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Cruise ships offer sailings to the Bahamas’ two major ports (Nassau and Freeport) as well as to Bimini. My rule of thumb is to snorkel at every opportunity while in the Bahamas. It's a fun and easy way to take a peek beneath the waves at the colorful sea life found in these waters. When you book a snorkeling excursion in the Bahamas, gear is provided, including snorkeling vests to keep you afloat. The day pass includes access to miles of beaches, the on-site casino, and the Aquaventure water park featuring 141 acres of slides, swimming areas, river rides, and wave areas. The pass also allows you to dine in the resort's eateries, explore a myriad of shops or even add an aquatic animal experience like a dolphin swim.
Night Bahamas Cruise
Ports of call include Key West and Great Stirrup Cay, the line's private island. This an ideal cruise for older travelers who are new to cruising and want to sample one or frequent cruisers who might prefer a shorter time at sea. Although Celebrity doesn't draw many families with young children, the shorter Bahamas itineraries are also perfect for multigenerational family groups seeking an affordable cruise that appeals to all ages.
day cruises on Norwegian Jade from Miami
Bring plenty of beachwear, a sun hat, sunglasses, coverups, water shoes if you’re visiting coral beaches, and reef-friendly sunblock. In Perfect Day at CocoCay, experience North America’s tallest water slide or the Caribbean’s biggest freshwater lagoon pool. Bask on a white sand beach, or elevate your experience with an Overwater Cabana, complete with lunch at the Coco Beach Club.
SHOP SEASHELLS BY THE SEASHORE
If you are looking for peace and quiet, a great spa and lots of kid-free space, book accordingly within the parameters of your budget to get the most bang for your buck. We found Bahamas cruise deals from Bayonne, New Jersey plus Galveston, Mobile, Baltimore and Charleston, South Carolina. Deals on balcony cabins on Bahamas cruises consist of any room going for $175 per night or less, but don’t be surprised to sometimes find a handful of Bahamas cruise deals closer to $150 per person per night.
Night Bahamas & Perfect Day CruiseDetails
Across all mainstream lines, older ships are more likely to be deal-worthy than newer ones. Princess Cruises offers seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries calling at Princess Cays, the line’s Bahamian Island, departing from Fort Lauderdale. In addition to the Bahamas, passengers get to see either Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; and Falmouth, Jamaica, or St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and St. Kitts. You can also opt for an east/west grand tour if you have 14 days to spare.
The best Bahamas cruises will allow you to dive and discover underwater worlds, meet marine animals and shop for island souvenirs by the ocean. Norwegian Jewel might not have the extensive top-deck attractions of newer ships, like Norwegian Prima, or as many restaurants and bars. However, passengers will find plenty to occupy their time onboard with scheduled activities, a casino, spa and pool areas. Utopia of the Seas' inaugural voyage is set for July 22, 2024, and will be a four-night cruise to Nassau and the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
2024 Caribbean Cruises
The 6 Best Cruise Ships in the Bahamas: A Comparison - Cruise Critic
The 6 Best Cruise Ships in the Bahamas: A Comparison.
Posted: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
If you prefer a more active day, you could hand-feed wild stingrays, swim among reef sharks, or snorkel over the wreck of the Sapona, now colonized by tropical fish. Hurricane season is typically from June to November although, fortunately, The Bahamas is rarely affected by hurricanes. Celebrity’s state-of-the-art ships are built for stability, keeping movement in rough seas to a minimum. On Celebrity’s ships, you can enjoy a different restaurant for every meal, with menus designed by a Michelin-starred chef. Marvel at the antics of the enchanting animated character, Le Petit Chef.
Summer Bahamas cruises
Skip January, December, August, September — and maybe even October. The short answer is that any time you can make it happen is the best time. If your cruise starts and ends at the same U.S. port, you don't technically need a passport to cruise. You can set sail to the Bahamas with only a certified birth certificate and a valid state ID. Return home sans the sunburn by packing UV protective clothes like rash guards, hats and cover-ups, then use reef-friendly sunscreen on all exposed skin.
You also might find yourself sharing a ship with a spring break party cruise charter in March. Even if your ship is quiet, the ports you visit might be filled with hordes of vacationing college kids, so be prepared for a lively crowd. The months some cruisers tell you to avoid cruising to the Bahamas are during the peak of Atlantic hurricane season, which is August to October. But here's the thing about that – the cruise line isn't going to put you or their ship in harm's way. Other weeklong cruises featuring these ports also include departures from Fort Lauderdale with Key West and Great Exuma.
Freedom of the Seas has plenty of onboard fun to occupy travelers of all ages on sea days. It's loaded with top-deck slides and water features, specialty restaurant choices and more entertainment options than you can take in on a short cruise. Carrying around 4,000 cruise guests, Freedom of the Seas is big enough to impress without being overwhelming. Cruise ships in the Bahamas come in a wide range, with enough variety to please almost anyone. These nearby islands are an easily accessible respite from the real world.
Look for spring break cruises on Summit that include Nassau, CocoCay and Bimini, and week-long cruises on Celebrity’s sleek Edge-class ship -- Beyond -- with routes that include stops at CocoCay. Fully refurbished with Carnival’s Fun Ship 2.0, the ship focuses on fun top to bottom, making it the hands-down choice for Bahamas cruisers looking for plenty to do onboard. Couples, singles and families will all find the ship to their liking, and with fares that don’t break the vacation budget. For families who hope to have enough to keep everyone entertained, while also staying on a budget, the Carnival Cruises are great options.
Cruise Critic's message board community is full of useful information shared by cruisers who have sailed on the ships you may be looking at. If, however, your kids crave roller coasters and water parks onboard, your deal is not a deal unless the ship you choose has them. Compared head-to-head, we found that Bahamas cruise deals are enhanced by several factors.
The two-night cruise itinerary includes one day in Freeport, where you can shop, hit the casino, enjoy water sports or chill on the beach. The ship offers shore excursions, or you can explore independently. Margaritaville at Sea also offers cruise-and-stay itineraries of either four or six nights (including the two nights onboard the ship).
Discover the Bahamas onboard the Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships. This is the best Bahamas cruise for the non-cruiser who is either young at heart or young and eager to party aboard this glitzy ship. If you're easily offended by loud music, round-the-clock partying or sexual innuendo, this is not your Bahamas cruise. If you’re traveling with younger cruisers, Disney has you covered. Then don't book a cruise to the Bahamas in July, August or September.
