Bahamas?

Ginger · 10-20-2006

So we are adding a cruise to the Bahamas to our Disney/Universal orlando vacation at xmas.

It's a four day New Year's Eve cruise that stops in Freeport and Nassau. Thought I'd ask all you world traveller's about the Bahamas. Cruising lectures aside, we are not ones to book ship excursions and were wondering about what types of things there are to do in both these destinations, how accessible everything is from the cruise ship docks, ARE there docks or is it tendered...any info is appreciated!

Thanks!

UGAplaya · 10-20-2006

I'm not a big shore excursion fan either. I've been to NAS many times. I would suggest walking through the straw market in Nassau and then take a taxi over the bridge to Paradise Island and walk the grounds at the Atlantis resort. It's amazing!! Then go back over to Nassau and have a late lunch or early dinner with the locals. You can also catch a "Jitney" (bus) for $1 and ride from point to point on the main island, just not over to Paradise Island. Have a Kalik beer for me!

TAPPY · 10-20-2006

We have been to Paradise Island. At one time you could buy a day pass to the Atlantis Resort. I dont know if you still can. Your kids would love that, it has some fun waterpark type stuff, nice beach, etc...If you want to see some pics send me a pm.

StewartG · 10-20-2006

Last time I was there I just went to Atlantis, but that was before I started diving. Now I would just dive.

Do either of y'all dive, Leasa?

jx2 · 10-20-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by StewartG

Last time I was there I just went to Atlantis, but that was before I started diving. Now I would just dive.
Do either of y'all dive, Leasa?

John does. We had a great conversation whilst drinking at the PNWPM about some of his diving adventures. The only problem may be is these stories didnt involve a need for a mask, and the term muff kept coming up

jk leasa you can smack me next time

MWC · 10-20-2006

Here's another vote for the Atlantis Resort, even if all you do is walk through the grounds/aquarium. We were there when it first opened, and it is really neat for all ages -- but especially kids would love it. If you can get a daypass for all the pools and stuff, definitiely do it!

SarahB · 10-20-2006

Ginger, you guys do some fun stuff!

I was in Freeport for spring break about 7 years ago. It occurs to me now that I don't remember much from the trip!

I know that I didn't think much of the town, but I bet a lot has changed now.

ELECTRA · 10-20-2006

The Bahamas are living on their past laurels. The "Golden age" of the Bahamas ended in 1970. That being said, the islands are flat, no rivers no mountains and quite generic. The people are.....well, stick to the tourist areas. As recommended above visit the Atlantis resort and when in Freeport go to the International Bazar or to Lucaya Beach. Those are the only choices for day trips. Oh and don't let the prices shock you expect to pay ~$8 for a Bahama Mamma drink.

PS: The souvenir I have of 2 years ago is the Customs x-ray machine attendant. She was flipping through a Sears catalog that she had propped up on the x-ray monitor.

Ginger · 10-20-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by jx2

John does. We had a great conversation whilst drinking at the PNWPM about some of his diving adventures. The only problem may be is these stories didnt involve a need for a mask, and the term muff kept coming up

jk leasa you can smack me next time

I started reading this thinking "wha..?" then I I got to the end...

Stew, we'd like to start diving and get certified, but last year we figured we'd just wait a couple years until the kids were old enough to cert. at the same time as us. they are almost 11 and 12 now, so another year should do it.

Thanks guys, I went and looked at the Atlantis resort...holy cow! You can get daypasses for $25, but it appears they don't entitle you to use the pools, etc. Looks like a good place to visit though.

The information I've found this morning on Freeport tells me it was hit pretty hard by Wilma and is not recovered yet. It is a long cab ride to anything at this time. But it looks like they have their own version of the collectivo, and a nice park called Lucayan National Park that sports some nice beaches, caves, etc. so perhaps that's what we'll do.

As for Nassau, we port there from 7am one day until 7am the next day, as I understand it is a very small island and easily commuted by bike or scooter? We've never rented scooters, I wonder if we could rent two and each drive one with a child on the back...hmm..are scooters hard to drive? I've never driven a motorbike or anything.

krazy4playa · 10-20-2006

You can rent scooters in many locations downtown Nasau. Keep in mind they drive on the left side of the rode. I didn't have a problem aclimating to it until I drove into the round about. I had to drive around 2 or 3 time until I could figure out the trafic pattern. Kind of like Chevy Chase in European vacation, "hey kids there's Big Ben again." Cable beach is the nicest beach it is located the Marriott Crystal Palace. Treasure island is a 1/2 mile off the coast lots of water activities are included in your price to there including lunch. This is where they filmed Blue Lagoon. Paridise Island I don't remember much because I was drunk, it was 3 in the morning when a bunch of went back with Grace Jones to go skiny dipping. Freeport I found kind of boring. They have a lame flee market and so so beaches. Nasau was a lot of fun many things to do and you can take the bus anywhere. Keep in mind they make Mexican driver look safe and tame. There are no stop signs in the Bahamas. This is what you'll see which means yield and you only have to stop if there is cross traffic.

Heres a picture of the Marriott and Cable Beach it opened as the Carnival Cruise Line Crystal Palace back in the 80's.

And don't miss mailing post cards back from the worlds only underwater postoffice. The exchange is always equal penny for penny to the US dollar. In an effort to stabalize their economy there currancy is tied to ours.

sunatty · 10-20-2006

The "Tom Collins" was invented at Government House in Nassau, so you can genuflect as you pass by.

TAPPY · 10-20-2006

I will ditto a trip to Treasure Island...it really is the Blue Lagoon !!!

Here is a old pic I found.

TAPPY · 10-20-2006

The ray petting pool at Atlantis !!!

krazy4playa · 10-20-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAPPY

I will ditto a trip to Treasure Island...it really is the Blue Lagoon !!!

Here is a old pic I found.

I think I like Treasure Island better than Paridice Island. And the snokeling is great right off the beach on Treasure.

TAPPY · 10-20-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by krazy4playa

I think I like Treasure Island better than Paridice Island. And the snokeling is great right off the beach on Treasure.

It really is pretty. Very Blue Lagoonish !!! We did the swim with the Dolphins

at Treasure Island (I know, I know, this was before we knew it was not politically correct to do so)

This thread is making me miss the Bahamas !!! I thought the local people were very nice....We would walk to the marina to look at the big yachts every evening.

10-20-2006	#1 (permalink)
Ginger none Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 10,165	Bahamas? So we are adding a cruise to the Bahamas to our Disney/Universal orlando vacation at xmas. It's a four day New Year's Eve cruise that stops in Freeport and Nassau. Thought I'd ask all you world traveller's about the Bahamas. Cruising lectures aside, we are not ones to book ship excursions and were wondering about what types of things there are to do in both these destinations, how accessible everything is from the cruise ship docks, ARE there docks or is it tendered...any info is appreciated! Thanks! Last edited by Ginger; 10-20-2006 at 12:19 AM.

10-20-2006	#12 (permalink)
TAPPY añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 15,065	I will ditto a trip to Treasure Island...it really is the Blue Lagoon !!! Here is a old pic I found. Last edited by TAPPY; 12-14-2006 at 04:55 PM.

10-20-2006	#13 (permalink)
TAPPY añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 15,065	The ray petting pool at Atlantis !!! Last edited by TAPPY; 12-14-2006 at 04:55 PM.

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10-20-2006	#2 (permalink)
UGAplaya añejo Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Just a little south of Atlanta Posts: 2,404	I'm not a big shore excursion fan either. I've been to NAS many times. I would suggest walking through the straw market in Nassau and then take a taxi over the bridge to Paradise Island and walk the grounds at the Atlantis resort. It's amazing!! Then go back over to Nassau and have a late lunch or early dinner with the locals. You can also catch a "Jitney" (bus) for $1 and ride from point to point on the main island, just not over to Paradise Island. Have a Kalik beer for me!

10-20-2006	#3 (permalink)
TAPPY añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 15,065	We have been to Paradise Island. At one time you could buy a day pass to the Atlantis Resort. I dont know if you still can. Your kids would love that, it has some fun waterpark type stuff, nice beach, etc...If you want to see some pics send me a pm.

10-20-2006	#4 (permalink)
StewartG commie pinko Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The Kremlin (when not at my dacha in Houston) Posts: 13,387	Last time I was there I just went to Atlantis, but that was before I started diving. Now I would just dive. Do either of y'all dive, Leasa?

10-20-2006	#6 (permalink)
MWC añejo Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,997	Here's another vote for the Atlantis Resort, even if all you do is walk through the grounds/aquarium. We were there when it first opened, and it is really neat for all ages -- but especially kids would love it. If you can get a daypass for all the pools and stuff, definitiely do it!

10-20-2006	#7 (permalink)
SarahB añejo Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Playa...now Iowa Posts: 2,897	Ginger, you guys do some fun stuff! I was in Freeport for spring break about 7 years ago. It occurs to me now that I don't remember much from the trip! I know that I didn't think much of the town, but I bet a lot has changed now.

10-20-2006	#8 (permalink)
ELECTRA life=playa Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA (unfortunately) Posts: 980	The Bahamas are living on their past laurels. The "Golden age" of the Bahamas ended in 1970. That being said, the islands are flat, no rivers no mountains and quite generic. The people are.....well, stick to the tourist areas. As recommended above visit the Atlantis resort and when in Freeport go to the International Bazar or to Lucaya Beach. Those are the only choices for day trips. Oh and don't let the prices shock you expect to pay ~$8 for a Bahama Mamma drink. PS: The souvenir I have of 2 years ago is the Customs x-ray machine attendant. She was flipping through a Sears catalog that she had propped up on the x-ray monitor.

10-20-2006	#10 (permalink)
krazy4playa añejo Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 2,209	You can rent scooters in many locations downtown Nasau. Keep in mind they drive on the left side of the rode. I didn't have a problem aclimating to it until I drove into the round about. I had to drive around 2 or 3 time until I could figure out the trafic pattern. Kind of like Chevy Chase in European vacation, "hey kids there's Big Ben again." Cable beach is the nicest beach it is located the Marriott Crystal Palace. Treasure island is a 1/2 mile off the coast lots of water activities are included in your price to there including lunch. This is where they filmed Blue Lagoon. Paridise Island I don't remember much because I was drunk, it was 3 in the morning when a bunch of went back with Grace Jones to go skiny dipping. Freeport I found kind of boring. They have a lame flee market and so so beaches. Nasau was a lot of fun many things to do and you can take the bus anywhere. Keep in mind they make Mexican driver look safe and tame. There are no stop signs in the Bahamas. This is what you'll see which means yield and you only have to stop if there is cross traffic. Heres a picture of the Marriott and Cable Beach it opened as the Carnival Cruise Line Crystal Palace back in the 80's. And don't miss mailing post cards back from the worlds only underwater postoffice. The exchange is always equal penny for penny to the US dollar. In an effort to stabalize their economy there currancy is tied to ours.

10-20-2006	#11 (permalink)
sunatty way into it Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weddington NC Posts: 164	The "Tom Collins" was invented at Government House in Nassau, so you can genuflect as you pass by.

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