Our day in Freeport/Carnival Glory

We sailed the Glory April 7-14. Using a fellow CC members format, (PaulMedik did an AWESOME review of the entire sailing: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=540296 )I thought I would post about our day here in hopes it will inspire someone else to be adventurous.....you won't regret it!

We were a group of 12, four families, ranging in ages from 16 to 50"ish". I did plenty of research prior to our departure and knew that we would enjoy our day in Freeport more if we got away from the immediate port area. Shopping was not important to any of us.

We arrived on time and pulled into the dock at about 0800. The first thing I saw when I looked over the port side of our balcony was the Miracle in dry dock! We were originally scheduled to be on her for our spring break before they scheduled the dry dock and cancelled our cruise!

Getting off the ship was a breeze and by 0900 we were through the gates. This is our view as we entered Lucayan Harbour:

A band playing Caribbean music welcomed us:

And as promised, our taxi and driver for the day was waiting!

We decided we wanted to go to Lucayan National Park and Gold Rock Beach. After researching our options for transportation, we opted for the taxi over two rental cars. My friend negotiated with our driver, "Queenie" by phone weeks prior to our arrival. She agreed to take us for $25 per person.

After loading into her van (we all fit nicely, and each had our own seat!) we asked her to stop at a grocery on our way so we could get refreshments and something to make a picnic lunch. As we drove, she answered all our questions and filled us in on some history of the island. Our stop for groceries was expensive; I was shocked at how much higher food costs were overall. From there we proceeded to our destination. We drove about 20 miles or so on a two lane road; not much along the way to speak of. She finally pulled to the side of the road; we had arrived!

Queenie explained to us that her father had passed away and she needed to go back to town for a few hours to make arrangements. She told us just to tell her what time to be back and she would. I think our collective hearts skipped a beat as we realized we were in the middle of nowhere now and trusting this lady to come back for us! Then, IN HEELS, she said she would walk us to the beach. Here is the route we took:

Over the bridge and through the trees, this is the site that greeted us:

We were really happy now!

Soon the boys were having a wonderful time!

The four women in the group headed down the beach for a walk; here are some of the sites we saw:

Of all the beaches I have visited, this is the most beautiful! There were few people on the beach other than our group. We spent the next few hours totally relaxed. The tide was out as we arrived, and as we started preparing to leave, the tide was coming in.

Gail, thanks for sharing. Beautiful. I gather your driver Queenie came back since you're here to tell us about it. My experience with taxi drivers on Grand Bahama Island is that they're honest.

Two questions: Those buildings shown in the first few photos....are they at the port? They must be new. I don't recall them being there last summer. What's in them, shops?

Did you happen to see a ship called the FINNJET docked there in Freeport? It's a huge white / blue ferry from Finland that has been docked there for about a year.

Thanks,

BobK/Orlando

Bob: yes those are shops right as you get off the ship. Also a covered area to wait for taxis and excursions.

I believe we docked next to what might have been the ferry you mentioned. I do remember it being blue and white! I cannot say with any certainty though.

Yes, Queenie came back. I had to take off for my sons soccer game; hope to finish the mini review tomorrow.

Hi Gail. Could you tell me whether or not there were restrooms at Gold Rock Beach? And also, were you docked at Freeport or a different port? Thanks.:)

Hana56: No restrooms that I saw.

This is the sign we saw when we got off the ship.

I am not familiar enough with Freeport to know if there is another port but perhaps someone else can answer.

A few more shots of the beach:

Boys building sandcastles:

The tide coming in:

The boys played some beach soccer:

As our time ticked away we had to start packing up for our ride back to the ship. Here are a few parting shots from the beach.

The view from our "camp" site for the day:

The boys reflecting on their day

As promised, Queenie showed up on time, she walked down to the beach to let us know she was back!

This is a view of the mangroves as we walked back to the road

Fish were visible in the creek as we walked across the bridge

Queenie suggested we stop by a favorite place of hers and have some fresh conch salad

She was serious about it being fresh!

We ate in the van on the way back to the ship

Queenie dropped the ladies at the strawmarket in town and took the men back to the ship. She agreed to drop them and come straight back to get us, giving us about an hour to shop. My only purchase was a basket I had Arthur make me:

Final thoughts:

Freeport was all around the favorite port for the entire group. As individual votes go, a few of us enjoyed the dolphin swim in Cozumel a little more. Our sons LOVED the day at the beach and hope we book again with an itinerary that takes us to Freeport. I would highly recommend to anyone that wants to get away from the crowds of the cruise ship to hire a taxi and see Gold Rock Beach! We did not take the time to cross the road to the underwater caverns, but would like to do that on another trip. If you have questions, feel free to e-mail me, foley.gail@gmail.com

Hi Gail...great review on Freeport. I have to say, this is the port we were least looking forward to and we had a great day as well. We took a taxi to the beach at the Westin. It was a beautiful beach as well...but yours just looks postcard beautiful, and so private. Good idea to stop for refreshments as it looks pretty much like you had the beach to yourselves.

I guess the expensive groceries explains our expensive lunch where we were...burgers and sandwiches 12-18 dollars for a little beach front place near the Westin.

I certainly agree...it was a great stop. I heard people saying they stayed on the ship. I wonder why Carnival doesn't stop more at Freeport instead of Nassau. I'd much rather go to Freeport!

Gail, thanks again for the info!

Torybruno, Nassau and Freeport are like night and day. Nassau is basically a big city with lots of shopping, city-type facilities and of course, Atlantis/Paradise Island. That can't be replicated at Freeport.

Freeport has virtually no city and was designed from the very beginning as a resort island and a duty free port. It is a great place if you're a beach person but the shopping and other activities are limited and are very non-city like. Freeport has struggled over the years as a cruise destination and as just a destination for anybody. The largest resort complex including a casino and two golf courses went through a few years of labor strife and then two successive hurricanes wiped it out completely. So really the economy there is reeling and they do appreciate cruise passengers. As more ships keep getting added I think we'll see Freeport on a few more itineraries.

BobK/Orlando

Thanks Gail.:)

Thanks Gail for a great review of Freeport. That beach looks fabulous!

Questions:

1. So would you recommend doing the National Park VS. Our Lucaya? Are they close to each other? 2 in our party are doing the Swim with the Dolphins and the remaining 6 of us were going to do either of these. Wondering IF the other 2 could meet up with us or not? I'm guessing not.

2. How would we book this ahead of time; your contact person?

3. Was there alternate transportation available IF your person didn't come back?! Kind of scary!

Thanks, Chris

Thanks Gail for a great review of Freeport. That beach looks fabulous!

Questions:

1. So would you recommend doing the National Park VS. Our Lucaya? Are they close to each other? 2 in our party are doing the Swim with the Dolphins and the remaining 6 of us were going to do either of these. Wondering IF the other 2 could meet up with us or not? I'm guessing not. I cannot compare the two, I can only speak for the park and Gold Rock Beach. I think there is at least 10-15 miles between the two places, based on a map I have. If we ever go back to Freeport that will be what we do again!

2. How would we book this ahead of time; your contact person?

For reliable and dependable service

 

Queenie

 

Call Taxi 430

 

In Taxi, Tour or Sight-Seeing

 

Call Queenie (TAXI 430)

 

 

 

Cell: 477-8284

 

Home: 352-2819

 

Queenie Gibson

 

P.O. Box F-40611, Freeport, G.B., Bahamas

 

 

 

I think the International area code is 1 242

 

 

 

3. Was there alternate transportation available IF your person didn't come back?! Kind of scary!

I think under normal circumstances she would have stayed. Her father had just died and she had arrangements to make. I would probably have a back up plan next trip; I think there may have been a pay phone on the side of the road. I do not know if there was cell coverage; we did not try.

Thanks, Chris

You are welcome!

Did you happen to see a ship called the FINNJET docked there in Freeport? It's a huge white / blue ferry from Finland that has been docked there for about a year.

 

Thanks,

BobK/Orlando

Is this it:

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/blakeemerton/album/576460762400321544/photo/294928804363047635/9

Why has it been there a year?

Loved the pictures -- just beautiful! We liked Freeport much more than Nassau -- it's such a lovely and relaxing spot :)

Is there restrooms there?:D After viewing your pictures I would love to go. My family would need a restroom.

Thanks for the review. Have read good things about Gold Rock Beach- now I see it! Looks wonderful!

Is there restrooms there?:D After viewing your pictures I would love to go. My family would need a restroom.

None that I saw, but there may have been something back on the main road, or across the road at the entrance to the caves.

Is this it:

 

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/blakeemerton/album/576460762400321544/photo/294928804363047635/9

 

Why has it been there a year?

OMG, didn't see this post until now. GTS Finnjet was a fast ferry ship that operated in the Baltic Sea between northern Germany and Helsinki, Finland for many years. She was operated by Silja Line. But the price of fuel made her unprofitable. So the ship is for sale and is docked at Freeport because it's much cheaper than docking Europe and there is no winter weather to worry about. Silja Line itself was purchased by another ferry line so they had to paint over the Silja markings, but the ship remains the FINNJET. There is a whole website dedicated to her: http://www.finnjetweb.com

BobK/Orlando

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