Bahamas cruise advice?

ModerateRepZero

Golden Member
Jan 12, 2006
1,572
5
81
Going on a cruise to the Bahamas, visiting 3 places: Grand Turk Island, Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, and Nassau, Bahamas. Never been on a cruise before, so advice is appreciated. Yes, I'm on Carnival, but it's not worth cancelling. I'll just have to bring a flashlight and lots of water.

I skimmed thru 2 Bahamas travel books: Frommer and Fodor, but still compiling a "to-do" list. I'm going with someone who wants to snorkel, para-sail, and/or kayak. I would like to do zip-lining, but apparently they don't have that in the Bahamas :(
 

Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
12,320
3
0
I have done a couple cruises and the only real difference is you have to get back to the boat by a certain time. Other than that once you are off the ship then it's just like any other vacation. It’s pretty easy to find a taxi to go wherever you want or pay for one of the packages offered with the cruise. Those packages typically take care of everything but be aware they may be 3rd party and not associated with Carnival. I would avoid anything time share related as your time off the boat may be limited and you don’t want to waste any time listening to sales pitches. My best advice to you is go on some review sites and see what others have said about the exact cruise you are going on and the do’s and don’ts.

And with a cruise purchase the travel insurance. If your flight is delayed you could miss the boat, and yes, they will leave without you.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,024
5,905
126
i stayed at the atlantis when i went to the bahamas and that place got noticeably more crowded on the day a cruise ship was in the port. atlantis is fucking awesome though. i'd strongly recommend checking it out.
 

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,810
126
i stayed at the atlantis when i went to the bahamas and that place got noticeably more crowded on the day a cruise ship was in the port. atlantis is fucking awesome though. i'd strongly recommend checking it out.

I disagree. Save your money and skip Atlantis. It's waste of time and money. Hire a taxi and go to the seafood market. You can get giant conch cooked for you for about $4 and that's something you can't normally find in the US.
 

Midwayman

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
5,723
325
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I disagree. Save your money and skip Atlantis. It's waste of time and money. Hire a taxi and go to the seafood market. You can get giant conch cooked for you for about $4 and that's something you can't normally find in the US.

Atlantis is neat, but super overpriced. The Fish fry just west of town (probably the place you're talking about) is awesome. We stayed at the Hilton not far from it and walked over almost every night.

FWIW if you want diving/snorkeling the best stuff is on the SW side of the island.

General cruise stuff- Buy nothing onboard. Bring an extension cord with multiple outlets you always need it for charging stuff. Book excursions online ahead of time. The with be like half price. Check out cruisecritic.com and find your departure on there. More than likely you'll find some people you can book stuff with plus tons of hints.
 

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
126
In the ship there will be tables/counters/booths where you can register and buy tickets for the on shore events. Look for them and talk to them.
 

blackdogdeek

Lifer
Mar 14, 2003
14,453
10
81
You will be expected to tip the Maitre'd, the head waiter, your room person and perhaps one other person whom I can't recall. This will be in cash.

This was the biggest surprise for us on our first cruise.
 
Nov 7, 2000
16,403
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for excursions, do your own research. the ones partnered with the cruise ship wont necessarily be the best. for diving especially, they even tend to be worse.
 

Midwayman

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
5,723
325
126
You will be expected to tip the Maitre'd, the head waiter, your room person and perhaps one other person whom I can't recall. This will be in cash.

This was the biggest surprise for us on our first cruise.

Most lines allow you to do tips on your ship account. That's on a CC usually. Suggested tips are listed on the site normally. Often they are automatically added to your shipboard account and you have to go to the front desk if you want to lower them. (Please don't unless they really screwed up. The people on the ship make nothing.)
 
Feb 6, 2007
16,432
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Don't forget to lather up with sunscreen regularly (unless you're of a dark complexion, of course). I got sunburned cruising around the Galapagos, and it made for a solid day of misery lying around in my cabin while the rest of the ship was off gallivanting about Isla Isabella (it wasn't a cruise, really, as there were only 12 people onboard, but you don't want to lose a day due to something stupid like that).
 

MonKENy

Platinum Member
Nov 1, 2007
2,026
3
81
You will be expected to tip the Maitre'd, the head waiter, your room person and perhaps one other person whom I can't recall. This will be in cash.

This was the biggest surprise for us on our first cruise.

This is completely false, I just went on a cruise (Carnival) In October.

Most lines allow you to do tips on your ship account. That's on a CC usually. Suggested tips are listed on the site normally. Often they are automatically added to your shipboard account and you have to go to the front desk if you want to lower them. (Please don't unless they really screwed up. The people on the ship make nothing.)

This is partially correct. You cant do as you go tips unless its cash. The servers at the dine in spots wont take them all the time however (im not sure if they are not allowed to or what).

They add your tip directly to the cost of the cruise. You can read it in the FAQ's at the end of the cruise you have 2 options. You can leave the tip as is or you can request to have it removed and than pay seperate

For your convenience, we automatically charge the gratuities for dining and stateroom staff to your onboard Sail & Sign account. The total amount is $11.50 per guest, per day as follows(our recommended guideline effective voyages departing December 1, 2011 and onward):
$ 3.70 USD - Per Day Stateroom Services
$ 5.80 USD - Per Day Dining Room Services
$ 2.00 USD - Per Day Alternative Services: distributed to kitchen, entertainment, guest services and other hotel staff members.
For Cruises-To-Nowhere, gratuities of $11.50 USD, or its equivalent in foreign currency, per guest, per day must be prepaid.
As a convenience gratuities will be automatically posted to your Sail & Sign account on the second day of your cruise. Our Staff is totally committed to exceed your expectations in every way possible. If you are not satisfied with the service you receive, we encourage you to contact the Guest Services desk while onboard. This will allow us to address your concerns in a timely and appropriate fashion. Once gratuities have been posted, you may adjust them at your discretion at any time while onboard. Gratuities will be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship.
For beverage purchases, fifteen percent of the bill is automatically added to the Sail & Sign charge. Room Service staff may be tipped as service is rendered.
NOTE: BARBADOS CRUISES
All gratuities are pre-paid and automatically added during the booking process for Barbados itineraries.
*Gratuities do not apply to guests less than 2 years of age.
 

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,480
3,601
126
Don't be afraid to look at local tours. We had much better experiences with local ones vs the cruise line offered ones. This is not to say the cruiseline one were bad - just....distilled and overly touristy. Sure there is a risk that they will run over and you will miss the boat but its a small one and the options/pricing/personality was much better. These people rely on tourism and curiseships so they aren't likely to cause you to miss your ship

Oh - and you can't haggle very much with the shops near the cruise ship. These tend to get all of their stuff from the same distributors so the prices are pretty much the same. Go off the beaten path if you want real souviniers and don't want to over pay

I highly recommend para-sailing - it was a lot of fun

*Traveled to Bahamas in 2011 on Norwegian
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
i stayed at the atlantis when i went to the bahamas and that place got noticeably more crowded on the day a cruise ship was in the port. .

its like that everywhere when the ships are in. In grand cayman Ive seen 4 in at once and it turns into a fucking zoo in Georgetown/ 7mile beach

so glad my place is on the other side of the island
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,024
5,905
126
I disagree. Save your money and skip Atlantis. It's waste of time and money. Hire a taxi and go to the seafood market. You can get giant conch cooked for you for about $4 and that's something you can't normally find in the US.

lol you do know that he could do both, as in go to the fish fry and atlantis, since it is right under the bridget that goes to paradise island. you sound like a boring person if you couldn't have a great time at the atlantis.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
cruise ships are the equilivant of being on a senior buss going from one shopping mall to the next.

ok i got that out of the way. check out youtube for half moon cay. its just a private beach owned by Carnival that you get shuttled too, to spend more money on booze and over priced island activities that you charge to your ships account.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9Bz2EwEgVg
 

Midwayman

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
5,723
325
126
o as you go tips unless its cash. The servers at the dine in spots wont take them all the time however (im not sure if they are not allowed to or what).

Every cruise I've been on in recent memory has either had a line item on every bill for a tip against your account, or more recently automatically included it with no option to decline. That said I'm sure lines very a bit from place to place, but it certainly seems that most are moving away from any sort of cash basis. Obviously check the policies of whatever specific line you are taking. Tips, etc are usually very spelled out.
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
Yes, more people to go on cruises so we can hear more stories about no power and no toilets.
 

MonKENy

Platinum Member
Nov 1, 2007
2,026
3
81
Every cruise I've been on in recent memory has either had a line item on every bill for a tip against your account, or more recently automatically included it with no option to decline. That said I'm sure lines very a bit from place to place, but it certainly seems that most are moving away from any sort of cash basis. Obviously check the policies of whatever specific line you are taking. Tips, etc are usually very spelled out.

iunno, was it carnival? also how long? I posted the quote directly from carnivals FAQ's on their site. But maybe you are right. I didnt really worry about it much.