can someone compare Nassau to Freeport for me?

[MamaParrotHead]

Been to Nassau. Looking at Freeport. I wasn't super impressed with Nassau. Taking the kids this time and was looking to book a dolphin encounter independantly. Can anyone help me out? Thanks!

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Nassau is a city. Freeport is a spread-out town. Nassau has history. Freeport is a relatively new development. Nassau has hills. Freeport is flat.

Nassau is hustle and bustle while Freeport is more laid back. Get the idea?

 

UNEXSO (Underwater Explorers Society) offers a 'swim with the dolphins' encounter at their facility located behind the Port Lucaya Marketplace in Lucaya. Heck, they were probably one of the first places to ever offer such a thing. This does not need to be booked through the ship; you book it direct. Visit: http://www.unexso.com for details. Port Lucaya is where pretty much all independent travelers go; the 20-30 minute cab ride in a shared taxi-van costs $5 per person each way.

 

BobK/Orlando

[Ellanora]

I've been to both twice, and really enjoyed Freeport, much more than Nassau. (Granted, I've never been to Atlantis/Paradise Island, I'm sure that's a lot of fun).

 

In Freeport, the ship docks in a quieter, more industrial area. There are a ton of taxi vans at the port; for $5 per person each way, you can easily get a taxi to Our Lucaya Marketplace. I really liked this area - not too much hustle and bustle, but plenty of restaurants, shops, a straw market (not really enclosed the way Nassau's is), a casino, hotels, and a beautiful public beach. You can arrange with the taxi driver to meet you back at the casino at a specific time.

 

I believe the dolphin excursion available in Freeport leaves out of the Our Lucaya harbor area, which is right along the marketplace. We did not take this excursion, but my son, who was nine when we visited last year, would tell you in a heartbeat that he did not enjoy walking around Nassau, but that he would like to visit Freeport again.

 

Hope this helps.

[nicjoel0114]

To be honest I hated Freeport, I thought it was a dump. But it dose have a nice beach for free and thats what me and my husband did.

[LHP]

Freeport is only a disappointment in that there is not a lot to do right at the port...which more and more cruisers are getting use to having.

 

The beach we went to was nice, but not a lot of "CarlosNCharlies" etc.

 

Shopping was expensive in the stores across from the beach.

 

Nassau is fun only because we take our son to Atlantis. (and again it has stuff right at the pier)

 

I can't speak to the beach at Nassau, since we have never made it outside of The Dig.

[MamaParrotHead]

Can anyone tell me where the public beach is? I checked out UNEXSO and apparently the time spent with the dolphins at the dolphin encounter is 5 MINUTES...For $75? No thanks.

[Ellanora]

The beach is a short walk behind the casino. There are some shops down that walkway, which opens out to the beach with the Sheraton on one side and the Westin on the other. Our Lucaya Marketplace is across the street from the casino.