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If you are stopping in Barbados as part of your Caribbean cruise, it can be a bit tricky to figure out what to do!

Lucky for you, my mom and I went to the Barbados cruise port on our last cruise on the Holland America Nieuw Statendam ship, and I took lots of photos of the Bridgetown Barbados cruise port to help future cruise travelers.

Bridgetown, Barbados Cruise Port: Information and Things to Do in Barbados for Cruisers

Bridgetown, Barbados Cruise Port and Things to Do in Barbados for Cruise Travelers

This guide on the Bridgetown, Barbados cruise port includes:

LOTS of photos of the Bridgetown, Barbados cruise port
The best excursions to take from the Bridgetown, Barbados cruise port
The #1 best thing to do in Bridgetown, Barbados for cruise travelers
Photos of Harbour Lights Beach Bar on Carisle Island (one of the best beaches near the Barbados cruise port)
A review of the snorkeling adventure around a shipwreck and with the turtles by Koopa Troopa (my favorite thing to do in Barbados)
Outfits ideas for cruise travelers and more Caribbean cruise port guides on what to do

This post may contain affiliate links. View the disclosure here.

Bridgetown, Barbados Cruise Port: Things to Do in the Cruise Terminal

There isn't a lot in the Bridgetown cruise port, so plan on paying for a taxi or taking a 15-20 minute walk to get into downtown.

Within the cruise port, you'll find a few shops, a post office, and a visitor center.

Note: The Visitors Center was closed when we cruised to Barbados.

Bridgetown Barbados Cruise Port Map

Pictures of Bridgetown, Barbados Cruise Port

Barbados Cruise Port Indoor Shopping Area — Indoor Shopping Area

How to Get a Taxi or Shuttle in Bridgetown, Barbados Cruise Port

The taxis and shuttles for cruise travelers are outside the Barbados cruise port terminal. Note that you’ll likely have to share a shuttle bus with at least two other people, as Barbados has more shuttles vs. taxis.

Bridgetown, Barbados Cruise Port Outside Terminal with Shuttles and Taxis — Outside Terminal with Shuttles and Taxis

How to Get to the Beach from Barbados Cruise Port Terminal

You could walk to the beach, but I wouldn’t recommend it. And this is coming from a girl that walks 10 miles a day! It’s not a pleasant walk to the beach.

Instead, you can take a taxi/shuttle bus to a beach in Barbados.

Cost to Get to the Beaches in Barbados from the Bridgetown Cruise Port

For us, the cost to get to the beach was $5 per person each way.

Private Taxi Rates at Bridgetown, Barbados Cruise Port

Below are the taxi prices as of 2022.

Barbados Cruise Port Taxi Rates to the Beach — Taxi Rates to the Beach

5 Best Excursions in Bridgetown, Barbados for Cruise Travelers

If you prefer to pay for an excursion from the cruise ship, here are my top picks of the best things to do in Bridgetown Barbados for cruise travelers.

Bridgetown, Barbados Cruise Port: Things to Do

1. Visit the Harrison’s Cave

Harrison’s Caves is a 30 minute drive from the Bridgetown cruise port. You'll ride an electric tram to see the cavern.

Price on the cruise: $89.95/adult

2. Green Monkey Eco Discovery

Green Monkey Feeding Experience Near Barbados Cruise Port — Green Monkey Feeding Experience

The Green Monkey Eco Discovery is located within the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. You can see the Barbados green monkey and other animals too, like wallabies, otters, and tortoises.

Price on the cruise: $59.95/adult

3. Catamaran Cruise to Snorkel and Swim with the Turtles

You can do a catamaran cruise on your own (read below for more info on how to save a LOT of money), or you can pay around $129.95/adult to get a 90-minute experience with a free lunch buffet included too.

Price on the cruise: $129.95/adult

4. Visit a Rum Distillery

On the Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam ship we took, one excursion was to board a steam locomotive for a ride and then see a working plantation, the Manor House, and a rum distillery. We didn't do this excursion but is sounded fun.

Price on the cruise: $119.95/adult

5. DIY Excursion with Koopa Troopa to Snorkel

This is the best thing to do in Bridgetown, Barbados for cruise travelers in my opinion.

Price per person: $35

Read below for more info.

The Best Thing to Do in Barbados on Your Own: Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling with Turtles and Fish on Koopa Troopa Catamaran

Snorkeling in Barbados with the Turtles near a Shipwreck — Snorkeling at Harbour Lights Beach Bar

If you aren't going with one of the excursions from the ship in Barbados (rum tasting at a distillery, Harrison’s Cave, visiting the Green Monkey Eco Discovery, or doing the catamaran and turtle encounter), I strongly encourage you take a taxi to Harbour Lights Beach Bar in Carisle Bay.

At Harbour Lights Beach Bar in Barbados, you can buy your own ticket with Koopa Troopa to get a catamaran ride to snorkel at two different locations: 1) a shipwreck with fish and 2) an area with turtles.

It will be MUCH cheaper than paying for the ship's catamaran and turtle encounter excursion, and it is super easy to do.

The Best Thing to Do in Barbados: Beach and Catamaran Ride to Snorkel with Turtles

Here's how to do the beach, catamaran, and turtle encounter on your own for just $35 per person if you are on a cruise.

Instructions for the Best DIY Excursion from Bridgetown, Barbados Cruise Port

1. Exit the Barbados Cruise Port terminal to take one of the taxis outside to Harbour Lights Beach Bar.

There aren't private taxis for just 2-4 people, so expect to wait until your taxi fills up with 6-8 people total.

For $5 per person, you can get a ride to Harbor Lights Beach Bar. Harbour Lights Beach Bar is about 8-10 minutes from the Barbados cruise port.

2. Pay for an umbrella and beach chair.

Harbour Lights Beach in Barbados for Cruise Travelers — Harbour Lights Beach Bar Lounge Chairs

At Harbour Lights Beach Bar, you pay $10 (in cash) per person to enter, which gives you a lounge chair with an umbrella.

3. Buy tickets for the snorkeling adventure on a catamaran

Barbados Turtle and Snorkel Price at Harbour Lights Beach with Koopa Troopa — Snorkeling Prices

Then, you can add on a 1-hour catamaran ride to snorkel around a shipwreck and to snorkel with turtles for an extra $15 per person for cruise passengers.

Note: It's $25 total for a lounge chair and the snorkeling excursion.

My mom and I did this on our own in Barbados and had an awesome experience.

If you are heading to Barbados, I'd highly recommend doing this DIY excursion on our own.

Cost for Beach and Snorkeling with the Turtles – The Best Thing to Do in Barbados

Here are more details of the pricing for this DIY excursion.

Taxi from Barbados Cruise Port to Harbour Lights Beach - $5 Per Person

Beach Loungers in the Shade at Harbor Lights Beach - $10 Per Person

Catamaran Experience with Koopa Troopa for 1-Hour - Additional $15 Per Person

Total price per person = $30

FAQs about the Best Thing to Do from the Barbados Cruise Port : Harbour Lights Beach Bar and Snorkel Excursion

Here’s a little bit more info about the best thing to do from the Barbados Cruise port: going to Harbour Lights Beach Bar and taking the catamaran ride.

How far is Carisle Bay/Harbour Lights Beach Bar from the Barbados cruise port?

Beach Near Barbados Cruise Port at Harbour Lights Beach — Harbour Lights Beach Bar

Harbour Lights Beach Bar and Table Areas — Table Area Outside the Bar Before the Beach

It is an 7-10 minute taxi ride to Harbour Lights Beach Bar from the Barbados cruise port.

Plan for 30 minutes, as you’ll need to walk from your cruise ship through the cruise terminal and then find a taxi to share with other people before heading out to the beach.

My mom and I got off the Holland America Nieuw Statendam ship at 9:45am and were at Harbour Lights Beach by 10:15am.

How often does the Koopa Troopa catamaran leave?

The catamaran rides leave about every 1-2 hours.

I’d highly recommend taking the earlier catamaran ride (10:45am). It will be less crowded than the catamaran rides in the afternoon, so you’ll get more 1 on 1 attention from the tour guides.

What can you see from the Koopa Troopa catamaran?

We saw lots of fish by the ship-wreck area, and then three turtles and a sting ray in another area.

Who are the best tour guide to take with Koopa Troopa?

We did the catamaran snorkeling excursion with Koopa Troopa and had Tremaine and Tristan as our tour guides. They were great!!!

Summary – Bridgetown, Barbados Cruise Port and The Best Thing to Do from Bridgetown for Cruise Travelers

Harbour Lights Beach in Barbados Near Cruise Port — Harbour Lights Beach

In summary, the best thing to do from Barbados cruise port is to go to Harbour Lights and take a catamaran ride.

For $25 per person, you get an umbrella in the shade at a wonderful beach and a 1-hour catamaran experience to snorkel around a ship-wreck with fish and another snorkeling experience near lots of turtles.

Bridgetown and Bridgetown Cruise Port FAQs

Bridgetown, Barbados Cruise Port Information — Barbados Cruise Port

Have a question about visiting Barbados and Bridgetown while on a cruise?

Here are a few FAQs.

Is the ocean water warm in Barbados?

Yes! On our cruise, we found the water to be too cold in St. Maarten, but warm in Bridgetown, Barbados.

What should I wear in Bridgetown, Barbados?

Wear a t-shirt, shorts, a hat, and sunglasses in Bridgetown.

Can you walk to downtown Bridgetown from the Bridgetown, Barbados cruise terminal?

Yes. The walk to downtown Bridgetown is a 15-20 minute walk from the cruise terminal.

Are there beaches within walking distance of the Bridgetown, Barbados cruise port?

Yes, there are beaching within walking distance of the Bridgetown, Barbados cruise port, but they are not close at all. I walk 10 miles a day and I wouldn’t do the walk myself. It’s not a particularly nice walk, and Barbados can get hot!

I'd strongly recommend taking a taxi. Taxis are affordable and it will allow you to enjoy the beach vs. walking in the unpleasant heat through downtown.

How much is a taxi to the beach from the Barbados cruise port?

My mom and I paid $10 round trip each to get from the Bridgetown, Barbados cruise port to the Harbour Lights Beach on Carisle Bay. It was a quick 7 minute taxi ride.

If you want to walk to the beach from the Bridgetown cruise terminal, it's about a 1.5-2.0 mile walk and will take about 30 minutes. Note: It's not a very pretty walk, so I'd highly recommend taking the taxi.

How many ships can dock at the Barbados cruise port?

8 ships can dock at the Barbados cruise port.

Does the Barbados cruise port have WIFI?

Yes, the Barbados cruise port has free WIFI.

What is the local currency in Barbados?

The local currency in Barbados is the Barbados Dollar, but the U.S. dollar is accepted pretty much everywhere.

What is the official language in Barbados?

English is the official language in Barbados.

Is there anything to do in downtown Barbados?

Barbados is a typical Caribbean downtown.

If you are traveling through Barbados on a cruise, I'd recommend going to the beach or taking an excursion. There isn't much downtown to see of any interest.