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Barbados / Day Sails/Boat Trips

By Deana Bellamy

Although Barbados is not generally considered a sailing destination, there are plenty of excellent day sail trips on offer. You can choose a wide range of vessels, from a wooden pirate ship to custom-built catamarans, yachts, powerboats and luxury catamarans. Then there are the styles of outings from lunch cruises (often with a chance to swim or snorkel with turtles) to sunset and evening cruises, to booze cruises where you can dance your feet off or opt for a more sedate sail that serves champagne. Drinks, meals and transfers from your accommodation are usually included in the price. Note that cruises are also available for private charter.

Day sails and lunch cruises in Barbados include:

Black Pearl Party Cruise  -  The original Jolly Roger I is back in Barbados and sailing along the West Coast once more. Run by two Barbadian entrepreneurs, Allan Kinch and Martin Bynoe, the now fully refurbished 100ft wooden schooner was the first to be used for the pirate cruises back in the 70s. The cruises became something of a national institution and the format remains much the same today.  The 4-hour day cruise sets off at 11am and includes an open bar and rum punch, a buffet lunch, swimming with turtles, a mock pirate wedding, rope-swinging, plank walking and music for dancing up on the top deck. Sunset cruise on Thursdays only.  Dinner cruise, private charters and special events including weddings.

Cool Runnings - Custom-built 54ft catamarans for max 26 people, owner operated by Barbadians Robert and Annika Povey. Daily lunch snorkel cruise with three stops to swim/snorkel with turtles, over a shipwreck and a quiet beach in a bay. Includes unlimited drinks and a buffet lunch. Sunset cruise on Wednesdays includes two stops for swimming and snorkelling with turtles and over a wreck, unlimited drinks and a buffet dinner. Transfers included. Children 4-12yrs half price. Note they are unable to accommodate bookings from cruise ship passengers.

MV Harbour Master, Tall Ships Cruises - One hundred foot long with 4 decks offering a 4½ hour lunch cruise on Fridays with activities, drinks, dancing, and snorkelling. Also has a semi-submersible for reef viewing and a 70ft water slide. Evening dinner cruise on Thursdays with floorshow and a live band and includes drinks. Includes transfers.  

Silver Moon Charters - Luxury, award winning catamarans owned and operated by Nick Parker, who led the standard in catamaran cruises in Barbados in the 1980s when he launched the first Tiami. Both Silver Moon, a 44ft catamaran (max 12 guests), and Silver Moon II, a 45 footer (max 24 guests), were built in South Africa in 2002. Choice of a 5 hour lunch cruise with drinks which includes a swim with turtles and later a snorkel stop, or a 4 hour Champagne sunset cruise with buffet dinner. Drinks, snacks and transfers included, beach pick-up available from West Coast hotels and villas.

Stiletto Catamaran Cruises - Operated by Barbadian brothers Peter and Graham Allen on two catamarans, formerly owned by the Caribbean’s No.1 builder/designer for racing. Simple boats with friendly service which are suitable for smaller groups. A 5 hour lunch cruise with drinks, 2½ hour Turtle cruise with drinks and a 3½ hr Sunset Champagne cruise with snacks and a bottle of chilled Champagne per couple. Includes transfers. Children under 12 yrs half price.

Tiami Catamaran Cruises, Tall Ships Cruises - Considered by many as the best sail-cruise. Tiami has a fleet of five custom-built catamarans ranging from 57ft to 70ft. The daily 5 hour lunch cruises start with a Champagne cocktail and continental breakfast and include an open bar, swimming and snorkelling with turtles. They also do a Turtles at Sunset Cocktail cruise on Sundays, 4pm-7pm, including cocktails and canapés. Includes transfers. Reduced prices for children.

Seafari Offshore Adventure Tours - Seafari’s 55ft powerboat, Thriller 05 seats up to 40 passengers and is a specially designed power cat (approved by the United States Coast Guard) with twin 444 horsepower Yanmar turbo diesel engines. There is a currently just the one tour, a 3 hour Thriller Turtle & Shipwreck adventure for a minimum of 10 persons, maximum 30. Refreshments are included on board and transfers.

Wildcat Turtle and Shipwreck Adventure, Adventureland 4 x 4 Tours - Distinctive bright yellow, custom-built, 23ft power cats that take up to 12 people on a Wildcat Turtle and Shipwreck Adventure. Snorkelling and swimming with hawksbill and green turtles on the West Coast early morning, followed by shipwrecks in Carlisle Bay. Private charters available for 3 hour tours. Transfers included.

Atlantis Submarine - Experience the world beneath the sea without getting wet aboard a 65ft passenger submarine. Descending to maximum depth of 130ft, the sub holds 48 passengers and has 26 view ports, with day and night dives of up to 45 minutes.

Contributors: James Henderson (editor)

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Looking for inspiration?

  1. Ride the waves at kitesurfing mecca Silver Point
  2. Drive along the breathtakingly beautiful East Coast
  3. Go underground at Harrison's Cave
  4. Hobnob with the stars watching a polo match
  5. Step back in time at the impressive Jacobean plantation house - St Nicholas Abbey

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