Is Grand Bahama Island really just Nassau or a different port?

[luckyprincess]

Hi! So I've booked a cruise for myself and a friend in late January. It says it goes to Grand Bahamas Island. However, it doesn't show up in the list of ports for my shore excursions on the cruise planner. It doesn't show up at all - it just lists day 3 for Cozumel and day 6 for Port Canaveral. So that's super weird. Then I went to RCCL shore excursions and the only thing I found for Bahamas is Cococay or Nassau. Anyone know why they list it as Grand Bahamas Island but don't show that as a port of call or choice for excursions? Is it Nassau or Cococay? :confused:

[Clarea]

Nassau is on New Providence island. Freeport is on Grand Bahama island.

[markeb]

Freeport is on Grand Bahama Island, not Nassau.

[cruisinwithmaandpa]

Freeport is a waste of time.

[luckyprincess]

Thanks everyone. It's weird that they don't list Freeport as a port of call.... they just completely omit the fact that the ship is stopping anywhere and give me no options of any shore excursion for that day. how annoying..

[Merion_Mom]

Thanks everyone. It's weird that they don't list Freeport as a port of call.... they just completely omit the fact that the ship is stopping anywhere and give me no options of any shore excursion for that day. how annoying..

 

They have almost 7 months to get some excursions together, if you ARE going to Freeport. It is not a regular RC port. Be patient.

 

:)

[markeb]

Thanks everyone. It's weird that they don't list Freeport as a port of call.... they just completely omit the fact that the ship is stopping anywhere and give me no options of any shore excursion for that day. how annoying..

 

We did an island getaway at the Westin Grand Lucayan resort in Freeport a few years ago. We actually enjoyed it, even though it was December and the water temperature wasn't that great! You are definitely NOT tropical in Freeport!

 

The cruise port is well away from Grand Lucayan. You probably want to google the island and look for what's there that interests you. We did a really cool island tour through the resort that included tours through one of the major caves on the island.

 

Grand Bahama is definitely NOT St Maarten, St Thomas, or Grand Cayman. It's not even Nassau. We enjoyed it, but it probably wouldn't be my first choice for a cruise ship stop...

[luckyprincess]

They have almost 7 months to get some excursions together, if you ARE going to Freeport. It is not a regular RC port. Be patient.

 

:)

 

I enjoy the planning process about as much as the actual vacation so I like to plan well in advance. Patience will not be easy :) It would be nice if they at the very least had any excursions at all for this port on the site for me to even look at much less even listed it on my cruise details as actually getting off the ship that day.

[Pumbaamd]

They have almost 7 months to get some excursions together, if you ARE going to Freeport. It is not a regular RC port. Be patient. :)

 

Carol, How is your weather in the Bay? Lots of wicked thunder and lightning late this evening here, close to the bay. Flood warnings continue here in southern Maryland.

R&D

Edited July 4, 2014 by Pumbaamd

[Clarea]

I enjoy the planning process about as much as the actual vacation so I like to plan well in advance. Patience will not be easy :) It would be nice if they at the very least had any excursions at all for this port on the site for me to even look at much less even listed it on my cruise details as actually getting off the ship that day.

Problem is that Royal does not regularly go to Freeport. It may take them longer than usual to set up excursions.

[Merion_Mom]

Carol, How is your weather in the Bay? Lots of wicked thunder and lightning late this evening here, close to the bay. Flood warnings continue here in southern Maryland.

R&D

 

I made a really cool video of the amazing lightning INSIDE the clouds. I'll post tomorrow.

[markeb]

I enjoy the planning process about as much as the actual vacation so I like to plan well in advance. Patience will not be easy :) It would be nice if they at the very least had any excursions at all for this port on the site for me to even look at much less even listed it on my cruise details as actually getting off the ship that day.

 

Based purely on our experience, and this was NOT a cruise stop for us; we were at Grand Lucayan for 5-6 days, I'd look for an island tour with beach stop. Grand Bahama has a very cool cave network with a subterranean lake, and we also visited a very cool wetlands area. Keep in mind that in January the water temperature is probably going to resemble the Outer Banks, not St Thomas...

[Pumbaamd]

Problem is that Royal does not regularly go to Freeport. It may take them longer than usual to set up excursions.

Bob, we've learned that RCCL will go to Freeport as a port of call when the ship itself is due for a dry docking soon. They can rustle up some excursions and some busses to Freeport. Meanwhile, on board, engineers and technicians are on board taking pics and measurements for future work in dry dock. Happened to us on MJ for that $$$ drydock in 2007.

R&D

[markeb]

And check Nature and Eco Tours. Pretty sure we did Lucayan National Park.

[Clarea]

Bob, we've learned that RCCL will go to Freeport as a port of call when the ship itself is due for a dry docking soon. They can rustle up some excursions and some busses to Freeport. Meanwhile, on board, engineers and technicians are on board taking pics and measurements for future work in dry dock. Happened to us on MJ for that $$$ drydock in 2007.

R&D

I know what you mean Rick. We were on Indy in Dec 2012. Supposed to go to Nassau, but someone dropped the ball and there was no space for us in Nassau, so they went to Freeport instead. They came up with 4 excursions with short notice. We also got to see Enchantment in dry dock.

[scorpluvsdolphins]

I liked my one time diving in Freeport better than my multiple times in Nassau. I don't dive in Nassau anymore. Too expensive for what you get to see with the ship excursion.

 

 

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[musik07]

I was there on a carnival cruise. There is a market place at the Lucaya Marketplace area. This was a cheap and easy taxi ride from where we docked. We also know people who went swimming with dolphins and said they were in wetsuits and had an amazing time. We didn't get any beach time, however we found a nice beach bar with a small little cove for swimming. If we wouldn't have been on the edge of a tropical storm it would have been a great day to do more than sit in a bar! By far not my favorite port, but not awful. We would have had a nice day on the beach had it not been pouring for 12 hours straight and 45 MPH winds!

[luckyprincess]

Thanks all. I guess I'll head over to the Freeport board and see what there is to do. Now I'm kind of happy because I really disliked Nassau so I'm glad it's not that. Plus my friend has never cruised and I've been on a few so I figured I'd just be seeing the same places. It's kind of nice to try somewhere new. Even if most don't like it I have to say I loved Samana and most people I spoke with disliked it. Also I'm really an ecotour or adventure kind of girl so caves sound great! Thanks!

[molly361]

I would actually like to go to Freeport. Have not been there is years. I assume you are on the Explorer? (Sorry if I misses that)

 

We may book that one for 1/24/15.

[luckyprincess]

I would actually like to go to Freeport. Have not been there is years. I assume you are on the Explorer? (Sorry if I misses that)

 

We may book that one for 1/24/15.

 

Yup! On the Explorer for the same date! :) For me the best part is to introduce my friend to cruising!! :)

Edited July 4, 2014 by luckyprincess

[awhcruiser]

:rolleyes: How is this a helpful answer to the OPs question?

Freeport is a waste of time.

Edited July 4, 2014 by awhcruiser

[molly361]

I read over on the ports of call boards recently that there is more in the port area than there was years ago. I don't really recall what there was where you dock. I last time we were there we took a taxi over to the casino, but that was many years ago

[luckyprincess]

I was always SUPER paranoid about not doing the ship's excursion because I would hate to miss the sail time or be left without a refund if we didn't reach the port. But I really thought the Samana excursions were so pricey and nothing really jumped out at me for the people I was with. I was SO nervous to just contact Cayenas del mar and do it through them but it was a great experience and I paid less for all of us than I would have for one of us on the ships excursion! So now I'm a bit more confident at looking at non-ship sponsored things to do. I'm heading over there now to check it out...

[FLACRUISER99]

Freeport is a waste of time.

How much time have you spent on Grand bahama Island? Why is it a waste of time? Did you know that Grand Bahama Island is the fourth largest island and second most popular tourist destination in the Bahamas.

[nomis04]

How much time have you spent on Grand bahama Island? Why is it a waste of time? Did you know that Grand Bahama Island is the fourth largest island and second most popular tourist destination in the Bahamas.

 

My wife and I are happily one of those tourists..We have been going back and forth to Grand Bahama and Freeport for over 40 years and it remains one of our favorite destinations.. Food, beaches and people all a "thumbs up"..Enjoy your visit OP.. :)