Breeze - Feb 18th-25th...trip report, photos, and videos!

[Katie62]

Great review. Booked for this exact itinerary on the Breeze very soon, so appreciate all the info.

 

 

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[ABQrobin]

....continuing...

 

Wednesday, 23rd...FREEPORT

 

Today was the port we had been most excited for - Freeport, Bahamas. We had never been to the Bahamas on LAND. Only on a boat for 2 weeks of scuba diving back over a decade ago. We had hoped to see more of the Bahamas, other than underwater, but it just hadn't come together for us until now. Also, our vacations over the past 20 years have all revolved around scuba diving, so we really have not done all the topside activities that we were now getting to enjoy since we started cruising.

 

We only got into cruising for 2 reasons: First we wanted to go to Alaska and cruising seemed to be the least expensive way, and Second, DH had to have some surgery which would mean he was out of diving for 6 months. So in 2014 we booked our first cruise and got hooked. DH has recovered from his surgeries now (ended up having 3 on same hip-sports injury), so we are trying to do those intensive week-long scuba trips again, but have found that we just don't have the stamina we used to have. LOL The cruises are so much less intensive and we are able to do a little scuba and a little topside without hurting ourselves. Getting old sucks.

 

Anyhoo.....on to Freeport!

When we had decided to book this cruise last year, Freeport excursions looked interesting. We both wanted to kayak somewhere and this looked to be the PERFECT place with a ship's excursion that suited us perfectly. Freeport Kayaking & Nature Adventure. It even sounded like us.

 

The ship arrived right on time, 8am, and so with a full belly from breakfast on the Lido, we ventured off the ship to meet the Guide. Our meetup time was 8:30am and people kept dribbling over to the Guide with the sign..more...and more...and more. By the time it was 8:35am, we had over 30 people but we had 3 guides, so we were divided into 3 groups. We lucked out with the head Guide, Sam. Our buses arrived, each group had their own van, and off we went for the 45 minute drive. Sam gave us a great history and culture tour on our way to the Lucaya National Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived at the starting point and the crew began unloading the gear. Woo hoo.

 

 

...to be continued....

[kbeer15]

Really loving your review. We have done the other 2 itineraries from Galveston and want to try this one next.

 

 

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[firewife09]

following......:hearteyes::hearteyes:

[ABQrobin]

Thanks everybody.... here we go...

 

So, we unloaded from the van, and were given dry bags if we needed them. We would take some stuff with us, the rest would stay in the van until it met us at the end of our kayaking.

 

 

Paddles were handed out, and we were given a lesson on how to kayak, and how to navigate the mangroves. It gets very narrow in spots, so at that point the person in front puts their paddle inside the boat, and the person in back unhooks their paddle to make two, and you canoe through the narrow sections. Also, Sam, our guide and funny funny guy, tells us that kayaking will ruin a marriage or friendship, so you have to be patient and communicate with each other. LOL I can believe it.

 

So off we go....

 

 

 

The wind was howling still, but at our backs, so no problems at all....for us. Some of the others seemed to have a steeper learning curve.

 

 

This was FUN. And it was so beautiful. I had the GoPro5 running part of the time, so I have a video to share.

 

If you want to view the video full screen on your laptop or desktop computer, click on the Vimeo logo, then when you go to the website, just click on the maximize icon in the lower right corner. It was recorded in HD, and actually looks nice full screen.

 

...more....

[ABQrobin]

...more....

 

 

We paddled and paddled for about an hour I would guess. It was wonderful.

 

The Narrows were challenging.... everyone got hung up at least once.

 

 

 

 

Just Sooooooo Beautiful..... what a perfect day and activity!

 

 

 

The water is very shallow, like waist deep at the deepest spots. We could occasionally see a fish but most of the time the water was murky due to the sea water-fresh water mixing.

 

 

At various points Sam would stop the group, and have us hold onto each other's kayaks so he could tell us about the mangroves, the weather, how they grow, the fish, the sea grass....

 

 

 

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[ABQrobin]

a water break...

 

 

then the mangroves opened up and we actually had to paddle hard....

 

 

 

and then we were at the end..... Sam said we covered almost 3 miles. Wow, what a blast! And I didn't hear any bickering, so I think all the marriages were saved. Sam said we were the best group he has had in awhile.

 

 

We got out of the kayaks at a little dock, and the crew helped us stand up. They took our kayaks and piled them back on the trailers while everyone lined up to use the porta-potty.

 

 

 

...more...

[ABQrobin]

The van was there waiting and everyone emptied their drybags, and we grabbed our towels and backpacks to walk to the beach for lunch and relaxing.

Sam took us on a short Nature walk on the way to the beach.

 

 

 

and then we arrived at Gold Rock Beach.

 

 

The first kayak group was already there eating lunch at our covered picnic area. We all were starving so made sandwiches and sat down to enjoy the tea, water, and cookies they provided. Picnic, yes, fancy, nope. Don't expect anything more.

 

 

Ham, Turkey, cheese, letttuce, tomato, peanut butter, jelly...all the fixins for sandwiches you could want on a beach day.

 

 

We had an hour and 15 minutes to enjoy lunch and beach before we headed back to port.

 

 

 

....more...

[ABQrobin]

And what a beautiful beach.... too bad it was still WINDY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[ABQrobin]

Around 1:15pm we started our walk through the mangroves back to the vans. We actually crossed the river by a hand-pulled floating bridge. It was cool.

 

 

We arrived back at port around 2pm, our back-on-board was 4:30pm.

 

 

There are lots of shops, food vendors, etc. at the port. I don't know why people complain about it. What do they want, Kmart? Geez. Anyhow, we shopped for a little while, then got back on the ship.

 

And of course, DH got his beer at the port...a tradition. Must get a beer at every port.

 

 

What a wonderful excursion. We both enjoyed it completely with the exception of the wind all day.

Highly recommend this one!

 

We were both starving, too, go figure. Up to the Lido, he got a Guy's burger, I got a burrito. Yummm. Back to the room to change and shower. We did notice a fire burning off in the distance on Freeport. Sam had explained to us that fires in the mangroves and forest areas are very common, its a way nature burns off the lower scrub brush. Can't remember the name of the plant, but it is very flamable, and when it gets hot it actually burns and takes out the other scrub plants. We are guessing that is what was happening. Regardless, it made for a cool panarama photo.

 

[ABQrobin]

Dinner tonight in the MDR - just okay. The dessert was the highlight. DH got the Bitter'nBlanc for the first, and I got the S'mores parfait. He thinks he may have a new favorite (for 7 cruises he has been a CMC fan, but now....) Haha. After dinner we went to walk laps and heard wonderful Latin music coming from the Ocean Plaza. Awesome! And there were several couples dancing. We found seats and sat to listen for awhile. Just wonderful.

 

Afterwards, we went back up to the Lido to fill up our water bottles for the night...and crash. Pooped.

 

 

....to be continued....

[ABQrobin]

Forgot to put in the map....

 

 

 

.........coming up next: Nassau....

[KmomChicago]

Having fun following your great review!

 

 

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[bitemebaby]

thanks for this review! Going in May

[Michelle236]

Awesome review. Sailing the Breeze again in July and your review is helping to build the anticipation.

[Mpavelchik]

Awesome review. Sailing the Breeze again in July and your review is helping to build the anticipation.

 

 

 

My wife and I are sailing in July as well – what date are you heading out?

 

 

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[Michelle236]

My wife and I are sailing in July as well – what date are you heading out?

 

 

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My two friends and I will be celebrating our 50th birthdays on the 7/22 sailing.

[Devo1459]

We are celebrating our 35th Anniversary on the Breeze April 15 sailing. It’s getting close.

[ABQrobin]

Thanks everyone!!

 

....back to the trip report....

 

 

Thursday, Feb 22nd....NASSAU

 

Port time 7am to 5pm. We had a parasailing excursion booked for 8:30am. It would be our first time parasailing and we were both stoked. BUT with all the HIGH WINDS every day this week, we were a bit concerned. We hit the breakfast buffet, got omelettes and fruit, and came back down to the room to grab our backpack for the day.....and a sheet of paper got slipped under our door. Dang. Cancelled due to wind.

Oh well. Credit was to be applied to our onboard account. We had booked the excursion through Carnival but done a price challenge and gotten $20pp onboard credit already, now the remaining amount was on the account. More money to spend onboard, I guess.

 

NCL Breakaway had parked next to us, and Carnival Elation was the other ship at the pier. No more arrived all day.

 

 

 

Since we weren't getting off to meet the parasailing excursion at 8:30am, we decided to go ahead and get off the ship and start walking around. We had wanted to have lunch at Fish Fry today, but other than that, no plans. I had downloaded a map posted by someone here on CC giving a walking tour of Nassau (thankyou whoever you are, it was perfect!) and we set off to walk up the hill to Queens staircase and Ft Fincastle before it got too hot.

 

Out of the the port, then past all the Gov't buildings, then up up up. It was already getting hot and it was only 9am. Traffic was crazy, too. Nassau is really a busy city.

 

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[ABQrobin]

 

 

 

 

 

This is going to be a photo intensive port for us.... since we didn't have an excursion.

FYI - if you don't have an excursion booked, there are tons of vendors, taxis, horse-drawn carriages right at the port.

 

Past all the pink Gov't buildings.

 

 

.....take a left, then a few blocks, take a right going up a steep hill...

[ABQrobin]

After a few blocks up this steep hill, you see a narrow alley with lots and lots of palm trees and banyon trees, that is paved. There is a small sign there that says "Queens Staircase".

 

 

 

 

 

 

And up we went!

 

 

 

There are tour guides who pop out behind bushes everywhere, and ask if you want a tour. Just local people looking to earn a living, didn't see any official name tags. I wouldn't have a problem hiring one for something like this, but today we didn't bother.

 

At the top of the staircase, you reach a street, and on the right you can see Ft Fincastle.

 

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[ABQrobin]

....more...

 

There is a row of vendors at the Fort.

 

 

New Providence island has 4 forts, one pointing each direction, to protect the island. Ft Fincastle is one of them. It has fantastic views in all directions. We could see the ships, too. The cost to get inside the fort is pretty cheap, don't remember exactly, maybe $4pp. Something like that. And a guide walks with you and talks for a few minutes, not long. It is a small fort and doesn't appear to have a barracks area, maybe underground? The top had guns/cannons pointed each direction.

 

 

 

 

From here you can see the location, and gauge the walking distance. I would say about a mile, but as I said, there is a hill so it may not be a great walk for many people.

 

 

 

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[ABQrobin]

It didn't take long to tour the fort, as I said, it is fairly small compared to the forts we have seen on other islands, like those at San Juan in particular.

The best thing about it was the view!

 

From there we headed back the way we came, down the hill into the bustling town... cars and horns and traffic and thousands of tourists walking around. And it was getting HOT.

 

We started down the main street towards the beaches and Fish Fry. Then we saw a group of buses sitting at a corner, and amazingly they all the the sign #10 on them. Aha, this the the bus that you take to Fish Fry. Cost is only $1.25pp, and we highly recommend them. Bus driver was nice, but they pack you in like sardines. Luckily it was only another mile away. You pay as you get off the bus.

 

 

 

It was 11am now, and we were ready for lunch.

We pulled up to the road, stopped, and the driver announced Fish Fry. A dozen people got off but it looked like all the others were going to something else in the area. Maybe the fort we could see on the hill on the left? No idea. Anyhow we started walking to the right, towards the little colorful buildings. It was dead, except for all the workers sitting outside every establishment, trying to drum up business.

 

 

 

 

 

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[ABQrobin]

forgot the maps again.... geez, senior moment.

 

 

 

 

 

...to be continued...

[ABQrobin]

....Found the cost of the fort in my notes...it was $6 for both of us.....