HMC or Nassau

[hogwildcruzers]

Just wanted to know how many of you would rather spend the day in Nassau or have an extra day at HMC? As for us we would love to have had two stops at HMC and forget Nassau. Wouldn't it be great to start your cruise and end it on an Island paradise as that?

[sail7seas]

We love,love, love HMC but we like Nassau. It's okay with us either way if we stop at Nassau or not. My only hesitation about saying I'd like two stops at HMC on a cruise is that if HAL starts scheduling that way, the island will always be so crowded everytime we get to go. I'd rather go less but be able to enjoy it when we are there. If it's too crowded, it would not be the special treat it is now.

 

IMO.....

[DFD1]

I'll take it either way, but HMC has the edge.

[Ziggy7]

I would love HMC at the beginning and end! I am a beach person though, and I really didnt care for Nassau, so I guess it would depend on which port we didnt go to for the extra day HMC, but HMC is our very top port!

[gizmo]

1 day at HMC and 1 day at Nassau. I would not book a cruise that stopped there twice.

[meglet]

Count me in for two days at HMC. Usually we don't get off the ship in Nassau. I'm a big shopper and slot player and I don't find the prices in Nassau that good and didn't have any luck when I went to Atlantis.

[Brandis]

I would love to stay at HMC overnight. Wouldn't it be great if HAL would offer a shore excursion where you could sleep in a tent on the beach?

 

Marc

[Krazy Kruizers]

We do enjoy going to the beach, but I would never book a cruise with 2 stops at HMC - even though we do like the island. It would get boring doing the same ports on a cruise.

Variety is the spice of life.

[Tak8]

I'd go for 2 days. I love the beach. My only concern would be if weather didn't permit the ship from stopping. Imagine losing both days at HMC. I believe Disney is experimenting with this next summer.

[peaches from georgia]

We like HMC, but never book a cruise especially because it is on the itinerary. And we would NOT book if HMC was on the itinerary for 2 days- wouldn't want any other port or sea day eliminated.

[zdude]

HMC sounds great to me. Quiet relaxing, excellent beach...

 

Nassau sounds like a tourist trap to me so on our first cruise, we are going to spend the last day in Nassau. On the ship. If I were to vote, Id vote for HMC.

 

However, will I really be missing out on Nassau? I thought it would be nice to spend the last day relaxing on-board with everyone else out running around Nassau.

[edwin]

Hi, S & S, We wouldn'tcare how long we were anywhere, just so we could enjoy the company of friends like you two and our other "oool cruisers"! HMC was beautiful and the perfect way to begin the cruise-------seems to me it would also be a "relaxing, winding down" stop. Regards J & E.

[kruzkeen]

I would love to stay at HMC overnight. Wouldn't it be great if HAL would offer a shore excursion where you could sleep in a tent on the beach?

 

Marc

This is a fantastic idea. I think Nassau has some charm, but would be happy to skip St Thomas.

[sail7seas]

HMC sounds great to me. Quiet relaxing, excellent beach...

 

Nassau sounds like a tourist trap to me so on our first cruise, we are going to spend the last day in Nassau. On the ship. If I were to vote, Id vote for HMC.

 

However, will I really be missing out on Nassau? I thought it would be nice to spend the last day relaxing on-board with everyone else out running around Nassau.

 

 

As you have never been to Nassau before, it seems a shame to not take the opportunity to at least get off the ship and walk around a bit. Get a feel for the Island. As to it being a tourist trap, in reality almost all of the Caribbean is 'tourist trap' in the same sense. They all are loaded with every imaginable trinket to buy, t-shirts, taxi drivers pushing private tours, jewelry store after jewelry store........

 

We like Nassau. It isn't our favorite island, but we like it well enough to have stayed there a few times on Paradise Island for resort vacations.

[JaniceB]

If I had to choose between HMC and Nassau, HMC would win. I think they are both to cold to visit in Jan, Feb and the beginning of March. I know what you are thinking cold, but I like to swim in bath water and not shiver when I get out of the water or turn purple when I am in the water. So during those months, I would prefer a more southern port.

[zdude]

Sail7Seas

 

Understood. But also I have never cruised before and taking advantage of the last day to relax before the flight home the next day, maybe in the spa as a last chance to decompress is sounding pretty darned good.

 

I have traveled a ton and agree with the tourist trap. I just might have expected Nassau to be even more so. I may at least get off the ship and go for a run.

 

Thanks!

[sail7seas]

You absolutely should do exactly what it is you wish to do. It is YOUR vacation and should be enjoyed YOUR way!!

 

Hope you have a wonderful cruise. And your plans for your final day aboard sound delicious!! :)

[jhannah]

I also like Marc's idea. Have an over-nighter at HMC with the option to pitch a tent. That would be something totally different. But having been to Nassau more than once, I have that "been there, done that" feeling about it. I don't find it compelling enough to return. And as much as I love Half Moon Cay, I don't think I'd want to stop there twice on the same cruise any more than I'd want to make any port stop twice on a sailing.

[Odd Ball]

I would love to stay at HMC overnight. Wouldn't it be great if HAL would offer a shore excursion where you could sleep in a tent on the beach?

 

Marc

 

No thank you. My back couldn't take.:eek:

 

I am paying for a cruise not a camping trip. Camping out doesn't fit in with my idea of a cruise excursion.

 

Of course we all have different likes and dislikes.

[knarf]

Hi Meglet, We couldsn't win at Atlantis either so we fixed them !!!!!!! we took a public bus ($1.00) out to Cable Beach and went to the Wyndam Beach,Casino Hotel and played the penny slot machines !!!!!!!!! I won enough to pay for our next cruise (oops, I mean enough for a coke on our next cruise!!!!!) We liked the Straw Market to look around. Take care, Knarf(Frank backwards)

[cruisebunny40]

hi s and s,

 

my first time on hmc was several weeks ago and i loved it. i'm not a person who can just sit in the sun. so we pulled our chairs in the shade and people watched and enjoyed the waves and sand between our toes. we also took a walk to the lagoon and which was very enjoyable. we even had a half moon over the island when we were sailing away. this was our second trip to nassau. it has changed a lot since the first time we were there. we love to go off the beaten path when we visit most islands. there is a little whole in the wall bar the oposite direction down bay street from the straw market. it is called the drop in. it's down stairs and is a nice quite place to have some food, a local beer(Kalik) and do nothing. there is also a more upscale place about 10 steps from the more livley seniror frogs. if you want to avoid the 18 year olds drinking them selfs sick, have another Kalik and smoke a wonderful cuban cigar try this place. one of the bartenders is from cuba and if you ask her to suggest a cigar she will direct you to her personal favorite. she has good taste, trust her.

 

just to let you know you don't have to shop or be hounded by merchants in the straw market. just relax enjoy your vacation and soak up some island flavor no matter where you are...

 

so to answer you question i would take either because i'm on vacation and it doesn't matter so long as i'm with great people(yes you, S&S) and enjoying myself.

[cathryn58]

We would definatly choose Half Moon Cay twice -- once on the way out and once an the way back. Rev up and cool down. Nassau didn't do much for me. But then I didn't get too far off the beaten track. We enjoyed the ship that day. And for the record, I have been to Half Moon Cay on a two ship day. Wasn't bad really. I just love the slow pace, nothing calling me to do something other than relax. Walking on the beach enjoying the waves. Oh that sand is something else!

 

Just watching the people and ships in Nassau was interesting, but given the choice...

 

Hey friends -- nice to see you on the Boards. Back to reality is CRAZY. Sure glad I have fond memories of all of our times togehter!!

[HeatherInFlorida]

I really dislike Nassau. I no longer get off the ship there. Besides, our last visit we were only there from 7 a.m. to 12 noon so it was hardly worth it.

 

I think they're replacing Nassau on most cruises with Turks & Caicos which I'm very excited about. Love new ports.

 

But if it was a choice between HMC and Nassau, I'd take HMC. I'd also be happy with replacing Nassau with a sea day, but a day at HMC can be a sea day or a day at the beach!!!:D

[DavidNDC]

Some background: I have been to Nassau three times, but I have never been to HMC. I will (hopefully) set foot on HMC for the first time when I cruise May 14 on the Zuiderdam.

 

I agreed to join my friends on this HAL cruise (my first on HAL) in large part because this private island is said to be the nicest private island in the Caribbean.

 

Maybe it is not fair for me to vote in this poll....but if HMC is as nice as I hear, then I would definitely want to stop there twice and I would seek out a cruise that offered me this opportunity. Nassau, I can take or leave. It's okay, just nothing spectacular to me.

[acadia]

Funny you suggest this, my wife and I were talking about how we wish we could do two days and/or an overnight on HMC. The one thing I would differ on is canceling the Nassau stop because the snorkeling at Nassau was the best hands down. We did the Snorkel Bahamas Adventure which went to 2 different reefs. The first reef had incredible fish of all colors and the second had snorkeling with the sharks. I would do both again in a heart beat. I would give up Tortola for a second stop on HMC though.