A Caribbean cruise that calls on
Barbados actually ventures a little outside the Caribbean. Lying east of the rest
of the Lesser Antilles, Barbados is technically in the Atlantic. In fact,
there’s not much but water between Barbados and Western Africa; more on that in
a moment.
Your ship will sail up to the island’s
southeastern shore, where the capital of Bridgetown is flanked by stretches of white
sand beach. It’s tempting to spend the day relaxing on the sand, enjoying a
swim and a lunch buffet, and many visitors do just that. For something a little
more adventurous, hop on a catamaran and sail to Turtle Bay, where the wild sea
turtles make their nests along the beach. You can swim and snorkel in the bay alongside
some of these friendly creatures.
If you venture beyond the beaches,
you’ll find lots of interesting things to see and do inland. Sugar cane was
once the foundation of the Barbadian economy, and while all that remains of
many plantations are some atmospheric ruins, you can tour the Sunbury
Plantation House. Every room of the house, which was built in 1650, is beautifully
restored and filled with antiques from the plantation era. The staff will teach
you to make classic rum punch, too.
Barbadian sugar cane is used to make
delicious rums, and distilleries are located around the island. The most famous
is Mount Gay, the world’s oldest commercial rum distillery, where you can tour
and taste the distinctive, highly rated rums made there for more than 300
years.
Right in the middle of Barbados,
Harrison’s Cave offers a look beneath the island’s beautiful surface. Water
dripping through limestone has formed a spectacular array of stalactites and
stalagmites in a series of caverns you can travel through on a tram.
You can also venture to the east side
of the island and the beautiful, rugged Scotland District. Here, waves from the
huge stretch of ocean between Africa and Barbados crash against the cliffs and
shore. The Scotland District is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it’s actually the
highest part of an ancient, elongated mountain range that lies mostly
underwater, extending all the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad. If you visit,
you’ll be standing on rock that’s more than 30 million years old.
To explore Caribbean itineraries that
include Barbados and choose one for yourself, talk with Anita, your professional
travel advisor.
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