Has Anyone Looked Into BC's Itinerary to Grand Bahama Island?

[Sail Mama]

I recently found out that the Bahamas Celebration has a changed its port of call from Nassau to Grand Bahama Island. Does anyone know if there are any changes that will have on the quality of time spent in the new port?

[posh08]

I have not found anything yet on it. Anybody else?

[flvol77]

There should be a lot more info coming out in the coming week, as it will become official that CCL is moving to West Palm Beach and their first cruise will be March 15.

Expect two day cruises, so one week there will be Monday, Wed, Friday, Sun, followed by Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday the next week.

Being that Palm Beach is only 56 miles from the Bahamas one would think the time spent in the Bahamas should be a good amount of time.

[pmills1]

That sounds good. I am also interested in the excursions available on Grand Bahama Island. I will be cruising March 28th from the Port of Palm. When anyone has info, please fill me in.

[flvol77]

That sounds good. I am also interested in the excursions available on Grand Bahama Island. I will be cruising March 28th from the Port of Palm. When anyone has info, please fill me in.

seems as though they are going to be using Our Lucaya Resort for a lot of their activities on Grand Bahama Island.

Here is a link

http://www.bahamascelebration.com/2010/Our-Lucaya-Island-Resort.htm

[arv]

We booked our cruise for the dates of 5/6 - 5/8. I asked the rep about where to go and look for shore excursions/activities and I was told that there would be a list of activities provided upon embarkation (not the best way to plan but oh well - it's still a cruise!!!). I was also told that we would be coming in to the Port of Grand Bahama and that the Our Lucaya Resort was about 10 minutes away (also no mention as to if there was transportation available/provided).

It seems they may not have a lot of information since the cruises out of Palm have not yet started. Hopefully, they will have a plethora of information once they get into the swing of things!

While I am here, does anyone have information regarding where their "Welcome Center" will be to pick up boarding passes? I wonder if it will be moved "up north" as of the 3/15 date, or if it will still be in the Ft. Lauderdale area?

[doctordi]

be sure to check out the Freeport Board for more information about the port. For example I know that you can get a taxi van at the port to Our Lucaya for $5 per person each way. The taxis pick up in front of the hotel for the trip back. The shopping area is right across the street from the hotel. It was very easy - and I had 3 kids in tow!

[flvol77]

More info on excursions is up for Celebration CL

http://www.bahamascelebration.com/2010/Excursions-Bahamas-Cruise-Celebration-Cruise-Line.htm

[arv]

...for all of that info! It is much appreciated!

[Cruiseship16]

seems as though they are going to be using Our Lucaya Resort for a lot of their activities on Grand Bahama Island.

Here is a link

http://www.bahamascelebration.com/2010/Our-Lucaya-Island-Resort.htm
interesting link

[travelenthusist]

Inquriry to ARV or anyone who can answer

My cruise is for the week before yours and the rep gave all indication that we were leaving on the 2 day from Fort Lauderdale, you were given Palm Beach? How far apart is Palm Beach from Fort Lauderdale? They stated I would get my cruise documents in 7-14 days, is anyone having to wait for theirs also?

[flvol77]

Inquriry to ARV or anyone who can answer

My cruise is for the week before yours and the rep gave all indication that we were leaving on the 2 day from Fort Lauderdale, you were given Palm Beach? How far apart is Palm Beach from Fort Lauderdale? They stated I would get my cruise documents in 7-14 days, is anyone having to wait for theirs also?

Anything after March 15, 2010 is from Port of Palm Beach.

Port of Palm Beach is 55 miles to the north of Ft Lauderdale/ Port Everglades

http://www.portofpalmbeach.com/

If you are looking for a place to stay in Palm Beach I would suggest downtown west palm or almost right across from the Port in Singer Island, FL

Check out the Hilton

[arv]

Inquriry to ARV or anyone who can answer

My cruise is for the week before yours and the rep gave all indication that we were leaving on the 2 day from Fort Lauderdale, you were given Palm Beach? How far apart is Palm Beach from Fort Lauderdale? They stated I would get my cruise documents in 7-14 days, is anyone having to wait for theirs also?



Oh, too bad we aren't on the same cruise - it would be nice to meet some new cruise folk!

They are officially moving to West Palm Beach as of March 15. This information was confirmed by the cruiseline, a newspaper article from the Ft. Lauderdale area and also my parents who happen to live in the area and cruise with them fairly regularly!

Perhaps you booked the cruise before they officially known about the move? I have spoken with a few different people with their company and it does seem like they have their "good" and "bad" ones.

As far as documents, I believe they are sent 7-14 days prior to departure, which I believe is fairly par for course. I also know that the actual boarding pass does need to be picked up at their "Welcome Center", and I'm still waiting to find out if that office will be moving up to West Palm (I'm assuming it will!?).

The distance between West Palm Beach and Ft Lauderdale is approximately 30 miles and from what I understand it's still very easy to fly into FLL and either shuttle or rent a car up to the port. (I also want to say that I remember hearing about some railway as well?!?!?!)

Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll share the wealth or try to find the answer!

[arkycruisers]

there is a rail service that runs from miami to west palm beach called tri rail--i think it has a ft lauderdale airport stop and when you get to palm beach its about a 15 minute cab ride over to the port of palm beach

you can check it out at www.trirail.com i think thats the site or just google tri rail --they have a pretty good website with prices and schedules

[arkycruisers]

the correct site iis www.tri-rail.com

[nh4]

We are on the March 15th (first sailing out of new port). I booked this way back in November or December, and were just informed 3 weeks ago. This is what the emailed me on times:
Departs Port of Palm Beach at 5:30pm
Arrives Grand Bahamas Island at 9:00am
Departs Grand Bahamas Island at 9:00p.m
Arrives Port of Palm Beach at 9:00 am

Customer service wasn't very helpful in info about getting to the new port (they suggested I rebook my flight... I'm flying in from NH on non-refundable air.. so not an option as well as the fact that I've already pre-paid 2 nights in FLL pre-cruise as part of our mini-trip. The best info I've found was to take the tri-rail from FLL all the way to the very last stop.. that is the closest to port... then a few miles taxi ride to the actual port. The rail was only about $6 each way (depending on age, discounts, round trip, etc), and then the cost of the taxi there... but less than car rental and paying for parking or shuttles. Good luck!

[tntcruise]

Anyone on the 3/27/2010 voyage and/or staying at Our Lucaya? I'm traveling with my 16 year old daughter, any other teens or single parents traveling?

[travelenthusist]

Thank you for the info, yeah its too bad that would be fun to meet a fellow blogger. I hope your trip goes well. This is only my second cruise from FL but I can't wait for the mini break.

[travelenthusist]

Thank you and you are so right about customer service, they seem in a real hurry to get you off the phone or passed to someone else. I also booked the FL nights for before and after the trip, I wish I had known before that the PORT was going to change but oh well it doesn't seem that far away.