10 cruises and never been to Bahamas. Thoughts?

[lrk]

I am trying to plan my next cruise and I am just curious how you like the Bahamas.  I have really only gotten one opinion from a family memeber who did not recommend the Bahamas over Mexico.  Says it is very crowded, commercialized, etc.  After going to the Western Caribbean SO many times, thi thinking of doing Bahamas for something different.  Just curious what all you Carnival cruisers think.

[firefly333]

24 minutes ago, lrk said:

I am trying to plan my next cruise and I am just curious how you like the Bahamas.  I have really only gotten one opinion from a family memeber who did not recommend the Bahamas over Mexico.  Says it is very crowded, commercialized, etc.  After going to the Western Caribbean SO many times, thi thinking of doing Bahamas for something different.  Just curious what all you Carnival cruisers think.

I think the bahamas overall is flat and brown but also has lovely beaches if that's all you care about. Roatan to me is more like hawaii and green and mountains. 

 

ABC islands are also lovely beaches and water, aruba bonaire and curacao. 

[john91498]

Went to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas and I doubt we'll go back. It's like a giant water park that is way over priced. There's no restaurants that were reasonable. Longest 5 days ever.

 

Although, the beaches and the views were amazing. But, for $850 a night, they better be.

 

Mexico, on the other hand, was much more affordable. Beers were $3 and shots were $4 or $5. All inclusive resorts are $300 - $400 which includes all the food and drinks.

 

If you've never been to these 2 countries, you should go at least once. 

[SPacificbound]

The Bahamas....... you haven't missed anything.

[lazydayz]

I would give the Bahamas a try if I had never been there.  Nassau has some fine shopping, lovely beaches, two really nIce casinos, along with water parks.  Bimini is so laid back and fun.  For those of us who been 20 times or more, it is not that exciting.  But if you have ever been, it is worth exploring.  I love the Queen’s staircase, shopping at John Bull, and checking out the yachts at Atlantis.

 

Even the sail in is very pretty with the lighthouse and a view of Atlantis.  And the port renovation was very well done.  So if you are open minded and want to try somewhere different, the Bahamas has a lot to offer.  Many of us frequent cruisers are suffering from the been there, done that syndrome.  

[Honolulu Blue]

8 hours ago, lrk said:

I am trying to plan my next cruise and I am just curious how you like the Bahamas.  I have really only gotten one opinion from a family memeber who did not recommend the Bahamas over Mexico.  Says it is very crowded, commercialized, etc.  After going to the Western Caribbean SO many times, thi thinking of doing Bahamas for something different.  Just curious what all you Carnival cruisers think.

It took me more than 20 cruises to get to the Bahamas - and then I only visited Princess Cays.  This wasn't on Carnival.  PC was exactly what I expected it to be - a good place for beaches and watersports, and not much else.  

 

I should note that I have been to Grand Turk a couple of times, which is kind of near the Bahamas.  I found it similar to PC - nice blue water but not much else - but it has a dock and there are some places to explore other than the beach.

 

The Bahamas stretches for many miles and has many, many different experiences.  I had a cruise that was scheduled to stop in Nassau earlier this year, but we skipped it due to high winds.  I have another cruise that goes there in April.  Neither cruise was or will be on Carnival.

 

One curiosity is one charter cruise I saw is actually doing FOUR Bahamas stops on a 7-day cruise - Bimini, Freeport, Nassau, and Perfect Day at CocoCay (Royal's private island experience).  That would be a good one to explore the region, if you can stand the theme.

[ledges1]

I have been to the western Caribbean more times than I can remember. However, I still prefer it over Nassau and Freeport. If I spend the travel dollars to go to Miami or Canaveral, I will go to St Maarten, San Juan, Amber Cove or the ABC islands. I did take a cruise from Jacksonville. Mainly because it was convenient and was going to Princess Cay. We missed Princess Cay due to weather. The other stop was Nassau. Even with the port improvements, the city of Nassau is not inviting. We spent most of our time on the ship.

[johnboy036]

I’m leaving on my 24th cruise tomorrow and have yet to visit the Bahamas. From the sounds of it, I’m not missing much. No plans to visit there any time soon. 

[Theosprey247]

Nassau has a lot to offer, but does get crowded.  Carnival is building a new port facility (like Amber cove I guess) for Freeport which might tempt me to book a Bahamas cruise once it’s completed. 

[mz-s]

Any serious cruiser owes it to themselves to cruise to the Bahamas, just like they owe it to themselves to cruise out of Miami. It's kind of like a rite of passage to have a bracelet put on your wrist without permission in Nassau.

[ninjacat123]

We have enjoyed our many visits to Nassau, Princess Cay and Half Moon Cay.  In Nassau, we usually go to John Watlings distillery for the best Pina Colada EVER 👍 and love the snorkeling (lots of fish in the cove) at Princess Cay and the peacefulness at HMC. Freeport was fun enough (one and done) and Bimini was a nice beach day but I don't need to go back after being there twice. Our upcoming cruise in 17 days is porting in Grand Turk (Bahamas? IDK) and Amber Cove, DR. I will miss my Pina Colada but it will be nice to go to these ports that I haven't seen in a while.  Good luck on your cruise planning!!

[jsglow]

I like the Bahamas a great deal. But one must understand that Nassau/Freeport are way different from the rest of the island nation. Ask any sailor about the stunning island chains stretching south and east. The closest we get on a Carnival ship is HMC. But that's stunning and beats Progresso every day and twice on Sunday.

[notscb]

My thoughts- 'meh'

 

Did Nassau once and will never again. I'd rather do PR, the BVI (ABC Islands) or literally anywhere else. Cruise line private islands don't really excite me either, although I understand why all of the majors are doing it. The water is beautiful in the Bahamas for sure, but I'd rather go anywhere else.

[sanger727]

I've done Nassau once and wouldn't get off the ship if I had another cruise with a stop there. But there's alot more Caribbean than Western. Tortola and St Martin are great if you haven't been there. I haven't made it to the ABC islands yet but have good things. 

[pcvtmom]

Nassau and Freeport are "just ok" to us.  However, Half Moon Cay is part of the Bahamas, and I think it is a perfect beach.  I like everything about it, and I'd go there once a year, if I could!!

[Oceansaway17]

18 hours ago, lrk said:

I am trying to plan my next cruise and I am just curious how you like the Bahamas.  I have really only gotten one opinion from a family memeber who did not recommend the Bahamas over Mexico.  Says it is very crowded, commercialized, etc.  After going to the Western Caribbean SO many times, thi thinking of doing Bahamas for something different.  Just curious what all you Carnival cruisers think.

Even if you do not get off in Nassau, it is a pretty port to sail into past the tiny lighthouse, and most likely there will be other ships in port that you can look at.  But the area near the port was just upgraded with nice shops.  Still I tour I liked was the Pirates ship which took me around the ships up aways and then in the other direction.  Was fun and good harbor cruise. 

[clackey]

We have been to Nassau twice which was once too many.  Much prefer islands farther south.  If I had another stop in Nassau I would stay on the ship, eat, hit the waterslide, and eat😉.

[May1cruiser]

Been to Bahamas several times. Just meh. We find the local very pushy to sell their wares/services. We prefer laid back and no pressure vacation time since our line of work is so demanding. 

 

The waters are beautiful, but agree with others. 

 

Bonaire has recently become a new favorite for us while on a southern itinerary. 

 

[staceyglow]

1 hour ago, May1cruiser said:

Been to Bahamas several times. Just meh. We find the local very pushy to sell their wares/services. We prefer laid back and no pressure vacation time since our line of work is so demanding. 

 

The waters are beautiful, but agree with others. 

 

Bonaire has recently become a new favorite for us while on a southern itinerary. 

 

Did some quick calculating.  1% of Carnival cruises go to Bonaire, not one of which is less than 8 days. 26% go to the Bahamas. and many are 4 days or less.  

 

It's not like you can easily swap out Bonaire for the Bahamas at will.

[Pellaz]

1 hour ago, staceyglow said:

Did some quick calculating.  1% of Carnival cruises go to Bonaire, not one of which is less than 8 days. 26% go to the Bahamas. and many are 4 days or less.  

 

It's not like you can easily swap out Bonaire for the Bahamas at will.

 

Yep.  Sure, I'd swap Nassau for Bonaire in a heartbeat, but there's a huge difference in distance and time requirements.  I'm glad we got to Bonaire on the Horizon last October, completing our tour of the ABC Islands.  

 

OP, the Bahamas is (are?) certainly worth a visit at least once and can often be done "on the cheap" since they are close to Florida ports (except Tampa).   

-- Grand Turk, which is technically part of Turks & Caicos (actually contains the capital "city") but is part of the Bahamas island chain, is one of my favorite ports anywhere.  Very casual, vendors are not pushy, one of the nicest built-port areas anywhere with a big free pool and the beach is literally a few hundred feet from the dock.  

-- I'm mostly done with Nassau except that I haven't seen their new cruise port facility yet.  I've heard the vendors are less pushy there than they were in the old facility and I hope to check it out at some point.  

-- I really love Half Moon Cay...but the skyrocketing price of cabanas there has soured me on it a bit.   We've really enjoyed our cabanas there on 3 previous visits, but I doubt we'd ever get one there again.   Carnival is investing $70 million to build a dock there....finally.  Can't wait!  

-- Bimini was okay.   Couldn't ask for a closer port to Miami.  😄  

-- Haven't been to Freeport.  I'm told I ain't missin' much. 😄 

-- Haven't been to Princess Cay yet (part of Eleuthera Island).  I'd like to check it out at least once.  

-- Hope to get to Celebration Key, Carnival's new-build port on Grand Bahama Island, in 2025.  🙂  

 

Edited December 30, 2023 by Pellaz

[lrk]

Thank you all for the input.  To be more specific, I am only looking at cruises that keep me from having to fly....so sailing out of Galveston or New Orleans.  This limits me to the Western or Eastern Caribbean.  I have cruised out of Miami and San Juan and been to Caribbean islands which are wonderful.  However, I cannot get there sailing from Texas.  So, that limits me to Mexico, Honduras

(Love it) Belize, Cayman, and Jamaica.  The only place I haven't been is the Eastern Caribbean ie, the Bahamas, which led to my original post.  The exact cruise I am thinking of goes to Key West ( been there...meh!). Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.  Snorkeling is what I enjoy while in the Caribbean so Honduras, Cozumel, and Cayman, are my favorites.  

 

[n6uqqq]

6 hours ago, lrk said:

Thank you all for the input.  To be more specific, I am only looking at cruises that keep me from having to fly....so sailing out of Galveston or New Orleans.  This limits me to the Western or Eastern Caribbean.  I have cruised out of Miami and San Juan and been to Caribbean islands which are wonderful.  However, I cannot get there sailing from Texas.  So, that limits me to Mexico, Honduras

(Love it) Belize, Cayman, and Jamaica.  The only place I haven't been is the Eastern Caribbean ie, the Bahamas, which led to my original post.  The exact cruise I am thinking of goes to Key West ( been there...meh!). Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.  Snorkeling is what I enjoy while in the Caribbean so Honduras, Cozumel, and Cayman, are my favorites.  

 

Miracle is doing a southern Caribbean that goes to the ABC's , Cozumel, and Montego bay and is a 12 day journeys out of Galveston Jan 26, 2025.

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Have been blessed to cruise to the Bahamas and also fly there since the 1970s. A lot has changed and now personally many of the Caribbean islands including Bermuda although technically not Caribbean I have lost my love for.  Nowadays generally stay on the ship and really don’t care where she sails to.  That is just my opinion.  Atlantis is massive and if I want crazy I have it all in NY lol.

[jsglow]

9 hours ago, lrk said:

Thank you all for the input.  To be more specific, I am only looking at cruises that keep me from having to fly....so sailing out of Galveston or New Orleans.  The only place I haven't been is the Eastern Caribbean ie, the Bahamas, which led to my original post.  The exact cruise I am thinking of goes to Key West ( been there...meh!). Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau. 

 

I'm assuming you're looking at the 8 night Dream. I would certainly do it as your port options out of Galveston/New Orleans are extremely limited and will become repetitive very quickly.

[txcruiser1234]

11 hours ago, lrk said:

Thank you all for the input.  To be more specific, I am only looking at cruises that keep me from having to fly....so sailing out of Galveston or New Orleans.  This limits me to the Western or Eastern Caribbean.  I have cruised out of Miami and San Juan and been to Caribbean islands which are wonderful.  However, I cannot get there sailing from Texas.  So, that limits me to Mexico, Honduras

We did this 8 day Dream itinerary in '22 and '23. The first time, like you, was to visit the Bahamas for our first time. We like Key West ok enough for a day visit... but Nassau and Freeport were a disappointment.. just not what we thought they would be. But Half Moon Cay (Little San Salvador Island) was exactly what we pictured as an idyllic Bahamian island. A top 5 all-time favorite port call for us. We liked HMC so much that we booked the same itinerary again for a second NYE Dream cruise, knowing that the day at HMC alone would be worth it for us. We just stayed on the ship for Freeport and Nassau the second time... the Dream being a solid ship to spend a port day on...