Holland America Line, Rotterdam. Caribbean Cruise. Bridgetown. Barbados. 9th February 2023.

 9th February 2023. Barbados. 

Due to dock in Bridgetown Barbados at 08.00 today. We were cleared to get off the ship at 08.00. This port is very large and busy, so a shuttle bus takes you to the main port buildings. 

I had rented a car from Voyager Barbados (Cruise Depot). The office was Listed as being in The Art Hub, James Fort Building, Hincks Street. it took us about 1/2 an hour to walk to the office from the port.

I had received a very prompt service from Voyager via email, they had requested  2 forms be filed in and copies of drivers licence sent as you have to have a Barbados drivers licence issued,  I had emails all the documentation months ago. We arrived at the office at 08.30. We sat an waited whilst the receptionist filled in forms, answered the phone, answered the door, advised people about scooter rental, she was a very busy lady, her co workers were not so busy! We waited, and waited and waited. Eventually at 09.15 the paperwork was done and we drove the car out of the depot at 09.30. 

The car was a small automatic, fairly new and in good condition. we headed on good roads towards the airport. 

Port of Bridgetown, Barbados entrance

Voyager Car Rental Car

We drove to Crane Bay and walked down to the beach. 

Beach Barbados 

Beach in Barbados 

Once past the airport the roads and road signs deteriorated. We spent a lot of time getting lost and going the opposite way to what we wanted. 

It took us hours to get to Bathsheba Beach and eat our lunch. This is on the wild Atlantic coast and a lot of the houses looked like holiday accommodation. Just past Bathsheba, on the Emily Bourne Highway major road works were taking place, now we crawled along for miles. When we got to the road junction in Belleplain we gave up on driving to the North Point of the island and crossed the Island to the Folkestone Marine Reserve. 

We did a bit of snorkelling, but it was not very good, most of the coral was dead. 

Folkestone Marine Reserve, Barbados

Map of Barbados

At about 14.30, we thought we would take the car back and have a look around Bridgetown. We did not factor in that it was the same time the schools closed. The drive back to Bridetown was extremely slow, due to school buses, traffic and road works. We got back to the office of Voyager car rental at 16.00. 

At Voyager the receptionist checked the car back in, and asked us how our day was. We said we spent most of it lost and in road works. She then said that as our experience was typical, she does not advised cruise ship passengers, who just have one day on the Island to rent a car, it is better to get a Taxi to take you around the island. 🙄😂

Back on the ship, I went straight to the Sea View Bar and ordered a Rum Punch as we had not had the chance to enjoy one in Barbados, and sat in the hot tub. Then it was time for a shower and get ready for a meal in one of the Speciality Restaurants'; Tamarind. 

Tamarind is Pan- Asian Cuisine, it is located above the back pool area. 

The inside décor was very authentic, the bar area sever Asian inspired cocktails such as the Wasabi Cocktail I had, it is :

• Silver Sake
• Lychee liqueur
• sour mix
• agave syrup
• orange juice

Served in a Martine glass with a Lychee stuffed with Wasabi paste. 

We shared starters of Satay Sampler, Lollipops, Scallops and salad. Then I had crispy duck and couldn't manage a pudding. 

The meal in Tamarind was outstanding and made up for the dreadful day we had had!

My advise when in Barbados on a cruise stop, walk to the nearest beach and spend the day there, or hire a taxi driver to take you around the island if you want to explore. Do not drive yourself as we basically wasted a day lost in the sugar cane.  And on the ship, eat in Tamarind every night 😂