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Welcome to the
Bridgetown Cruise Terminal
The Bridgetown Cruise Terminal was constructed primarily as a means of encouraging spending by the increasing number of cruise passengers visiting Barbados, through the provision of convenient access to shops and other facilities in a spacious and colourful atmosphere. It was also felt that enhancing the experience of cruise passengers at the Terminal, the point of entry, would assist considerably in encouraging additional cruise ships to call at Barbados.
The terminal was officially opened on January 14th, 1994 by the then Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, and has since received rave reviews. It was named "Most Receptive Destination" and for "Most Improved Port Facilities" in the Dream World Cruise Destinations' magazine for 1996. The Bridgetown Cruise Terminal is the centre for all services provided for the use of cruise passengers and crew members visiting Barbados. It offers more than 60,000 square feet of space. Some 20,000 square feet is allocated to shops, the remainder comprises space for the offices of Customs, Immigration, Port Health, Plant and Animal Quarantine, Post Office and the Barbados Tourism Authority. Other space is allocated for entertainment and the hosting of official functions.
There are currently 23 interior, air-conditioned shops, the majority of which retail duty-free items. These offer a wide variety of items including jewellery, perfumes, fine linen, crystal, china, cameras and electronic equipment, arts and crafts, souvenirs, T-Shirts, exclusive resort wear, liquor, cigars, and cigarettes. There are also 16 colourful push-carts located along the centre of the wide aisles where street-style lamps and plants give the visitor the impression of being on a Barbadian village street. The push-cart vendors, all small, local entrepreneurs, retail a range of items, particularly hand-crafted objects and even home-made cakes and confectionary.
Just outside the main entrance of the Terminal, a brightly painted marketplace has been created utilising the chattel house style that is unique to Barbados. This area familiarly known as the Chattel House Village, houses 13 small entrepreneurs who together offer one of the largest selections of T-shirts and hand-made garments for all ages that can be found anywhere in Barbados. There are also two open-air restaurants located in this qarea featuring well-stocked bars and local delicacies.
A concessionare's market located nearby allows passengers in the facility to go as they please. Passengers can rent cars, ride bikes, go horse-back riding or scuba diving. For those on pre-booked, organised tours, a special departures area with numbered departure gates has been set up to ensure speedy handling of tour groups.
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