Freeport 9:00-6:00

[thefortunes]

We (family of 6 with kids 17, 16, 15 & 4) are stopping in Freeport from 9-6.

 

I've seen various recommendations for Port Lucaya Marketplace, Lucayan National park (caves), beaches, snorkeling, etc... and am thinking that we would RENT A CAR to do the following:

 

- Port Lucaya Marketplace - shopping, people watching, lunch

 

- MAYBE head to Lucayan National Park to check out the underwater caves

 

- Head to Paradise Cove to hang out & snorkel for the balance of the day.

 

Would this make sense or are we better off to just take a taxi to Port Lucayan and then do the beach there? This would really be our only opportunity on this cruise to snorkel, so I would like it to be good (but the 4 year-old removes us from snorkel tours - he would much prefer playing on the beach).

 

In the alternative, how much would taxis cost to go to Port Lucayan then Paradise Cove then back to the ship?

 

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[gottago2mexico]

We (family of 6 with kids 17, 16, 15 & 4) are stopping in Freeport from 9-6.

 

I've seen various recommendations for Port Lucaya Marketplace, Lucayan National park (caves), beaches, snorkeling, etc... and am thinking that we would RENT A CAR to do the following:

 

- Port Lucaya Marketplace - shopping, people watching, lunch

 

- MAYBE head to Lucayan National Park to check out the underwater caves

 

- Head to Paradise Cove to hang out & snorkel for the balance of the day.

 

Would this make sense or are we better off to just take a taxi to Port Lucayan and then do the beach there? This would really be our only opportunity on this cruise to snorkel, so I would like it to be good (but the 4 year-old removes us from snorkel tours - he would much prefer playing on the beach).

 

In the alternative, how much would taxis cost to go to Port Lucayan then Paradise Cove then back to the ship?

 

Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

Port Lucaya is about 15 minutes East of Lucayan Harbour, where you'll dock. From there it's another 30 minutes East to Lucayan National Park. Paradise Cove is about 15 minutes drive West of Lucayan Harbour, so that would not be advisable to do both. Snorkeling is best from a boat, which you can catch at Port Lucaya Marketplace, so that would be convenient. No need to rent a car if that's your itinerary though - you can just take a shared taxi for $5 pp to the Marketplace.

 

I would honestly pass on the park for a cruise stop unless you're going with a tour that has other activities as well - it's a long drive out there, and the caves aren't that exciting. Gold Rock Beach is across the street, but it's another 10 minute walk through the mangroves to get to it. Paradise Cove is a good choice for a cruise stop, as is the Marketplace, but the park is too far, in my opinion, you'll spend too much time traveling to make it worth it with the short time you have in port.

 

Hope this helps, have a great time!

[bobsfamily]

One thing about renting a car... well 2 things.

They drive on the left and it's real easy to forget... Our Lucaya has a limited number of parking spaces as most are taxied there... and make sure you take the insurance. Remember you are not in Kansas toto!

There is an Avis or something similar at the port if you want to do that. You are in port for a while as opposed to others. Google where you want to go and get directions from where you rent.

I would suggest go to Bishop's toward the east end... Best cracked conch and conch fritters I have ever had, and I've had a bunch. Great empty beach with a bar right on it.

Just ask and you will get directions to his place.

[thefortunes]

Thanks for the responses.

 

Re: snorkeling off a boat - we have a 4 year-old along who isn't ready for that, so I thought Paradise Cove made more sense (yet still had good snorkeling).

 

What really would be perfect is a nice beach with a bar/restaurant that has fun "stuff" like a large water trampoline, kayaks, climbing mountain/slide and yet has good snorkeling (we went to one of these in Cozumel called, ironically, Paradise Beach).

 

Anything like that around, or is Paradise Cove (or Bishop's) the closest choice?

[bobsfamily]

Thanks for the responses.

 

Re: snorkeling off a boat - we have a 4 year-old along who isn't ready for that, so I thought Paradise Cove made more sense (yet still had good snorkeling).

 

What really would be perfect is a nice beach with a bar/restaurant that has fun "stuff" like a large water trampoline, kayaks, climbing mountain/slide and yet has good snorkeling (we went to one of these in Cozumel called, ironically, Paradise Beach).

 

Anything like that around, or is Paradise Cove (or Bishop's) the closest choice?

 

The closest to that is in front of the Westin/Sheraton complex. If that is what you want then rent a room at the Sheraton for the day. I'm not sure what the dates are but it would be in the $200 range and would give you the run of the complex. The beach area has trampoline/jet skis/banana boat/etc. Snorkeling is fair... not all that great but for the youngest fine. You have a swim up bar, heated pools, food, casino... and shopping/food/bars across the street.

 

This might be the best rather than renting a car. I think that sometimes they also sell day passes. Paradise Cove snorkeling is a good swim out. You would have to rent a kayak for the younger one and then you have the same problem as being on a boat. I know you want to go somewhere "different" but Our Lucaya seems to fit the bill... especially if you rent a room for the day.

Bishops has food/bar/beach... empty beach. It is a flats bottom fishing camp... sort of. People do rent the few rooms he has to go do that type of fishing very close to the area.

This would be somewhere to have dinner, maybe a drink and a nice long walk on a deserted beach.

 

One other choice is Viva Fortuna (Wyndham resort) which is an All Inclusive resort. Food/drinks/non-motorized water sports are included. They sell day passes and you can reserve a room also.

 

Good luck and have a great time.

[thefortunes]

I might not be explaining myself very well...

 

The 4 year-old will not be snorkeling, so Paradise Cove would work (he can play on the beach). We also have our own gear so it will only be $3 per person to use the beach (plus food/drinks/any stuff we rent).

 

We will be at Atlantis the day before, so I think a relaxing day on the beach (with good snorkeling) would be a nice change of pace.

 

I am still leaning toward renting a car so we can do the Marketplace in the morning then head to Paradise Cove for snorkeling & beach time.

 

Hopefully I've explained it a little better - if anyone sees a better plan for the Marketplace then a beach with good snorkeling - or even better - with good snorkeling and other fun stuff let me know. Thanks!

[bobsfamily]

I might not be explaining myself very well...

 

The 4 year-old will not be snorkeling, so Paradise Cove would work (he can play on the beach). We also have our own gear so it will only be $3 per person to use the beach (plus food/drinks/any stuff we rent).

 

We will be at Atlantis the day before, so I think a relaxing day on the beach (with good snorkeling) would be a nice change of pace.

 

I am still leaning toward renting a car so we can do the Marketplace in the morning then head to Paradise Cove for snorkeling & beach time.

 

Hopefully I've explained it a little better - if anyone sees a better plan for the Marketplace then a beach with good snorkeling - or even better - with good snorkeling and other fun stuff let me know. Thanks!

 

I'll try one more time to explain about the island.... If the child is not going to snorkel then go on boat for the BEST snorkeling and let one person stay with the child.... the same you would do at Paradise Cove. Paradise Cove snorkeling is not right off the shore... it is a bit of a swim. If you are not a good swimmer you are highly recommended to rent a kayak to a least hang onto. Paradise could have 50 people and could you and your family.... no life guards, etc.

 

Taking a car to the Marketplace may be problem depending on the time as parking is hard to come by. A car is going to run you from $60 up with insurance.

The Beach at Our Lucaya is really the only place available to the general public that has people doing the trampoline/ski jets/etc. Other places have it but either cost or are not available to the general public.

 

There are several other places but are rarely visited by cruisers and are the Ritz, Tanio, Island Seas and others I can't think of. They are "condo" and have hit miss stuff on the beach.

I know you want to rent a car but do one if these:

http://www.snorkelingbahamas.com/

http://www.sanddollarcruise.com/

or one from the ship.

 

Whatever you do please have a good time and realize that GBI caters more to people who stay for a few days. I think if the cruise lines had somewhere else to go they would. Of course they do have people kinda captive at the port.

[gottago2mexico]

There is only one "Beach Club" on Grand Bahama that would even vaguely resemble Paradise Beach on Cozumel. It's called Junkanoo Beach Club, and it's located on Taino Beach, about 5 minutes taxi ride East of Port Lucaya Marketplace. Problem is, since the resort next door got leveled by the hurricane a few years back, with no "built-in" traffic, they now only open the beach club for the cruise ship's "Beach Break" excursions that they associate with. Check with your ship's excursion list to see if they offer that. It has kayaks, lounge chairs, a beach bar and grill, and some snorkeling, though not great. Not nearly as developed as Cozumel's beach clubs though, much quieter and more mellow.

 

The only other places with things like you're mentioning are the resorts previously mentioned - the Westin at Our Lucaya has the trampoline, ok snorkeling at best, water sports of all kinds, and a couple beach bars. Viva Wyndham and Taino Beach each have watersports too. However, I am not aware of any all-inclusive pass or anything like those offered by the cruise ships to visit those resorts. The beaches are public and free, but their facilities are not.

 

Really, Paradise Cove is the only snorkeling from the beach that I've found to be worth it on GBI. There is very good snorkeling from the boats (including the one with the climbing wall and water slide), but the beaches are so nice and sandy that there is nowhere for the fish to hide or feed. You need rocks or reef for good snorkeling, and while GBI has a great reef offshore, it's normally too far out for most people to swim. I've kicked out there a few times, and it was worth it, but it's a long haul from the beach.

 

Hope this helps clarify things a bit...there just isn't a Paradise Beach type facility on GBI - it's mellow, fun and relaxing, but not the party place that Cozumel is because it doesn't get thousands of cruise ships a year like Cozumel does. You have to have the tourists to support the tourist facilities and right now GBI doesn't have the amount of tourism that Cozumel does.

[thefortunes]

There is only one "Beach Club" on Grand Bahama that would even vaguely resemble Paradise Beach on Cozumel. It's called Junkanoo Beach Club, and it's located on Taino Beach, about 5 minutes taxi ride East of Port Lucaya Marketplace. Problem is, since the resort next door got leveled by the hurricane a few years back, with no "built-in" traffic, they now only open the beach club for the cruise ship's "Beach Break" excursions that they associate with. Check with your ship's excursion list to see if they offer that. It has kayaks, lounge chairs, a beach bar and grill, and some snorkeling, though not great. Not nearly as developed as Cozumel's beach clubs though, much quieter and more mellow.

 

The only other places with things like you're mentioning are the resorts previously mentioned - the Westin at Our Lucaya has the trampoline, ok snorkeling at best, water sports of all kinds, and a couple beach bars. Viva Wyndham and Taino Beach each have watersports too. However, I am not aware of any all-inclusive pass or anything like those offered by the cruise ships to visit those resorts. The beaches are public and free, but their facilities are not.

 

Really, Paradise Cove is the only snorkeling from the beach that I've found to be worth it on GBI. There is very good snorkeling from the boats (including the one with the climbing wall and water slide), but the beaches are so nice and sandy that there is nowhere for the fish to hide or feed. You need rocks or reef for good snorkeling, and while GBI has a great reef offshore, it's normally too far out for most people to swim. I've kicked out there a few times, and it was worth it, but it's a long haul from the beach.

 

Hope this helps clarify things a bit...there just isn't a Paradise Beach type facility on GBI - it's mellow, fun and relaxing, but not the party place that Cozumel is because it doesn't get thousands of cruise ships a year like Cozumel does. You have to have the tourists to support the tourist facilities and right now GBI doesn't have the amount of tourism that Cozumel does.

 

Thank you. This does help as we do NOT like breaking up so a boat for some of us wouldn't make sense.

 

We will most likely go with a modified version of the original plan - rent a car (from Celebrity), head to the Marketplace for some shopping and possibly lunch (dependent on timing) then head over to Paradise Cove for the balance of the day.

 

We can relax on the beach, the 4 yo can dig, make sandcastles, play in the surf, etc... while the teens and adults can head out to the reef whenever we choose. We will probably rent a kayak or a sea scooter to "help" get out to the reef (and back :)).

 

Assuming we will have a car (and I really am not concerned about driving anywhere - I have driven all over Mexico, Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, etc...) is there anyplace else that you would stop besides the Marketplace and Paradise Cove?

 

It was also mentioned that parking may be tough at the Marketplace - any advice?

[gottago2mexico]

Thank you. This does help as we do NOT like breaking up so a boat for some of us wouldn't make sense.

 

We will most likely go with a modified version of the original plan - rent a car (from Celebrity), head to the Marketplace for some shopping and possibly lunch (dependent on timing) then head over to Paradise Cove for the balance of the day.

 

We can relax on the beach, the 4 yo can dig, make sandcastles, play in the surf, etc... while the teens and adults can head out to the reef whenever we choose. We will probably rent a kayak or a sea scooter to "help" get out to the reef (and back :)).

 

Assuming we will have a car (and I really am not concerned about driving anywhere - I have driven all over Mexico, Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, etc...) is there anyplace else that you would stop besides the Marketplace and Paradise Cove?

 

It was also mentioned that parking may be tough at the Marketplace - any advice?

 

Sounds like a very fun day. I don't think you'll have much extra time to stop other places though - I'd just plan on doing those two things, otherwise you'll feel stressed.

 

I wouldn't worry about the parking at the Marketplace, I've never had a problem finding somewhere to park except when there is a special event. If you don't find a space in the main lot, you can always park in the other lot over by Pelican Bay or in the dirt lot on the corner of Seahorse and Royal Palm and hoof it, or "invent" a parking space like many people do.

[thefortunes]

Thank you again !!