Bahamas Cruises

Bahamas Cruises

All you Need to Know

by Travel Journalist Phil Davies

The barbecue was glowing in the afternoon sun, the lobsters were gently charred, the beer was icy cold and the plate of conch fritters was disappearing fast.

We were on the third day of our Bahamas cruise from Miami and it was hard to believe that only a few days ago were harassed by deadlines and the usual office frenzy.

My wife, wearing a flimsy coloured dress, carrying her newly purchased straw basket and with 48 hours of sun bronzing her cheeks, seemed far removed from the suit-and-pearls vision of efficiency she is at home.

With just a week’s holiday left for the year, we had agreed that we needed sun, sand and seafood. We were on a three day cruise with an overnight stay in Miami. It combined a spot of retail therapy in the out-of-town malls with a cocktail-fuelled night on Ocean Drive and a leisurely cruise round the Bahamas.

First stop was the cruise line’s private island. Most major cruise lines nowadays have their own island in the Bahamas. From our balcony it looked like a deserted Robinson Crusoe paradise but once we stepped onto the hot sand we realised that there were, indeed, many deserted coves and stretches of beach, but there were also bars and barbecues in the shade of the palm trees.

Some people spent the day trying out the many water sports available – everything from windsurfing to snorkelling, scuba diving and even the banana boats.

We found a secluded corner and settled ourselves with our books, iPods and some iced water - oh yes, and a few rum punches which were offered to us in a way it would have been churlish to refuse.

There were many families on the ship and we saw de-stressed parents, like us, stretched out blissfully in the sun while the children had the time of their life in the kids’ clubs.

A cruise really is an ideal all-round family holiday and even a friend’s teenage daughter, who is normally “too cool for school”, had made firm acquaintances and had thrown herself into the club and pronounced it “really chilled.”

And so onto Nassau. After a stroll around town, an emerald ring and a straw basket later, we had been tempted by the smell of the barbecue and the promise of a shaded courtyard.

Friends we had made on the ship had taken a cab to Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island to see the 14 acre open-air aquarium but with a day of sun bathing yesterday we wanted to soak up some laid-back Bahamian culture.

My wife and I spent our final night on board having a flutter in the casino, enjoying the best pasta we have tasted outside Rome and then sitting up on deck in the warm evening air looking at the stars.

Our friend’s daughter was saying tearful goodbyes and exchanging phone numbers with a very handsome 17 year old boy who lives in Coconut Grove, Miami. We may be back sooner than we think…

DOS and DON’TS of Bahamas Cruising

DO visit between November and April for the best weather.

DO take plenty of sun cream – the day on the private island can be extremely hot and you can easily burn.

DO take the children – Bahamians love children of all ages and they are welcomed in even the smartest restaurants. Cruise passengers on Bahamas itineraries tend to be young families and couples.

DON’T be put off by the short itinerary – it is four days of complete relaxation and escapism and can easily be combined with a longer stay in Miami or Fort Lauderdale.