Best Budget Excursions - Freeport & Nassau

[kurukthemal]

We are headed on Pride in July. I think we have agreed to cab it to Cocoa Beach in Port Canaveral. I wouldn't say we are a cheap group, perhaps more like frugal. What would you suggest as the must do, budget excursions for Freeport and Nassau? Let's say under $60/person. Thanks in advance!

[bunchesofun]

Nassau there is the Pirate museum. http://www.pirates-of-nassau.com/museum.htm

$12 per person for adults

It was very interesting.

 

Day pass at the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau is $60 per adult, and $30 per child and you get a food/drink credit of $40 adults and $15 children.

We were booked there but it was a stormy day so cancelled. There was a cancellation fee.

[PAPERBKWRITER]

FYI in PC you can walk under the bridge and get a r/t bus to Coco Beach for $12 pp and the busses run very frequently. Nassau; there is a 3 block or so shopping district and the straw market close to the ship.A beach within walking distance. To do something else you can take a taxi or water taxi to Paradise Island. Its walkable but I wouldn't recommend it. Check excursions and for about $40 pp you can get a 2 hour tour. Freeport has some nice beaches but research before you choose. None are walkable. There is a market with some good values right by the ship but you need to shop to find them. Freeport is unpopular and many just stay on the ship.

[aaron3219]

Nassau there is the Pirate museum. http://www.pirates-of-nassau.com/museum.htm

$12 per person for adults

It was very interesting.

 

Day pass at the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau is $60 per adult, and $30 per child and you get a food/drink credit of $40 adults and $15 children.

We were booked there but it was a stormy day so cancelled. There was a cancellation fee.

 

We just did this last month, and not sure if its because our daughter is 4 or not, but they only charged us 120 for both of us. Then we ate 80 dollars worth of food, and enjoyed the day.

 

Nassau scared the crap out of me.

[Scottohiocpa]

We took a cab to a beach in Freeport. Once there, we went to a shack that sold us a snorkeling trip out to rainbow reef for $30pp. It was some of the best snorkeling I have ever done.

 

In Nassau, you can take a catamaran and snorkel trip for $60pp. It is available through carnival or directly through tour ops. If you want to to have a nice time on the cheap in Nassau:

 

1) Go to a liquor store and buy some local rum for $2 for 200ml. Buy some Goombay Punch in cans. Go to Junkanoo beach and enjoy your drinks. Buy some Jerk chicken or Conch fritters from the locals. Some people on these boards will say Junkanoo is not nice, but whenever I have been there it is always clean and the locals are friendly, not pushy. There are restroom facilities. Before going back to the ship, stop in the grocery store. You will see some things for sale that we don't have in the USA.

[mts315]

I booked Pat and Diane's Snorkel tour in Freeport. When I booked there was a 20% discount so the cost was around $67 per person. That included a 5 hour excursion, lunch on the beach, and drinks for the day.

[MuffyKismet]

I guess it all depends on what you want to do and your budget. If you are a very active younger group then snorkel trip would be fun or a little more relaxed, Breeze's all inclusive is great I think it is about $65 pp now (was only $50pp when we went a few years ago). This last January we took a taxi (van) tour with Mario it was GREAT and only $25 pp well worth, it we got to see a lot of Nassau we never saw before and sampled free conch fritters (yummy). If you would like his contact info just email me megator2@aol.com and I am happy to send you his contact information . He has a variety of tours and prices, all depends what your interests are and how much time you have. Hope you have fun in Nassau!

[Mamasboy80]

We are headed on Pride in July. I think we have agreed to cab it to Cocoa Beach in Port Canaveral. I wouldn't say we are a cheap group, perhaps more like frugal. What would you suggest as the must do, budget excursions for Freeport and Nassau? Let's say under $60/person. Thanks in advance!

 

In Nassau - We went with Blue Hole water sports, had a very personalized snorkeling day with Basil.

Last time we did the tru bahamian food thing - we weren't impressed.

 

Our next trip we will do Blue Hole again, may add fishing or some beach time, they are flexible.

 

The kids like the Pirates museum and for some relaxation, ardastra zoo and the marching flamingoes was a hit.

 

In Freeport, we usually just go to Junkanoo Beach.

[cruiseapril]

In Nassau, we like the Melia at Cable Beach (formerly Sheraton.) There is a nice stretch of beach and several very nice pools.

 

Also, we enjoyed Ardastra Gardens & Zoo- but we are beach people, so Melia would be our first choice.

 

In Freeport, we took the $5 pp van cab to Our Lucaya where there is a beach, casino, and big local shopping area with Bahamian goods and designer goods.

[Mommypieof3]

My husband and I did the walk to Paradise Island (actually the reverse). It is long and beautiful, BUT it was quite a workout and we chose to take a cab in the other direction!!

[grumpyjr88]

We took a cab to a beach in Freeport. Once there, we went to a shack that sold us a snorkeling trip out to rainbow reef for $30pp. It was some of the best snorkeling I have ever done.

 

In Nassau, you can take a catamaran and snorkel trip for $60pp. It is available through carnival or directly through tour ops. If you want to to have a nice time on the cheap in Nassau:

 

1) Go to a liquor store and buy some local rum for $2 for 200ml. Buy some Goombay Punch in cans. Go to Junkanoo beach and enjoy your drinks. Buy some Jerk chicken or Conch fritters from the locals. Some people on these boards will say Junkanoo is not nice, but whenever I have been there it is always clean and the locals are friendly, not pushy. There are restroom facilities. Before going back to the ship, stop in the grocery store. You will see some things for sale that we don't have in the USA.

 

Totally agree with you about Junkanoo beach. We spent the entire day there and only saw a few vendors walking around and they were not pushy at all but were very nice and chatty even if you weren't buying what they were selling. Take snorkel gear because there is a little bit to see off the beach.

 

I don't find Nassau scary at all and I don't understand why people keep saying that. :(

[cavewoman]

Paradise Cove is FABULOUS! Been there 2x already. :p

 

Nina from Baltimore

[pennielz]

We just did this last month, and not sure if its because our daughter is 4 or not, but they only charged us 120 for both of us. Then we ate 80 dollars worth of food, and enjoyed the day.

 

Nassau scared the crap out of me.

 

We did the British Colonial Hilton, as well. We thought it was worth the money! It is a beautiful facility and it is walking distance from the Port in the touristy part of Nassau. In fact you can see it from your ship while docked.

 

We are big Pirate people but, found the Pirate tour to be a little cheesey for our tastes, however, kids will love it....if you have kids with you.

 

Pennie