silvermoon catamaran cruise barbados

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Silver Moon Catamaran Cruises

Silver Moon and Silver Moon II are luxury 47ft catamarans, with peaceful indoor cabins forward and aft, immaculate washrooms (separate genders), a cool fresh water shower, and easy access to the ocean. Catch some sun out on the sun-dappled deck; cool off under the shade of the cockpit or sip on a drink in the nautical themed saloon.

With a maximum of 12 passengers, you can spend five hours of tranquil bliss indulging in seaside splendour. The lunch cruise sets sail at 9:30am, sailing along the west coast making two snorkelling stops, one with the famous Barbados sea turtles and one at a historic shipwreck.

Adults: US$115 and kids under 12 US$85. Includes a Bajan style buffet lunch, unlimited drinks, ground transportation, full snorkelling equipment and instruction.

Also available for private charter, an exclusive alternative to the share charters, you can customise an agenda of your own. They will tailor their service, catering and exploration to your personal desire.

The staff are warm and friendly; each knows the ocean and its many creatures well. Let Silver Moon create a comfortable, hospitable, and unforgettable cruise for you.

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Next Stop Barbados

8 Best Barbados Catamaran Cruises (That are Totally Worth it!)

Published: April 20, 2021

Updated: May 1, 2024

*This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read our disclosure.

Barbados is known for its beautiful, pristine beaches. So of course, there are many water activities available such as jet-skiing, surfing, boogie boarding, and paddleboarding. But what if you want to do something a little different? Luckily, Barbados also offers many different catamaran cruise options! Let’s take a look at some of the top Barbados catamaran cruises and tours.

In this article:

Planning your trip to Barbados?

These are some of my favorite resources for booking Barbados travel.

✈️ Flights: I’ve had the best luck finding Barbados flight deals on Skyscanner . (Use airport code BGI for Bridgetown.)

🚗 Rental Cars: DiscoverCars has easy car hire pickup from the airport or town.

🏨 Hotels : Booking has good hotel and resort deals around the island.

🏠 Vacation Rentals : Check out VRBO for rentals and beach houses.

🌴 Guided Tours & Activities: Get Your Guide and Viator are my go-to’s.

Why Take a Barbados Catamaran Cruise?

Barbados has some of the best Catamaran cruises available. How could it not with its crystal clear waters and abundant sea life?

Taking a Barbados catamaran cruise is not only a great way to explore the area, get closer to nature, and see the island from a new perspective. Some Barbados catamaran cruises offer a luxurious experience that will leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed, and pampered. Some experiences focus on snorkeling and adventurous water activities.

Most cruises offer a meal of some sort and some even offer wine as you step aboard the boat. No matter what you choose, get ready to have a wonderful, memorable catamaran experience!

What to Look for in a Barbados Catamaran Cruise

When looking at Barbados catamaran trips, consider what activities you want to be included in your package. Some catamaran outings offer tours, some offer snorkeling, and some offer multi-course meals with bottomless drinks. 

Ensuring your expectations line up with the planned activities on the catamaran trip will make sure you have the best experience possible. 

Another tip is to check the catamaran departure and return time for your selected trip. Make sure it aligns with any other activities you have planned. For example, if you want to be back at your hotel by lunchtime, make sure the catamaran trip itinerary matches your desired timeline. 

Types of Barbados Catamaran Cruises

There are three main types of catamaran cruises in Barbados – private tours, sunset cruises, lunch and snorkel cruises.

• Private Catamaran Tours.  These are great for people who are seeking a more exclusive event. The catamaran is reserved just for the individual’s group, making this a perfect option for hosting a special event like a wedding, a date night (think proposal!), and even a honeymoon activity. Private tours are customized to your requested length of time and preferred activities.
• Sunset Cruises.  Sunset cruises are exactly what they sound like. These catamaran cruises typically begin in the late afternoon and continue into the evening. Unlike private tours, sunset tours have established start and end times as well as pre-planned activities and meals. Most sunset cruises will include activities like snorkeling and dinner. This option is perfect for travelers who want to experience a Barbados sunset on the open water.
• Lunch and Snorkel Cruises.  These catamaran snorkel cruises offer tasty lunches and snorkeling at some of the best spots around the island. Swim among sunken ships while admiring diverse marine life and even sea turtles! Cruise-goers will also enjoy sipping drinks and relaxing on the boat while sailing up the West Coast of the island. These cruises also have set start and end times and pre-determined activities. Perfect for travelers who want relaxation and those who want a bit of adventure.

Let’s take a look at the top catamaran cruises available in Barbados. All of the cruises listed below have great reviews on TripAdvisor and knowledgeable captains.

Top 8 Barbados Catamaran Cruises

• Calypso Cruises

Elegance Catamaran Cruises Barbados

Cool runnings catamaran.

• El Tigre Catamaran Cruise Barbados

Tiami Silver Cruises Barbados

Silver moon barbados, jammin catamaran cruises, seaduced luxury catamaran, calypso cruises with captain nick.

With over 500 excellent reviews on TripAdvisor, Calypso Cruises has a lot to offer. Calypso Cruises provides all three types of cruises – private tours, sunset cruises, and lunchtime snorkel cruises. Captain Nick has wonderful reviews for being a fun, well-informed ship captain.

Calypso Cruises use a spacious sailing catamaran named Calypso Girl for their excursions. In addition to serving lunch, they offer hors d’oeuvres, snacks, and all-inclusive drinks throughout the day. Maxing out at 12 people per cruise, Calypso Cruises is best for small groups and intimate outings. Cruises last 3-5+ hours depending on which package you select.

I’ve gone on the Calypso snorkel cruise several times and it’s always one of the highlights. Captain Nick takes you to beautiful coral reefs around the island where you can see tropical fish and incredible shipwrecks in the crystal clear waters off the Barbados coastline. Plus, the food is amazing! The snorkel tour includes a premium bar (with some dangerously good signature cocktails) and a Bajan lunch buffet, complete with macaroni pie and other local favorites!

• Located in Bridgetown near Carlisle Bay
• Lunch cruises, sunset cruises, and private tours available
• Tours include snorkel gear and unlimited drinks
• One of the best catamaran cruises in Barbados with over 500 Excellent reviews on  TripAdvisor
• Check Captain Nick’s availability

  Elegance Catamaran Cruises Barbados also offers all three types of cruises – private tours, sunset cruises, and lunch and snorkel cruises. Lunch cruises start from Bridgetown and offer snorkeling stops, a delicious meal, and plenty of time for lounging on the way back. These trips have a maximum of 12 guests.

Sunset dinner cruises offer a unique opportunity to snorkel as the sun goes down and enjoy a delicious dinner with all-inclusive drinks. All Elegance cruises offer hotel transportation and have an open bar.

• Located in Bridgetown
• Luxury experience
• They offer a sunset dinner cruise, a lunchtime catamaran snorkeling cruise, and a private cruise option
• Food, drinks, hotel transportation, and snorkel gear included
• Book Elegance Catamaran Cruise

Cool Runnings Catamaran is another popular Barbados cruise option that offers great value. Snorkel and lunch cruises are offered daily while sunset cruises are only offered Wednesdays and Thursdays each week. Private tours are by appointment. 

All Cool Runnings tours include a buffet meal and all-inclusive drinks. Snorkeling equipment is provided and they also offer transportation to and from your hotel or cruise ship terminal.

• Over 2000 Excellent reviews on  TripAdvisor
• Hotel transportation, meal, and drinks included
• Book Cool Runnings Catamaran Cruise

El Tigre Catamaran Barbados

The El Tigre Catamaran Barbados has over 400 excellent reviews on Viator and offers memorable tours aboard their 60-foot catamaran. You’ll kick off your catamaran tour with a snorkel among the shipwrecks and ocean life, then you’ll return to El Tigre for unlimited drinks and good vibes.

El Tigre offers 3-hour cruises and 5-hour cruises. All tours come with snorkel gear and bottomless drinks. The 5-hour cruise option also includes lunch. They also offer a 3-hour sunset cruise.

• Accommodation pick up and drop off at select hotels
• Maximum 36 guests per cruise
• Discounted pricing for children under 12
• Book an El Tigre Catamaran Barbados Cruise

Tiami Silver Cruises Barbados offers eight different cruise ships to travel on and tours include delicious local dishes. Each cruise ship is custom-built and incredibly spacious. 

Tiami Catamaran Cruises offers private charters that go above and beyond with live music and catered food by request. The lunch cruises have three swimming and snorkeling stops as well as a delicious lunch buffet — perfect for anyone who wants to get to know the friendly sea turtles and see colorful marine life off the coast of Barbados. The sunset cruise has a full buffet dinner and gorgeous views.

• Luxury Packages
• 8 available cruise ships
• Round trip transfers
• Book Tiami Cruises Barbados

Silver Moon Barbados has been around since 2002 and is run by Nick and Nicky. Silver Moon Barbados has a fleet of three ships. Silver Moon Barbados offers two excursion options. You can book a lunch cruise that lasts about 5 hours and has a maximum capacity of 12 passengers per trip. You’ll enjoy an incredible Bajan meal, bottomless drinks, and transportation from your accommodation.

The second option is a private charter that can be booked for any time of day. Food is catered and private pickup is offered. The amount of time is by request.

• 4500+ Excellent Reviews on  TripAdvisor
• Lunch cruises and private charters
• Book your excursion with Silver Moon Catamarans

Jammin Catamaran Cruises offers fun-filled daytime and evening catamaran trips the whole family will love. All cruises include a delicious buffet meal, an open bar, hotel pickup, and even water slides!

The Sun Blast Cruise lasts about five and a half hours and there are plenty of activities for kids and adults alike. The Twilight Cruise promotes a 4-hour sunset cruise with entertainment. If you’re planning a special event, their private cruises can hold up to 85 people at a time. This is a great option for larger groups.

• Round Trip Hotel Transfers
• Great for families with kids
• Large group private catamaran option
• Book Jammin Catamaran Cruises

If you’re looking for luxury, Seaduced Luxury Catamaran Barbados won’t disappoint. Both private and semi-private charters are available. Private cruises last about 5 hours and are scheduled based on the requested time. Semi-private charters have a maximum of 14 people and include snorkeling, refreshments, and a chef-prepared lunch.

If spending the afternoon on a luxury yacht in the Caribbean sounds like your definition of paradise, take a look at Seaduced Catamarans.

• Luxury yacht experience
• Private Chef
• Book Seaduced Luxury Catamaran

FAQ: Taking a Catamaran Cruise in Barbados

How much is a catamaran cruise in barbados.

Catamaran cruises in Barbados typically cost between $75 and $150 USD per person for a half-day, non-private charter. Usually, this includes several hours of exploring, snorkel equipment, drinks, snacks, and a meal.

How long is a Barbados catamaran cruise?

Catamaran boat trips typically last anywhere from a few hours to a half day, depending on the offer you book. When you make your reservation, your captain will tell you when to meet the boat and what time you can expect to return.

What do you wear on a catamaran cruise in Barbados?

Most Barbados catamaran cruises are casual and involve lots of swimming, so I recommend wearing a bathing suit with an easy coverup or tee shirt for when you want sun protection. A hat is nice to have for keeping the sun off your face, and you’ll definitely want to bring sunscreen and sunglasses. It’s also a good idea to bring a quick-drying towel so you can dry off between snorkel sessions. On your feet, a pair of flip-flops is fine since you’ll take off your shoes before you get on board.

Final Thoughts: Top Catamaran Trips in Barbados

Whether you are looking for a relaxing day trip or a bit of adventure among the impressive reefs, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect Barbados catamaran tour for you. Check out the catamaran experiences above for an unforgettable experience.

More Fun Things To Do In Barbados

• The Ultimate Barbados Travel Guide
• Fun Things To Do In Barbados
• Best Beaches in Barbados
• Visiting Animal Flower Cave Barbados
• Best Barbados Shore Excursions for Cruise Ship Travelers
• Best Sunset Spots in Barbados

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Luxury Private Charters

Intimate style.

Sail intimately and in style on our Private Charter cruises.

A luxury catamaran is the ideal backdrop for your wedding, family reunion, or romantic night for two.

Sail into serenity

Share our catamarans with your loved ones for the afternoon or evening. We offer private pick up at your hotel for a day of seaside luxury.

As captain for the day, you choose the length, style, and direction of your cruise.

Your place on board awaits

Incredible staff, beyond words, highly recommended.

“If you have the opportunity to book either of these excursions please do so. Ever since my wife went on the Silver Moon, I have recommended it to each and every customer that I have booked for an excursion while aboard a cruise ship or to those simply flying in to Barbados. You WILL NOT be sorry you did so. ”

Frequently Asked Questions

Do i need to be a strong swimmer, what if i get motion sickness, do you offer transportation/beach pickups, contact our reservations manager.

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Silver Moon Cruises

Silver Moon Barbados Luxury Catamaran Cruise

When I first started researching Barbados online the same luxury cruising company kept popping up everywhere – Silver Moon Barbados . It’s a crime to go somewhere as beautiful as Barbados and not make the most of that crystal clear sea, and a catamaran cruise was the only thing I was desperate to do. Never one to ignore repeated excellent recommendations, I booked a lunch cruise on their power catamaran, Moondance , the newest addition to their fleet (and best!).

Image credit:  Silver Moon Barbados

If only every Wednesday morning could start out like this.

We were picked up promptly from our hotel in St Lawrence at 9am along with a minibus full of other excited Scottish tourists and began our journey to the port, while our driver gave us an entertaining tour of the island along the way. After half an hour we arrived and began boarding the boat… not that it took long, as there were only 10 of us (Silver Moon allow a maximum of 12 people per boat for this cruise, so it’s an intimate affair).

As soon as we stepped on board, the friendly crew served us drinks (I opted for the ubiquitous rum punch, of course.. morning drinking is absolutely acceptable while on holiday) and fresh fruit canapés. The boat was beautiful, so pristine and new, and because there were so few of us it felt more like being on a private chartered boat with your friends than a commercial trip. In fact, nothing about Silver Moon Barbados felt commercial. We set sail armed with delicious savoury pastries and more alcohol, heading for our first stop… snorkelling in Carlisle Bay!

Prior to Barbados, the last time I had actually been in the sea was probably about five years ago. I can’t even remember it to be honest, and I never go swimming. Needless to say, I have never snorkelled or done any kind of water based activities, so I was pretty nervous! Did I mention that although I love the sea, I’m afraid of swimming in deep water?! Snorkelling was definitely way out of my comfort zone, but as I have learned, getting out of my comfort zone usually results in amazing experiences. This was truly the case here. After getting kitted out in a lifejacket and headgear, it was time to get in the sea. I was last to go in, and the terror was written all over my face, according to my sister, so much so that the captain recognised I was a little nervous (understatement) and very patiently talked me through it until I was in the water and breathing normally. Well, as normally as one can through a plastic tube and goggles. The lifejacket meant I could just happily float around without much thought and instead concentrate on my breathing. The water was about 25 feet deep and after a few minutes the sea turtles appeared! It was amazing seeing them up close.

After our turtle spotting, we got back on board, had our drinks topped up and headed to another spot for some more snorkelling, this time over a couple of shipwrecks. Definite Little Mermaid vibes going on. I took plenty of photos with a disposable underwater camera but unfortunately they didn’t turn out very well, so until I can afford to fork out for an underwater GoPro you’ll just have to use your imagination. Fish, fish everywhere.

A rival boat – look at all those people crammed on like sardines. You’d never get that on Silver Moon…

Back on board, we dried off in the sun and chatted with our fellow passengers while drinking yet more punch. I don’t think I saw the bottom of my glass once. While sailing past Rihanna’s $22 million house, One Sandy Lane , my sister asked the captain if he had ever seen her. Seen her? Rihanna had used this very boat! As it turns out, so had Alicia Keys, Princess Beatrice, and Sting – among countless others. If Silver Moon Barbados was good enough for them, it was certainly good enough for us…

We docked at Sandy Lane beach for lunch, a Bajan feast of chicken, grilled tuna, mac ‘n’ cheese, rice, salad and pasta and plenty of wine. This was no ‘stack ’em high and sell ’em cheap’  microwave meal often served on other boat cruises, this was truly fresh and delicious and of course I went back for seconds. Snorkelling works up quite the appetite, you see. There was more opportunity to get back in the water at this point, but I didn’t think it was wise after all that food and alcohol. Safety first… and I had sunbathing to do.

After we were all suitably fed and watered, it was time to sail back to shore. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so relaxed and content in my life, this was the highlight for me. Rum punch does that to you I guess. We were given banana bread for dessert, then they busted out the blender and made us all piña coladas. I mean, I don’t necessarily believe in heaven but if I did, I’m pretty sure this would be it.

The worst part? Getting off that boat.

For a truly exceptional, luxurious catamaran experience, book a cruise by  Silver Moon Barbados .

The Details

A 12 passenger lunch cruise costs USD $115 per person (kids 3-11 are $85) and usually lasts from 9.30am – 2.30pm. This includes unlimited alcohol, snacks and a Bajan style buffet lunch. Snorkelling equipment and instruction is also included, but you can also take your own gear if you want.

They also do an evening cruise, 3pm-7pm and private charters are available.

Advance booking is recommended, as the boats fill up fast. Book online here .

**This is not a sponsored post, I just absolutely loved it.

~~ Jackie Jets Off contains affiliate links throughout the site. If you choose to purchase items through these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help toward the cost of running this site. Thanks! ~~

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Stefan 05/03/2016 10:36 am

Oh man – I’m SO doing this when we go there later this year 🙂 That grilled tuna looks GOOOOOD!! Have pinned this for later reference 🙂

Arzo Travels 05/03/2016 11:26 am

Wow, these pictures are stunning. Barbados is on my list, but doesn’t have priority. However, looking at the pics I would love to do a catamaran tour there…Now 🙂

Hannah 05/03/2016 1:50 pm

Looks like a great day! My neighbours go down to Barbados every year so I hear a lot about this rum punch… I think I need to go to try it for myself 😉

BonBon 05/03/2016 3:11 pm

Beautiful!!! This is something my kids would love… Thanks for sharing:) Happy travels.. xoxo

Amber 06/03/2016 4:12 pm

Barbados looks absolutely beautiful! If I make it there I definitely need to take a catamaran lunch cruise! It seems like you get a lot for the price.

Bell | Wanderlust Marriage 06/03/2016 5:51 pm

Wow, so beautiful and yay for over coming your fears and jumping in to snorkel explore! The price seems totally reasonable for such a luxurious experience! Will have to keep this in mind if we ever make it to Barbados!

JJ Johnson 02/06/2016 7:37 am

That was an excellent review! Thank you very much for this! Now I have another to add to my list.

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