One of the main ports of call for many Caribbean cruise itineraries, Barbados cruise port in the beautiful UNESCO city of Bridgetown is an absolute stunner. As a crew member who has spent a whole lot of time here, I got to know this city a little better than your average cruise passenger. This is my guide to exploring Bridgetown Barbados, whether you have only a day, or over a week, to soak it all in.
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A super-speedy history of Barbados
When English settlers first arrived in Barbados in the 1600s, there wasn’t an indigenous person in sight- although there was evidence of the Arawak, and after them, the Kalinago people having lived there many years before. Where had they all gone? Well, thanks to Spanish raiders who regularly kidnapped the locals to be used as slaves, the locals fled Barbados in search of safer shores. An old bridge crossing the Careenage river was discovered by the English, and the new English colony eventually became known as Bridgetown.
The new town consisted of narrow winding alleys like the hither-and-thither streets of England’s market towns, and grand colonial architecture. It was all rather majestic. And then, there were the plantations. At first, indentured servants from England and Ireland (known as ‘Redlegs’ thanks to their severely sunburnt skin), were brought to farm the new plantations across Barbados- but the planters needed more manpower. Hundreds of thousands of African slaves were shipped to Barbados and forced to work on the plantations under brutal conditions, and sugar and tobacco was exported across the Atlantic to Europe- making Bridgetown an important trade hub for the British Empire. As the first British colony to rely so heavily on, and grow so quickly from, slavery, Barbados is considered to be the birthplace of the British slavery system.
In 1966 Barbados was declared an independent nation, although as a Commonwealth realm Queen Elizabeth II was still officially head of state- and Queen of Barbados. (Fancy.) At long last in 2021, the island nation officially transitioned to a Commonwealth republic, meaning in simplified terms that although they’re still a part of the Commonwealth, Barbados have abolished the monarchy completely, and now have a President as head of state.
(For US readers who aren’t entirely sure what I’m jabbering on about- the Commonwealth is an association of nations which were, mostly, once part of the British Empire. Like neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada, or the much larger nations of Canada and Australia.)
These days the culture of Barbados is a blend of Afro-Caribbean and British, thanks to over 300 years of British rule, over a group of people who were almost entirely from West Africa.
Where is Barbados Cruise Port?
Barbados cruise port is about a mile away from the centre of Bridgetown, in Deep Water Harbour. The walk into town normally takes about half an hour, and its quite a nice stroll along the waterfront and along the boardwalk; add on an extra ten minutes to get to the beach.
Of course, you might not fancy a sweltering hot walk in the middle of the day (it really can get humid beyond belief here, to the point that it feels as if the air itself is sweating), and I also wouldn’t recommend walking after dark. There’s a taxi rank within the gates of Barbados cruise port, and you’ll also find more taxis waiting outside. If you’d rather pre-book something, here’s a shuttle service to Carlisle Bay which includes entrance to a beach club.
If you’re arriving at the airport and making your way to Barbados cruise terminal, it’ll take around half an hour in a taxi. Book an airport transfer here.
Facilities at Barbados Cruise Port
This is one well-equipped ship parking-spot. And so it should be, considering Barbados cruise port can hold six gargantuan cruise liners.
The main terminal is filled to the brim with shops selling souvenirs, clothes, and all the usual duty-free fare, as well as wooden carts selling food and handmade products. There’s also a post office at the exit of the building. Outside there are a few open-air bars and more souvenir shops.
Barbados Cruise Port does have wifi, however at the time of writing (2023) this wasn’t always reliable. If you’re cruising around the Caribbean and want to use data in several different countries, an easy solution is to use an eSIM from Airalo; their Caribbean eSIM works in 24 different Caribbean countries, and can be loaded onto your phone via an app.
Before you venture out of Barbados Cruise Port:
My boyfriend was stopped by a policeman as he left the ship one day, because he’d make the error of wearing camouflage shorts. In Barbados, it’s illegal for anyone other than members of the Barbados Defence Force to wear camouflage clothing; as far as they’re concerned, wear camo-print and you’re basically impersonating an officer. That goes for children, too.
Other Caribbean nations where it’s against the law to wear camouflage are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.
So, maybe leave the camouflage at home.
The Best Things to Do in Barbados Cruise Port
Explore the UNESCO city of Bridgetown
Bridgetown really does have some beautiful architecture, plenty of which is English in shape and structure but Caribbean in its pops of colour. Warehouses, churches and other buildings in the centre of the city wouldn’t look out of place in one of the UK’s industrially revolutionised cities like Nottingham or Sheffield- if it weren’t for the more cheerful colour-palette of this tropical city. Bridgetown’s historic centre is also very well-maintained, which is a bit of a contrast to other Caribbean cities like Basseterre or St Georges which are pretty but much more weathered in appearance.
Important buildings include the neo-Gothic Parliament Buildings at National Heroes Square, and the beautiful St Michael’s Cathedral. The Nidhe Israel Synagogue is a stunning pink building built in 1833 to replace the original synagogue built in 1654 by Sephardic Jews who had emigrated from Spain and Portugal, to Brazil, and eventually over to Barbados.
If you’re feeling inspired to get your learning cap on, you might want to head off on a walking tour of Bridgetown. This tour is super popular and gives a full history of the area as well as including several food stops (what is life without food pals, especially when you’re exploring somewhere new?). If you’re not feeling peckish, this two hour walking tour cuts out the food stops but includes more points of interest which you might not be able to learn about on your own.
My favourite building in all of Brigetown!
Completely off-topic of these grand old and very well-looked after buildings, my favourite structure in the whole of Bridgetown is an incredible and very much falling-down abandoned theatre near St Michael’s Cathedral. The Empire Theatre was built in 1922, and later became a cinema owned by the British Colonial Film Exchange, and even in its crumbling, wire-fenced-off state, it is absolutely stunning. There’s talk of restoring the building, but having been left to erode since the 1970s this would be one very large repair job.
(In case you hadn’t already realised, I love an abandoned building. Check out this abandoned hotel I explored in the Azores.)
Swim with turtles at Carlisle Bay
Carlisle Bay is absolutely stunning, in fact the water is so crystal clear here that I can’t think of anywhere else in the world that beats it. (And I’ve been to a fair few beaches, let’s face it.) If you have the energy, you can walk from Barbados Cruise Port to Carlisle Bay in about 40 minutes; otherwise it’s a ten minute taxi ride.
The crescent bay is long and downright beautiful, with a stretch of pure white sand curving around the perfectly turquoise sea. There are plenty of beach clubs along the beach, and although they all charge for entry or at the very least just for use of a sun lounger and umbrella, the beach is completely public. You’re free to walk from end to end, and you by no means have to pay for a sun lounger if you don’t want to. The beach can get busy during the day, but later in the afternoon as the cruise passengers head back to their ships, Carlisle Bay is an even more beautiful place to be.
And once you’re in the water, keep your eyes peeled: there are turtles galore just offshore and they are absolutely downright wonderful. (So maybe bring a snorkel if you want a better glimpse.)
Hang out at the Boatyard Beach Club
A special mention here for the Boatyard Beach Club Barbados, because as a crew member it is my duty to pass on this sacred information. Beach clubs aren’t my normal kind of vibe, but we spent many a fun day down at the Boatyard, and for crew members who are after a relaxed day this beach is actually a great value option.
The beach club has a restaurant and bar, plenty of sun loungers and beach umbrellas, some rather fun inflatable water slides and trampolines in the sea, a rope swing and some downright 5* wifi. They also offer boat excursions to see the turtles, and a free shuttle back to the cruise terminal.
The Boatyard Barbados day pass price for passengers is $35USD and includes use of a sun lounger and umbrella, a welcome drink, a boat trip to see the turtles, and the shuttle back to the ship. Food and drinks are not included in your day pass.
The Boatyard Barbados day pass price for crew members is only $30USD but works a little differently. The entrance fee is loaded onto a card, which is then redeemable against any food or drinks you buy; and anything you don’t spend is carried over for the next time you visit. If you want to join a boat tour you’ll have to pay a little extra, but the sun loungers and shuttle back to the cruise port are also included in the day pass price for crew.
However, a word of warning: the Boatyard is a popular spot, and on busy port days it fills up fast. Once the beach club reaches full capacity, there is a cut off and they stop letting people in (although sometimes they make an exception for crew members.) Even with a limit on numbers, the kitchen can struggle to keep up with the orders, so if you know you’re going to eat, order early and be prepared to wait.
Get Fancy at Lobster Alive
We walked past Lobster Alive almost every time we were docked at Barbados Cruise Port, and on our final day, starving hungry and denied entry from the at-capacity Boatyard, we decided it was time to visit. Up until that point, I’d actually been more intrigued by the strains of live jazz music which sometimes drifted on the wind out of the restaurant at sunset, than by the promise of fresh lobster. In fact, I’d never actually eaten lobster, so on that point I had no idea what to expect.
This beachfront restaurant is in a pastel blue building with a silhouetted orange lobster painted above its verandah, and as well as the tables inside there’s a beautiful seating area right in the sand on the beach, shaded from the sun with a chorus of umbrellas. The owner flies his little private airplane back and forth to the Grenadines a couple of times a week, to collect lobster and fly them back to Barbados- where they’re served fresh on a plate to customers of Lobster Alive. (Which explains the price).
Our lobster was delicious, and the setting in the sand was beautiful. This may well have been the most expensive meal I’ve ever eaten in my entire living history, but it was also one of the most memorable.
Best excursions from Barbados Cruise Port
If you have time, there are plenty of beautiful places you can visit outside of Barbados cruise port.
St Nicholas’ Abbey is an Jacobean mansion built in 1658, on a sugar plantation. As the sugar industry began to decline, the plantation transitioned to produce rum, and the rum distillery continues to operate today. A visit to the house and grounds is a great way to learn about Barbados’ past; and aside from that, it’s downright beautiful. Book a tour to St Nicholas Abbey here.
Bathsheba Beach is a rugged and breathtakingly beautiful beach, away from the bustle of the city on Barbados’ east coast. Although the scenery is stunning, this is not a place to swim; the Atlantic waves are super-powerful. Instead, go to the Bathsheba Pools which are natural inshore pools where there’s no danger of the current pulling you away. If you don’t fancy a taxi, t’s possible to get from Bridgetown to Bathsheba by public bus; take the number 6 bus from the Princess Alice Bus Terminal, and the journey will take about 45 minutes.
Animal Flower Cave is a magical spot underneath the cliffs at North Point in St Lucy, named after the sea anemones you can find outside- known locally as ‘Animal Flowers’ which is a much cuter name in my opinion. On a calm day it’s possible to swim inside the cave (which is deceptively deep), or just view the rough Atlantic seas from inside, with the cave walls forming a natural picture frame. This is a brilliant tour which encompasses all sides of life in Barbados, with stops at Animal Flower Cave and Bathsheba, as well as Rihanna’s childhood home, and the very first English settlement at Holetown.