Bahamas People to People Program

[rrraydon]

Hi..I just got back from my Bahamas cruise on the Carnival Glory and I wanted to give my opinion of my "people to people" experience.

 

We learned of the program on these boards and filled out the application on the Bahamas website under the People to People tab. We began receiving emails from Bridgette, a representative of the Ministry of Tourism, about 2 weeks prior to our sailing. She in turn gave us the email address and telephone number of Barbara, the ambassador assigned to us. Barbara touched base with us 2 or 3 times prior to our arrival to get an idea of the things we were interested in doing while we were in Nassau. We explained that we had been to Nassau a half a dozen times and visited the "touristy" area and loved it, but this time we wanted to go further inland and see the true way of life in the Bahamas and their culture..pretty much day to day living. We also wanted to have a dinner at a local place for true bahamian eats...wherever they would normally eat. She said she would have no problem arranging that for us.

 

We arrived at the Ministry of Tourism, which is within walking distance from the dock, at about noon time and met with Bridgette first. She was a very pleasant young lady and immediately made us feel very welcome. She then introduced us to our guide Barbara and Barbara's friend Brielle who she had brought along for the guided tour. Barbara said that Brielle had a larger vehicle than she did and Brielle's vehicle could better accomodate all of us since we had a party of 4. Our party included myself, my friend Kathleen, my daughter McKenzie (15) and my granddaughter Aniya (5), making it a grand total of 6. She had a trailblazer sort of vehicle that could accomodate 5 , so Aniya had to ride on McKenzie's lap...I wasn't entirely happy about that.

 

After leaving the ministry we went directly to a gas station and waited a few minutes for the attendant to arrive to put gas in the vehicle. Then we drove a few blocks to a convenience store and there was an attendant there who put air in all the tires..LOL..seriously. FINALLY, we rode over the bridge to Paradise Island and drove around there for about 45 minutes where they pointed out different areas of interest. Along the ride Kathleen quizzed them on their lives and on the people to people program..she does that alot..quizzes people..lol. Anyway, it turns out that this was their first people to people guided tour :eek:. We kinda figured that because after a few minutes of driving it was apparant that there was not really a set plan or schedule. The People to People Program itself is very new for the Bahamas as well.

 

We did learn a little in the 45 minutes of driving around Paradise Island about their lives, where they used to work before their retirement and about their family life. It was all pretty interesting actually. I think they caught on to the fact that we weren't interested in Atlantis or its surrounding area so they drove back over to town to the Queen's Staircase (another area attraction).

 

During all of our talking we learned that Brielle was a retired cook and worked for Atlantis for a number of years. Most all of her family were also cooks in some fashion. Brielle agreed to take us through the area where she and her family grew up. We made a stop at her son's home and met a few of her family members. I loved that part of our tour...this was what I was really interested in. It turns out that Brielle's sister ran a restaurant locally and she agreed to take us over there for lunch. When we first pulled up it looked like an old run down 2 story cement house in the inner city. There was only a 2 car parking spot in front of the place. It sort of looked like the inner city homes that were sort of run down and unkept. The surrounding homes were in poor shape as well. The patrons usually just walk up to the restaurant/home. The front door was locked on the inside and you had to wait for it to be opened first before you went in..I know, I know, your thinking "what the hell?!"...Well, I LOVED this place right off!..LOL. Once you went inside the place was older yes, but VERY clean and had a small bar area and about 5 or 6 tables with linens and candles in the center and 2 large flat screen televisions on the walls.

 

Now, about the food...it was AWESOME!...did I say AWESOME??..lol..really it was. We asked her sister to surprise us...and she did. She brought our plates out mounded with food!. I had fried conch, rice, coleslaw and fried plantains. I have had fried conch before, but none tasted as good as this. The rice was absolutely delicious!...Now, I have never been a fan of fried plantain and the ones I've had were usually smothered in some sort of sauce that is gross...not the case here! They did have a seasoning of sorts on them and I don't even care what it was cuz it was damn good!! :p. My friend Kathleen, who loves fish, had a loaded up plate of fresh, fried grouper and the same sides as I did. Her food was out of this world also! The 2 children both had fried chicken wings and french fries. The chicken wings were a bit spicy for them but I thought they were perfect. This was by far the best food I've had in a long time....just goes to show, never judge a book by its cover!! This stop was EXACTLY what I was looking for.

 

After we finished eating we said goodbye to our new friends, left a big tip and headed out to the car where we shooed a few dingos out from under the vehicle! Seriously, those poor dogs looked like they came straight off the discovery channel! Anyway, after lunch we took a drive around the area to check the neighborhoods out. We passed a few schools, hospitals and a college. I thoroughly enjoyed our tour through here. On our way back to Bay Street we rode through a local beach area where they built a new bathhouse and a playground for the local kids; which cost an astounding quarter million dollars and they were pretty basic facilities. Our ladies were not happy about!...the price that is..(we all came to the conclusion that the contractor must have been related to the mayor or something!) :eek:

 

Our awesome Bahamian Ambassadors dropped us off back on Bay Street after our wonderful 4 hour tour of the inner area of Nassau...which we absolutely loved and would do again in a heartbeat! Although there is no charge for this excursion through the Ministry of Tourism, it's obvious the Ambassadors need to be tipped. Therefore, we treated them to their lunch (they had the fried conch platter like myself with a standard style salad) and left them with a hefty tip as well!

 

It's important to keep in mind that each tour is unique to each group!

[maureencruiser]

Thanks for the info, Donna. I'm thinking about doing this on my next cruise!

[rrraydon]

Thanks for the info, Donna. I'm thinking about doing this on my next cruise!

 

 

Your welcome. I would definately try it. The things we did on our tour might not be what other's would want to do. But, like I mentioned, each tour is catered to the likes of each group...have a great cruise!

[movingimages]

We recently returned from a trip on the Fascination that stopped in Nassau. We had made arrangements through the Tourism Ministry (Bridgette) via e-mail to participate in this program. Even though we found out about it a week before our planned stop in Nassau, Bridgette was able to secure an ambassador. Julian, who is a driver for a WHO official, met us in front of the tourism office with his wife's car (big enough for our party of 3).

 

Julian was very proud of his country, but also realistic about its challenges, socially, economically, and politically...which, btw, seemed very similar to ours in the U.S. We had great discussions throughout our 6-hour tour. We drove all around every type of neighborhood, including one lovely one where a straw market vendor had worked successfully to have a beautiful home. One of our favorite parts was going "under the bridge," to a local market for fish, conch, and vegetables. We also visited the Queen's Staircase, where Julian's friend gave us a great history lesson on their relationship with the British, slavery, etc. Julian also brought us to the main police complex, where we took photos with officers in their cool uniforms.

 

Before returning to the ship, Julian took us to his favorite restaurant in the "fish fry" area. We had him order for us. I had fried conch, my daughter had red snapper, and Julian and my husband both had grouper (prepared differently). We treated Julian to lunch.

 

Upon returning to the Ministry, I gave Julian some cash when I shook his hand. He said, "You know, Mama, it's for free." And I said, "But you need gas money." We exchanged contact info and hoped to meet again in the future.

 

I would highly recommend this program, without reservation. It was a great experience!

[rrraydon]

We recently returned from a trip on the Fascination that stopped in Nassau. We had made arrangements through the Tourism Ministry (Bridgette) via e-mail to participate in this program. Even though we found out about it a week before our planned stop in Nassau, Bridgette was able to secure an ambassador. Julian, who is a driver for a WHO official, met us in front of the tourism office with his wife's car (big enough for our party of 3).

 

Julian was very proud of his country, but also realistic about its challenges, socially, economically, and politically...which, btw, seemed very similar to ours in the U.S. We had great discussions throughout our 6-hour tour. We drove all around every type of neighborhood, including one lovely one where a straw market vendor had worked successfully to have a beautiful home. One of our favorite parts was going "under the bridge," to a local market for fish, conch, and vegetables. We also visited the Queen's Staircase, where Julian's friend gave us a great history lesson on their relationship with the British, slavery, etc. Julian also brought us to the main police complex, where we took photos with officers in their cool uniforms.

 

Before returning to the ship, Julian took us to his favorite restaurant in the "fish fry" area. We had him order for us. I had fried conch, my daughter had red snapper, and Julian and my husband both had grouper (prepared differently). We treated Julian to lunch.

 

Upon returning to the Ministry, I gave Julian some cash when I shook his hand. He said, "You know, Mama, it's for free." And I said, "But you need gas money." We exchanged contact info and hoped to meet again in the future.

 

I would highly recommend this program, without reservation. It was a great experience!

 

 

So glad your experience was as enjoyable as ours was. I can't say enough about this program..it was truly the highlight of our day in Nassau!

[movingimages]

So glad your experience was as enjoyable as ours was. I can't say enough about this program..it was truly the highlight of our day in Nassau!

 

Thanks, Donna. I hope more people will take advantage of this great program...as you say, it's a real highlight!

[shellunderwater]

So glad to read great things about this program. We are signed up for a tour in November, and we are REALLY looking forward to it. I want to eat in a "local" place, not a tourist trap. No better way to learn about a culture than what I read about this program.

 

Thanks for the information.

[Lovergirl22]

I just signed up for this program, for cruise next month. I hope we have the same experience you guys have had, this is the type of thing i have been looking for

 

Send from device_name using Cruise Critic your_app_name App

[moni2t]

sounds like something I would like to do.how do I sign up for this tour?we will be leaving in feb on the 1st,i would love to sign up for this .

[Lovergirl22]

Go to the Bahamas tourism site an its located there.

[Michellelhs]

I emailed them twice and never got a reply.

Oh well.... guess it is a shore excursion for me.

[movingimages]

sounds like something I would like to do.how do I sign up for this tour?we will be leaving in feb on the 1st,i would love to sign up for this .

 

http://www.bahamas.com/people-to-people

[movingimages]

I emailed them twice and never got a reply.

Oh well.... guess it is a shore excursion for me.

 

Sorry to hear you are having difficulties. Here is the email of the person who made our arrangements: brahming@bahamas.com

 

Bridgette Rahming

People To People

 

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

Rawson Square, P.O. Box N-3701

Nassau, Bahamas

Phone: 242-3560435/7/8

Fax: 242-326-0166

[ariannas1nana]

I got my confirmation today and my ambassadors name..has anyone had Eleanor Musgrove? I am looking forward to this very much!

 

I'll let y'all know how it goes..

[yourmunchkin0507]

Wow awesome program!! Too bad we booked a driver for our group. Although I doubt they could do 15 of us. Will keep this in mind my next visit. Thanks for sharing your experiences!!!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[rrraydon]

I emailed them twice and never got a reply.

Oh well.... guess it is a shore excursion for me.

 

 

We didn't get a reply until a few weeks before our sail date.

 

Have fun on your cruise! :)

[rrraydon]

Wow awesome program!! Too bad we booked a driver for our group. Although I doubt they could do 15 of us. Will keep this in mind my next visit. Thanks for sharing your experiences!!!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

 

Your welcome...Have a great cruise! :)

[rrraydon]

I got my confirmation today and my ambassadors name..has anyone had Eleanor Musgrove? I am looking forward to this very much!

 

I'll let y'all know how it goes..

 

 

Please do come back and tell us of your experience. Have a great cruise. I sail on the Fantasy again in a few months. I can't wait! :D

[cruisecritic2]

I noticed that this can be scheduled for Freeport or Nassau. Has anyone done the one from Freeport and how was it? Which would you suggest? Thank you.

[rrraydon]

I noticed that this can be scheduled for Freeport or Nassau. Has anyone done the one from Freeport and how was it? Which would you suggest? Thank you.

 

I put in a request for Freeport for my October cruise but haven't heard anything yet. But, I likely won't until closer to the date.

Edited June 18, 2013 by rrraydon

[cruisecritic2]

I put in a request for Freeport for my October cruise but haven't heard anything yet. But, I likely won't until closer to the date.

 

Thank you rrraydon. We will be going in September and was wondering how the program was. I will be traveling with my parents who are in their 70's and wanted to make sure it was safe. I read that they screen the participates in the program but wanted to be certain because I didn't want to put my parents in an unsafe situation. This will be my first time in the Bahamas so I am not sure about the safety issues. :confused:

[packedandready]

Just submitted a request for cruise in sept. Hope to hear from them soon:)

[cruisecritic2]

I am considering the P2P program. I know that this is a free service, but do we tip them for their services and how much is an appropriate amount? Thank you!

[movingimages]

I am considering the P2P program. I know that this is a free service, but do we tip them for their services and how much is an appropriate amount? Thank you!

 

The people are volunteers who want to promote their country, so I do not think they expect any tip. However, gas is very expensive there, so I feel like that should be taken into account by anyone taking the tour. Not suggesting that this is the "appropriate" amount...just sharing what we did... Treated the driver to lunch and gave him $40.

[movingimages]

Thank you rrraydon. We will be going in September and was wondering how the program was. I will be traveling with my parents who are in their 70's and wanted to make sure it was safe. I read that they screen the participates in the program but wanted to be certain because I didn't want to put my parents in an unsafe situation. This will be my first time in the Bahamas so I am not sure about the safety issues. :confused:

 

We felt very safe. Our driver was even concerned about this when choosing a place for a restroom break - he ended up taking us to a government office where a friend worked. :)