Bahamas anyone?

I did a Carnival cruise to Nassau/Freeport/Key West in April 2011. We didn't pay for any of the excursions because we heard they were overpriced. Instead, we took ourselves shopping and to public beaches. One tip if you decide to go to the beach on your own. The hotels on the beaches will give you use of a room just for the day so you have towels, shower, etc. The price is very reasonable. We didn't know about that and had to change in the bathroom of a hole-in-the-wall bar.

Get off boat
Find Taxi
Ask them to take me to a beach with a bar where there are NO tourists.
Sit on said beach with multiple rum punches until it's time to go.

Beats any planned excursion out there.

I agree whole-heartedly

I went with family when I was 14. One week in Nassau, one week Paradise Island. During the trip I visited the Straw Market (very interesting and fun), we went snokeling and did a scuba lesson then scuba diving (awesome). We also did a boat trip/booze cruise out to Rose Island which was beautiful and fun. Of course I was tickled pink that I was allowed to drink Bahama Mamas at age 14. They didn't have Atlantis at that point, but I would defintely try to visit that resort if I were to return.

It is hurricane season but there are no hurricanes currently as someone wrote in one of the posts. The waters are clear and perfectly fine and the weather is hot. I know because i am from The Bahamas and i live here in Nassau.

It depends on how long you are here and what you are interested in. Once the ship docks, there is the straw market as you disembark where you can get some nice souvenirs. You and your husband can do a horse and carriage ride through the downtown area. If you want to try our local cuisine, i would recommend going to Arawak cay which is our local fish fry and you can experience our native dishes. It is near downtown where you will dock, and you can either walk or catch a taxi.

If you like water activities, you can jet ski, para sail, go to blue lagoon island for the day and swim with the dolphins.

Atlantis over Paradise Island is a must see if you've never been and you can do a day pass there, and visit Marina Village. The jeep thing is nice because you will get to explore the island.

hope this helps.

Sorry. I was not clear.
Three big STORMS right now.
Take a look at http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/tropics-watch-hurricane-season-2012
Those little orange things are storms.
Those storms churn up all kinds of crap and with the storms we had pass us earlier in the week and that WILL be passing us in the next few weeks, you and I both know that visibility suffers.

Never did an excursion in Bahamas. Spent most of my time walking through the port. It's pretty awesome. Got some gifts in the straw market. Ate a great lunch at a little place a few blocks further into town.

My favorite port of call was Half Moon Cay on that trip. Grand Turk was only great because I befriended a local woman who was originally from the states and spent most of my time talking about the culture differences and the changes happening there, since Grand Turk is a pretty new port of call.

My ex did the parasailing in Half Moon Cay and thought it was completely worth it.

Well if there is any chance of us getting hurt, Carnival will postpone the cruise...We always go in September because it's our anniversary and have been very blessed so far!


Also, I would love to see Atlantis...it's all I ever hear about but I hear it's really expensive just to tour the place!

Well, it is not really a hurricane you need to worry about but even a large storm churns up the water for a few days which just makes for a less then ideal diving experience.

Thats just my opinion anyway.

Well if there is any chance of us getting hurt, Carnival will postpone the cruise...We always go in September because it's our anniversary and have been very blessed so far!


Also, I would love to see Atlantis...it's all I ever hear about but I hear it's really expensive just to tour the place!

Well, it is not really a hurricane you need to worry about but even a large storm churns up the water for a few days which just makes for a less then ideal diving experience.

Thats just my opinion anyway.

OK Negative Ned way to bring the house down. Booooooooo

I was in Nassau in March, 2011. We did a catamaran sail & snorkel through Carnival. The excursion was good, we saw some tropical fish & there was an open bar serving rum punch for the ride back to the pier. The only thing I didn't care for was that I never really felt like I was "in" the Bahamas because we left the ship, boarded that catamaran and then went right back to the pier. There was no opportunity to explore or get to know any of the culture.

We are going on Carnival Magic in December to the Bahamas. I haven't been there in 20 years, but what I remember is that it is very expensive there. Just to have lunch will cost you about $100. It is better to book an excusion that might include lunch, drinks, beach, etc. if you can find one. Just getting a taxi to take you to a pubic beach will get expensive. We go on a cruise every year and we always wait until we get on the boat to book excursions. That way you can talk to them in person to find out which one is the most fun, etc. Last year we paid $20 more than we had planned for a Jamaican excursion that turned out to be much nicer than the one I almost booked and included free hoby cats, delicious lunch buffet, unlimited good drinks, and beautiful resort. Have fun and happy anniversary!

i've been to the bahamas a few times. i've stayed at atlantis and i've been on a norwegian cruise that went to st. martin, st. thomas and nassau. at all the ports, i booked a snorkel trip. i love swimming and i don't really have that water where i live so i make the most of it when i can. the water here in san diego isn't beautiful crystal blue waters like the caribbean. anyway, i would recommend booking any swimming trip. in nassau, i did the stingray adventure. they boated you out to black beard's cay and you had several hours just to hang and wander the cay and swim with stingrays if you wanted to.

when i stayed at atlantis, i found myself leaving the resort because well...it's a resort. the water park is cool, but it's kind of ridiculous to be enjoying yourself in the pools and the crazy river when you're surrounded by beautiful ocean water. anyway, one of the times i had stayed in august and the weather was beautiful and also lived up to the tropical weather. there were scattered tropical storms, etc. you may have to play your excursions by ear because if there's any lightning nearby, etc. you won't be able to go in the water. at atlantis, they made us get out of the pools and the beach water when there was any sight of lightning.

i think i was just rambling here.

oh and if you hit up nassau, you should go to the fish fry place. they have good conch fritters and stuff. oh and get some yummy guava duff. oh wait...this is myfitnesspal and i'm talking about food. lol. well, you can make up for it through exercise? hahaha.

oh also...if you do the dolphin adventure on nassau...but not with atlantis. i don't know if that's offered through the cruiseline, but i had booked that on my own when i was staying at atlantis. anyway, after you do your dolphin thing you can stay there as long as you like. i don't know how long your port stop is, but this was fun.

http://www.dolphinencounters.com/island-all.php

From the Port in Nassau I enjoyed the walk up the hill to see Fort Fincastle. It's old, historical, and super cheap if that's the type of thing you're into:

http://www.viator.com/Nassau-attractions/Fort-Fincastle/d420-a480



That sites says admission is free but when I was there in April it was something like $2 to get in.

Also on the way make sure to walk through the Queen's Staircase, hand-carved in limestone by slaves and later renamed to honor Queen Victoria’s help in the abolition of slavery in the Bahamas.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147416-d147523-Reviews-Queen_s_Staircase-Nassau_New_Providence_Island_Bahamas.html



Spend some time walking around downtown and you'll always remember... PROTECT YA TINGS!

went to the beach thats it idk what else there is sorry