Enjoying a Bahamas Cruise for Your Honeymoon

A Bahamas cruise is one of the more popular cruise destinations, particularly for those interested in a short getaway because it is located less than 100 miles away from Miami, Florida.

Bahamas Cruise Lines

You and your honey can take a Bahamas cruise any time of the year because it has such a temperate climate and is located so close to Florida. In addition, you can generally book a Bahamas cruise any day of the week. At the same time, you might want to consider hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, when booking your Bahamas cruise. During this timeframe, you run the risk of having your honeymoon cruise cancelled if there are signs of storms at the time. Since the Bahamas are located in the east, they get hit by hurricanes more frequently than other Caribbean nations.

Generally, a Bahamas cruise will last anywhere from three days to over a week. Those that stop only at the Bahamas are shorter while Eastern Caribbean Cruises, which make a stop at the Bahamas before going on to other destinations, last longer. In addition, the trip will be longer if it embarks from a far away port, such as New York, rather than Miami.

All of the major cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean cruise line, Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruise line, and Windjammer Cruises, offer Bahamas cruises. Even the largest of the ships utilized by these cruise lines can use the piers in the Bahamas and many stay 24 hours or more at the island in order to allow passengers to explore all the nation has to offer.

Bahamas Cruise Ports

The eastern Florida coast is the most convenient area for a Bahamas cruise embarkation port. Nonetheless, there are several popular port locations, such as:

• Miami, Florida – Miami is the closest port and the busiest when it comes to Bahamas cruises.
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Fort Lauderdale is located 25 miles north of Miami and also offers numerous Bahamas cruise sailings.
• Port Canaveral, Florida – Port Canaveral is further north on the Atlantic coast of Florida. It is a more convenient port for those coming from the north.
• Jacksonville, Florida – Jacksonville offers a small port located in Florida’s extreme northeastern corner. It generally offers less variety, but longer itineraries.
• New York, New York – New York provides a limited variety of Bahamas cruises with an itinerary including several days at sea.
• Norfolk, Virginia – Norfolk is a convenient port for those in the northeastern and Midwestern states, but it provides a limited variety.

Typically there are two ports of call associated with a Bahamas cruise, though many cruise lines have private islands and destinations that are included in the itinerary. The two common ports of call are:

• Freeport – Freeport is home to the International Bazaar shopping district, which contains nearly 100 shops. Impressive trails and beautiful gardens, including waterfalls, can also be explored here.
• Nassau – Nassau is the capital city of the Bahamas. Here, visitors can enjoy snorkeling, dolphin encounters, historical tours, golf, and more shopping. The Atlantis resort is a popular Nassau attraction, which is home to the largest Caribbean casino and also includes some amazing aquariums.

A Bahamas cruise can make for the ideal quick tropical honeymoon cruise, complete with amazing excursions, great shopping, and beautiful white sand beaches.

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