Bahamas or Western Caribbean, which is better?

[KOOLBEANS]

We are booked for the Bahamas, we've never been. We have been to the western caribbean several times.

 

Can you please give me the pros or cons on this?

 

I am kinda afraid we will be disappointed because of our high opinion of the western caribbean, please share your thoughts..

 

Thanks!!

[Kristi Williamson]

What areas of the Bahamas are you visiting? Perhaps this would give us a clearer idea of how to answer the question.

 

Also, what is it, specifically, that you enjoy about the W. Carib.?

[mom2girls]

If you've been to the Western Caribbean several times it would probably be more interesting for you to visit some place new. I really enjoy the Western Caribbean, but decided I wanted to see something I haven't seen in a while. That's why I'm going on the Sensation instead of the Inspiration in March.

[beach410]

While I enjoy Western more, but I wouldnt turn down a cruise to the Bahamas. We are going again in the summer, but I am easy to please, just give me a nice beach with a bar and local grub and I am happy. We went to Our Lucaya beach in Freeport and had a wonderful day drinking bahama mamas, conversing with the local bartender and eating fresh Conch. The kids enjoyed the banana boat and water trampoline. We did Atlantis/Comfort Suites in Nassau and had another great day. This summer I am looking to spend one day snorkeling and one day at a beach again.

[beach410]

and I would like to add, the food and service was top notch on our last Sensation cruise, probably the best so far, cant wait to see the upgrades!

[DqALEX]

I would try the new ports. Go some place different

[A&Jfamily]

Western is way more "exotic". The bahamas are not nearly as pretty as say Roatan or Grand Cayman. Is your cruise going any place else? HMC? Grand Turk?

 

I would say read up on the ports of call boards...if you know what to expect, and are excited, you will have a great cruise no matter where you go. Attitude is everything.

[tnt091605]

We have been on the Western several times. Jamacia, Grand Caymen and Cozumel. We wanted something different so we flew to Miami and did an Eastern, P/R, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. We loved the Eastern.

[Grits53]

While I would say that any cruise would be worth taking, I would place the Bahamas at the bottom of the list for mine. I love the western Caribbean! I also love the southern and "southeastern" Caribbean islands. But I did not find anything in the Bahamas that made me want to go back there again.

[shawnie]

Just to reiterate what everybody has said, both places are completely different. The western Caribbean is much nicer and exotic and since you've been there several times, why not try the Bahamas which is beautiful in its own way and would be a different experience for you guys. It'll be nice to tell people you've been there and done that!!:)

[dan40]

If you want to take a Caribbean cruise but don't want to take the western Caribbean route again, then you have to take an eastern route or a southern route.

 

The Bahamas is not a Caribbean cruise.:eek: It is an Atlantic cruise. the closest Bahama island, Bimini, is just 50 miles EAST [not south] of West Palm Beach Florida. Freeport [Grand Bahama island] is north of WPB and Nassau [New Providence island] is north of Miami. Freeport and Nassau are about 500 to 1000 miles away from the Caribbean.:D

 

Dan

[veryhotred]

Been to the Bahamas twice...seen enough of that..lol..been to the W Carib twice..LOVE it!!!

[bguppies]

In Freeport, your best bet is just to catch a cab to Our Lucaya, like someone said above.

Pretty beach and nice hotel/casino beachfront, with a shopping area/straw market right across the street.

 

In Nassau there are lots of things to do.

Many head to the glitz and expensive Atlantis on Paradise Island.

That isn't our thing, so we always explore Nassau a little more each trip.

There is a great 2 hour walking tour you can take, with most of the sites within 5-10 minutes of the pier.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=332656

 

On the walking tour, if you enjoy a cigar, the Graycliff Hotel has a cigar factory on site.

You can drop in watch them make some cigars and buy a few to take back to the ship with you. (9 out of 10 cigars I have gotten there have been very good smokes)

 

Ardastra Gardens and Zoo is pretty close to the pier.

A small zoo, with flamingos and some other animals walking freely within, while you look at the caged animals.

 

You can catch a Jitney (the 10A) to Cable Beach for $1 each way and pay $10PP for a daypass to a couple of the hotels there.

 

The British Colonial Hilton (the big hotel to the right of the pier area) also offers a $10 daypass to use their pool and beach facilities for the day.

We have done this twice and loved the hotel and it's proximity to the ship.

(10 minute walk back to the ship)

 

We aren't big shoppers, but the first block from the pier is Bay Street (all shopping) and the Straw market at the far right of the pier by Senor Frogs.

 

We did try Atlantis once and toured the Aquarium.

It was interesting, with the disney-esque lost city motif in the tanks.

Very small if you have been to decent aquarium in the US. (Baltimore, Atlanta, etc.)

Very fancy casino. Rodeo Drive-esque mall. (Versace, etc.)

Very expensive food. ($12 for a tiny bowl of Mac and Cheese!?!?!?)

Never could see booking a hotel room to use the pools and waterslides for the day. (maybe if it was $10 like the BCH or Cable Beach, but not $100-$200 for a day)

 

We have yet to have a bad time in Nassau.

Many people get off the ship and make it the first block to Bay St. or the Straw Market and get turned off by the crowds and pushy salespeople/vendors.

We always go away from this small area and enjoy the rest of the town and island, each and every trip.

 

Comparing the Bahamas to the Western ports we have done so far....

 

1) Grand Cayman

2) Cozumel

3) Nassau

4) Key West

5) Progresso (for the ruins nearby)

6) Freeport

7) Ocho Rios

 

Hope that helps your decision.

Definitely try it at least once and make up your own mind.

Also read the Bahamas board in here for more great ideas.

 

Bill

[Luv4dacruise]

If you want to take a Caribbean cruise but don't want to take the western Caribbean route again, then you have to take an eastern route or a southern route.

 

The Bahamas is not a Caribbean cruise.:eek: It is an Atlantic cruise. the closest Bahama island, Bimini, is just 50 miles EAST [not south] of West Palm Beach Florida. Freeport [Grand Bahama island] is north of WPB and Nassau [New Providence island] is north of Miami. Freeport and Nassau are about 500 to 1000 miles away from the Caribbean.:D

 

Dan

 

Not to get totally off topic, but you have a point here. Carnival (this has annoyed me since they announced it) has an "Eastern" Caribbean itinerary on the Conquest stopping in Key West, Freeport and Nassau. How is this an Eastern Caribbean itinerary?.....

 

Just think it is very misleading cause it is simply a Florida/Bahamas cruise.

 

Ok, back on topic now, just had t get that out :o

[KOOLBEANS]

I appreciate everybody's input. We also agree attitude is everything. We think seeing some place different would be great and am sure we will have a good time no matter what. We love traveling period.

 

I love the western because of its beauty, snorkeling, and bargains and beach!!

 

I said eastern because carnival calls it that, lol, kinda funny.

[yst347]

The Bahamas is not a Caribbean cruise.:eek: It is an Atlantic cruise.

Good point, calling the new Conquest itinerary "Eastern Caribbean" is false advertising.

the closest Bahama island, Bimini, is just 50 miles EAST [not south] of West Palm Beach Florida.

Actually Bimini is due east of Miami.

Freeport [Grand Bahama island] is north of WPB and Nassau

Grand Bahama Island is due east of West Palm Beach

[New Providence island] is north of Miami.

New Providence Island is located 25.02 North latitude, Miami is at 25.45 North latitude, so Nassau is farther south than Miami

Freeport and Nassau are about 500 to 1000 miles away from the Caribbean.:D

 

Dan

 

I agree with the general point you are making. :)

[S.S.Oceanlover]

We are booked for the Bahamas, we've never been. We have been to the western caribbean several times.

 

Can you please give me the pros or cons on this?

 

I am kinda afraid we will be disappointed because of our high opinion of the western caribbean, please share your thoughts..

 

Thanks!!

 

We much prefer the Western Caribbean but have no problem with going to Nassau.

 

We always hop on the #10 jitney (10A takes longer) $1.25pp and go to the Wyndham hotel. They have a beautiful prooperty and you can use the facilities at the Sheraton next door as well.

 

They charge $40pp which includes a buffet lunch and the use of the 2 facilies, chairs, towels, and beach.

 

Had a great day there and would go back in a heartbeat.

 

Here's a link to the Wyndham site.

http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/NASBS/main.wnt?usr=&gue=&lnm=&cha=WYNDHAM&PRO=NASBS&ref=251111213

 

Bill

[dan40]

I agree with the general point you are making. :)

 

OK, Ya got me.

All the locations are within 1 minute 38 degrees of one another, less than 120 miles. N to S

To get to Nassau from Miami, you must go north in any craft that draws 4 feet because as the Bahamanians say, "Plenty water Mon, pretty tin, some place!"

 

Dan

[yst347]

OK, Ya got me.

All the locations are within 1 minute 38 degrees of one another, less than 120 miles. N to S

To get to Nassau from Miami, you must go north in any craft that draws 4 feet because as the Bahamanians say, "Plenty water Mon, pretty tin, some place!"

 

Dan

 

Hence the name Bahamas from the Spanish baja mar. (shallow sea)

[Guienevere_Arianette]

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread; I really learned a lot! I have only been to Cozumel, Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, San Juan, St. Martin, and St. Thomas. Would like to try some more islands in the Carib. but was considering the Bahamas route. Thanks to this thread, I learned a lot that will help in my decision as well :)

[alphakitty]

The Destiny itin includes Nassau and Half Moon Cay, both in the Bahamas and Grand Turk and they label it Eastern Caribbean, so that does get confusing. <shrug> Anyway, it really does depend on the itinerary....just off this one and it was really wonderful! Loved Grand Turk, we took an island tour and then snorkeled off a beautiful beach at Bohio Dive Resort.

 

I'm bored with the Western itin and prefer Eastern, St. Thomas (take the ferry to St. John), St. Martin is beautiful.

 

There is fun and beauty to be had and seen in Nassau. The "Fish Fry" at Arawak is a nice way to spend some time in Nassau. Getting out of downtown, sailing or snorkeling is wonderful too. :)

[imluvncruzn]

Hi. I've done western, eastern, and Bahamas. The western was by far my favorite. We love Cozumel, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, and Roatan. Nassau and Freeport are both pretty far down on my list too :(!

[KOOLBEANS]

Yikes, pretty far down on your list? This doesn't sound so good. We will keep an open mind about it. Would like to try the fish place also. I guess you never know til you try it, just hate to be disappointed.

[QLUVS2CRUZ]

Are you going to Nassau? I liked the Straw Market there, which is within walking distance of the pier...otherwise, I did not find a lot to do just walking around. If you want to go to the beach or snorkeling, I'd probably try to find an excursion. Funny thing...when I went to Nassau on a girls trip, the stops were Nassau and CocoCay (this was RCI), and we did not get to go to CocoCay due to bad weather...since we did no Nassau excursions, we actually NEVER got into the ocean or went to the beach on our whole trip...we had planned to snorkel at CocoCay...so that was a bit odd for a cruise. We did get lots of good shopping done at the market though!

[Casino Player]

We are booked for the Bahamas, we've never been. We have been to the western caribbean several times.

 

Can you please give me the pros or cons on this?

 

I am kinda afraid we will be disappointed because of our high opinion of the western caribbean, please share your thoughts..

 

Thanks!!

 

If you've been to the Western Carribean several times, but, have never been to the Bahamas then go visit the Bahamas. If you will be dissappointed you will be dissappointed. If you never go then you will never know.

I like to go on a cruise because either I want to go where the ship is headed or I like the ship and don't care where it goes. Remember, on a cruise the ship is just as important as the destination.