Budget Cruises to the Bahamas
Beautiful beaches and laid-back island vibes can be had
for less than $300 a person
By Emily Coleman
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
The 700 islands that make up the Bahamas, a former British colony, spread across 100,000 square miles. It is filled with diverse wildlife and inhabited by residents with a rich heritage. The tropical climate ensures that winter temperatures usually don't dip below 70 degrees, while the hottest days of summer are in the 90s. Whether you want to swim in the crystalline waters (said to be among the clearest in the world) or explore a pirate-filled past, there are many ways to discover this convenient paradise.
Proximity to the U.S. makes this set of islands a great destination for vacationers with time constraints. Fleets of cruise ships sail three-, four- and five-night itineraries year-round from departure points in Florida: Jacksonville in the north, Port Canaveral on the central Atlantic coast and Miami in the south. Longer trips of a week or more leave from Baltimore, New York City, New Orleans and Galveston, TX, and include a few days at sea.
Cruising has long been a terrific vacation value, with many components incorporated into the fare. Meals, accommodations, transportation from port to port, onboard activities and entertainment are all factored into the price you pay up front. Once you book your cruise, you've taken care of much of your vacation planning.
The shorter cruises are very budget-friendly escapes, especially if you take advantage of slashed rates offered by cruise discounters such as Vacations To Go, a 25-year-old company based in Houston. It lists scores of four-night cruises for less than $300 a person. Prices for a four-night Bahamas cruise from Miami aboard the Norwegian Sky, for example, start as low as $209 per person next year for inside cabins. Staterooms with views are just $40 to $50 more per person. Departures aboard Majesty of the Seas, which sails for Royal Caribbean International, also go for as little as $209 next January; the itinerary throws Key West, FL, into its Bahamian mix.
The Disney Wonder spends three nights visiting Nassau and Castaway Cay, its private retreat in the Bahamas. The ship sails from Port Canaveral, with rates that start at $349 per person on Nov. 19, reduced 65 percent from $999.
A weeklong sailing aboard the Carnival Pride from Baltimore is reduced from $1,769 to $479 for an inside stateroom on the Jan. 31 departure. For an additional $50 per person, guests can book an ocean-view room. Visit Vacations To Go to browse hundreds more deeply discounted cruises, many of them going for a third or less of their original brochure prices.
The Bahamas is a great destination for a laid-back beach vacation. Although there are hundreds of islands in the Bahamas, two ports are most frequently included on itineraries: Nassau on New Providence Island and Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. Many ships also call at private beach retreats owned by the cruise lines (more on these later).
Vessels dock in the middle of downtown Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas and its largest city. British colonial character is captured in the pastel Georgian-style buildings and in the statue of Queen Victoria in Parliament Square. Unruly seafaring men overran Nassau in the late 17th century; later, its position along shipping lanes made it a prime spot for smugglers. During the Prohibition of the 1920s, the harbor was expanded to aid the illicit flow of alcohol. Now, the waterfront welcomes tourists -- generally a more law-abiding bunch than their predecessors.
Nassau's past is linked to the infamous pirate Blackbeard, who used the sheltered harbors and hiding spots to protect his hard-won cache. Rumors of long-lost spoils persist, but you'd do better to swing by historic Bay Street, the town's main thoroughfare, for your own treasures. Good deals can be found in jewelry, perfumes, watches, china and many other items sold without the local import tax (look for the duty-free logo, DFS, in windows). At the Straw Market in Nassau, souvenir-hunters will find woven baskets, hats, place mats and purses.
A mile west of central Nassau sits Fort Charlotte, an 18th-century stronghold with dungeon, ramparts and drawbridge still intact. Local guides bring its history to life during guided tours. At the Pompey Museum, view exhibits that detail the story of slavery and the 1834 emancipation in the Bahamas.
Thousands of Bahamians honor their heritage during lively, costumed Junkanoo parades on Boxing Day (Dec. 26) and New Year's Day. You also can sample the celebrations during the Junkanoo Summer Festival in July. Festivities take place on various islands, but the most magnificent parade is in Nassau. The bright colors and joyful sounds are reminiscent of Rio de Janeiro's Carnival or New Orleans' Mardi Gras, but Junkanoo is uniquely Bahamian in its music, dances, crafts, games, folklore and food.
Two bridges connect Nassau to the aptly named Paradise Island, which bore the less enticing moniker of Hog Island when it was used primarily for farming. Today its 685 acres are devoted to delighting visitors, many of whom head for the broad white sands of Cabbage Beach and Paradise Beach. Cable Beach, to the west of Nassau, has more than two miles of sandy coast, a golf course, the Crystal Palace Casino and plenty of nightlife.
Bahamas cruises also can stop at Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. Shoppers gravitate to the Port Lucaya Marketplace and Marina, where 80 stores and restaurants occupy a dozen buildings on the waterfront. Pick up handicrafts and duty-free items, or indulge in Bahamian cuisine. Look for such seafood offerings as fresh conch, rock lobster and boiled fish served with grits. Wash it down with some "sky juice," a local favorite of coconut water, sweetened condensed milk and gin.
The pristine waters of the Bahamas are perfect for snorkeling and diving, both popular activities in Freeport. With visibility up to about 200 feet, divers can see much of what lies below the water's surface. Visitors also can swim with dolphins, water-ski, try windsurfing or go parasailing. National parks on Grand Bahama showcase ecological treasures, such as a flamingo colony at the Rand Nature Center and one of the world's longest underwater cave systems at Lucayan National Park.
Several cruise lines have developed their own private paradises in the Bahamas and include these retreats in itineraries. Safe and secluded, these sandy stretches offer lounge chairs, shaded hammocks, beachside barbecue lunches and plenty of recreation, such as snorkeling, kayaking, horseback riding and hiking along nature trails.
Norwegian Cruise Line was the first company to purchase a private island, Great Stirrup Cay, where guests can lounge on three luxurious beaches. Princess Cruises has carved out a piece of the tiny island of Eleuthera to form Princess Cays, where the water toys include Hobie Cat sailboats, aqua bikes and kayaks with transparent hulls; plus, schools of colorful fish inhabit a coral reef here.
Royal Caribbean has claimed CocoCay as its own, and diving enthusiasts can check out the sunken replica of one of Blackbeard's ships, the Queen Anne's Revenge. At Disney's Castaway Cay, costumed characters entertain the younger crowd, teens can escape to their own beach or sports pavilion for billiards and basketball, and parents can sip a beverage at the kids-free Serenity Bay.
Half Moon Cay is shared by guests of Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Lines, and it is well-loved -- among Holland America passengers, it's the line's highest-rated port of call in the Caribbean. It's tucked into a 2,400-acre bird sanctuary on the island of Little San Salvador, making it a perfectly serene spot for reflecting on the beauty of the Bahamas.
Information: To learn more about cruises to the Bahamas, visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 338-4962.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in September/October 2009.