De Bajan Whirl
· Port Saint Charles / Port Ferdinand
· St Nicholas Abbey
· Cherry Tree Hill
· Morgan Lewis Windmill
· Lunch with Drink
· Bathsheba
· St. John's Church
· Codrington College
· Oistins
We welcome you to take a nice, informative trip and spend a wonderful day with you. You will receive information about the original and modern Barbados as well as about the native population.
To kick off, we travel along the west coast to the northern region of the island. We drive through the green vegetation of the interior - the wind blows through the sugar cane fields as you see different stages of growth left and right of the road.
We take a glimpse into history as we head to St. Nicholas Abbey, an old sugar plantation from the 18th century with its own rum distillery. As we depart an unbeatable view of the east coast awaits us from Cherry Tree Hill we will also pass the only working sugar cane mill in Barbados Morgan Lewis.
Finally it's time for a delicious lunch and a drink before we make our way to Bathsheba, experience the beautiful wildness of the Atlantic coast before heading to St. John's Church's one of Barbados’s oldest churches.
On the return journey we will take a short look at the Cordrington College, a former sugar cane plantation, now a theological college of the Anglican Church.
Then we drive south coast and through Oistins back to your hotel.
Made in Barbados
A three hour tour which showcases the best of Barbadian crafts and local produce in an open air market environment and visit to Marine Park.
We start our tour with a scenic drive up the picturesque West Coast of Barbados towards Holetown where we make a stop at Folkestone Marine Park. A major feature is the Folkestone Museum a centre for public viewing and education. This features an aquarium with many interesting and rare marine species, including coral and sponges. There is also a photographic exhibit on marine life and photo opportunities.
After this short stop (approx 45mins) we make our way towards Holders which is a traditional Barbadian Plantation House dating from the 17th century, set in 5 acres of formal and park gardens. At the market we browse the many local stalls filled with souvenirs and gifts ranging from jewellery, basketry, leather goods, art and local delicacies.
Our tour ends, back at the port in time for your ships departure
East Coast Chill
Find Paradise! Get away from the crowds and indulge yourself at a very charming private beach house. Join a small, select group for a day of unique adventures, relaxation, sumptuous cuisine on a beautiful Bath Beach, St. John situated on the East Coast.
Truly an authentic Bajan experience. Bath Beach is a Hidden Paradise away from the crowds. Not your typical day at the beach our package includes trekking and kayaking the rugged East Coast that’s sure to put the WOW in your day.
Package includes transfers, Lunch with a drink, use of the facilities, beach chair & umbrella plus Guided Hike and Guided Kayak (or Stand up Paddle board), swimming, snorkelling and reef walking.
Luggage storage is also available.
Barbadiana
We leave the port and make our way up the scenic West Coast of the island making our first stop at St James Parish Church which stands on one of the oldest parcels of consecrated land on the island, often known in Barbados as "God's Acre. We stop here for a brief time to marvel at the architecture and take some photos.
Our next stop is Speightstown, which is also known as Little Bristol, is the second largest town centre of Barbados. It is situated 12 miles north of the capital city of Bridgetown, in the northern parish of Saint Peter. Much of the character of Speightstown can be found in its architecture - historic buildings dating back to the early settlement of Barbados alongside modern buildings reflecting a developing nation - and in its people - the sidewalk vendors offering fresh fruits and vegetables, the fishermen unloading their catch along the jetty, local characters hanging out at the Esplanade and friendly staff in modern shops and restaurants.
Our last stop of the day before heading back to port is St. Nicholas Abbey. A national treasure of Barbados, its history has spanned more than three centuries encapsulating the culture and legacy of the islands heritage. This iconic great house showcases our past and present through the preservation of the site as a heritage attraction and manufacturing of rum and sugar related products. The 19th century steam mill operates from January to June, we finish the tour with a rum tasting before heading back to the ship.
Proud to be a Bajan
As we depart the port, we make a short stop at Rihanna Drive, a street which was names after the singer Rihanna, formally Westbury New Road. The singer grew up on Westbury New Road, living there until she was 16 before she went on to become one of the world’s most famous artists.
We then make our way up the south coast of the island to Oistins, a historic fishing and market town in the parish of Christ Church, on the south coast of Barbados. Oistins maybe Barbados’ smallest town, but what it lacks in size, it sure makes up for in character. It’s thought the area was named after an early landowner called Austin who is reported to have been a powerful rum drinking character, and well-known all over the island. This sleepy seaside village saw the battle between the Royalists and the Roundheads resulting in the Charter of Barbados (Treaty of Oistins) being drawn up on 11th of January 1652 and then signed between locals and The Crown.
There’s a quaint village vibe in Oistins, and you’ll see boats bringing ashore freshly caught fish such as Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Kingfish, Marlin and the local delicacy (and one half of our national dish) Flying Fish, sold in the market at very affordable prices. We stop here for a local snack and drink.
A short distance away we find the beautiful Enterprise Beach, a popular beach with both locals and tourists. We have a short stop here to take some pictures of the coastline before departing back to the ship.
Island Flavours
Join us for the Mount Gay Experience where we discover the secrets behind Barbados’ finest and most celebrated spirit. We will take a short rum tasting tour, where we will experience the history of Mount Gay Rum and take you on a journey of Barbados’s rich heritage and time proven craftsmanship of the world’s oldest rum, finishing off with a sample of the ‘Liquid Gold’.
After the tour of the visitors centre we travel up the south coast of the island to a beach club. Here we will enjoy a refreshing welcome drink, use of beach chairs and shared umbrella. We will spend approx 2 hours on the beach before we make our way back to the ship.
Eco Trail
Coco Hill Forest is located on Richmond Road, St. Joseph. This 53-acre forest
overlooking the East Coast of Barbados consists of Bamboo groves, hundreds of Royal Palms and tree ferns.
Coco Hill Forest is being used as part of an Agroforest project. The aim of the project is to help create food security through permaculture and organic farming. Growing in the rainforest are coconuts, bananas, coffee, cocoa and pineapples and numerous tropical fruit trees, herbs and spices. A guided hike and tour is offered to guests which allows them to explore the forest. Good shoes should be worn.
We then make our way to Walkers Reserve, where we take a guided tour of and see the progress being made in restoring the landscape using Permaculture principles.
The regeneration plan stabilizes soil and shelters new growth from strong easterly winds. Where there were once windswept dunes, now sheltered wetlands form a sanctuary for migratory birds, and endemic amphibians and reptiles that are under pressure from habitat loss.
Walkers Reserve is restoring living systems beyond the richness that was found prior to the quarry being established. Working directly with local farmers, pickers and community members, this burgeoning ecosystem is rejuvenating Bajan food security, food culture and agro-ecological diversity by knitting the surrounding landscape and social systems together.
Interactive Culinary Experience
Set in the grounds of a historic designated colonial building, which was constructed in the beginning of the 20th Century for one of the early merchant families in Barbados. In keeping with the colonial nature of the buildings constructed in Barbados during this period, extensive limestone and pine woods were used. These materials and construction techniques are visible today and tell the wonderful history of this period home.
We join their award winning culinary team who bring several dining experiences to allow our guests opportunities to sample both international and local flavours of the Caribbean. We begin our evening with a welcome cocktail on the veranda before being seated in the dining room for the Culinary Experience. We embark on a gastronomical journey of flavours while watching and interacting with the Chefs as the three courses are prepared. We relish their culinary craft – which showcases fresh Caribbean cuisine with an international flair.
All courses are paired with wine, an experience not to be missed and a chance to wow your friends when you get home with new and exciting Caribbean dishes.
Pride of Barbados
Out first port of call is the Neo-Gothic Public (Parliament) Buildings. Barbados has the third-oldest parliamentary body in the English-speaking world, dating from 1639, second only to Britain and to Bermuda. Both the Senate and House of Assembly meet here. The clock tower on the west wing dates from 1886.
In 2006 the West Wing of Parliament was refurbished and now houses the National Heroes Gallery (tracing the lives of the ten national heroes of Barbados through a series of sculptures, artifacts and murals by local artists. Parliament consists of the House of Assembly and the Senate. Visitors are welcome to watch the proceedings in the House of Assembly, which take place every Tuesday.
Next you will come to The Nidhe Israel Synagogue & Montefiore Fountain. Claiming to be the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, it was built in 1654, destroyed in the hurricane of 1831 and was re-constructed in 1833. The adjoining Jewish Cemetery, still in use, has tombstones dating to the 1630s. The Jews who came to Barbados from Brazil in the 1620s introduced sugar cane to the Caribbean.
The Synagogue has undergone numerous changes and is owned by the Barbados National Trust. In 2008, an American architect, Michael Stoner while excavating, discovered a 17th century Jewish ritual bath or Mikvah. After much restoration, the synagogue is now used for religious services again. The tomb of Benjamin Massiah, the famous circumciser of 1782, lies on the left hand side of the graveyard, just inside the entrance. Worth noting is the gorgeous architecture of the library and the unique drinking Montefiore Fountain (originally a gift to the city from John Montefiore, a leading Jewish trader, back in 1865).
Hidden Gems
We will spend the morning at Hunte's Gardens, centrally located in lush hills of St. Joseph's where they offer to garden and nature lovers one of the finest experiences one can find on East Caribbean islands.
Created by a legendary horticulturist with an unusual flair, Anthony Hunte, these extraordinary gardens will please even the most keen gardeners and enthusiasts.
Their placement is really most unusual - in the center of Barbados' rain forest, in a sink-hole-like gully. Thanks to such interesting location, the g offers a multidimensional experience, with vigorous plants densely growing on many levels - from sunny and open spaces, down to a mysterious, dark heart of real Caribbean jungle.
Be sure to have your camera ready, as birds and animals love to visit this garden too! Your exquisite experience is gloriously heightened by classical music subtly wafting in the air, adding an extra layer of delight to an amazing ambiance.
Our Journey then takes us to Clifton Hall Plantation which was first mentioned in historical times in a mortgage recorded in 1656 when it then belonged to Ferdinand Paleologus, a direct descendant of Constantine, the last Greek Emperor. Having emigrated to Barbados after fighting for the Royalists during the English Civil war in Cromwell’s time, Ferdinand brought the name Clifton Hall with him from his birthplace in Clifton, Cornwall, England.
Richard Ford’s map of 1674 shows Clifton Hall to be the property of the Rous family. John Rous married Margaret Maxwell of Christchurch in 1694. In 1810 Clifton Hall was bought by Robert Haynes for £35,350 and included 365 acres with 151 slaves. It remained with that family for over a century.
Clifton Hall Great house is a grand Georgian Mansion. Entering via the magnificent Palladian double entrance staircase, paved with Italian marble tiles. The house contains fine antiques and exceptional works by Barbadian artists.
We will sample some of Clifton’s specialist rum before we depart for the port/hotel.
Jewel of the Crown
St. Nicholas Abbey’s great house, built by Benjamin Berringer in 1658, is one of just three Jacobean style mansions remaining in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the finest historic sites in Barbados.
Jacobean architecture, named for King James I of England (1603-1625), was a transitional phase in English design; it merged the Tudor and Elizabethan styles with continental Renaissance influences, including Flemish, Dutch and French architecture.
We welcome you to spend some time enjoying the Plantation's tranquil surroundings. A guided tour of the great house showcases a wealth of tradition, including antiques and artifacts spanning the home's 350-year history. You may also explore the boiling house and rum distillery where we produce St. Nicholas Abbey Rum and the surrounding gardens, orchards, gullies and the adjacent Cherry Tree Hill.
We Depart the Great House, making a quick photostop at the breathtaking Cherry Tree hill along the way before reaching Morgan Lewis Windmill.
Maintained by the Barbados National Trust, the mill includes an exhibit of the equipment used to produce sugar at the time when the industry was run by windpower generated from mills such as this one. This unique historic and architectural monument is the only working sugar windmill of its kind in the world today and has been lovingly restored to its former glory.
The mill consists of a tower, four giant arms, gears that transfer the turning of the sails to the turning of the rollers, housing on top, and a tail that connects the housing to the ground. By moving the tail, the whole apparatus can be rotated to face the direction of the prevailing wind. From December to April, the Barbados National Trust demonstrates grinding of sugar canes at Morgan Lewis. The resulting cane juice is absolutely delicious!
We finish our journey here, and make our way back to the hotel/ship.
History of Rum
Our Journey begins with a tour of Clifton Hall Plantation which was first mentioned in historical times in a mortgage recorded in 1656 when it then belonged to Ferdinand Paleologus, a direct descendant of Constantine, the last Greek Emperor. Having emigrated to Barbados after fighting for the Royalists during the English Civil war in Cromwell’s time, Ferdinand brought the name Clifton Hall with him from his birthplace in Clifton, Cornwall, England.
Richard Ford’s map of 1674 shows Clifton Hall to be the property of the Rous family. John Rous married Margaret Maxwell of Christchurch in 1694. In 1810 Clifton Hall was bought by Robert Haynes for £35,350 and included 365 acres with 151 slaves. It remained with that family for over a century.
Clifton Hall Great house is a grand Georgian Mansion. Entering via the magnificent Palladian double entrance staircase, paved with Italian marble tiles. The house contains fine antiques and exceptional works by Barbadian artists.
After touring the house and grounds we head to Foursquare Rum Distillery. Foursquare Distillery is owned by the Seale family who have five generations of rum-making expertise dating back to 1820.
Foursquare Rum is perhaps the best surprise in the rum market. What Foursquare does is teach you about authenticity. The aroma of the ex-bourbon oak permeates each sniff the rum deeply. It's not overly sweet, but there is a core of dark fruits. The sweetness and tobacco notes speak of a time and place, long forgotten. A time where the world seemed larger and the expanse of the sea, a place of dreams.
Heritage Trail
The capital of Barbados, Bridgetown boasts the second oldest Synagogue in the western hemisphere. This Historic District covers an entire city block that features numerous heritage buildings that has a rich history dating back to the mid-17th century. Since its official opening in April 2017, the Synagogue Historic District represents a significant heritage tourism attraction for the island of Barbados.
The cultivation and exportation of sugar cane made Barbados an extremely wealthy country, and with over 500 windmills, mass production ensured continuous growth. This was all made possible by the Jewish community in Barbados, who immigrated to Barbados as they sought refuge from religious persecution in Europe and Brazil. At the museum, you can find a timeline chronicling the Jewish settlement, their role in the sugar industry, see historic artefacts and view interactive displays, which are designed to provide a more realistic and detailed experience. Before departing we will stop at the Bistro for a refreshing local drink and cake before we head to the Garrison Historic Area a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Barbados Garrison, largest in the British Colonies during the 18th and 19th centuries, is of great historic interest and offers many features, other than military. It was established in 1780 as the military headquarters for the Imperial Forces stationed here until 1905/6.
See how the history of the Barbados Garrison was influenced by Cromwell, George Washington, and The American War of Independence! See where a young George Washington, in 1751, was exposed to British military strategy as he inspected the nearby ‘Charles Fort’ (1650) and ‘St. Ann’s Fort’ (1707)