When it comes to planning a cruise one of the biggest decisions that a person will make is deciding what type of cruise to take. Carnival Cruise has so many different places that it cruises too that it’s hard to know which one to choose. You can visit places like Alaska, Bermuda, Canada and the Bahamas all while having a blast aboard the ship. On our recent Carnival Cruise we decided to visit a part of the world we had never seen and set sail on a 7 day Caribbean Cruise bound for the Bahamas. There were three different stops on this cruise, each having something unique and special to offer. Most of the days at the port begin around 7:00am so you will have the entire day to have an adventure. During our cruise aboard the Carnival Magic we visited Key West, Freeport and Nassau. Below are some of the highlights from each stop.
Key West, Florida: 1st Stop
I have heard so many wonderful things about Key West so I was thrilled that this would be our first port of call. Since the island is so small we didn’t really plan any excursions we just grabbed a map and hit the town. I knew there were a few must see places to check out while we were there like The Southern Most Point and Ernest Hemmingway’s home, so we headed for these places first. While on our way to these locations we also stumbled upon some pretty interesting places like the Oldest house in Key West which is free and open to the public. It’s a really interesting place to visit and you can also grab some ice cold bottled water and soda for only $1 each.
Once we got to the Southern Most Point we stood in line for about 15 minutes to take a photo. There was a really long line so be prepared to wait. A few blocks from this landmark is also a beach area but it was pretty murky and dirty at the time. It had just stormed the night before so this could have been the reason. If there is one thing you do while in Key West, it should be to grab a slice of Key Lime Pie from Kermit’s and a Rum Runner from Sloppy Joe’s.
Freeport, Bahamas: 2nd Stop
After some recommendations we decided on a day visit to a local resort, Grand Lucayan in Freeport. Getting to the resort is fairly easy you just take a taxi to the resort right when you get off the ship at the port. Depending on where you go on the island will depend on the price of the cab ride. Our cab ride was about 15 minutes and cost us $10 per person round trip from the port to the resort. There is also lot’s of shopping at the market place right across the street from the resort. Once at the resort we were able to relax on the beach, have lunch and swim in the resort pool all for a small fee. The Adults were $15 per person and the children were $7 each.
The food was very good and so were the drinks. I will warn you that they do not accept cash. You have to pay for everything, except admission, with a credit card so be prepared. There are showers and bathrooms that you can use right by the beach area before you go back to the ship if you would like. This resort was well worth the price! Also there is a great place to get your hair-braided at the port. We paid $35 to have half of my daughter Aubrey’s hair braided.
Nassau, Bahamas: 3rd Stop
Nassau was by far my favorite port! It was beautiful and full of excitement. If there is one place where you plan to do an excursion this one would be my recommendation. We ended up booking a last minute Dolphin Encounter with Blue Lagoon Island and it was incredible. The waters in Nassau are crystal blue so snorkeling or any ocean activity would be incredible in this place. There is lot’s of shopping right when you get off the ship, so if that’s what you would like to do you don’t have to go far.
Atlantis is another very popular destination in Nassau. We didn’t get a chance to visit this resort but it’s definitely on my to-do list for next time. The resort is HUGE and you can’t miss it.
If you are wondering what type of Carnival cruise you should take, I would highly recommend the Eastern Caribbean cruise. There is so much to see and do that I could probably go to these places 10 more times and still not cross everything off on my list.
Where would you love to visit on a Carnival Cruise?
*My family and I were treated to a complimentary Carnival Cruise in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.