Need Freeport ideas

[acallahan]

We are in Freeport from 730-130. Looking for cheap ideas of something fun to do

[starly94]

Stay on the boat and enjoy no lines on waterslides and buffet!:D

This may not be helpful but this is what I always do!

[jaxfl]

For $5 each way per/person you can ride down to Port Lucy (sp) and walk around town, eat drink, stop at the casino, set on the beach, or yes, just stay on the ship.

[wrigley80]

In Freeport we usually stay on the ship :D

[Charxu]

Don't stay on the ship, at least get off and walk around the port area. I know everyone says it's industrial so I was quite surprise when I looked out and saw the port area was ok. There are a few shops, some stalls with straw products, a few picture areas and a bar. We left and went to Port Lucaya and were not very impressed. A lot of jewellery stores and stalls selling same T-shirts and straw things and down by the water it smelled pretty bad. For the cost of $10pp for a taxi I wished we had just stayed in the port area.

[govgurl]

I think the OP and I are probably on the same boat, or at least we have the same port times. I'm planning to take a taxi out to Taino Beach and go to the Junkanoo Beach Club (not to be confused with Junkanoo Beach in Nassau). It's $5 for the day to access the club, which includes chair, umbrella, and access to the facilities (shower, bathrooms). They also have a bar/restaurant on the premises. I've read really good reviews about it and I love going to the beach, so I'm going to give it a try. I think the taxi out there from port is $7 pp each way, so a little more than going to Lucaya, but I'm not super interested in just going to the main spot.

 

According to the website, Junkanoo opens at 8 for early docking cruise ships, so my plan is to try to get out of the port by 7:30 and be on the beach by 8. if they're not open yet, I'll probably just lay out on my towel on some stretch of Taino Beach until they do (I may skip the club all together if it's too crowded and just hang at the beach). It's not a long day in port, but I plan to make the most of the sun.

 

If you're not interested in beaches, I know a lot of people have enjoyed the sail on the Alexander von Humboldt tall sailing ship. Someone wrote about that being a fun excursion and they let you take turns at the wheel, climbing the rigging, etc.

[CJ0226]

This will be our first time in Freeport, and not really sure what to expect. Based upon research the options are kinda limited.

 

We are not going to stay on the ship, thats just silly, don't do that. We are going for the experience good, bad or indifferent.

 

We have planned to grab taxi up to the Lucaya area and see whats there, walk around and take it from there. Its all what you make it and it could always be worse, you could be back home at work. ;)

[nodogkisses]

This will be our first time in Freeport, and not really sure what to expect. Based upon research the options are kinda limited.

 

We are not going to stay on the ship, thats just silly, don't do that. We are going for the experience good, bad or indifferent.

 

We have planned to grab taxi up to the Lucaya area and see whats there, walk around and take it from there. Its all what you make it and it could always be worse, you could be back home at work. ;)

 

Glad you're getting off the ship and getting a taxi van to the Lucaya area. You'll be pleasantly surprised. It's only about a 15 minute ride and there are a lot of things to do. There is shopping at the marketplace area, a casino, the beach is right across the street. You have the option of paying $10 for access through the Radisson or walking down the street a bit and taking the path by the police station. If you opt for the police station entrance to the beach--no charge. Not a far walk at all. Right at the end of the path on the beach is Billy Joe's Conch Shack and they have delicious grilled lobster and great Pina Coladas and Miami Vices. It's a port that gets a bad rap. We will be there next month and only have a few hours there, so that's our plan. There are a lot of other things to do if your time isn't so limited. You have a good attitude about exploring a new place. It just amazes me how many people don't leave the industrial port area here.

[CJ0226]

Yeah I'm looking forward to it in some sense or another. Either way we will make the most of it, anything new is better than anything old.

 

Last time we had a port stop in Belize, it was not the best experience. If we go again, we will still get off the ship but just go somewhere different that time and see if its any different.

[nybumpkin]

Don't stay on the ship, at least get off and walk around the port area. I know everyone says it's industrial so I was quite surprise when I looked out and saw the port area was ok. There are a few shops, some stalls with straw products, a few picture areas and a bar. We left and went to Port Lucaya and were not very impressed. A lot of jewellery stores and stalls selling same T-shirts and straw things and down by the water it smelled pretty bad. For the cost of $10pp for a taxi I wished we had just stayed in the port area.

When we were in Freeport in July, this was exactly what someone we met said - there's shops, there's food, there's music, and it's safe. Yes, it's an industrial port area, and yes, if you want to do beach activities you have to take a taxi or an excursion - but it's not a complete loss.

 

At the same time, if someone wants to stay aboard the ship and enjoy the deck and pools without the crowds, by all means do so. We've done it twice. In Montego Bay, our excursion was canceled at the last minute and we knew better than to try doing something on our own, so we disembarked, went over to the port shopping area, bought some souvenirs and Blue Mountain coffee, and went right back aboard the ship. Did the same thing in Nassau the next year.

 

If you're not interested in beaches, I know a lot of people have enjoyed the sail on the Alexander von Humboldt tall sailing ship. Someone wrote about that being a fun excursion and they let you take turns at the wheel, climbing the rigging, etc.

This is a great excursion; however, it doesn't exactly fit the "cheap" category. It was $95 per person.

[FloridaMimi]

For $5 each way per/person you can ride down to Port Lucy (sp) and walk around town, eat drink, stop at the casino, set on the beach, or yes, just stay on the ship.

 

Is this price for a private taxi? Do you know if they are safe and reliable. Can you recommend a certain company or driver? Will they be available to get us back to the ship On Time without trying to take us all over the island?:o By not booking an excursion from Carnival I want to make SURE we can get back on time. How long does the trip there and back take. Thanks for all your help. :)

[nodogkisses]

Yeah I'm looking forward to it in some sense or another. Either way we will make the most of it, anything new is better than anything old.

 

Last time we had a port stop in Belize, it was not the best experience. If we go again, we will still get off the ship but just go somewhere different that time and see if its any different.

 

That's exactly what happened to us in Belize last summer. We had high winds and our snorkeling excursion was canceled. Unfortunately, the excursion to the Mayan ruins that my DH, DS and his girlfriend were going on was was sold out so we were left excursionless. So, my DD and her friend and I were only able to take the tender over to the port area and walk around and shop a little. Our least favorite port stop ever. We were totally bored, although the tender in those high seas was kinda fun,. Next time in Belize hopefully I'll get out to explore.

[govgurl]

Is this price for a private taxi? Do you know if they are safe and reliable. Can you recommend a certain company or driver? Will they be available to get us back to the ship On Time without trying to take us all over the island?:o By not booking an excursion from Carnival I want to make SURE we can get back on time. How long does the trip there and back take. Thanks for all your help. :)

 

According to what others have posted here, the taxis in Freeport are van taxis. That is to say, they're minivans, and they put a bunch of people going to the same destination in one van. It's $5 per person each way to go to Port Lucaya. They pick up at the cruise dock, and you pay round trip ahead of time. THey give you a ticket, to show that you've paid, and then you give your ticket to a person in the taxi stand in Port Lucaya when you're ready to return. From what I've read here there are always plenty of taxis and the system works well, though I'd give yourself a 30 minute lead time before you have to be back at the ship, just to be safe. If you're not going to Port Lucaya, I assume the system is similar, I know I'm thinking about going to Taino Beach and the Beach club I'm planning to visit there says they will help you catch a taxi back.

[beachpearl]

We are in Freeport from 730-130. Looking for cheap ideas of something fun to do

 

You can take a taxi to the Perfume Factory where you can ceeate your own perfume or cologne and have it bottled. I think it's $30.00 for a bottle.

 

You also get a free tour of the facility .

[nodogkisses]

According to what others have posted here, the taxis in Freeport are van taxis. That is to say, they're minivans, and they put a bunch of people going to the same destination in one van. It's $5 per person each way to go to Port Lucaya. They pick up at the cruise dock, and you pay round trip ahead of time. THey give you a ticket, to show that you've paid, and then you give your ticket to a person in the taxi stand in Port Lucaya when you're ready to return. From what I've read here there are always plenty of taxis and the system works well, though I'd give yourself a 30 minute lead time before you have to be back at the ship, just to be safe. If you're not going to Port Lucaya, I assume the system is similar, I know I'm thinking about going to Taino Beach and the Beach club I'm planning to visit there says they will help you catch a taxi back.

 

You're correct that the taxis are vans. Although the driver will try to talk you into paying for the round trip, you can just pay for one way and when you go to get another taxi van for the ride back, you can pay the other $5. That is how we've always done it. I don't like paying them in advance.

 

I see you're thinking of going to Taino Beach to the Junkanoo Beach Club--I read that is a $7 taxi ride. That's what my DD and her friends and I will be doing when we are in Freeport in March. It looks so nice.

[summer_girl]

Was just in Freeport last week...I agree with getting a ride out to Port Lucaya. However, the shopping area sucks. We went across to the Radissin, pd 10.00 for a pass...great place...beach, pool, pool bar. To eat walk down side walk past police station and down a lil path to local beach seafood shack...Billy Jos seafood! The locals told us about it...yum!

[govgurl]

You're correct that the taxis are vans. Although the driver will try to talk you into paying for the round trip, you can just pay for one way and when you go to get another taxi van for the ride back, you can pay the other $5. That is how we've always done it. I don't like paying them in advance.

 

I see you're thinking of going to Taino Beach to the Junkanoo Beach Club--I read that is a $7 taxi ride. That's what my DD and her friends and I will be doing when we are in Freeport in March. It looks so nice.

 

Yeah, I'm excited by the pictures! Some reviews mentioned it gets really crowded, but we're the only ship in port that day and Carnival's beach day excursions don't go to Taino Beach, they go to Lucaya, so I'm hoping the crowds won't be too bad if we start early.

 

I also read that it's a $7 taxi ride (a while ago someone posted the photo of the sign from the taxi stand in the port in Freeport, listing all the prices per person). My biggest concern is waiting a long time at the port while they try to fill our taxi, but I'll just have to hope there are some other people interested in going when we are.

[rushedmom]

Does anyone have pictures of this Taino Beach to the Junkanoo Beach Club? We like the idea of being on our own time schedule for beach days.

 

I was looking at both of the beach day excursions at Freeport on the Carnival board one seemed pricey for the time spent and the other was a really long day..

[govgurl]

Does anyone have pictures of this Taino Beach to the Junkanoo Beach Club? We like the idea of being on our own time schedule for beach days.

 

I was looking at both of the beach day excursions at Freeport on the Carnival board one seemed pricey for the time spent and the other was a really long day..

 

If you google Junkanoo Beach Club, you can visit the clubs we page and see photos. The club is on Taino Beach, which is free to use, but the facilities at the club cost. They also advertise a snorkeling tour. No clue how it is though

[Nic6318]

We were considering going to the Garden of the Groves when we are in Freeport. Would anyone know how much a taxi for two to get there would be? Also, would it be far from there to the Port Lucaya area?

 

Thank in advance for any help