If you go on a Caribbean cruise holiday you are likely to stop over at many of the beautiful islands. One that is particularly special is Barbados as it offers stunning scenery and an interesting history. World famous for its beaches and cricket these are two things that you definitely wouldn't be able to escape when visiting the tropical island.

When first settled in 1625 Barbados was found to be almost totally covered in dense jungle with a very large population of wild pigs. The first descendants were African slaves who were bought to the island in the 17th century to work the sugar cane plantations. Now referred to as Barbadians, they worked hard to make something of the island and this is even very evident today.

Something that would reassure anyone going on a Caribbean cruise holiday is the fact that from 1841 to 1845, Barbados was considered the healthiest place in the world to live with only one death per 66 people, compared to a world average of approximately one death per 35 people.

Something that tourists who go on a Caribbean cruise holiday will learn about is Barbados's interesting history. In the past thousands of people would travel to Barbados because it was thought to have healing qualities. With the exception of the head, people were completely immersed in the sands of the beaches of Cattlewash in St. Andrew as this was believed to kill many illnesses. This practice lasted for many years before it started to wane.

In recent years there has been a massive construction boom with new hotels and housing complexes springing up. The trend accelerated as the island prepared to host some of the key Cricket World Cup matches in 2007 and has continued thanks to the large amount of tourists the island receives every year.

Due to the number of people falling in love and immigrating to Barbados, a shortage of jobs has prompted many Barbadians to find work abroad. They then send the money that they are earning back home which is an important source of income.

Barbados attracts so many visitors every year that it is now one of the most prosperous islands in the Caribbean. In fact, the export of sugar was its main revenue earner for many years but tourism has now taken over this. As well as this, its political, economic and social stability has given it one of the highest standards of living in the developing world. This is hardly surprising because when on a Caribbean cruise holiday you can't help but be intrigued by the gorgeous island.

One of the charming sayings throughout the history of the island is that the Mongoose in Barbados never crosses the road unless someone is watching. Many people who go on a Caribbean cruise holiday are left in awe after visiting Barbados. No doubt this is down to the tropical weather, amazing scenery and laid back nature of the locals.