Has anyone gone on a 3 or 4 day cruise to the Bahamas out of Florida? If so, which ship did you travel on? What was the price like? Did you take your kids? Any info would be great. My mom is taking our family on one of these cruises in March, and we'll have to book something soon.
Thanks!

By Karen~admin on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 11:36 am:

No, but I *want* to! LOL Which cruise line are you looking at?

By Yjja123 on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 11:50 am:

Yes, It was not my favorite cruise. It is a good way to get a taste of cruising but I really do not like the bahamas!

By Karen~admin on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 12:09 pm:

Yvonne, why don't you like the Bahamas? Just interested.....

By Yjja123 on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 12:43 pm:

It is my least favorite place to go.
1) I hate being assaulted by beggers. As soon as we get off the ship we get swarmed by them "can we braid your hair", free bracelet, etc.
2) I feel like there isn't much to do there.

By Marcia on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 02:02 pm:

I've been to the Bahamas before, and I love island life on any island. This is really for the cruising experience, because we've never done that before.

By Marcia on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 02:02 pm:

I've been to the Bahamas before, and I love island life on any island. This is really for the cruising experience, because we've never done that before.

By Crystal915 on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 02:30 pm:

I went on one when I was a kid, with my mom and grandmom. It was fun!

By Jackie on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 08:35 pm:

3 years ago we went on Royal Carriebean, and it was a 4 night cruise. We left from Miami. The first day we were in Nasau Bahamas. I enjoyed it. I did not see anybody begging. Now, it is very touristy, but nobody bothered us at all. The 2nd day we went to Royal Carribeans privite Island, which was so nice and relaxing. I loved it the best. The 3rd day we were inKey West Florida. Those 4 nights went by so fast. The kids had a bowl in their kids club. The ship we went on was called "Majesty of the seas"

By Bea on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 01:28 pm:

I agree with Yvonne. The last time we were in Nassau we took the Ghost Tour. We were sitting at the base of the Queens Staircase when a car drove up and three men grabbed our guide and hustled him behind their car. We didn’t know what to do. They were yelling and pushing him. After a while they slammed the car doors and left. The guide walked back to us and told us that they were the police and that we had to leave the area because it was unsafe for tourists. He rushed us back to the ship only a half hour after we started. I have to say that Nassau lived up to my memories of it. I was never impressed, and felt yet again that I’d been fleeced by that place.

That was the same cruise we took Jackie. It was the worst cruise I've ever taken.

By Marcia on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 11:19 pm:

Bea, was it the cruise itself that was crappy, or the Nassau visit?

By Bea on Monday, August 14, 2006 - 01:12 am:

Both were crappy this time. We ran into a hurricane and missed going to Key West and taking tours of Miami. I didn't like Royal Caribbean cruise lines at all. We had been to Nassau three times before and never liked that island. We also stayed on Grand Bahama Island near Freeport, for a week, and I loved it there.

By Marcia on Monday, August 14, 2006 - 09:44 am:

OK, good to know which cruise line to avoid. Some of them stop at Freeport, and most stop at a smaller island. It seems like all of them stop at Nassau.
Any suggestions for the best cruise line to choose when taking kids?

By Yjja123 on Monday, August 14, 2006 - 12:16 pm:

I like Royal Caribbean over Carnival. My kids prefer them too (kids programs, etc)

By Jackie on Monday, August 14, 2006 - 12:35 pm:

You have to remember it all depends on what you are looking for. Royal Caribbean(Majesty of the seas) was our first cruise. We had nothing to compare it to. We enjoyed it A LOT. We did not have any trouble during the cruise. We had a 4 person(inside)room, which was very small. MY parents were with us as well(they were in a 2 person room). They are seasoned cruisers. They even commented that those are the smallest rooms they have ever been in.That was their first time on RC as well.
This will be our first time on Carnival. We only picked Carnival because the kids program will take kids as young as two not potty trained. Other then the Disney Cruies, Carnival is the only one who takes them that age, and not potty trained. After our Carnival Cruise I will be able to compare more. It wont be an equal comparison, as when we were on RC, it was only on a 4 night cruise, and an older ship. We are going on the Carnival Valor, which is a much bigger ship and much newer. My kids are looking forward to being in Camp Carnival. Im not too sure how Faith will do. She only turned 2 yesterday, and really doesnt go many places without me. They give the parents a beeper(for the younger kids), so if there is a problem, they can contact you right away.

By Yjja123 on Monday, August 14, 2006 - 01:11 pm:

Having done both, I prefer Royal Caribbean because it is less of a party crowd. On the Carnival cruises we went on, we observed more drunks and it was a more casual atmosphere. Royal Caribbean is a better fit for us. We are likely going to go on a Princess cruise next year.

By Karen~admin on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 04:44 am:

Yvonne/Marcia, DH just reminded me we *have* been there - for one day - and I now recall that it was EXACTLY as you said it was, Yvonne. I wonder if the Bahamas has anything at all to offer as a land vacation?

By Kaye on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 08:18 am:

I went to a bahamas all inclusive resort in 1989. I had just graduated high school. It was really one of the best times in my life. Can't really compare it to how I would feel as an adult, but it was a huge party. I don't recall feeling unsafe or dealing with locals. We mostly hung out in the beach at the pool and the bar. And honestly there was at least one of us that was lucky to make it back. You really can get in big trouble as a youth on trips like that!

By Marcia on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 11:32 am:

I went to see a travel agent today, and got some books. I discovered that they also offer 4 and 5 night cruises to the Western Caribbean, so we could see Jamaica, Mexico, etc. She's going to get my prices on all of them. She did suggest either Royal Caribbean or Carnival because of the kids.
She also told me we all have to have passports, so I need to get on that. She also suggested Hep A and B shots. We don't pay for medical care in Canada, but that's one of the very few things we do have to pay for. Between the passports and the shots it's going to cost as much as another vacation!!