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Post by AnastasiaBeaverhausn on Sept 26, 2015 17:52:52 GMT
DBF and I are leaving for a cruise next week and we are going from Miami to the Bahamas. Yea! For those who have been what should we see and do? We are on Norwegian and will visit Grand Bahama Island, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay. The only excursion we booked is a tour of Nassau. We don't dive or lay on beaches much (we are pasty, lumpy white folks from the Midwest who burn easily). Dolphins are kinda pricey but if you say it is a must, I can still book it. I would love to see pink sand but I think that is too far away to get there and back. I have never snorkeled and not sure I would be good at it and bf probably won't join me. I have also never been on a cruise so I'd love those tips as well.
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pridemom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,843 
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Post by pridemom on Sept 26, 2015 18:06:20 GMT
We cruised Norweigan in May on the Getaway. Which ship are you taking? I recommend reading Cruise Critic for specifics on your ship. You don't have formal nights or set dining times on NCL which we liked. Once you board, skip the buffet because it will be a zoo, instead go to one of the dining rooms for a leisurely lunch, then take the tour.
Nassau: go to Blue Lagoon. It's relaxing. I napped in a hammock. They have s dolphin experience, too.
My tips:
Download their app for smart phones. Without charges, you can reserve dining and shows on your phone over wifi.
Eat at Cagney's for at least one meal. Best steak ever!
Have a great time! I am hoping to book a Med cruise for our 25th anniversary in three years. Before our cruise, I had no idea you could make payments.
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Post by AnastasiaBeaverhausn on Sept 26, 2015 18:13:04 GMT
I've looked at Cruise Critic but it is so overwhelming. We are on the Norwegian Sky. I have their app downloaded but it doesn't really do anything until I get on the ship.
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pridemom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,843
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Post by pridemom on Sept 26, 2015 18:21:12 GMT
I've looked at Cruise Critic but it is so overwhelming. We are on the Norwegian Sky. I have their app downloaded but it doesn't really do anything until I get on the ship. The app only counts down to your sailing date at this point, but you can track your shipboard account once on the ship's wifi. When they make morning announcements, turn your cabin TV to the deck cam and you can hear them over the TV. It's hard to hear them in your room otherwise. If you have an inside room, use the deck cam channel as a window of sorts to tell you when the sun is up. They have a complimentary room service breakfast menu card you will find in your room. The main room service menu comes with a service charge. We can't wait to cruise NCL again. We came home so spoiled by the staff that hubby changed Siri on his phone to call him "Sir DH." Lol |
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keithurbanlovinpea
Pearl Clutcher
Flowing with the go...
Posts: 4,273
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Sept 26, 2015 18:28:23 GMT
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 18:33:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2015 20:12:02 GMT
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calgal08
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,519
Jun 27, 2014 15:43:46 GMT
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Post by calgal08 on Sept 26, 2015 20:17:25 GMT
Although not specific to the places you're visiting. This year on vacation I tried snorkeling for the first time (for the record, I'm terrified of water and never ever voluntarily get my face wet in a pool/ocean. It took me several minutes, but I finally plucked up the courage, all I can say is 100% amazing. Within minutes I was hooked. We also went swimming with dolphins, it was expensive but worth every single second. My dh described it as one of the most fun things he's ever done with his clothes on
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 18:33:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2015 20:47:32 GMT
Atlantis is fun in Nassau, but I think you have to pay to do the water rides and parts of the resort. But you can take a tour of their huge aquarium. I will say swimming with Dolphins at Atlantis was amazing as was snorkeling in the aquarium. We had never snorkeled before so it was a good learning experience for our whole family. That said, I am sure it is child's play compared to snorkeling on real reefs, but again we were all beginners.
On "the other side of the bridge" and where the cruise ships land in Nassau, there is a huge market and if you go past that and then thru town, there is a public beach where there is a great view of the lighthouse AND there are some amazing restaurants on that road. They may look like a hole in the wall, but their food is amazing. Best fried shrimp ever!
Don't know about the others.
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Post by birukitty on Sept 26, 2015 21:34:14 GMT
I would encourage you very much to try snorkeling. It is very easy to do and for beginners they will give you a floating device. Basically all you have to do is put on the mask and snorkel and put your face in the water. There is a complete different beautiful world under the water in the sea and the Bahamas is one of the best places in the world to snorkel. If you don't at least try you'll be kicking yourself later. Think of it like this-try it for 10 minutes. If you hate it you can stop-right? But it might very well turn out that you love it.
Can you swim? You don't have to know how to swim to snorkel, as I said they will give you a floating device like a noodle-just tell the person who is in charge that you are a beginner and you are afraid when you get there. They will take care of you and make sure you are comfortable. The folks that are experienced that are on the excursion with just jump right in, so it won't be like you are holding them up-don't worry about them.
I've never been on a cruise to the Bahama's but I've been to one to Bermuda. I adore snorkeling and have been many, many times. I've spent 4 weeks in St. John USVI (on two separate vacations) and went snorkeling there almost every day. It is one of my passions. My 8 year old learned on one of our vacations there. It is an easy thing to do, and most people love it once they learn.
I, like you, don't like to lay out on a beach. I'm also very fair skinned and burn easily. Pack a good sunscreen-one that is at least 30 SPF and says "Full Spectrum" is water resistant, and screens both UVA and UVB rays. I always apply mine before I leave the room, and they say you should use at least a shot glass full. That's difficult, but I make sure I cover everything, including my ears. The best one I've found lately believe it or not is from Trader Joe's. I've tested it in full sun over a fair number of hours and the only part of me that burned was the part in my hair.
I've never had a chance to swim with dolphins. Depending on how they were treated in the facility (and that's my own issue) would determine if I would do the excursion. I know I would love a chance to do that. I certainly would love to do that especially with wild dolphins that are free to swim in the sea.
Debbie in MD.
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Post by mom2rjcr on Sept 26, 2015 21:53:18 GMT
We went to the Bahamas last year and loved it! We liked our stop in Freeport better than the stop in Nassau. However, we are beach people and loved the beach in Freeport. In Nassau we went to Queen Anne's staircase, Fort Fincastle, Fort Charlotte, the Pirate Museum, and did lots of shopping. We also ate yummy conch at a restaurant near the water.
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vapeanut
Shy Member
Posts: 13
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Post by vapeanut on Sept 26, 2015 22:12:06 GMT
OMG leaving next Monday, 10/5? Me too! Annual Girls Week with family. I can't remember what exursions we chose but I know we reserved a cabana on GSC. This is my first cruise and I'm so excited!
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Post by AnastasiaBeaverhausn on Sept 26, 2015 22:40:15 GMT
Yep, that's our cruise too!
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Post by honeyb on Sept 27, 2015 4:53:01 GMT
We went to the Bahamas on the Getaway for Spring Break.
In Nassau we did the Blue Lagoon Dolphin Experience. Best. Day. Ever. My kids loved it as did I.
Then we went to the Straw Market in town. Super neat place to buy local things. We bought a giant Conch Shell, lots of jewelry, and some great straw bags.
We also ate Conch Fritters at a restaurant around there, though I can't remember the name, but they were very good.
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 5,637
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Post by valincal on Sept 27, 2015 7:21:23 GMT
We just disembarked the NCL Jade in Venice yesterday! In addition to Cagney's, Moderno and Teppanyaki were very good. The steaks and sides at Cagney's are fantastic. But the food in the main dining room was really good as well with a wide variety of choices. The buffet is fine for lunch but I like the sit-down dinner service. pridemom I loved the Jade in Europe! The layout of the ship, the cleanliness, the friendliest staff ever. My favourite NCL ship to date.  |
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 18:33:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2015 15:25:34 GMT
DO NOT order the conch salad at Senor Frogs. It was delicious, but seeing them pull the live, squirming conch from the shell and cut it up in front of me really made me lose my appetite. (It is a raw salad.)
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Post by anxiousmom on Sept 27, 2015 15:48:20 GMT
If you are concerned about getting sunburned run by CVS and pick up a couple of bottles of their clear zinc sunscreen ( cvs clear zinc -my CVS has bigger tubes than what is offered online.) It is like the zinc of years gone by, but when you put it on, it is clear not white. Slather yourself with that stuff 20 minutes prior to sun exposure, and reapply every hour and half or so. As someone else mentioned, be very generous (a shot glass full is the recommendation) and apply liberally. Don't forget the funny places like the tops of your feet, the back of your neck up under the thinner part of the hairline, the tops of ears and you may want to consider a hat because if you have a part in your hair, that will get sunburned as well. As someone who is out in the sun all the time, I have tried more sunscreens than you can even imagine. The ones that work the best are the ones that have zinc in them. They are all good to go in the water (of course you will need to reapply afterwards) but I can be in the sun all day and the zinc based sunscreens are the only ones that keep the sunburns at bay. Remember that you don't have to be in the water or on the beach to get sunburned-if you aren't used the strength of the sun down here, it will be surprising to you how quickly you start accumulating the effects of the sun. Signed, Anxious, Florida native and avid sun worshiper who doesn't like getting her decolletage sunburned |
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,752
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Sept 27, 2015 16:11:49 GMT
Marking my place for info |
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