Awesome Time!!!!! Great Value for 4 Day - Bahamas "Ports" Review by Titi920

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Titi920's Port Reviews of Freeport, Nassau, Miami
Norwegian Sky cruise in June 2011

Member Name:	Titi920
Cruise Date:	June 2011
Embarkation:	Miami
Destination:	Bahamas
Member Review:	Titi920's Norwegian Sky Review

	Freeport Port Rating: Please do your research (internet) before visiting ports! Freeport is such a beautiful island and most the cruisers we were with didn't even get off the boat because they didn't do their research and just saw what an ugly industrial port Freeport is with nothing seemingly nearby. Yes, it is a 15 minute ride ($5-7) anywhere but it is WELL worth it-but you need to know where you are going. We went to Lucaya Beach area. We got a day pass at The Radisson (Our Lucaya)= It was the best part of our whole cruise! The grounds are amazing-never ending pools overlooking the ocean with swim up bars and negative edges. Steel drums play.....the drinks are very reasonable for island resort at a pool bar...I think they were $6.00 a piece and were relatively strong with just enough ice. There were abundant lounge chairs in all areas of sun and shade. The beach was wonderful and there were chairs there also.....the vendors were very nice and not aggressive or pushy like in some parts. There were a few hair braiders and besides that just the banana boat people and a dolphin trip tour guide. Billy Joes is just a quick walk down the beach and supposedly serves up wonderful Bahamian dishes. We just relaxed with cocktails in the pool and swam on the beach and then walked across the street to Port Lucaya marketplace for lunch. If you are on a cruise and want to do this it is $30/pp for a day pass. Yes-that's kind of high to use a hotel resort for a day AND have to pay for drinks, whatever on top, but it was a real steal compared to the the $79-$100+ the ship excursions cost for beach excursions. When you get off the ship and go to the taxi area the best bet is to ask to go to OUR LUCAYA marketplace. We made the mistake of telling them the resort we wanted and the first bus driver lied and said it was shut down and she had a better place to take us to and the next bus driver really wanted to sell us "his own better beach tour"....You have to just really stand your ground. It will be $5.00/pp each way. It's okay if they want to charge you $10.00 up front and give you a voucher for return......it's okay/safe and they come back. We went with "Curry" Bus service. They WILL pack the bus full as it gets before they leave though-as will all others. The ride from port takes about 15-25 minutes. Once you get out you basically want to cross the street from the market and head towards the casino area the "our Lucaya". Walk like you are going to the beach and there will be a little white hut where the friendly people will sell you arm bands for a day. You can use the entire resort/towels, etc. for this price and can come and go. I've heard other people saying they just snuck in.....several people tried to do this from several different entry points when we were there and there was security at each one turning them away.
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	Nassau Port Rating: Nassau is special to us because my husband proposed at Atlantis, but this is another place to plan an excursion unless you really love luxury shopping (jewelry, designer clothes) or drinking in Senor Frogs all day. We have done Atlantis before (the entire beach/water park pass) and although it's pricey it's something to do at least once if you go to Nassau. Also I would recommend Blue Lagoon Island. While in the Bahamas it's also nice to eat some conch (cracked conch/conch salad, etc.) as it's their main specialty. There are a few local restaurants that are highly recommended. Stop in at the Tortuga Rum Cake place-buy some delicious rum cakes and ask where to eat lunch. The straw market is very interesting but be prepared to haggle and be haggled and don't expect to "just browse"....they are so pushy that my husband doesn't like to even go anymore. You can always get a good deal there though or also bring them American things to trade. The shops in the customs area, in my experience are high and have never negotiated a price with me. Make sure to head back a teensy bit early-the line in customs coming back was quite long this time going out the building which was a first ever. Nassau has a higher crime rate than some other areas so I would either do a ship excursion here or plan something on your own in the Paradise Island vicinity with a lot of research but we don't ever go outside the main "square" near the port.
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	Miami Port Rating: First off-if you are sailing out of Miami it is very nice to come in at least the day before and stay in South Beach or at least plan a day here. A Caribbean vacation without starting in South Beach just isn't the same to us-we live in Florida and STILL feel like we are on vacation in another country when visiting SOBE. And the port is only a 10 minute drive from Ocean/Collins ave. One thing I think about Miami is the ship excursions are always crappy. The Everglades one is an okay idea if you want to spend time boating around a swamp on your tropical vacation-otherwise you are best to just get off and do your own thing. Miami Beach is one of the best beaches-it's a nice place to spend a day. Also our favorite thing to do in Miami is sit in one of the outside restaurants on Ocean Ave and people watch. You can see celebrities, wackos, you name it-all sorts of people. And get the GIGANTIC 2 for 1 drinks. Just be prepared that anything in SOBE is going to COST you!
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