Bahamas
Cruises to the Bahamas are ideal for a short vacation in the sun or for a first-time cruise. An independent territory of the United Kingdom since 1973, the Bahamas Chain consists of some 700 islands (of which perhaps 30 are inhabited) and more than 2000 islets. They stretch from Grand Bahamas Island - about 75 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida - to Great Inagua - about 60 miles northeast of Cuba.
When to cruise in the Bahamas?
It’s possible to cruise in the Bahamas all year round. The temperature varies very little and range between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. As there are 300 days of sunshine a year, you have a good chance of spending your holidays under the sun.
The hurricane season is between August and November. You can save money, but you may have your route changed if there is a storm.
Departure ports for cruises in the Bahamas
The usual departure ports for a 3 to 7 day cruise in the Bahamas are Miami, Port Canaveral and Ft. Lauderdale’s - Port Everglades.
CIA Bahamas map
Cruises of seven days or more also depart from Baltimore, Boston, New York, Norfolk and Philadelphia. These itineraries may also include stopovers in the Eastern Caribbean.
Ports of call and itineraries
The majority of cruise lines offer this itinerary. Many of them also have a private island where they stop: Castaway Cay (Disney), CocoCay (Royal Caribbean), GreatStirrup Cay (NCL), Half MoonCay (Holland America and Carnival), PrincessCays (Princess).
The two main ports of call are Freeportand Nassau. Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas and its economic center. Freeport is located on the fourth largest island in the Bahamas. There are several casinos.
For nature lovers, Grand Bahamas also has one of the oldest underwater cave systems in the world, located in Lucaya National Park. For history buffs, you should see the Victorian buildings and fortresses of Nassau. For extreme sportsmen, there’s everything from skydiving to jet-skiing to diving in underwater caves.