SHORE EXCURSIONS

Experience a unique, exciting underwater adventure aboard a real submarine. Seated in spacious, air-conditioned comfort you'll see beautiful coral reefs and abundant marine life, including coral formations, sponge, and colorful fish through large view-ports to depths of 130 feet.

This scenic drive was especially designed for guests who want to take in the island’s highlights with little or no walking. Discover many scenic island sights, such as the National Heroes Square and the Parliament buildings in Bridgetown. Passing Gun Hill, you’ll see the carved stone lion, a landmark dating from 1868. As you drive across the island, you’ll pass through peaceful villages, eventually reaching St. John’s Church, which offers spectacular views of the east and southeast coasts.

After St. John’s Church, continue to the craggy and scenic area on the east coast called Bathsheba, a photographer’s paradise. From here, you’ll have an incredible panoramic view of the hills, gentle slopes and sweeping bays. The stunning boutique hotel, Atlantis is located in the quaint fishing village of Tent Bay. Dramatic views from here create excellent photo opportunities! On the way back to your ship, you’ll pass through Holetown, with its monument commemorating the landing of the first English settlers in 1625.

Board your transportation for a short ride through Bridgetown as you pass by the historic Nelson Statue and the Parliament Buildings which are a masterpiece of Gothic Architecture. Upon arrival to Copacabana Beach Bar, you'll be given a brief orientation before you set out on the beach, a beach chair and shared umbrella is provided for your comfort as you spend the day relaxing and soaking up the sun on a beautiful white sand beach or go for a swim in the cool Caribbean Sea.

Observe the wonders underwater by swimming with sea turtles and snorkeling before relaxing on one of the island’s most spectacular stretches of sand. Barbados is known for its natural beauty and it extends well beneath the water’s surface. After cruising to a spot teeming with marine life, you will ease into the crystal-clear water for a wondrous experience. You may see enormous leatherback turtles gracefully swimming by and hawksbills, a species of sea turtle named for the shape of its head, which tapers to a point that resembles a raptor’s beak. Reef fish are also abundant as you will discover by snorkeling. You may spot queen angelfish, schools of brightly colored blue tangs and honeycomb cowfish, which are easy to identify by the honeycomb-like pattern on their scales that serves as camouflage. You can also expect to snorkel over a shipwreck before cruising to a lovely tropical beach to relax.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Admire the gorgeous scenery of Barbados while cruising off its southwestern coast.
• Swim with sea turtles such as hawksbills and leatherbacks.
• Observe an endless parade of colorful marine life by snorkeling the crystal-clear waters.
• Spend free time relaxing on one of the island’s most inviting beaches.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

The Historic UNESCO City of Bridgetown, of nearly 400 years of history is famous for its historic buildings and the best cityscape in the Caribbean. Your selfie experience will start at the Gothic style Parliament Building, the third oldest in the Americas and the most striking historic building. You will take amazing selfies at the Promenade and Waterfront.

After leaving Bridgetown, you will proceed to the east coast, a very popular tourist destination, where the rich and famous live and vacation. The tour continues with an external visit to the Animal Flower Cave and Witness the stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and take advantage of the waves beating on the rock for spectacular photo taking.

The next place to take a great selfie is Cherry Tree Hill, one of the most fascinating places in Barbados; it is 850 feet above sea level, with a phenomenal view of what Barbadians refer to as the Scotland district and learn the mysterious circumstances that locals and visitors have experience on cherry tree hill. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you the mystery!

Your Selfie Experience will end at Bathsheba. It is breathtakingly stunning; white sand beaches extend along a spectacular coastline of remarkable rock formations broken away from ancient coral reef!

Take unique and memorable selfies while you learn about the history of beautiful Barbados and sightsee the best landmarks across the island.

Selfie Spots:
• Bridgetown Parliament Building
• Promenade and Waterfront
• Animal Flower Cave
• Cherry Tree Hill
• Bathsheba Beach

Step aboard your air-conditioned coach for a scenic drive through the countryside to Gun Hill Signal Station. Built in 1818, the signal station was restored and landscaped by the Barbados National Trust and now houses a collection of military memorabilia. An officer at the signal station carved the statue of the lion, out of a single piece of rock in 1868. Enjoy a fantastic view of the island from here. Continue on to Tropical Garden, which sits on 6 acres of land in the parish of St. George. A path winds its way between beautiful coral, rock gardens, shady gullies and ponds. The home of a few locally grown orchids and other tropical plants. You’ll be fascinated by the spectacular views and well landscape grounds of Tropical Garden and then enjoying a refreshing fruit punch or rum punch which is locally made. Next stop would be the renovated Sunbury Plantation for a refreshment stop and take in the beautiful, landscaped grounds and the mature mahogany grove.

OVERVIEW

Become immersed in the intriguing history of St. Nicholas Abbey, its distillery and heritage railway, which you will ride through the countryside. Built in 1658, the Great House is one of just three Jacobean-style mansions in the Western Hemisphere. As you will see while touring the ground floor, the residence is furnished with period pieces. A short film in the museum will present more details about St. Nicholas Abbey, its past owners – one of them an alleged murderer – and plantation life through the centuries. You will also browse the restored distillery, the only one on Barbados that produces rum with sugar cane syrup rather than molasses. Chances are, you will spot some of the resident macaws, monkeys and guinea hens on the way to the property’s railway. During the relaxing and wonderfully scenic train ride to the Cherry Hill Station lookout, the locomotive engineer will regale you with stories.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour the rare 17th-century Jacobean-style mansion known as St. Nicholas Abbey.
• See how the property’s distillery makes rum from sugar cane rather than molasses.
• Watch a short film that depicts centuries of plantation life at St. Nicholas Abbey.
• Ride a restored vintage train to an elevated lookout that offers panoramic views.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore a crystallized limestone cave at the heart of an eco-adventure park from several perspectives and come away with a thorough understanding of this natural attraction. Harrison’s Cave lies in the island’s central uplands and although young in geological terms, the subterranean cave system is well developed. After watching a short film about the island of Barbados, you will board an electric-powered tram and ride through Harrison’s Cave, which is named for a settler that owned much of Barbados when it was a British colony. You will see bizarrely shaped stalactites, stalagmites and other calcite deposits that are beautifully illuminated, making them appear even more dramatic. There are even pools, streams and waterfalls within the cave. Back on the surface, you will experience more of the natural world by following a winding trail to an aviary full of tropical birds. Afterwards, you can browse the on-site Mount Gay rum museum.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride through the underground wonder Harrison’s Cave in an electric tram.
• Behold bizarrely shaped, beautifully illuminated stalactites and stalagmites.
• Follow a winding trail through a natural setting to an aviary.
• Browse the Mount Gay rum museum and watch a film about the island of Barbados.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover what Barbados has to offer as your convoy of 4x4’s explores the Scotland District. Experience wild monkeys in their natural habitat at the wildlife reserve – they’re free to roam where they please, eating and playing all around you. Stop for photos in Bathsheba, home of local surfers and the main fishing village in the parish of St. Joseph. The 4x4 vehicle is driven by a guide and seats 11 guests.

OVERVIEW

Ride through the countryside surrounding St. Nicholas Abbey on a meticulously restored vintage train and spend hours relaxing on the beach that rims Carlisle Bay. The immensely scenic drive to the property will set the tone for the train ride, which follows a circuitous route past the plantation Great House, through a mahogany forest and on to Cherry Tree Hill. Although the train has only been operating in Barbados since 2018, it was built more than a century ago and used in Java. Before boarding, you will learn about the extraordinary history of how the train was brought to the island and how the railway was constructed. At the halfway point, you may volunteer to help turn the locomotive around on the railway turntable for the return ride. Later, you will enjoy free time on the beach just south of Bridgetown. It is a gorgeous stretch of sand with abundant amenities close at hand.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a restored vintage train through the lush grounds of a former plantation.
• Admire the natural beauty of northern Barbados during the train ride.
• Spend free time enjoying the serenity and amenities of Carlisle Bay Beach.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Walk through a forested gully with a naturalist guide that will describe the exotic flora and fauna, an experience complemented by relaxing at the beach. First developed in the 17th century, Welchman Hall Gully is a natural wonderland where hundreds of species flourish. The grapefruit – a hybrid of the shaddock and sweet orange – originated in the gully, and you may spot grapefruit peels discarded by the green monkeys that feast on the citrus. The monkeys are named for their thick greenish-golden fur, which looks particularly striking against their dark blue faces. After the gully, you will be free to relax on a beautiful stretch of sand however you wish. You might bask in the sun, stroll along the shore and take a refreshing swim in the turquoise waters. How you spend the time is completely up to you.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Follow a naturalist guide through the woods that blanket Welchman Hall Gully.
• Learn about the species that thrive in the gully such as green monkeys.
• Relax on the beach at a naturally beautiful area not far from Bridgetown.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Take a journey through time as you travel in the Tjepper No. 5 steam locomotive along the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway, learning about Barbados’ farming heritage and relishing island-wide views atop Cherry Tree Hill. Your four-hour outing begins at the doorstep of St. Nicholas Abbey, a Jacobean-style great house built in 1658 and its surrounding sugar plantation hold a colorful history spread among several local families. Trace 300 years back, from early planters to today’s owners, the Warren family, who are still distilling St. Nicholas Abbey rum. You’ll even get the chance to hop aboard Tjepper No. 5, a historic Mallet steam locomotive built in 1914 and recently restored for modern-day use. Enjoy a narrated train ride on a narrow-gauge railway that crosses the plantation’s sugar cane fields and winds through mahogany forests that intersect tropical gullies full of cabbage palm trees. You’ll make a stop at Cherry Tree Hill to admire sweeping views of Barbados’ east coast, as rolling hillsides and the Caribbean Sea unfold before you. Be sure to pick up sweet Barbadian molasses, fruit preserves and handcrafted rum at the gift shop before heading back to the pier.