Beach Break with the Grandeur

[New KAJO]

Hello,

 

We really enjoyed the beach break on Labadee on our last cruise.

 

We are now booked on the Grandeur which is travelling to the Bahamas.

 

Is it possible to go to the beach on Key West, Freeport, Cococay ?

 

Is it easy to get to the beach : do you need to take a taxi, shuttle, shore excursion, ... ?

 

Are the beaches nice ? Will the water be hot enough to swim ?

 

Thanks a lot !!!

 

Kajo

[berd0625]

Coco Cay is all beautiful beach all day long. You tender from the ship to Coco.

 

It's possible to take a taxi to the beach in Freeport, I know some who did and enjoyed it.

 

Key West has limited beaches, my recommendation is to take a snorkel or sail excursion and be out on the water all day.

 

You can also take the Fun Bus that the crew uses from Port Canaveral to Cocoa beach as well.

 

You don't say when you are going but the water will be plenty warm through at least October.

[New KAJO]

Hi Berd,

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Does this mean that you can go a second day to Coco Cay ? What is the fun bus ?

 

 

 

Tx,

 

 

 

Kajo

[berd0625]

No, Coco Cay is a one day stop from 8 am to 4 pm. The ship is at anchor and you take a smaller boat to the island.

 

When you are in Port Canaveral, there are several transportation options to get to town or to Cocoa Beach. There is a shuttle that runs called the Fun Bus that the crew uses, it stops at a mall and also to Cocoa Beach You can ride all day for $6, which is much less than the other options.

 

Any other questions let me know. If you're a gambler I can give you some casino feedback, I spent most of my time at night there.

 

Enjoy - I wish I was going again. The Grandeur is beautiful.

[VaCruzers]

KAJO -

 

Just a bit more info for you to consider....

 

In Freeport, the most beautiful beach anywhere is Gold Rock Beach which is in the Lucayan National Park. (in my opinion) However, the only reasonable way to get there is to take the shore excursion where you kayak in the National Park then visit the beach. The paddling is very easy thru calm waters. We did this excursion & found it very enjoyable. You can, however, take a taxi to a closer beach, but it won't be as pretty. Gold Rock Beach is about a 45 minute drive from the pier & I don't think you will be able to get a taxi to take you there unless you can maybe fill the taxi (they are vans). Even then, I would be concerned about getting back to the pier.

 

Key West is basically an island made of coral with sand brought in for it's beaches. If you choose a beach in Key West, Ft. Zachary Taylor is within walking distance (several blocks), but it is a bit rocky. It is a state park & has some shady areas. You can also take a taxi there. The other beaches are Smathers Beach & Higgs Beach. These beaches offer rentals of equipment as well as food vendors. You would want to take a taxi to either of those.

 

The Fun Bus at Pt. Canaveral is a shuttle bus that will take you to Cocoa Beach, which is a beach on the Florida coast. It is not the same as Coco Cay. Sadly, there is only 1 day at CocoCay.

 

I was following your questions yesterday re: Washington DC & Baltimore, but am not all that familiar with either so could not help answer any of your questions. We did sail the Grandeur out of Baltimore June 11 & I think you will find embarking/disembarking at the port fairly easy. Enjoy your cruise!