Help deciding which ship / port please

[mimiluvs2cruz]

I am needing some help. To celebrate turning 40 my college friends ( 7) ladies and I are wanting to take a cruise. We are thinking of a 5 day trip.

 

I have been on 2 cruises already. Conquest and the Magic. Another lady has been on the Disney Cruise three times. Since it will just be us "Moms" we are wanting to use Carnival.

 

I have been to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

 

I would really like to go to Bahamas. But since we live in Oklahoma Galveston is a smarter choice but Florida isn't out of the question.

 

I would like some feedback on the best Ports of Call in Bahamas and which ships you all like the best or worst etc.

 

I looked at a few pictures and after being on the Magic it looks like the shorter 5 day cruises use a smaller ship so that is new to me but for the others they won't know any better.

 

Any help would be great. We are going next Summer. So we are just starting to plan it now. I hear Progresso is NOT worth going to so that may close the Galveston Idea and let us just leave out of Florida.

 

:p:p

[Sailingstagediva]

Skip the Bahamas. Nothing there. Go for st Thomas, st Martin, or anything south. Much nicer and a lot more to do. Try to fit in private island. Fun!!

 

As far as ports..... Only sailed out of cape Canaveral. I think to hit better ports - Miami/ft lauderdale or San Juan. Good luck!!

[Grits53]

For a 5 day, I would definitely recommend Triumph out of Galveston. That will take you to Cozumel & Progreso, but in my opinion, these ports are both MUCH better than Bahamas. We have been to the Bahamas once and will not return. A lot of people don't like Progreso, but if you do your research, you will find interesting things to do there. Personally, I love Progreso for the Mayan ruins that can be reached from there. (Uxmal is my favorite!!) But back to the ships.... Triumph is a bigger ship than others that do 5 day cruises. It is almost as big as Conquest, with the same general layout. Plus, it has just had a nice renovation. To me, this is a no-brainer. Triumph, all the way! Ya'll have fun!!

[Ontario_Cruiser]

Half Moon Cay is the Bahamas, and it is my favourite port of all - if you have a chance to book a cruise that goes there that go for it.

[angie1818]

If you are dead set on the Bahama's then I would use Jacksonville. I have sailed from there several times and the port is so easy to get to and the parking is a breeze. Maybe try New Orleans for your next one. You could come a little early and party in the city! :D

No matter where you sail from you will have a blast --- and HAPPY 40th!!

[Kangapong]

Half Moon Cay is the Bahamas, and it is my favourite port of all - if you have a chance to book a cruise that goes there that go for it.

 

Half Moon Cay is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, but depending on the time of year you cruise, it is also one of the more frequently missed ports due to weather.

 

A flight to Florida for a cruise to the Bahamas? - Your money would be better spent elsewhere. In my opinion it's just not worth it.

[fuddrules]

Since it's still early and your only "thinking" about 5-days, if you think a little bigger, consider a 7-day on the Magic out of Galveston or a 7-day on the Dream out of New Orleans.

 

New Orleans would likely be a little further but also potentially a lower cost cruise.

 

Specific to your question on ports

 

Seems both HMC and Key West are good, Nassau can be OK, Freeport doesn't get too many positive reviews.

[Lovefuninthesun]

Not a fan of the Bahamas!

You can get a 5-day itinerary to much better places. with departures out of Port Canaveral, Tampa, Miami.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone 5 using Cruise Critic App

[CoconutJD]

Progreso gets a bad rap, but it's not a terrible port. It's a great port to see ruins from, if that interests you at all.

 

It's not your typical beach paradise, like you can find in the Bahamas or other places, because it's in the Gulf and doesn't have the pretty blue Caribbean water like other places. I enjoyed our stop there last year.

[patz]

Skip Bahamas. There is nothing to do there and depending on when you go, the weather could be quite cool.

[cruzeluver]

What is the motivation for wanting to go to the Bahamas? There actually is a lot to see and do there but if its is not the best fit for what you are looking for that could change my recommendations.

[golfadj]

Other than HMC dont see any reason to go to the Bahamas

[Kristi Williamson]

If by the Bahamas you mean Nassau or Freeport, it's a waste and there are much better places to visit and see. However, HMC is AWESOME and worth it if you're aware there's always a chance you'll miss it if the seas aren't cooperating.

 

If you're dead set on the Bahamas, then I'd pick whichever ship was closest and the most convenient.

[flounder315]

Magic out of Galveston does 3 different intenaries, all are 7 days.

 

Eastern = Key West, Freeport & Nassau

Western = Jamacia, Grand Caymen & Cozumel

Exotic Western = Honduras, Belize & Cozumel

 

Triumph out of Galveston does 2 - 5 days cruise then 1 - 4 day cruise

 

5 days = Progreso & Cozumel Mon - Sat then Sat - Thur

 

then a 4 day = Cozumel Thur - Mon

 

then it starts over again...

 

I've done every one of these intenaries. Each has there own beauty, some better than others. A cruise is as happy and fun as you want to make it. With 7 girlfriends ya'll can't go wrong. Living in Oklahoma, Galveston is your closest port. Avoid airlines prices. I would suggest going out of Galveston. New Orleans has a long 8 hour boring ride out of and into the Mississippi river. The shops and casino aren't open, that would keep me from sailing out of New Orleans.

 

Good luck and have fun planning.

[mimiluvs2cruz]

The only reason for the Bahamas is because I haven't been there and I thought it would be an awesome stop. However, after all of your suggestions maybe not such a good idea.

 

I would LOVE to go on a 7 day trip but some of the others can't leave their children that long and that is why we are looking at a 5 day.

 

Keep the advise coming. It is really helpful. You all are AWESOME!! ;)

[winddawn]

Half Moon Cay is the Bahamas, and it is my favourite port of all - if you have a chance to book a cruise that goes there that go for it.

I agree with this. Half Moon Cay is the best beach day IMO. And Carnival has a new beach excursion in Nassau to Balmoral that looks really nice. You can use your ship sail and sign card at Balmoral.

[NCTribeFan]

There's plenty to see in the Bahamas. Don't believe all the "crap port" posts.

 

Like anything else, you have to be willing to get out there and see it!

 

Too many people want to be fed a "fake" island experience right at the port. I have to wonder why they bother to cruise to foreign ports and then want nothing but a Margaritaville and crappy t-shirt shacks. :p

 

Fascination does 5-nights that stop at Half Moon Cay (yes, it is truly paradise). But I'm pretty sure Victory does them too, now that she's in Miami. Air to Miami (or FLL) is probably less than to JAX, simply because of the volume of flights.

 

Yep. Victory does 5 nights to Grand Turk, HMC and Nassau. I'd probably do that if I were limited to 5 nights and had to fly somewhere.

[Lyncoya]

There's plenty to see in the Bahamas. Don't believe all the "crap port" posts.

 

Like anything else, you have to be willing to get out there and see it!

 

Too many people want to be fed a "fake" island experience right at the port. I have to wonder why they bother to cruise to foreign ports and then want nothing but a Margaritaville and crappy t-shirt shacks. :p

 

Fascination does 5-nights that stop at Half Moon Cay (yes, it is truly paradise). But I'm pretty sure Victory does them too, now that she's in Miami. Air to Miami (or FLL) is probably less than to JAX, simply because of the volume of flights.

 

Yep. Victory does 5 nights to Grand Turk, HMC and Nassau. I'd probably do that if I were limited to 5 nights and had to fly somewhere.

 

I soooooo agree!!! I've been to Nassau 4 times...it IS a boring port with nothing to do if you don't get away from the port area. The Sheraton has a nice day pass option. There is also the Blue Lagoon. Also, if you've never seen Atlantis, it's worth seeing ONCE.

 

A cruise is what YOU make it, and with 7 girlfriends, you're bound to have a ball. If you've never been the the Bahamas, it's worth going at least once.

[nodogkisses]

Totally agree with NCTribeFan and Lyncoya. Half Moon Cay is amazing! But there are also amazing beautiful beaches in Freeport and in Nassau. You definitely have to get out there and see it, though. I've been to Nassau over a dozen times and I'll be there again in October. Every time it seems that there is something new--this time it's a tour of a newly opened rum distillery. Because I want to do that, there's no time for me to do Carnival's new excursion to Balmoral Island and it's beautiful (an island off of Cable Beach). Can't fit both in and we're there for ten hours. Freeport has more gorgeous beaches than Nassau even, but you don't see them at the pier. You have to take a cheap $5-$7 taxi ride to get to them. There's so much to do in Freeport. And, the water in the Bahamas is absolutley blue and beautiful. In fact, when we were on a Western Caribbean cruise about 1-1/2 years ago, all of our family and friends were pining away for an Eastern--we missed that gorgeous water. One last thing, my daughter just got back from an Ecstasy cruise that went to Half Moon Cay and her first statement when I saw her was, "I'm never going on another cruise that doesn't stop at Half Moon Cay. I forgot how much I loved it there."

 

That being said, I would definitely do a 5 day cruise out of Galveston if I were you and your friends. Easier, cheaper, shorter (especially with newbies). Save the 7 day Eastern itinerary for a time you go with your family.

[TeresaJ]

What about the Victory 5 day that goes Nassau, HMC, and Grand Turk. That might be a good choice! It does go out of Miami though. But the ship is newer than most of the other ships sailing to the Bahamas.

[Want2Cruise 701]

What about the Victory 5 day that goes Nassau, HMC, and Grand Turk. That might be a good choice! It does go out of Miami though. But the ship is newer than most of the other ships sailing to the Bahamas.

 

Yes. This would be my choice if I needed a short eastern/bahamas itinerary. HMC and GT are both great.

[nlktx49]

We're going on the Triumph out of Galveston in Feb. for the second time - first on the newly refurbished Triumph! Same itinerary, Progreso and Cozumel. I was hesitant about Progreso, too, but we had a good time there. Sat in an open bar facing the beach, drank margaritas, had $15 massages, did a little shopping. It's not a glitzy town made for tourists, it's more of a "real" Mexican town. Except for the water, reminded me of Nuevo Laredo back in the 70's!

 

Driving to Galveston is going to be a lot cheaper than flying to Florida and having to stay one night in a hotel. After you ask all your friends, the cost may be the deciding factor. Oh, and I wasn't impressed at all with Nassau and Freeport.

[NCTribeFan]

I'm doing the Balmoral stingray excursion next Tuesday. I was there way back in 2004 on my 2nd Carnival cruise (first on Fantasy). Really looking forward to seeing if it's as nice as I remember.

 

If folks have never eaten at the stand down at the end of the Festival Place in Nassau, give it a try. I've been known to stand in line for 50 minutes to get a styrofoam container of The Best Fried Grouper ever!! You know that when there's a long, long line of locals and ship crew that they're doing something right!

 

I nearly booked a B2B2B on Victory for November. But then I saw the Conquest repo cruise from San Juan and just had to book that instead. Flying down 2 days early, staying an extra night after to turn it into the long vaca that I wanted.

 

Talk about good ports! San Juan, St Kitts, Dominica (just might be my favorite), Antigua, St Maarten, Grand Turk and two sea days.

 

Anyway, OP, take a look at the Victory itineraries

[jsjjkelly]

The only reason for the Bahamas is because I haven't been there and I thought it would be an awesome stop. However, after all of your suggestions maybe not such a good idea.

 

I would LOVE to go on a 7 day trip but some of the others can't leave their children that long and that is why we are looking at a 5 day.

 

Keep the advise coming. It is really helpful. You all are AWESOME!! ;)

 

For my 40th birthday last November, we did the 4 day on the Ecstasy out of Port Canaveral. It went to Nassau and Half Moon Cay. HMC was absolutely the best part of the cruise. We took a $20 sight seeing tour in Nassau and 75% of the time, it was "this is the hospital Anna Nicole had her baby at,this is the restaurant Anna Nicole bought her coffee at" and it went on and on and on.

 

There are things to do in Nassau, like the dolphin thing was fun. There's just so many nicer ports out there. But you could have a very nice itinerary with somewhere and HMC. Get a cabana - they are well worth the money.

 

Most importantly, have fun!!! :-)

Shawn

[MickCruiser]

A flight to Florida for a cruise to the Bahamas? - Your money would be better spent elsewhere. In my opinion it's just not worth it.

 

I would tend to agree. But I live in FL and have been numerous times. If you've never been to the Bahamas, don't fret it and try it. There's Nassau, Freeport (not sure if CCL goes there) and Grand Turk, which is technically not the Bahamas but the same general neighborhood. ;-)

 

Nassau is the main port however. Biggest draw is Atlantis. But it can be expensive to get the full experience. Otherwise pick an activity or two or just hang by a pool. The downside to Nassau is that you can't get out and about as you can at other places.

 

The only way to get to St Thomas and St Maarten (Dutch side)/St Martin (French side) is a cruise greater than 5 days, or you could fly. ;-)

 

Good luck and enjoy whichever you chose. :-)