GREAT day in Freeport

[idjaffe]

Go to the casino.

Go to Lucaya and lay out on the beach.

Hit a bar or two....

Have lunch on the beach, or in the marina.

Take a cab to the caves and the beach (Heard it is not great for JUST the caves, but for both.....)

Take a sail without the snorkeling.

Go 1/2 day fishing.

 

You are correct that there are not a TON of "alternative" excursions...horesback, ATV, 4-wheeler, zip-lines, etc....BUT there is still a lot that can be done.

 

I have been to a ton of islands....some are better than others, some excursions are better than others....

 

My point, there is no reason to stay on the ship, UNLESS that is exactly what you want to do!

[gottago2mexico]

SO, if you don't snorkel or shop, what exactly is there to do in Freeport?

 

Lots!

 

Ride an Airboat through the mangrove-lined lagoons

http://www.bahamasecoventures.com/

 

Charter your own private boat and captain to go to a private island

http://www.exoticadventuresbahamas.com/

 

Go on a guided tour of the island or to Lucayan National Park

http://www.forbescharter.com/

 

Go kayaking, biking, on a jeep tour, or see the caves

http://www.grandbahamanaturetours.com/

 

Rent scooters or bikes, go fishing, parasail, or rent wave runners

http://www.lucayawatersports.com/

http://www.bahamasvacationguide.com/reeftours/index.html

http://www.the-bahamas-watersports.com/paradisewatersports/index.html

 

Go water skiing or learn to windsurf

http://www.oceanmotionbahamas.com/

 

Relax on the beach and kayak or snorkel from the beach

http://www.deadmansreef.com/

 

Go horseback riding

http://www.pinetree-stables.com/

http://www.trikkpony.com/

 

See the Pirates of the Caribbean Set or travel to West End

http://www.smilingpat.com/

 

Go on a semi-sub, party boat, or a sightseeing tour

http://www.superiorwatersports.com/

 

Swim with dolphins or try scuba diving

http://www.unexso.com/

 

Go on a canal sightseeing cruise

http://www.snorkelfreeport.com

 

Gamble at the casino

http://www.isleofcapricasinos.com/Lucaya/home.php

 

Go to Port Lucaya Marketplace and eat, drink and be merry

http://www.portlucayamarketplace.com/

 

Play miniature golf or go bowling at Waterworld Enterprises

http://www.professionaltravelguide.com/freeport/see-and-do/recreation/other-options/water-world-enterprises-ltd-490871

 

See the botanical gardens of Garden of the Groves (re-opens Oct 1)

http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/grandbahama/The_Return_of_The_Garden_of_the_Groves-003546.shtml

 

Try your hand at bonefishing

http://grandbahamabonefishing.com/

 

Go deep sea fishing for marlin, sailfish, wahoo, tuna and mahi mahi

http://fishermanssafari.com/

 

Play a round of golf.

http://www.geographia.com/bahamas/golf.htm

 

Hope this helps give you a few ideas. Have a great time!

[bobsfamily]

!!!!!!!DO NOT "I REPEAT" DO NOT RENT A SCOOTER!!!!!!!

 

YOU DON'T RIDE ONE AT HOME (well most don't) WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU GOING TO BE FINE ON AN ISLAND THAT DRIVES ON THE LEFT????

 

REPEAT----- DO NOT RENT A SCOOTER!

 

Hope this helps!

[Shamrock359]

Where the cruise ships dock in Freeport is very industrial. It definiely can set the tone for some to want to stay on the ship. We just did a snorkel tour with Reef Tours, and while I wouldn't recommend them, the snorkeling was great. This was a last minute ship excursion because of a change in itinerary. While we were waiting to board our boat, we saw a family come back after fishing and they had caught 3 barracudas!! That was neat!

 

I saw the Sand Dollar with Captain Tony out on the water with 6 people on board. If you want to snorkel, that's the way to go. OUr plans got changed or I would've booked him as well. They were snorkeling pretty close to the area where we were. I also saw parasailing and jet skis, and just people hanging out on the beach.

 

It is about a 25 minute ride to Port Lucaya for the boats and shopping but there are a few shops right at the pier.

 

If I had to return to Freeport, I would use the list from the previous poster to find something to do there rather than just stay on the ship.

[travel_mom_1]

idjaffe - Did you make arrangements with Captain Tony by e-mail or phone? I e-mailed him over a week ago and haven't recieved a reply. How far in advance did you plan the excursion? Maybe, I'm a little too early.

 

Thanks.

[TakeMeAway1001]

idjaffe - Did you make arrangements with Captain Tony by e-mail or phone? I e-mailed him over a week ago and haven't recieved a reply. How far in advance did you plan the excursion? Maybe, I'm a little too early.

 

Thanks.

 

I emailed him as well just about a week ago, I figure I will try again next week. Let us know if you hear back from him :)

[emporess]

I emailed Captain Tony two weeks ago and haven't heard back.

[travel_mom_1]

I finally have made contact with Captain Tony. I gave up on getting an e-mail back and my husband started trying to call him. After about 5 attampts over the course of several days he got him. My husband told him the date we would be there and he says, "I think I maybe got an e-mail about that." LOL. I guess everything will work out on island time and not on my obsessive planning time schedule.

 

Anyway, we are booked for October 21st. On the phone, he asked my husband to send him an e-mail with the date and our names. I did and he quickly responded to that.

 

We are excited. Our cruise is in a week and a half. Our excursions are planned. I can check that off my to do list and move on to other things.

 

I promise a full review with pictures when we return. We are also booked on a full day snorkeling tour the following day in Nassau with Barefoot Sailing. I will review that experience too.

[idjaffe]

All I can tell you is we had a great time.

 

I personaly have nothing to do with Capt. Tony, other than he is a nice guy, and I like to see the "good guys" do well.

 

Please let us know how your trip goes.

 

Ira

[gottago2mexico]

As a general rule on GBI, to do most anything you will need to call. E-mail seems to be a foreign concept for some reason - most people have one, they just don't seem to reply promptly, if at all.

 

There's no reason not to call, they only speak English, and you'll get a lot faster and more satisfactory results that way.

[travel_mom_1]

All I can tell you is we had a great time.

 

I personaly have nothing to do with Capt. Tony, other than he is a nice guy, and I like to see the "good guys" do well.

 

Please let us know how your trip goes.

 

Ira

 

idjaffe - Thanks so much for posting about your day with Captain Tony and Sand Dollar Cruises. Because of your review we booked with him and...WE LOVED IT!!! It was a highlight of our cruise.

 

Thanks again.

 

Here is my review with photos.

 

http://www.travel-mom.com/2008/sand-dollar-cruises-freeport-bahamas/#more-56

[idjaffe]

Glad you enjoyed it!

 

Tony did the same with us....we showed up, he had no one else booked and still we went!

 

I can't remember another trip where the Capt. still went with so few people.

 

Like I said - a real nice guy.

 

(Funny that he said the web site would be up in Nov.....he told us August! - Welcome to "Island Time".

[sms30519]

idjaffe - Thanks so much for posting about your day with Captain Tony and Sand Dollar Cruises. Because of your review we booked with him and...WE LOVED IT!!! It was a highlight of our cruise.

 

Thanks again.

 

Here is my review with photos.

 

http://www.travel-mom.com/2008/sand-dollar-cruises-freeport-bahamas/#more-56

 

I am considering doing this sail and snorkel in November. I am curious to know if the snorkeling area is calm waters with little current. I mistakenly booked a "barrier reef" snorkel in Belize and I found that I spent the whole time just fighting the current! Also, how was access on and off the sailboat. It looks like I see the top of a ladder in one of the pictures but I am not sure. Thanks, Pam

[travel_mom_1]

I am considering doing this sail and snorkel in November. I am curious to know if the snorkeling area is calm waters with little current. I mistakenly booked a "barrier reef" snorkel in Belize and I found that I spent the whole time just fighting the current! Also, how was access on and off the sailboat. It looks like I see the top of a ladder in one of the pictures but I am not sure. Thanks, Pam

 

Tony told us which way the current was flowing and what areas to avoid if we weren't strong swimmers. I stayed within his recommendations and had no problems at all. My husband was all over the place and did fine as well. There were tons of fish and lots of reef very close to the boat so there was no need to swim out very far. I floated along a lot of the time and did not feel I was fighting the current or being swept away.

 

I wish we had taken a better picture of the ladder and water access because that is always a question I have. With the ladder it was easy access in and out of the water.

 

I hope you book. It is a wonderful tour and Captain Tony is a gracious host.

[sms30519]

Tony told us which way the current was flowing and what areas to avoid if we weren't strong swimmers. I stayed within his recommendations and had no problems at all. My husband was all over the place and did fine as well. There were tons of fish and lots of reef very close to the boat so there was no need to swim out very far. I floated along a lot of the time and did not feel I was fighting the current or being swept away.

 

I wish we had taken a better picture of the ladder and water access because that is always a question I have. With the ladder it was easy access in and out of the water.

 

I hope you book. It is a wonderful tour and Captain Tony is a gracious host.

 

Thanks! I talked with the other family who is going with us and they want to do it so I think we will reserve it. There is 8 of us (4 adults/4 kids)...maybe we will get lucky and it will just be us on the trip!

[idjaffe]

If I remember correctly it was only about 2 rungs, and then you are on the transome....then 2 or 3 real steps to the cockpit.

 

All of us, (including my My 6 yr olds) did it no problem....

 

Let us know how you like it....

[sms30519]

(Funny that he said the web site would be up in Nov.....he told us August! - Welcome to "Island Time".

 

I just received this website address from Capt. Tony-

 

www.sanddollarcruise.com

[coupleofcops]

I just received this website address from Capt. Tony-

 

www.sanddollarcruise.com

 

 

Pam and Steve - Thank you for the good info. I just shot him a email. I tried to call him but it said he was out of his service area...I'll keep tryin...

 

Again Big Thanks !

 

Kay

[3poes]

Hey Guys,

 

We spent the day with Capt Tony on the SandDollar 3rd week in August while cruising on the Glory. The SandDollar is a beautiful boat and Capt Tony and his mate Tino were awesome. We had a group of 23 and mid way through the trip 1 of us got terribly seasick, Capt Tony called a friend who runs a taxi service and had a car come and meet us on the beach and take her back to the cruise ship. WOW!!! how is that for service. We had a great time and would highly recommend Capt Tony for a GREAT day in freeport. My 10 year old son now says when he grows up he wants to work for Capt Tony. Great maybe I'll get a discount!!!

[Baby Blue Eyes]

Our cruise line is stopping in Freeport in Jan 09 as a last stop. We were suppose to go to Nass but MSC changed the port to Freeport.

Why? Idk...anyway, they have no excursions for cruisers scheduled and available for sale.

 

My DH & I just wanted to get off and wandering around not to far from the ship to shop a little for shirts and sweatshirt stuff, if avail.

 

It sounds like Port Lucaya has everything we need...beach & shopping for 2-3 hrs...I think the ship is docked there for 6-7 hrs. Can we walk it or definitely need to hail a taxi for getting us there? I hate to waste the day. Please advise so I don't stress since I have never been there and don't want to miss out. Thanks everyone:)

[gottago2mexico]

No need to stress for sure, but you will need to take a taxi. It's about 15 minutes by taxi from the pier.

 

Have a great time!

[Baby Blue Eyes]

No need to stress for sure, but you will need to take a taxi. It's about 15 minutes by taxi from the pier.

 

Have a great time!

 

Ok good that's easy enough. Thanks much!!:)

[Tucker4406]

I just phoned the Sheraton and Westin hotels and they said they no longer sell pool/day passes. :confused:

[bobsfamily]

I just phoned the Sheraton and Westin hotels and they said they no longer sell pool/day passes. :confused:

 

It may be that is the standard statement for a telephone call. You may find it different when you get to the beach. One other thought is that if you buy a drink at the "swim-up" bar they usually don't care if you hang out in the pool - and it's very nice.

Bathrooms may be a bit tricky but the same will go if you enter the "Prop room" and look like you are going to eat... then use the bathroom and leave...

[excalwop]

E-mail cpt'n Tony to book a tour Friday even and had a notice that the booking was a go Monday evening for Jan 20 sailing.. ONE of the fastest confurms I ever received .

Paul