As Florida retreats in the distance, it won’t take long before you’re weaving your way through the sparkling waters of the Bahamas, soaking up the sun, sand, and surf in glorious, equal measure.
Cruise lines like Celebrity, Regent, Seabourn, Norwegian, and Oceania all have incredible Bahama cruise itineraries. Many ships have their own exclusive ports, little private islands all their own to dock at, including top-rated Half Moon Cay and Disney’s Castaway Cay.
From Prince George Wharf in Nassau, you can explore the famous straw market, walk the Queen’s Staircase at Fort Fincastle, pop into the Pirate Museum and shops or revel in the culinary delights at Arawak Cay. Stopping at Freeport on Grand Bahama yields the beautiful Garden of the Groves, catamaran cruises, secluded snorkeling adventure, and sightseeing the island by jeep.
The district of Exuma has a reputation for the finer things, including golf at Pelican Bay and an abundance of fine restaurants serving the Bahamian seafood staples of lobster, grouper, snapper, and wahoo. The coral reefs and lagoons of San Salvador Island promise on-water and underwater adventure galore. And renowned Harbour Island is famous for its pink-sand beaches and whitewashed New England-style houses, gabled roofs and all.