© Caribeez.com

Summary
Visitors to Barbados via a cruise ship will see a habor that looks like any other harbor of a developing nation. It is more commercial than tourist. But it has a full range of great vacation experiences.

Barbados is one of the most well-developed islands of the Caribbean. It ranks 12th on the list of most-visited tourist islands because of its large population of more than 280,000 people, English colonial past and vibrant economy (13 times bigger than Dominica). In other words, it's gives American, Canadian and British tourists a strong sense of comfort and familiarity. That makes it a popular stop for cruise ships.

The island had 563,000 stopover tourists in 2006, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization, and another 539,000 tourists came from cruise ships, making the two types of visits roughly equal. The most popular month to visit was December and the least popular was September.

Attractions
Unique attractions include the Flower Forest that combines a botanical garden and nature trail; Andromeda Natural Gardens, with six acres of tropical plants and flowers; and Harrison's Cave, which includes underground streams and a 40-foot waterfall. Regular excursions include golf, sailing, snorkeling, diving, shopping and catamaran cruises.

Tourism / When to Go
U.S. and Canadian stopover visitors require a passport. Cruise visitors simply need to have their ship IDs available when leaving the ship and returning.

The island ranked 9th in total tourism with 563,000 visitors in 2006. U.S. and Canadian citizens require a passport and a valid return ticket; visitors from many other countries require a visa.

Weather
The average daytime temperature ranges between 75 and 85 degrees year round. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 90 degrees. The climent is tropical with a rainy season from June to October. In contrast, a dry season runs from January to June. Hurricanes are infrequent.

Currency / Tipping / Taxes
Currency is the Barbadian Dollar. It is tied to the U.S. dollar at a fixed rate of U.S. $1.00 = BD $1.98. U.S. currency, travelers' checks and credit cards are accepted at most establishments throughout the island. Most restaurants automatically add 10 percent to a bill, with 10-15 percent being the norm for all bills. A 15 percent VAT (Value-Added Tax) is put on bills in all shops, supermarkets and restaurants.

Culture / Geography
English is the dominant language. Historically, the economy depended on the sugarcane industry, but it has diversified in recent years into light industry and tourism. The geography is relatively flat and rises gently to a central highland region.

Sources / More Information
U.S. Dept. of State: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1022.html
CIA Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bb.html
Caribbean Tourism Organization: http://www.onecaribbean.org
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.noaa.gov