Jan: If you ever go again ... try to get over the bridge from Nassau to Paradise Island. I remember that being the best part of our trip to Nassau, although it may have changed since we were there many years ago! Our trip to Nassau was long ago before the Atlantis Aquarium was built, a place I'd love to see. I've heard it's a fabulous aquarium, but quite expensive.
I've never been on a cruise ship and doubt I'd ever get up the nerve to go on one. I don't worry about sea sickness, I'd just be very uncomfortable not being able to see land, LOL. Our one trip to Nassau was probably 20 years ago when we flew over for a basketball tournament. I remember a friend telling me "You MUST go to the Straw Market!" (or whatever it's called). She said I'd love it but I hated that place; you couldn't walk two feet without someone stepping in front of you and trying to sell you cheap t-shirts, hats, baskets etc. It really was a turn off for me. Another time we went to the Bahamas we stayed in Marsh Harbor and I really disliked being at the beach and having local's harass you every 2 minutes asking if you wanted to have your hair braided! The outer islands are much more enjoyable but I think Nassau and Freeport are the two main cruise ship ports.
Our favorite place in the Bahamas are the Abaco's and we hope to take our boat back over to that area again next summer! My husband and I along with my sister, brother in law, nephew and our best friend and her husband went over the summer of 2004 and rented a 4 bedroom house on Hope Town for a week; and had so much fun! The guys took our little 24' boat over but the wives flew over (about a 20 minute flight from Fort Lauderdale airport).
We ladies flew into Marsh Harbor and took a taxi from the airport to the dock/ferry landing. We couldn't get into the rental house until later that afternoon after the house cleaning service finished cleaning from the earlier tenants.The plan was to use the marine radio at the dive shop located next to the ferry landing to call my husband on the boat so they could pick us up in our boat and save us the ferry fee. Well, so much for having a marine radio on the boat ... the guys were out and about and knew what time our flight arrived but they forgot to turn on the radio!! So, when we couldn't reach them we just took the ferry over to the house we'd rented. We knew the guys had been there because their dive gear, fishing gear and luggage was piled on the front porch but apparently they couldn't get in the house because the cleaning crew was still working so they decided to just ride around in the boat for awhile. Anyway, there's a restaurant two doors down from the house with all outside seating on the water so we ladies walked over there and ordered lunch and sat and watched for the guys coming up the waterway into Hope Town Harbor. We waved them down as they passed by so they went and docked the boat at the house and came and had lunch too. That was such a fun vacation! We all want to vacation in the Bahamas again and we're now talking about hopefully going back next summer and staying on Great Guana Cay because we really love the beaches there. I refuse to make the crossing on the boat though so I will fly over, as will my sister and my best friend. My husband and our friend will take our boat and my brother in law will probably take his boat next time too. My brother in law and nephew are avid fishermen and they rented a boat to go fishing last time while my husband and our friend are into scuba diving and our boat is more of a sport boat and suited for their diving. We women just enjoy shopping and relaxing on the beach! I really need to go and get my passport since travel to the Bahamas is not possible without one since September 2011. My husband got his a few years ago and I've had the paperwork and everything ready and in a folder for awhile but just never remember to go to the Post Office to turn it in!
Well, my reminiscing has me rambling here ... sorry.
I'm glad you had a relaxing cruise and do hope that next time you will be able to see more of the Island .... Nassau just doesn't do it justice!
