Royal ship going to Bimini -- is this common?

[wreckem2013]

I am looking forward to my Spring Break Bahamas cruise on Serenade out of Tampa. Grand Bahamas, Nassau, Bimini, and CoCo Cay.

[Pellaz]

9 hours ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

 

I cut and pasted the info for you here: The time of the tour is stated to be two hours so I am figuring they spend 30 traveling out, one hour on the wreck, and thirty minutes back. Not absolutely positive about the time but it is a typical vacation tour dive example.

Yep, sounds about right.  I'd really love it if they offered snuba, but I gather they don't.  I've noticed snuba excursions have largely disappeared from itineraries...or at least, from MY recent itineraries.  

 

9 hours ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

Highlights

• Boat out to your destination as you learn about the history of the S.S. Sapona, a cargo steamer that ran aground during a 1926 hurricane, along the way.
• Gear up and dip into the water to snorkel around and inside the remnants of the shipwreck, which sits 20 feet below the water’s surface.
• See coral heads, sea fans, and plenty of tropical fish living inside the ship.
• After exploring the protected artificial reef, climb back onboard and relax with a delicious rum punch as you enjoy the sounds of island music and entertainment from your Bahamian crew.

Golly, a Bahamian crew in the Bahamas?  Who'd a thunk it?  😄  

 

Interesting that you can snorkel inside the wreck.  

 

8 hours ago, Moonarino said:

Better than Bimini for us, but to each his/her own.

Oh, it wouldn't surprise me if Nassau ends up being better than Bimini for me, also.  

<mantra>  "Well, at least it isn't Freeport."  </mantra>   😄  

 

3 hours ago, twoflyers said:

Try Stuart's Conch stand - best conch salad we've ever had,  and we've tried many.  Fresh, huge portion and ice cold beer - good prices.  I believe it's a bit closer to the port than Joe's'.  You can rent a golf cart and tool around instead of going to a disappointing beach or casino.

Thanks for the advice.  If I can get a few friends together we may well pool our funds and rent out a golf cart.  It's something I haven't quite gotten around to doing at Grand Turk.  

 

[cruzeluver]

We too went to Bimini this year on Celebrity Infinity. Loved it! We rented a gold cart for the day and saw everything we wanted to see. Hit several beaches, had a wonderful lunch at a local place and met some charming locals. If you prefer your Caribbean ports to have tons of tourist infrastructure and chain restaurants like Margaritaville or Senor Frogs then it won't appeal to you, but that is precisely why we loved it.

[cruisegirl1]

15 hours ago, Moonarino said:

We've had some good lunches at 3-4 different places on Cozumel but I can't remember the name of any of those eateries. Tres Amigos has good beer. Lol. If you can get waited on.

Trip advisor and a few posts on the ports of call boards provides LOTS of great suggestions.  We like to try to find a new place and will occasionally go back to one  of our favorites.  

 

Of course we are off track as the thread is for Bimini.  😀

 

M

Edited December 6, 2022 by cruisegirl1

[island lady]

16 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Haven’t been there in years. There are lots of other places to try. 
 

m
 

 

 

 

Indeed there is!  😋  So many choices...so little time.  😉 

 

Though we like the downtown (original location) of Pancho's Backyard, we really prefer the one over at the "clown ship" terminal area.  So easy to walk over to, great seawall over the water view table if you get there early.  Always good service, Margaritas, and great food.  

 

Currently just tied off to the pier in Bimini.  Going down to Alice Town to walk around and chose a restaurant for lunch.  Walk down to "Radio Beach" as well.  

Beautiful weather day today for it.  🙂 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 6, 2022 by island lady

[island lady]

13 hours ago, davekathy said:

Sounds like your all set then. Rent a golf cart, grab a six pack of Bimini Twist IPA and enjoy the day. 

 

 

 

LOL...thought about the golf cart...but will just make me miss my own hot rod red flashy cart at home.  😄 

 

Sitting here at the pier, waiting to venture on shore when we are ready.  Simply going to find some sort of transport to get down to Alice Town to find a fishy lunch and some adult beverages.  😁🥃

[Pellaz]

22 hours ago, LeeW said:

Sapona was a fun snorkel, although a fairly long boat ride out there.  Half of the concrete wreck is above water and a ton of fish around it.  Went there on Celebrity Infinity in October, partly to visit ports that Royal wasn't doing.  Would have hit Grand Turk but pier was still out.  Key West was still cleaning up from hurricane a week earlier.

 

Huh, sounds like an interesting and "different" snorkel excursion; I'll definitely give it a look if/when it appears on our Cruise Planner.   

 

As an aside, Grand Turk is one of my favorite port-stops anywhere.  Nice and casual, no pressure, nice beach (and surprisingly good snorkeling) right there by the pier.  If I have the money, I'll retire there.  😄  

Our music charter on the Independence actually went to Grand Turk a few years ago, which was HIGHLY unusual since GT is a Carnival-built port.   The great folks at Jack's Shack remarked that it was one of the largest ships they'd ever seen there.  🙂  

 

7 hours ago, cruzeluver said:

We too went to Bimini this year on Celebrity Infinity. Loved it! We rented a gold cart for the day and saw everything we wanted to see.

I'm not THAT wealthy, so I'll probably have to settle for a merely gold-PLATED cart.  😄  

 

7 hours ago, cruzeluver said:

Hit several beaches, had a wonderful lunch at a local place and met some charming locals. If you prefer your Caribbean ports to have tons of tourist infrastructure and chain restaurants like Margaritaville or Senor Frogs then it won't appeal to you, but that is precisely why we loved it.

Oh, I prefer the more low-impact ports and private islands.  I've never set foot inside a Diamonds International.  🙂    

I make an exception for the Margaritaville at Grand Turk because it's just THAT nice of a facility, with its big free pool, plentiful free beach loungers and umbrellas, etc.