Be Honest...Bahamas Ports

Are they dumpy and sketchy? Booked on a B2B but now I'm second guessing The Bahamas aspect. Different itineraries, same ship (Liberty). Still want the B2B, and could switch to the week on the other side, but that one will cost twice as much, for places we've already seen (yet another itinerary, just one that includes places we've enjoyed in the past).

Not sure if I should gamble on a potentially dumpy Bahamas week or just go with what I know will be great and pay more...

Help! :confused:

If I'm understanding you correctly, it sounds like you haven't been to the Bahamas before? If that's the case, stick with what you've got. The Bahamas isn't for everybody, but you won't know until you've been there before. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed Nassau, but weren't terribly thrilled with what Freeport had to offer. I've read other stories of people having the exact opposite experience from ours.

On the flip side, I'd hate to pay twice as much for a cruise to see ports that I've already been to when there's a viable option to see new ports for half the cost.

I explored Nassau and found it to be mostly ghetto.

It's really ran down and dumpy. But that is mainly due to being a pure capitalist country that doesn't offer much for the poor.

I didn't feel unsafe. Reminded me of parts of NOLA.

Freeport we went to the beach by the casino. It was nice, but we got bothered a lot by people selling stuff.

In both places I was offered hard drugs right off the boat. I didn't like that either.

Guy went up to my mom and offered her Cocaine.

Yeah definitely lots of drugs at both stops.

I have been to Nassau and Freeport a couple of times. Nassau had some fun excursions and Freeport I usually just hit the shops, but I did see they have a kayak excursion that I think we will try if we are there again. I wouldn't say not go to them, because we enjoyed ourselves every time we have been to the Bahamas. It really depends on what you like to do on the islands and see if they offer that.

Nassau and Freeport do have some very nice beaches so we don't mind have a port stop at them in warm weather. :)

Not much fun on chilly rainy days in January. :(

LuLu

We stay on the ship at both of those ports.

Freeport is more of an industrial area with a very small shopping area near the ship. Everything else in Freeport is a bus or cab ride away.

Nassau reminds me of a outdoors big lots on steroids with the folks from "people of Walmart" scattered about.

We use the time of those ports to really enjoy the amenities of the ship.

• Sent from my screen to yours.

Do you like beaches or snorkeling? The water is beautiful and reefs are great in the Bahamas -- well, Nassau, anyway... Better snorkeling than anywhere we've been in the Caribbean.

After six cruises to the Caribbean, we finally tried the Bahamas, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Our first stop, Half Moon Cay, was one of my all-time favorite beaches. We loved our day there and hated when it was time to go. Beautiful sand and water!

In Nassau, my husband and I took a walk to the Queen's Staircase and the fort. This is the highest point in Nassau, and the view is great. The walk there and back did take us through some rough areas. Just be cautious. On the way back, we stopped by the free beach, Junkanoo. The beach was littered with trash and broken glass. I would recommend one of the nicer beaches.

I had heard that Freeport was not worth a visit, but I was determined to prove this wrong. We did the Beach Break through Carnival. A twenty-minute bus ride took us to a beautiful private beach club. We enjoyed our time there. The employees were great and joined in the fun. My husband and son enjoyed playing soccer and basketball with the locals and tourists.

Do try the Bahamas! I'm so glad we did.

I forgot to mention that our Bahamas cruise was the 5-day on the Liberty. We got back a couple of weeks ago. You will love that ship! It is my new favorite!

Freeport is more of an industrial area with a very small shopping area near the ship. Everything else in Freeport is a bus or cab ride away.

The cruise terminal is a bit more built up than it once was.

There's a Senor Frog's there now so there's something to do on a rainy day.

LuLu

Do you like beaches or snorkeling? The water is beautiful and reefs are great in the Bahamas -- well, Nassau, anyway... Better snorkeling than anywhere we've been in the Caribbean.

SeagoingMom,

Did you snorkel from the beach or from a boat? We just booked Allure and have every intention on staying on the ship (had 2 stops in Nassau that we enjoyed already). Maybe you will change my mind!

Lauri

The water is beautiful in the Bahamas. My first trip to the Bahamas was a land vacation. I swore I would never go back because it was dirty/didn't feel safe. I have since been back 5 times on cruises. While it us still not my favorite place, I can always find something to do. I always book an excursion though.

SeagoingMom,

Did you snorkel from the beach or from a boat? We just booked Allure and have every intention on staying on the ship (had 2 stops in Nassau that we enjoyed already). Maybe you will change my mind!

Lauri

We snorkeled from a boat which took us out to a reef -- Carnival Cruise line excursion (although there are undoubtedly many other options.) We found no better snorkeling at St. John, Bonaire, or Belize, Aruba -- other Caribbean ports known for great snorkeling. The reef off Nassau was very nice (in 2009) -- beautiful coral, which I love, and a good variety of fish.

I do not know whether beach snorkeling is good in Nassau -- sandy bottoms, as you may know, don't usually result in good snorkeling. One needs reefs or at least rocks. Don't know which one would find off the beach.

FYI, our best snorkeling ever was off Key West. Nassau was second.

Seagoing Mom, thanks for your reply! We have never done the beaches in Nassau the two times we have cruised there so I had no idea the beaches were sand! Good for swimming but definitely not snorkeling! It is good to know there are nice reefs there! You may have just given me a reason to get off the boat on my next trip!

I am dying to go to Key West snorkeling! We need to find a cruise that stops there or add on a few days after a cruise . Is it warm enough in Feb or March to snorkel there?

Thanks again for your feedback! I will have to look at reviews on Trip Advisor!

Lauri

We did a private snorkeling tour with Pat & Diane's in Freeport and loved it. In Nassau we primarily shopped and did find some bargains. We are going back to Nassau in March and plan on checking out the Pirate Museum and Adastra Zoo.

I love the Bahamas ports. Great beaches, swimming, food and, of course, my favourite drink -- a Bahama Mama! I have been to the Bahamas 5 times on a land vacation and 3 cruises. Never been offered drugs.

Seagoing Mom, thanks for your reply! We have never done the beaches in Nassau the two times we have cruised there so I had no idea the beaches were sand! Good for swimming but definitely not snorkeling! It is good to know there are nice reefs there! You may have just given me a reason to get off the boat on my next trip!

I am dying to go to Key West snorkeling! We need to find a cruise that stops there or add on a few days after a cruise . Is it warm enough in Feb or March to snorkel there?

Thanks again for your feedback! I will have to look at reviews on Trip Advisor!

Lauri

We were in Nassau in July, so I can't speak to water temps in Feb. or March. It is easy to find that sort of info (average water temps) through an online search. I have bought myself an inexpensive shorty wetsuit and I imagine even early spring in Bahamas would be OK for me now -- but I will have to wait for an opportunity to prove that. :)

Both our Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas cruises called at Key West, as is common. Not a small number of Western Caribbean cruises do as well. Spring cruises calling at Key West and Nassau originate in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, Galveston, Baltimore and possibly other ports.

We take a b2b each fall to get to HMC, our favorite little island. We do not get off in Nassau any more and Key West is not a favorite of ours. This year we are excited as our cruise has chosen to go to LSC rather than Key West. So we get two private islands less ship days for us tho.

I love the Liberty and would enjoy the extra sea days on her.

I've got a B2B coming up in a month- Nassau twice, Freeport once" :( yayyyyyyy:rolleyes:

I think in Nassau we will go to Cabbage Beach. Freeport- who knows. Probably stay in the ship. The "stay on the ship" strategy has me a little worried as we are on the smallest, oldest ship in the fleet for 12 days with a 16 year old. I never pay for excursions- except for Belize- but I'm going to have to do something this time.

Thoughts?

FYI, our best snorkeling ever was off Key West. Nassau was second.

Where did you snorkel in Key West? We will be going in November and are looking for recommendations!

After reading some of the other posts about the Bahamas I can agree that there are some dumpy parts of the islands, but that is true of anywhere you travel to (even in the U.S.), but you can find culture and beauty if you look for it. We did take a walk to the staircase as well and saw how poor some of the neighborhoods were, but I believe they have had hurricanes, etc there that caused alot of damage. When you dock and look over at Paradise Island and Atlantis you can see the rich side of the island. Also in Freeport if you take an excursion away from the industrial port you can see the beauty in the beaches and ocean.

Just returned yesterday from a cruise that did stop in Nassau. Have been to Nassau about 20 times on cruise stops but this time was the worst trip there ever. The building that you go through directly off the port is closed and under renovation and all the vendors are outside in small individual buildings and it is a mess. We quickly went to some favorite places and headed back to the ship. That stop was truly a waste of time. The streets there smelled of urine pretty bad, people harassed you to go on buggy rides, rent scooters, tours to Atlantis, getting your hair braided, and to just get a taxi around. We were also approached many times on Bay St. to buy drugs. We were very disappointed in Nassau this time around and will mostly like not go there again, or if we do, stay on the ship.

Bummer to hear all these comments. This will be my third time in the Bahamas on a cruise. Yes, it's pretty dumpy in both ports but you have to make the best of it.

In Nassau I typically head right for Junkanoo Beach, sit there for a while and work my way down to the Fish Fry. Have a few drinks and a snack and head back to the ship.

In Freeport, like everyone else, I get on a bus and head to the other side of the island. The beach is clean and the little straw market is much cleaner and safer than in Nassau.

We always book an excursion away from the pier in Nassau.

The Melia at Cable Beach and the Blue Lagoon Island are 2 of our favorite Nassau excursions.

In Freeport- we took the van taxi to Our Lucaya. Lots to do there.