a great place to hang out and relax. Next up, you will head to Carlisle Bay where you will get to enjoy three beaches with views of the harbour coastline.
Please note: guests are recommended to wear light, casual clothing, and comfortable shoes.

Guests must have a towel and a dry change of clothing for the return transfer to the ship. Camouflage clothing is not permitted in Barbados. Beaches are subject to change, depending on the sea conditions