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| | | Stretching from Grand Bahama Island approximately 75 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida, to Great Inagua, around 60 miles northeast of Cuba, the Bahamas is a chain of more than 700 islands mainly in the Atlantic Ocean but partly in the Caribbean The islands offer everything from golfing, gourmet seafood, casinos and high-end boutiques to beautiful beaches, straw-roofed markets and incredible natural wonders. Cruises are scheduled year round, mainly from Miami, Port Canaveral or Jacksonville, Florida. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Fares for 3-4 day cruises to the Bahamas start around $250-$550 per person double occupancy, but go as high as $800-$1,000 or more depending on the accommodations and the amenities included.
- The Disney Cruise Line offers 3-4 day family-oriented trips to the Bahamas for $550-$1,250 per person.
- December-April is the warmest and driest season, and therefore the most popular and expensive; January is the peak month. The lowest fares are June-November, during hurricane season.
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| What should be included: | - Typical cruises to the Bahamas are 3-4 days long and offer lovely beaches, snorkeling, water-skiing, jet skiing, , golfing, shopping, casinos and other nightlife. Some cruise lines also visit their own private islands in the chain, and several Eastern Caribbean cruises visit the Bahamas as part of longer itineraries departing from Eastern seaports such as New York, Boston or Maryland.
- Island activities range from helicopter tours to horseback riding along beaches or nature trails, as well as nibbling on fresh conch cooked by street vendors or being pampered at a luxury resort. The 40-acre Lucayan National Park includes a seven-mile system of underwater caves, mangrove swamps, hiking trails and the pristine Gold Rock Beach. Swim with dolphins or dive with sharks through the the Underwater Explorers Society; or check out the marching flamingos and exotic blooms at Ardastra Gardens.
- CruiseCritic.com gives detailed highlights for enjoying the Bahamas' primary ports of Nassau and Freeport.
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| Additional costs: | - Be sure all taxes and fees are included in the quoted prices; these can add $35-$75 or more.
- Tips are expected, adding $5-$10 daily per traveler, though some cruise lines, such as Radisson Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea and Windstar, include tips in the price.
- Know what's included onboard and what isn't. Luxury ships generally include everything except bar tabs while more mass-market vessels offer lower ticket prices but may charge for special shows, restaurants, spa treatments or other shipboard activities, effectively doubling the low fare.
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| Discounts: | - Since lots of cruise ships visit the Bahamas, there can be last-minute discounts offered of 30-50 percent or more to fill unsold cabins.
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| Shopping for a bahamas cruise: | |
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Article updated March 2007 |
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