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You can book a tour through your cruise ship that will take you to the pier where this uniquely designed boat is located. Then you can join a cruise that will take you to stunning coral reefs, see many tropical fish, sea turtles, and even a shipwreck. Another fantastic option is Port Lucaya, which offers a stunning beach area and is just a short round-trip ferry ride away from the cruise port. For only $10 per person, you can hop on the ferry and spend your day exploring this popular beach destination.
Can I explore Freeport without an excursion?
It is served by Grand Bahama International Airport and also by domestic ferries with regularly scheduled itineraries to other Bahamian islands. Regular fast ferries connect to USA (Fort Lauderdale FL) operated by the Spanish shipping company Balearia Eurolinias Marítimas SA. In what is expected to be a massive boost for Grand Bahama, Carnival Cruise Line is in the process of building a brand-new cruise destination on the island called Celebrtaion Key, which is slated to open in 2025.
Getting Around Freeport Bahamas
Everything we Know About Celebration Key, Carnival's Grand Bahama Cruise Port - Cruise Critic
Everything we Know About Celebration Key, Carnival's Grand Bahama Cruise Port.
Posted: Mon, 28 Aug 2023 21:21:35 GMT [source]
By following one of the nature trails, you will be taken to the underwater cave system, and at over 9.7 kilometers long, it is one of the longest underwater cave systems in the entire world. According to the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, the number of people visiting the Bahamas via a cruise and air in 2019 was over 7 million. If you have been considering a cruise to the Bahamas, you must ensure you check out Freeport on Grand Bahama Island during your stay. Garden of the Groves – 12 acres of local wildlife and plants, you can easily spend a few hours enjoying the ambience, water features and birds in this carefully maintained environment.
Carnival Cruise Line Breaks Ground on New Multi-Million Cruise Port on Grand Bahama Island
Although you may read outdated reviews stating that cruise lines provide a shuttle bus to downtown Freeport city, for more than a decade that shuttle buses are not in operation. The cruise line also announced that six additional ships will visit Celebration Key, offering an additional 100 itineraries. In fact, the destination will be particularly beneficial to the community by involving locals as tour operators, construction workers, executives and entrepreneurs to fill several job and business opportunities. The first phase of the development is expected to generate more than 700 permanent positions, encompassing around 300 Bahamians under direct hire from parent company Carnival Corporation. Altogether, the destination will highlight a mile of pristine white sand beach and the largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean, according to the line. Carnival revealed that Celebration Key will be able to welcome two million guests each year.
Freeport Cruise Port (Bahamas) 10 Best Things To Do In Freeport
British-style English is the official language, but don't be surprised to hear the locals speaking their own version. This way, you do not have to deal with the stress of looking for flights and trying to find the right hotel. If you need some more exercise, try joining one of the many cycling tours on Freeport island. Here you can stop at many sights for photos, enjoy a delicious lunch, and make new friends along the way.
The drydock facility is owned by the GBSL company (Grand Bahama Shipyard Ltd). Since 2017, Royal Caribbean has joint ownership of Freeport Shipyard (40%) together with Carnival Corporation (60%). The shipyard has three floating dry docks, as well as mechanical and steel workshops (updated in 2016 with new equipment).
Top Tours & Excursions In Freeport – Bahamas
Exploring Grand Bahama Island is an adventure with numerous transportation options. Taxi drivers are readily available at the cruise dock and offer a convenient way to reach popular tourist destinations such as Port Lucaya, with its vibrant market and breathtaking beaches. The new cruise ship port is being built on the southern part of the island, about 20 miles east of Freeport. The 369-acre port will be able to hold two large cruise ships simultaneously and will house Bahamian-operated stores, as well as a nature reserve and indoor water feature. Lucaya Property is approx 9 mi (15 km) west of Harbour Village (Freeport Cruise Terminal).
It has 12 acres of waterfalls, gardens, a meditation labyrinth, petting zoo and playground. This four-hour shore excursion will cost about $55 per person depending on sailing date and other factors. Rand Nature Center, 25 minutes from Freeport Harbor, is a common cruise line shore excursion.
With so many restaurants to choose from, it can be hard to pick just one. A few fun, beachy options include the fabulously named Tony Macaroni’s Conch Experience, a thatch-roof shack on Taino Beach with great basics like burgers, lobster and conch burgers — and Banana Bay on Fortune Bay Drive. Convenient transportation is available, with taxi rides being the most common mode to quickly get you to your desired destinations. The following are all the attractions and sites in Grand Bahama for cruise passengers.
Carnival plans to have its ships Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration make stops at the new cruise port, starting in late 2024. Book with the concierge on your cruise ship, and make sure you ask for a better deal if you are going with your whole family. You can book the excursion from your cruise ship to save you from leaving the port and having to bargain with tour companies—otherwise, book with Grand Bahamas Nature Tours. There are numerous different types of boat tours available if you are keen on exploring the nearby coastline of Freeport. You can either join a sunset catamaran cruise, a family-friendly snorkeling adventure, or a party cruise.
MSC Cruises makes bold moves to take on Carnival, Royal Caribbean - TheStreet
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Currently, around the cruise terminal, there are only a few bungalows and a gazebo where you can listen live music performances by local bands. Port's facilities can accommodate simultaneously 3 cruise vessels and 5 Ro-Ro ships (cargo-passenger ferries). Weather in the Bahamas is hot and humid year-round and can be very muggy and wet during the summer months. The Bahamian dollar is the official currency, but most vendors will accept U.S. dollars.
Other dishes include Bahamian "rock lobster," fresh grouper and bonefish accompanied by side dishes like peas and rice or johnnycake (simple bread). Wash it all down with the appropriately named, "Gully Wash," the Bahamian cocktail made with gin, coconut water and condensed milk. One of the most popular things to do in Freeport is to explore the Unexso Marine sanctuary. There is fun for the entire family here, as you can do anything from swimming with the dolphin, dive with sharks, shop, and enjoy tasty seafood. Horseback riding is one of the best things to do in Freeport for animal lovers.
Peterson Cay National Park is a protected area with coral reefs and opportunities for picnicking, snorkeling and scuba diving. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the cruise industry hard, shutting it down completely. Carnival Cruise Lines was the first cruise line to restart its operations, sailing with a select number of ships at limited capacity beginning in July 2021. Other major cruise lines, including Norwegian, Celebrity, Disney, and Holland America, are sailing in some capacity and have plans for a full re-entry into the cruise industry. The new (RCCL-exclusive) cruise port is expected to bring an additional 2 million cruisers to Grand Bahama island annually. In October 2023 was announced a USD 600 million expansion project aiming to make the facility the world's largest cruise ship repair yard.
The best place for that activity is the deep North-West Providence Channel where you can catch local fish such as snappers, barracudas, groupers, tunas, and more. Norkel past beautiful coral reefs and look out for Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, and other impressive aquatic wildlife. The best way is to book an organized tour but you can also snorkel on your own from the beach (I did it from Lucaya Beach). There are plenty of taxis waiting to take you to Port Lucaya and Lucaya Beach, one of the best beaches on Grand Bahama Island, located in Port Lucaya.
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