Bridgetown cruise terminal transfers with BlaakLane.com connect the cruise terminal at Barbados' Deep Water Harbour with Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI), the west coast hotels of St. James and St. Peter, and the south coast. Pick a vehicle, see the fixed fare and meet your driver where the port allows pre-arranged cars.
Booking your Barbados port transfer
Set the Bridgetown cruise terminal as the pickup or drop-off, add the date and ship, and select the vehicle. The fare shown is fixed before you confirm. For a tour, choose hourly. Barbados trips are driven by a vetted local affiliate from the LimousineWorldwide.Directory network, contracted to the BlaakLane.com written standard, and the confirmation names who will drive.
The port and its terminal
The cruise terminal sits inside the Deep Water Harbour, on the northern edge of Bridgetown, and is managed by Barbados Port Inc.. Several ships can berth at the same time along the harbour's piers, and the terminal building has duty-free shops and the taxi and tour dispatch area. Bridgetown is a turnaround port as well as a port of call: British and European lines use it for winter fly-cruise sailings in the southern Caribbean, so on turnaround days the terminal handles both arriving and departing passengers.
Where the driver picks you up
Walk from the ship through the terminal building to the landside forecourt, where taxis are organised by the port's dispatch and pre-booked vehicles collect from the area set aside for them. Expect a message from the driver with the meeting point before the ship ties up. On turnaround days, bags are collected from the baggage hall inside the terminal first.
Drive times across the island
| From the cruise terminal to | Distance | Usual time |
|---|---|---|
| Grantley Adams International (BGI) | 18-20 km | 30-45 minutes |
| Holetown and the St. James hotels | 11-13 km | 20-35 minutes |
| Speightstown | 20 km | 35-50 minutes |
| St. Lawrence Gap, south coast | 10 km | 20-30 minutes |
| Bathsheba, east coast | 20 km | 40-55 minutes |
| Harrison's Cave | 12 km | 25-35 minutes |
Barbados drives on the left. The ABC Highway runs from the airport around the edge of Bridgetown and is the usual route to the port; Highway 1 along the west coast is slower but direct.
Airport to ship at Grantley Adams
Passengers joining a turnaround sailing often land on a morning or midday flight from London, Toronto or the US east coast. Include your flight number; the chauffeur tracks the landing and includes 60 minutes of waiting on international arrivals, which usually covers immigration and baggage. Standard pickup is outside arrivals at the airport's designated area for pre-arranged cars. A name-board greeting inside the arrivals hall is an add-on, and add-ons are only available in selected locations. Our Barbados airport page has more detail.
Ship to airport on the last day
Disembarkation starts soon after the ship docks in the morning. Book the pickup for the time your group is due off, then allow 30 to 45 minutes to BGI and three hours at the airport for an international flight. Many passengers choose an evening departure and spend the day on the island with an hourly car and the bags in the boot.
Private tours from the terminal
Hourly bookings begin at 3 hours through the hourly chauffeur service.
- Caves and gardens: Harrison's Cave in the central uplands and Hunte's Gardens nearby.
- Plantation heritage: St. Nicholas Abbey in the north, with its Jacobean house and rum distillery.
- The Atlantic side: Bathsheba's rock formations and the Cotton Tower viewpoint.
- West coast beaches: Paynes Bay or Mullins with the car booked back for a fixed time.
- Bridgetown's historic centre: Parliament Buildings and the Garrison, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
On Friday evenings, the Oistins fish fry on the south coast is a popular stop for those staying on.
Vehicle suggestions
| Travellers | Class on the web booker |
|---|---|
| 2 guests, 2 cases | Standard Sedan, Luxury Executive Sedan or Executive First Class Sedan (Maybach) where offered |
| Families up to 6, 6 cases | Standard Black SUV or Executive Black SUV |
| Up to 12, small bags | Sprinter Van |
| 7 guests, carry-ons | Sprinter Luxury Jet Van |
| Party of 8 or 14 | Luxury Stretch Limo or Party Bus |
There is no charge for child seats; ask for them when you book. Capacities are on the fleet page.
Joining a fly-cruise from Europe
Fly-cruise passengers from the UK and Europe often land at Grantley Adams on the morning of sailing, sometimes with the cruise line's own coaches running in parallel. A private car is the alternative for anyone who wants to go straight to the ship at their own pace, or to stop at a west coast hotel first. With a long-haul flight, build in the immigration queue, which can be slow when several wide-body aircraft land together. Background on the airport is on Wikipedia.
Money, seasons and arrival formalities
The Barbados dollar is pegged at two to one against the US dollar, and US notes and cards are accepted almost everywhere. The main cruise season runs from about November to April, when the island is also at its driest. Air arrivals complete the island's immigration and customs declaration, and the airport operator publishes current arrival requirements; check them before you fly, particularly if you are joining the ship on the day of your flight.
Staying on before or after the voyage
The Platinum Coast hotels around Holetown and Sandy Lane, the south coast strip at St. Lawrence Gap and the boutique hotels of the east all work as pre-cruise or post-cruise bases. The Bridgetown chauffeur page covers local bookings, and Visit Barbados lists festivals, including Crop Over, which usually peaks in early August.
Groups and crew movements
Charter groups, weddings and crew changes are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing through cruise lines and ports and group transportation. The rest of our range is on services.
What you pay and how to cancel
The fixed fare includes vehicle, driver and 15 minutes of waiting at the port from the booked time; extra waiting is billed in 15-minute blocks. No charge applies if you cancel more than 72 hours before pickup, 10% at 72 hours or less, 50% at 48 hours or less, and 100% at 24 hours or less or on a no-show. See rates.
