Need help! What is best beach/best snorkeling in freeport?

[chenning]

hello all, i have looked over this thread for my answer and have yet to find anything that really answers my questions...this will be my first time in the bahamas , im comming in on friday May,15,2009 on carnival, i will be there from 7a-3p then heading back home, i have tried looking stuff up online but i think im correct in assuming there just isnt really anything fun to do here...the excursions listed by carnival arent that to appealing, and i will be doing a snorkel excursion in grand turks, and would prefer to snorkel off the beach to help avoid more cost...does anyone know where any good snorkeling would be from the beach? any info at all would be appreciated or if any of you have pics that would be nice too! thanks

[chenning]

i love how 65 people looked at this thread, and not one could give me a answer??????????? bueler bueler? anyone alive?

[Carolyn1950]

I looked but couldn't help you:p

Never been to the Bahamas, was hoping you knew more than me..LOL

[bobsfamily]

hello all, i have looked over this thread for my answer and have yet to find anything that really answers my questions...this will be my first time in the bahamas , im comming in on friday May,15,2009 on carnival, i will be there from 7a-3p then heading back home, i have tried looking stuff up online but i think im correct in assuming there just isnt really anything fun to do here...the excursions listed by carnival arent that to appealing, and i will be doing a snorkel excursion in grand turks, and would prefer to snorkel off the beach to help avoid more cost...does anyone know where any good snorkeling would be from the beach? any info at all would be appreciated or if any of you have pics that would be nice too! thanks

 

WOW, well first off... GBI is one of the nicest islands in the Bahamas and has wonderful beaches/people/nightlife/gambling/food/drinks/etc... The island is HUGE by Bahamian standards at almost 100 miles long... The island is set up more for land based trips rather than the cruisers. The ship's port is in an industrial area and does put people off. If you are wanting some great snorkeling you might try one of the ship's excursions as nothing is really close to do that. http://www.grandbahamanaturetours.com/ http://www.the-bahamas-watersports.com/#Freeport Not a lot of snorkeling right off the beach at Our Lucaya... this is where most cruise passengers end up... $5pp shared cab... has beach in front of the Westin/Sheraton complex/casino/shopping/drinks/food (cheap Subway)/etc. You can go with Capt. Tony.. http://www.sanddollarcruise.com/ Have a great time and realize there is plenty to do... just the island is spread out. http://www.bnt.bs/parks_lucayan.php http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g147422-Lucayan_National_Park_Grand_Bahama_Island_Bahamas-Vacations.html http://www.geographia.com/grandbahama/lucayan.htm

[BOARDTALKER]

Dear Chenning,

After spending two weeks in Freeport on a timeshare exchange, I hope that I can come up with an answer for you!

Freeport is amazing! with a multitude of Cays - [on a much smaller scale] likened to the intra-coastal waterways!

We spent an idyllic vacation on Taino Beach and a ferry takes you across to Port Lucaya via the Grand Lucayan Waterway and back which is a 10-15min.journey, literally around the corner and up the road of the Cay[inlet] to the main section of the island.

As a rule Cruise Ship passengers are taken on a delightful excursion to Port Lucaya which may or may not include a visit to the Beaches which may suffice owing to your short stay on the island.

Finding yourself on Port Lucaya Marketplace there is a boulevard of shops colourful straw markets and the International Bazaar, eating oulets and a magnificent circular piazza with a bandstand under a pergola facing the marina, where gracious yachts are docked.

Having found ourselves quite regular visitors on Port Lucaya were always happy to return to the beautiful beach on Taino.

Warm Calm turquoise water and miles of pristine white sand this beach would my first choice to spend a day on.

From the detailed map of Grand Bahama Island which I have in front of me the Harbour on the West End is just a stone's throw from Port Lucaya.

There you could find a water ferry to the opposite end of the island or a taxi to take you to your beach of choice.

You will however be greeted by wonderful hospitality and they are always there to offer advice and directions to a remote beach or a restaurant.

Rest assured that you will have the most memorable time on this island.

This island so deserving great praise offers more detailed accessible information for prospective travellers from abroad on different websites.

Don't miss the boat! and gauge the time and distance to leave yourself sufficient time to get back to board the ship for your onward journey.

Regards,

Boardtalker.

[chenning]

thank you all for answering, i have some decision making to do, being that the island is so big, we will have to plan accordingly time wise, i always like to be within spitting distance of the boat 2 hours before departure...i dont even care if it cuts my island time short, im not flying back from anywhere haha and missing 2 great days on the boat! well thanks again!

[bobsfamily]

shops colourful straw markets and the International Bazaar

Only comment is that the Bazaar is "downtown" and not at Our Lucaya... in fact Our Lucaya has pretty much replaced the International Bazaar as a tourist destination.

[thompsongunner06]

I recommend Capt Tony 200%,,He and his crew will go out of their way to show you a great time. They took just me and my wife out on the early cruise,,I made my own drinks,we swam and then a small boat with two air breathing "fish" came by and she got to swim with them for a few $$$$!!! Then we were taken to a spot and found our own sand dollars on the bottom. They dont charge too much and they are great. When we go back we will always use these guys! Boat was very clean and in great shape.

[BIG_Steve]

I recommend Capt Tony 200%,,He and his crew will go out of their way to show you a great time. They took just me and my wife out on the early cruise,,I made my own drinks,we swam and then a small boat with two air breathing "fish" came by and she got to swim with them for a few $$$$!!! Then we were taken to a spot and found our own sand dollars on the bottom. They dont charge too much and they are great. When we go back we will always use these guys! Boat was very clean and in great shape.

 

Capt Tony sounds great, and we intended to take an excursion with him. It rained as our ship was getting close to the dock, but the water on the way in seemed calm to me. But of course, I was on a cruiseship, and I'm not a sailor. The weather cleared a little, so we decided to head over to Luycaya. Well, we weren't able to get off the ship until 8:20am (that's when the port cleared the ship to let the passengers off, we were at the front of the line) and Tony was leaving at 9. We dashed up to the Taxis, but there was no one else waiting for a shuttle, and not many folks coming up. So we found a private cab to take us. It cost $27.00 + tip, and we got to the resort at 8:55. Capt Tonys' boat was there, but he was no where to be found, and no sign. We went back to the resort desk and inquired, and he had left no info there either. This was after having set up a "light" reservation via email. Another person came in looking for Tony, he had Tonys' phone number, and the desk called for us. Tony wasn't going because it was too rough. There was another boat there that did snorkeling, and he wasn't going either because it was too rough. That's life.

 

If I had booked the ships' excursion I would have known before I left the ship that it was canceled.

 

I know Tony can't control the weather, and is responsible for the safety of his guests and crew. He also had no way to call me that morning and tell me. My only beef with Tony is that he knew we were coming, and he didn't have the courtesy to leave a message at the desk that he wasn't running that day. I found that terribly rude. If only for the sake of communications, from here on out I think I'll only book an excursion like this through the ship .

[bobsfamily]

My only beef with Tony is that he knew we were coming, and he didn't have the courtesy to leave a message at the desk that he wasn't running that day. I found that terribly rude. If only for the sake of communications, from here on out I think I'll only book an excursion like this through the ship .

 

How do you know he did leave a message and the front desk forgot/the person you talked was not the one he left a message with/they felt like messing with the tourist/etc.?

And how many times do you think he has someone say they are coming and never show up or call/etc?

I not saying it was not right... I just think you are putting way to much on Capt. Tony.

[BIG_Steve]

How do you know he did leave a message and the front desk forgot/the person you talked was not the one he left a message with/they felt like messing with the tourist/etc.?

And how many times do you think he has someone say they are coming and never show up or call/etc?

I not saying it was not right... I just think you are putting way to much on Capt. Tony.

 

Is your first question a joke?

 

I don't care if some other tourist ran out on Tony. He was rude to us. I'm not that upset, and frankly I'm glad that neither he or other captains was so ruthless to take us out when it was not safe. Pretty much my whole idea about booking through the ship was communications. I would have known before I got off the ship that a ship tour was canceled. I wouldn't have had to run up to the taxi line and head over to the boat all stressed out and pay a big taxi fare.

 

My point was trying to show why perhaps a ship excursion is better. What I said about Tony was just an off the cuff observation, which I stand by.

[bobsfamily]

My point was trying to show why perhaps a ship excursion is better.by.

Yes you should take a ship excursion...

[bobsfamily]

How do you know he did leave a message and the front desk forgot/the person you talked was not the one he left a message with/they felt like messing with the tourist/etc.?

Is your first question a joke?

Not hardly... It's common (sadly) in almost any town that caters to "tourists"...

[BIG_Steve]

Not hardly... It's common (sadly) in almost any town that caters to "tourists"...

 

 

I want to appologize about the "is your first question a joke?" comment I made. You've been very helpful to myself and others, and I'm grateful for that.

[bobsfamily]

No problem.. I live in a resort town (and this weekend went into hyperdrive) at the beach and see this sort of thing all the time. Some is brought on by the tourists and some is just mean people. I have had several conversations with Capt. Tony, have done his tour and read many good things about him... including your comment I have read about 3 bad ones, and yours was only about not notifying you... not about the actual trip. He is a one man (Ok 2) operation and things do fall thru the cracks. Thats the reason I said you should take a ship sponsered excursion, pay the higher price and be assured a ride home before the ship leaves... just remember that Carnival expressly states that the excursion are not own/operated/etc by Carnival and that they (Carnival) cannot be held responsible for what happens on the excursion.

[pm57]

It's been years since I've been to Freeport. There is a national park about 20/30 min outside of Freeport. It has very small parking lots across the road from the one of the most amazing beaches I have ever been to. Beach must be at least a mile long, very wide with sparkling white sugar sand and is practically deserted. At least it was on the day we were there. No facilities there though. As for snorkelling we found a small, family run, land based operation on the opposite side of Freeport from the beach mentioned above. Can't remember the name but great shore snorkelling about 100 yards out. I know its not much but i hope this helps.

[framerman]

How do you know he did leave a message and the front desk forgot/the person you talked was not the one he left a message with/they felt like messing with the tourist/etc.?

And how many times do you think he has someone say they are coming and never show up or call/etc?

I not saying it was not right... I just think you are putting way to much on Capt. Tony.

couldn't agree more. These guys make their living by exceeding the ships excursions, if they screwed up on a regular basis this forum would eat them alive.