The greatest majority of cruises offer affordable voyages ranging from three to seven nights and more. The shorter trips of three- or four-nights depart from Miami, Port Canaveral and Ft. Lauderdale's Port Everglades.
Typical stops on your cruise will take you to the colonial town of Nassau, the glitzy Paradise Island and Freeport. All of these locations have packed with activities on land as well as in the sea. All of the locations feature "straw markets where you can purchase locally made crafts, in addition to the mountains of t-shirts, and branded novelty items like towels, spoon rests, etc.
As you debark at Prince George Wharf, you are led through Festival Place, where you can experience a Rake 'N Scrape Band (unique to The Bahamas), shop in local kiosks and boutiques and jewelry stores. Just outside Festival Place are the Surrey drivers, who will give you a tour of the downtown area, pointing out historical sites like the Queen’s Staircase, Rawson Square, Government House, and a multitude of other sites.
If you prefer to go "on heels", you can shop to your hearts content at the many world renowned jewelry shops, rum shops and a variety of souvenir shops. A short jitney ride will take you to Fort Charlotte where the island was defended from the French, Spanish and various would be invaders, over the centuries.
A must is the Fish Fry in Nassau just across from Fort Charlotte. Make sure you “go local” and try our famous Conch Salad and a Sky Juice.
If you're lucky enough to be in port in Nassau on a Sunday evening, don’t miss the Junkanoo Rush Out on Paradise Island at Marina Village. This is a show group comprised of some of the best performers from various groups.
Freeport began to enjoy popularity in the 1950's as a planned Vegas-type island surrounded by crystal-clear azure waters and marvelous beaches. If you want to get into nature, Grand Bahama is home to one of the oldest underwater cave systems in the world, situated at the Lucayan National Park. Gamblers can try their luck at Casinos in Freeport and Lucaya.