Barbados Cruise from Bridgetown to Philipsburg — 18 Days

Bridgetown, Barbados

Bridgetown rewards travelers who leave the ship and walk into Barbados’ compact capital. Its UNESCO-listed Historic Bridgetown and Garrison trace the island’s colonial history; Broad Street offers a lively glimpse of daily life. Pause beside the Careenage, where boats thread the old harbour, then browse shops for local rum and Bajan crafts. Carlisle Bay’s pale sand and clear water lie just beyond the city.

Pigeon Island

Pigeon Island is more than a beach stop: this 44-acre national landmark joins Saint Lucia’s history to its northwest coast. Walk the causeway, then climb to Fort Rodney, where British guns once guarded the channel against French attack. From Signal Peak, the view sweeps across Rodney Bay and the Caribbean toward Martinique. Afterward, swim at one of the island’s small beaches or visit the museum in its restored military buildings.

Scarborough

Scarborough is Tobago’s capital, a busy port town with a market, local shops and views across the water. Begin at Fort King George, high above town, for broad sea views and a small museum tracing Tobago’s layered past. Then browse the central market or take a short drive to Store Bay, known for calm water and local food. Scarborough rewards travelers who want history and everyday Tobago before heading for the island’s beaches.

Willemstad Curacao, Netherlands

Willemstad is one of the Caribbean’s most distinctive ports, built around the deep inlet of St. Anna Bay. Punda and Otrobanda showcase Dutch colonial architecture and form part of the city’s UNESCO-listed historic area. Walk across the Queen Emma Bridge, a floating pontoon span linking the two districts. Beyond the harbor, Curaçao offers sheltered coves, clear water and beaches for an unhurried afternoon.

Kralendijk Bonaire, Netherlands

Kralendijk is Bonaire’s compact, sunlit capital, where pastel Dutch-Caribbean buildings line a waterfront made for an easy first stroll. Beyond town, Bonaire’s protected reefs begin close to shore, drawing divers and snorkellers to clear water and abundant marine life. Rent a car or join an excursion to explore Washington Slagbaai National Park, salt pans and flamingo habitat. Back in Kralendijk, browse local shops, then settle beside the sea for fresh fish and a view of Klein Bonaire.

Bridgetown, Barbados

Bridgetown rewards travelers who leave the ship and walk into Barbados’ compact capital. Its UNESCO-listed Historic Bridgetown and Garrison trace the island’s colonial history; Broad Street offers a lively glimpse of daily life. Pause beside the Careenage, where boats thread the old harbour, then browse shops for local rum and Bajan crafts. Carlisle Bay’s pale sand and clear water lie just beyond the city.

St Georges Grenada, Grenada

St George’s is one of the Caribbean’s most handsome harbour towns, its pastel waterfront curving around a horseshoe-shaped bay. Walk the Carenage, where fishing boats and yachts share the water beneath Fort George. Grand Anse Beach lies a short drive south, with clear water and a long sweep of sand. In town, market stalls sell nutmeg, cocoa and cinnamon, helping earn Grenada its title, the Spice Isle.

Bequia Island

Port Elizabeth sits on Bequia’s Admiralty Bay, where fishing boats and yachts share a sheltered anchorage. Step ashore into a compact waterfront of cafés and shops, then follow the Belmont Walkway towards Princess Margaret Beach. Bequia’s boatbuilding tradition remains visible in its working yards and local craft. Come for unhurried island life, swimming in clear water and views across the Grenadines.

Saint-Pierre Martinique (Ask Travel Agent)

Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe

The Îles des Saintes reward visitors who prefer a quieter Caribbean. Most calls centre on Terre-de-Haut, where pastel houses, fishing boats and cafés line a compact waterfront. Above town, Fort Napoléon surveys one of the world’s most beautiful bays and houses a small museum and botanical garden. Rent a scooter or walk to Pain de Sucre, a sheltered beach with clear water and good snorkeling. Try the island’s famed tourment d’amour, a coconut-filled pastry, before returning to the harbor.

St Johns Antigua

Antigua rewards a day ashore with more than its celebrated beaches. St John’s, the compact capital, makes an easy starting point. Drive east to Nelson’s Dockyard, a remarkably preserved Georgian naval base and UNESCO World Heritage site. English Harbour’s sheltered waters and restored stone buildings reveal the island’s maritime past. Or trade history for a swim at one of the island’s many coves, from resort beaches to quieter shores.

Basseterre St Kitts

Begin in Basseterre, St Kitts’s compact capital, where Georgian buildings and busy market streets reveal the island’s layered past. At Independence Square, once a slave market, pause among mature trees before browsing nearby shops and cafés. Then leave town for Mount Liamuiga’s volcanic slopes, former sugar estates and beaches of dark volcanic sand. Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, rewards the drive with stone ramparts and wide Caribbean views.

Jost Van Dyke Island BVI

Cruz Bay is St. John’s harbor town, where ferries, cafés and island roads meet. From here, much of the island opens quickly: Virgin Islands National Park protects roughly two-thirds of St. John. Follow North Shore Road to white-sand beaches and clear water, or visit the sugar plantation ruins at Annaberg. Back in town, browse the shops at Mongoose Junction, then choose a waterfront table for dinner.

Anguilla Island

Island Harbour is a working fishing village on Anguilla’s quiet eastern shore, where brightly painted boats rest beside the beach. From the waterfront, a short boat ride reaches Scilly Cay, a tiny offshore island known for its beachside dining. Come for fresh seafood, unhurried views and a glimpse of local life beyond the island’s busier resorts. The appeal is simple: salt air, clear water and a village pace.

Philipsburg St Maarten, Netherlands

Philipsburg rewards a shore day spent beyond the cruise terminal. It sits on a narrow strip between Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond. The Dutch-side capital is compact and easy to explore on foot. Front Street pairs duty-free shops with the 1793 courthouse, while the Boardwalk follows Great Bay Beach. Cross the open border into French Saint-Martin for French bakeries, lively markets and another stretch of coast.