Sun, Sand and Snorkeling Catamaran Cruise, Barbados

Thanks to Island Routes, I recently had the outstanding experience of a complimentary catamaran tour in Barbados. This cruise did more than just showcase the beautiful waters and perimeter of the island. From start to finish, the Cool Runnings crew provided a terrific adventure; encompassing the culture and liveliness of Barbados.

The Sun, Sand and Snorkeling cruise begins in Bridgetown at the port. The smiling crew greeted us as we climbed aboard the large catamaran, which was more spacious than I anticipated.

There were several couples from the Sandals Resorts and a family joining us, but somehow I didn’t feel claustrophobic. The smiling crew greeted us, gave us a quick safety rundown and we were off into the ocean.

View this post on Instagram

Thank you @islandroutes for the complimentary catamaran cruise and snorkeling tour! The Sun, Sand and Snorkeling cruise starts in Bridgetown and is one of the best ways to see Barbados. We stopped multiple times to snorkel, swim with sea turtles and discover sunken ships 🙌🏼🐢🐠🌊 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The @coolrunningsbarbados crew was fantastic from the beginning to the end, genuinely having fun with everyone on board. The #catamaran was spacious enough to hold several people, so it didn’t feel crowded at all. The tour included adult beverages served throughout the day (delicious rum and sours!). Lunch was served by the crew when we stopped along the coast to swim. The cruise was so smooth you could barely feel the boat moving! #LiveFunner #islandroutes #Barbados

A post shared by Hello Travel Blog (@sarahguiler) on Dec 16, 2018 at 1:18pm PST

Our first stop was the much-anticipated part of the journey, which was swimming alongside the sea turtles!

Swimming with Sea Turtles

I’m not a pro at snorkeling by any means (it was only my second time) but the crew was very nice and accommodating to all levels of experience. Scotty and I jumped in the water and followed the instructor, who feeds the sea turtles and lets you know when they are coming close.

After a few moments of not being able to catch up with them, we finally got close enough to get a view and catch him on the GoPro. The turtles swim pretty quickly, and you have to make sure to keep up with the group if you want to get a close enough view. 

Some of the families were petting the turtles, but we were too afraid to do that. I personally wouldn’t want to upset a wild animal, but the crew probably wouldn’t have allowed it if it would actually harm them. 

Snorkeling & Sunken Ships

After our quick swim with the sea turtles, the drinks began flowing and we made it to our next snorkeling stop – a sunken shipwreck.

This was a beautiful snorkeling location because the ship was shallow and there was an abundance of colorful fish surrounding it. We weaved in and out of schools of fish and watched as they rapidly maneuvered in and out of our group.

Once we were finished, the crew called us in and we headed over to the next part of our day. 

Catamaran Cruising 

Following the snorkeling stops we cruised over and docked at a secluded bay to have lunch and swim. We took a refreshing dip in the ocean and relaxed as the Cool Runnings crew served a delicious buffet.

The fun continued as we were served unlimited drinks and listened to the upbeat music the crew played.

To be honest, the @coolrunningsbarbados crew was fantastic from the beginning to the end, genuinely having fun with everyone on board. I like how the day is arranged so that you can see so much of Barbados, from the beaches to the sea turtles. This Island Routes tour is affordable and offers so much value for the price of $100 per person.

To book the Sun, Sand and Snorkeling Catamaran Cruise and other Barbados adventures, check out their website here! If you are staying at Sandals Royal Barbados resort, you can easily book a Barbados tour at the Island Routes desk in the lobby.

Don’t miss my review of Sandals Royal Barbados!