Solo on Bahamas Itinerary, What Did You Do?

[BluesCruise]

I'll be sailing on the Carnival Pride 11/29/09 out of Baltimore. We'll be stopping in Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Freeport. I'd like to hear what excursions or tours other solo travelers have done in these ports. I want to have something planned, as the last time I went to Nassau, I got off the ship for about an hour and got right back on, overwhelmed by the commercialism near the dock. I'm thinking to do a Disney park at Port Canaveral, maybe through the ship, due to timing and solo transportation costs. I'd like to do a beach or water activity in Nassau and Freeport, maybe go parasailing, (I hope it will be warm enough). Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance!

[kitty9]

If you've never been to Disney, I recommend it. The only problem in going with the ship is you're restricted to going to ONE park only---you have to choose either Animal Kingdom, the Magic Kingdom, Epcot or Disney Movie Studio park. There's no way to do all the parks in one day, and your ticket will be for only one park, not what they call a "Park Hopper Pass", where you can go from park to park. It's about an hour ride from the dock to Disney World.

 

In November, it could be quite cool in the Bahamas, but you could get lucky and have great, warm weather. I recommend Cable Beach in Nassau. It's one of the nicest and cleanest beaches and you can get a day pass to one of the resorts and spend the day there.

[RI-Sailor]

With Disney World, it's fine to pick a park and plan that only for a day! You can spend more than a day in any park, in my opinion. I just came back earlier this month after a week and could have easily spent more time in all the parks! Just choose the one you think you'll enjoy the most! :)

[April7901]

I did a ship tour to Ardastra Zoo & Gardens in Nassau in November. The gardens were beautiful, the animals lovely, and it was only half a day. that's obviously not beachy, though, but I had fun enjoying the scenery.

 

I did a Highlights, Shopping, and Beach tour in Freeport and was highly unimpressed. Then again - I was unimpressed with Freeport in general and would probably choose to stay on the ship next time.

[doctordi]

In Nassau, take the jitney east to the Fish Fry (tell the driver you want off there when you get on) walk up the street to Ardastra Gardens. After the Gardens, walk down the street to the fort. Don't pay to have a tour - admission is free. Walk down the hill to the Fish Fry and have lunch in one of the little restaurants. Sit out in the sunshine if it is nice. Catch the jitney back to town.

 

I've been deep sea fishing with a fleet out of Cape Canaveral. The people on the boat where very nice and didn't mind helping a newbie. I had a great time and it didn't matter that I was alone. They cleaned my fish for me and I took them next door to a restaurant that fried it up for me! Yum!!

[jolivia]

Hello There, I will be on the Carnival Triumph in Oct, Solo! has anyone gone on the Atlantis excursion (the one that does not include the water park)?

I hear Freeport is not worth getting off the ship, so I will have a spa day.

[airlink diva]

Hello There, I will be on the Carnival Triumph in Oct, Solo! has anyone gone on the Atlantis excursion (the one that does not include the water park)?

I hear Freeport is not worth getting off the ship, so I will have a spa day.

 

Hi! I've been to both ports more than once.

I can tell you that frankly Freeport is a port that you can just make a spa day. The first time that I went, I took a taxi to the main area. It was the same t-shirts and other tourist items in every other store. After a hour, I was ready to head back to the ship. Two of the girls on the ship got lucky, they manage to get a tour guide that also was a part time driver for when "Pirates of the Caribbean was filming in the area (it was 2005) and they got to meet part of the cast. When I went to Freeport again in May, I was ready to head back to the boat after 30 minutes. Same shops and items. I did get a glass bottom tour from a local vendor and it was a nice time to past time (we saw quite a few fish and some sharks). But otherwise, the highlight was sitting on the Lido deck watching the freight ships arrive and dock. Both times Freeport was a change in original ports and if I ever go there again, I'm just staying on the ship

As for the Atlantis tour, I know people who did the dig and the other parts. They enjoyed it. But all mentioned how high things were on the Atlantis property. I just went over via water taxi and walked around (where allowed). It's very nice,but expensive. I wanted to grab a bite to eat,but the pricing on food was high I window shop and wonder why so Gucci flats were worth $750!!

I suggest do the fish fry, go to a beach or get a local guide to take you beyond the city area. You can also find some great local tour guides that have half and full day snorkling trips that are fun.

 

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[morrieb1]

I actually like Grand Bahama Island and have spent several land vacations there. That said, I can understand why people who have only visited Freeport would rather stay on the ship.

 

I'd go to Port Lucaya - the Marketplace on the marina side has some bars and restaurants that are reasonably priced. Or just grab something to go from one of the stands and head across the street to the Sheraton/Westin resorts....the beach is lovely - and although you generally need a wristband to use the pools - the beach is free and there are restrooms in the lobby. I don't recall whether or not they offer lounge chairs - I've always been a towel on the sand sort, but there was at least one watersport vendor set up out there.

 

There's also a number of shops that are expensive but fun to wander through in the complex - and a casino where they'll serve you free drinks even if you only play a few coins in the slots.

 

 

 

 

 

Em

[BlueC5Kitten]

I've been to Nassau 3 times...first time I did a snorkeling/catamaran tour which was fun, but I am all about being in the water. The second time I went on a walking tour to Atlantis (including the aquarium, with that huge Manta Ray at feeding time which was waaaaay cool! ) after meeting up with a friend who lives in Nassau at a local bar for lunch and a drink. That was fun...definintely good times. The third time in Nassau, I made the mistake of doing Blackbeard's Cay Beach Break with Stingrays...and none of it was really bad except for being eaten alive by sand fleas. They were awful!

 

I've been to Freeport twice and the first time I was with friends who wanted to go shopping...I went and wasn't pleased with the general feel of Freeport, so the next go-round, I stayed on the ship and read my book and caught up on some Vitamin D replenishment. :)

 

I agree with previous posters about Disney...I took a week and stayed on-premises at the park in the Caribbean Beach Resort (go figure!) and had a blast! But it definitely took the whole week to see and do everything. I am a high-speed, roller-coaster junkie, but I love animals, so I definitely wouldn't survive having to pick only one park!

 

Have fun and Happy Cruising, whatever you may decide to do!