Freeport (Port Lucaya)

[Mexfolkart]

We are going to be in Freeport (Port Lucaya) on our "Gals Cruise"..when we dock (Carnival) are we close to anything? Can we get around without a ships tour which seems to include a lot of beach time that we don't want (we live at the beach)..any tips..shopping, restaurants for lunch, places to walk?

Thanks.

[LounVal]

Not much at the port. There is a market with the same stuff you see at all the other markets but that is it. There is nothing within any kind of walking distance.

[airlink diva]

I'm not a person who tell people to stay on board when at a port,but to get out and enjoy the port. Freeport is the one exception.

Like LounVal stated, the shopping is not that great. The main area that they will drop you off at is about 10 to 15 minutes from the port area in Port Lucaya. The vendors offer the same t-shirts, and other toursity knick knacks. Frankly you can walk this area in 15 minutes.

I did pick up a glass bottom tour in the shopping area and it was a nice time to past time, but otherwise, I couldn't wait to get back on board.

I even would suggest a ship tour and I normally don't do that!!

[ladycaveat]

We are going to be in Freeport (Port Lucaya) on our "Gals Cruise"..when we dock (Carnival) are we close to anything? Can we get around without a ships tour which seems to include a lot of beach time that we don't want (we live at the beach)..any tips..shopping, restaurants for lunch, places to walk?

Thanks.

 

How long does it take to go from the Pier to Port Lucaya and does anyone know the price of a taxi?

[comeon530]

It's $5 per person. 10-15 minutes from the port. If you don't want to an excursion or go to the beach, you won't find a lot. I would take a taxi to Our Lucaya and walk through the shops there. There are the touristy ones as well as a few nicer ones. There are a few places to eat nearby, including the Prop club, Billy Joe's Conch shack (heavenly!).

[marym933]

The International Bazaar is rather nice to walk around. There are a couple of casinos nearby. Our Lucaya has one along with the Bahamaian Princess Resort. Here is a link to the International Bazaar. It is a 15 minute, $5 pp cab ride away.

 

http://www.the-bahama-islands.com/bazaar.html

[daflabear]

There is only ONE casino and it is at Our Lucaya resort.

For new players they will give you a Players Club card with $10 in free play. Drinks are comped for those who play. If you are a Player, you will get some food comps too IF you paly for a few hours.

Do NOT go to the International Bazaar. Since the hurricane it is mostly shut down with only 5 or six shops open, a complete waste of time.

Take the taxi for $5 each and go directly to Our Lucaya resort.

Across the street is a huge Marketplace with MANY shops and restaurants. This is where many of the shops that were at the International Bazaar have re-located.

One last tip. At the Port is a great little open air sports bar called Seaman's Rest. It is all the way in back on the waterfront where the small group of permanent buildings are.

Say hi to Morris the cheerful owner. Ice cold beer and wine and full service bar.

Nice place to make a last stop before boarding.

[daflabear]

There is only ONE casino and it is at Our Lucaya resort. The Princess is now a timeshare and barely alive.

For new players they will give you a Players Club card with $10 in free play. Drinks are comped for those who play. If you are a Player, you will get some food comps too IF you paly for a few hours.

Do NOT go to the International Bazaar. Since the hurricane it is mostly shut down with only 5 or six shops open, a complete waste of time.

Take the taxi for $5 each and go directly to Our Lucaya resort.

Across the street is a huge Marketplace with MANY shops and restaurants. This is where many of the shops that were at the International Bazaar have re-located.

One last tip. At the Port is a great little open air sports bar called Seaman's Rest. It is all the way in back on the waterfront where the small group of permanent buildings are.

Say hi to Morris the cheerful owner. Ice cold beer and wine and full service bar.

Nice place to make a last stop before boarding.

[ladycaveat]

It's $5 per person. 10-15 minutes from the port. If you don't want to an excursion or go to the beach, you won't find a lot. I would take a taxi to Our Lucaya and walk through the shops there. There are the touristy ones as well as a few nicer ones. There are a few places to eat nearby, including the Prop club, Billy Joe's Conch shack (heavenly!).

 

Thanks bunches for the info. From what I've read on here, think I may get off the ship just to say I've been there and then turn around and get back on the ship and sit by the pool until we leave at two.

[marym933]

There is only ONE casino and it is at Our Lucaya resort. The Princess is now a timeshare and barely alive.

For new players they will give you a Players Club card with $10 in free play. Drinks are comped for those who play. If you are a Player, you will get some food comps too IF you paly for a few hours.

Do NOT go to the International Bazaar. Since the hurricane it is mostly shut down with only 5 or six shops open, a complete waste of time.

Take the taxi for $5 each and go directly to Our Lucaya resort.

Across the street is a huge Marketplace with MANY shops and restaurants. This is where many of the shops that were at the International Bazaar have re-located.

One last tip. At the Port is a great little open air sports bar called Seaman's Rest. It is all the way in back on the waterfront where the small group of permanent buildings are.

Say hi to Morris the cheerful owner. Ice cold beer and wine and full service bar.

Nice place to make a last stop before boarding.

 

I am so sorry to hear about the hurricane damage. It has been 3 years since I have been to Freeport. I really liked Freeport better than Nassau. The folks there seemed friendlier and less pushy. Thanks for setting me straight. My info, unfortunately, is outdated!

[daflabear]

Mary, not a problem.

I have been there three months in a row on the Celebration, and going again on the 17th.

There is not as much there as in Nassau, but for a quick two night junket it is fun.

[gottago2mexico]

Do NOT go to the International Bazaar. Since the hurricane it is mostly shut down with only 5 or six shops open, a complete waste of time.

 

The International Bazaar has 37 shops and restaurants open, not 5 or 6, but certainly Port Lucaya provides a more robust atmosphere and more shops and restaurants.

[daflabear]

Johann and Sandra,

I know you guys visit Freeport as often or even more than me.

But have you actually been to the Bazaar recently?

There may be 37 "shops"/restaurants open, so sez their press release, but not venues you would recommend.

Plus it's not a good place to get stranded and have to pay a taxi to go anywhere else due to the $$$$ it would cost.

Not arguieng, (because you guys rock!) but just a comment.

If ya been there it's good enough for me, if not well, I'd give pause to recommend it.

B

[gottago2mexico]

Johann and Sandra,

I know you guys visit Freeport as often or even more than me.

But have you actually been to the Bazaar recently?

There may be 37 "shops"/restaurants open, so sez their press release, but not venues you would recommend.

Plus it's not a good place to get stranded and have to pay a taxi to go anywhere else due to the $$$$ it would cost.

Not arguieng, (because you guys rock!) but just a comment.

If ya been there it's good enough for me, if not well, I'd give pause to recommend it.

B

 

We were there last month. We took a friend there and both they and us found some nice clothes and handbags and gifts. The shops here are overall less touristy than at Port Lucaya - fashion shops with clothes that don't say "Bahamas" on them, womens shops including the lady that designed the outfits for the Miss Universe pageant held on Grand Bahama this year (she'll custom make any size for you), a few shops that sell actual handmade purses and handbags (not from China), many made right on Grand Bahama by the store merchant, a Greek store, a Chinese store, a couple liquor stores, a few local bars and restaurants, things like that. Still some souvenirs though. Ate lunch at the newly reopened Le Rendez-Vous restaurant, thought to go to the newly opened Jazz Club later than evening, but got hung up at dinner. The Perfume Factory is still there, a few fashion stores have opened up, and the Chinese stores still seem to do good business. Across the street you can find the conch and fish vendors, though I'm not sure why you'd care about that if you're on a cruise ship.

 

Now don't get too excited though, there are still large sections of the Bazaar that are seemingly deserted, only a very few shoppers are around so it feels like a ghost town even where there are stores (remember it's still only at about 35% occupancy), and the whole place could use a paint job and good cleaning (though a few shops have recently renovated), but if you go all the way to the East end where the arcade is, and Chinese Street, the occupancy is probably 80%. The west and south sides (where unfortunately most tourists arrive at because the parking is there) are still mostly closed except for a few shops along the street and the straw market is almost nonexistent. They are trying to reinvent the Bazaar as a place where locals can come and shop, rather than just souvenirs. They are offering lots of new incentives to business owners, and hope to have 60 businesses open there by the end of the year. Now who knows if that will happen, but at least they're moving on and trying to do something.

 

I would still definitely not recommend it if you're on a cruise ship. You only have one day in port, and Port Lucaya is going to be a much better experience for you. I wouldn't recommend it yet even if you're staying on the island, actually. Just wanted to let you know that there is more there now than meets the eye, though still a distant shadow of its former self. Hopefully better days are ahead for the Bazaar.

[rrraydon]

I've visited Freeport a few times now. In February, we were only there from 8a-2p. We wished we were there longer. We loved it. We took a taxi to Our Lucaya, $10pp round trip. We were dropped off at the straw market. We did some shopping for a little bit at the shops and walked across the street to the public beach. We layed out on the beach and drank pina colodas that we purchased from the mini bar vendor. Lots of rum!! We brought our own towels to lay on as they charge ten bucks to rent a chair for the day. There are some ladies who walk around selling necklaces and earrings that they hand make. We bought a few of those. Keep in mind, these islands are poor and this is how a lot of people make their living. They also have water sports there you could rent. Like I said, we had a great time and wished our stay there was longer. :)

[daflabear]

Johann and Sandra,

Well it's good to hear the Bazaar is on the comeback trail.

I have passed by it three times in the last three months (going back on the 17th/18th) and it didn't look too prosperous, the "See Freeport" magazine had a map of it (with the key stores and restaurants, and most of the restaurants were only open for dinner) and it didn't look too inviting (compared to the Marketplace), and all my drivers said to avoid it.

Having said that, if I was staying overnight or more I'd probably venture over based on what you are saying, but for a lot a reasons it's not the place to visit off a cruise ship.

But again, I'm glad to hear that it at least has a stong pulse. :-)

[gottago2mexico]

Johann and Sandra,

Well it's good to hear the Bazaar is on the comeback trail.

I have passed by it three times in the last three months (going back on the 17th/18th) and it didn't look too prosperous, the "See Freeport" magazine had a map of it (with the key stores and restaurants, and most of the restaurants were only open for dinner) and it didn't look too inviting (compared to the Marketplace), and all my drivers said to avoid it.

Having said that, if I was staying overnight or more I'd probably venture over based on what you are saying, but for a lot a reasons it's not the place to visit off a cruise ship.

But again, I'm glad to hear that it at least has a stong pulse. :-)

 

The pulse is still weak and barely discernable, but at least it has one at all now after its near-death experience of 2004. We'll see where it stands in a year or two. Maybe by then we can recommend it. 35% occupancy is far from prosperous - definitely give it a miss on your cruise stop and head for Port Lucaya.

[mamarn9133]

I'm not a person who tell people to stay on board when at a port,but to get out and enjoy the port. Freeport is the one exception.

Like LounVal stated, the shopping is not that great. The main area that they will drop you off at is about 10 to 15 minutes from the port area in Port Lucaya. The vendors offer the same t-shirts, and other toursity knick knacks. Frankly you can walk this area in 15 minutes.

I did pick up a glass bottom tour in the shopping area and it was a nice time to past time, but otherwise, I couldn't wait to get back on board.

I even would suggest a ship tour and I normally don't do that!!

What was the glass bottom boat tour like? Was it clean and reputable? We're going in 2 months with a 4 yr old and an 18 month old, would it be acceptable for them?