Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Nassau & Celebration Key

[tarheelmjfan]

DH & I decided to book a somewhat last minute cruise leaving next month. I'm hoping some of you have been to these ports & can offer suggestions for excursions. We prefer culture, history & sightseeing & like to mingle with the locals. We have no interest in a beach day & don't want to spend a day on a private island. We'll choose to stay on the ship over that. I have limited mobility & need to avoid steps, but I'm fine with walking on flat land for an extended period of time. Any suggestions for any of these ports?

PS: I used to use Cruise Critic to plan shore excursions, but their port boards have very little to no activity now.

 

[ronandannette]

Lots of people deride Nassau but I had a really nice time there a few years ago. Not a beach person myself nor do I enjoy shopping/straw markets. Just by googling around I planned an independent day for myself and two teen boys (DH went golfing). We went to the Ardastar Zoo by taxi. It was really nice (not what you'd normally think of as a zoo) and had a super-unique marching flamingo show. We then taxied back to downtown and went to the Pirate Museum - an easy to find minor attraction but still interesting and a bit of a lark. From there we made it back to the pier on foot. Alone with kids I felt perfectly secure doing all of this - there are tons of other tourists around.

https://ardastra.com/

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Lots of people deride Nassau but I had a really nice time there a few years ago. Not a beach person myself nor do I enjoy shopping/straw markets. Just by googling around I planned an independent day for myself and two teen boys (DH went golfing). We went to the Ardastar Zoo by taxi. It was really nice (not what you'd normally think of as a zoo) and had a super-unique marching flamingo show. We then taxied back to downtown and went to the Pirate Museum - an easy to find minor attraction but still interesting and a bit of a lark. From there we made it back to the pier on foot. Alone with kids I felt perfectly secure doing all of this - there are tons of other tourists around.

https://ardastra.com/

Thanks. We made the mistake of walking around the straw market the one & only time we've been there. At the time, we said we'd never return. but here we go again. I'm determined to have a positive experience this time.

 

[snowwite]

We are cruising in March and stop at Grand Turk. I’ll be using either wheelchair or mobility scooter. Is there anything to do near port? I watched some videos and I’m noticing a lack of sidewalks! Eek!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We are cruising in March and stop at Grand Turk. I’ll be using either wheelchair or mobility scooter. Is there anything to do near port? I watched some videos and I’m noticing a lack of sidewalks! Eek!

I wish Cruise Critic was still active. That used to be a great place to research ports. I don't use much social media & don't know where to go to look for options other than Google. Going down that rabbit hole is very time consuming.

 

[kdonnel]

I wish Cruise Critic was still active. That used to be a great place to research ports. I don't use much social media & don't know where to go to look for options other than Google. Going down that rabbit hole is very time consuming.

Ship specific groups on Facebook have taken much of the traffic from Cruise Critic.

 

[kdonnel]

For Nassau we have had the best times chartering a boat with a captain for the day.

We have them take us to Rose Island. We jump overboard and swim to shore, spending the day snorkeling, laying on the beach, and doing nothing.

They always offer water sports but we decline and ask for more time at Rose Island.



Celebration Key is Carnival's new private destination. You could possible arrange for a tour of Grand Bahama, otherwise this is very much a beach day.



Amber Cove can be treated like another private destination where you just hang out right by the port but cruises that stop there usually offer excursions to Puerto Plata, the Amber Museum, and a nearby rum factory.



Grand Turk is another one that can be treated like another private destination where you just hang out right by the port. The other common option is renting a golf cart to visit more remote beaches, a lighthouse, and to see the donkeys.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Ship specific groups on Facebook have taken much of the traffic from Cruise Critic.

I've noticed that. I guess I'm getting old, but I don't find them as easy to follow as I do the traditional message board format. You have to read through a lot of stuff you're not interested in hoping to find the info you're looking for. I also don't like to ask questions. because FB has my real name on it. I don't need people knowing personal stuff about me like when I'm going to be away from home. Oh well, I guess Google it is.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

For Nassau we have had the best times chartering a boat with a captain for the day.

We have them take us to Rose Island. We jump overboard and swim to shore, spending the day snorkeling, laying on the beach, and doing nothing.

They always offer water sports but we decline and ask for more time at Rose Island.



Celebration Key is Carnival's new private destination. You could possible arrange for a tour of Grand Bahama, otherwise this is very much a beach day.



Amber Cove can be treated like another private destination where you just hang out right by the port but cruises that stop there usually offer excursions to Puerto Plata, the Amber Museum, and a nearby rum factory.



Grand Turk is another one that can be treated like another private destination where you just hang out right by the port. The other common option is renting a golf cart to visit more remote beaches, a lighthouse, and to see the donkeys.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. It's looking like Celebration Key will be an empty ship day for us. We'll probably get off to get a Christmas ornament, if there's a place nearby to get one, then go back to the ship. The beach is our everyday life. We look for culture, history & the local scene, when we travel.

It appears I can find things to do in the other ports. I'm going to look into renting a golf cart now.

 

[kdonnel]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. It's looking like Celebration Key will be an empty ship day for us. We'll probably get off to get a Christmas ornament, if there's a place nearby to get one, then go back to the ship. The beach is our everyday life. We look for culture, history & the local scene, when we travel.

It appears I can find things to do in the other ports. I'm going to look into renting a golf cart now.

You should at least get off and get the doughnuts. It is one of the items you can get as part of your Island meal plan. Then send the doughnuts to me!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

You should at least get off and get the doughnuts. It is one of the items you can get as part of your Island meal plan. Then send the doughnuts to me!

You've got it. Just send me your address.

 

[snowwite]

I wish Cruise Critic was still active. That used to be a great place to research ports. I don't use much social media & don't know where to go to look for options other than Google. Going down that rabbit hole is very time consuming.

Same

 

[snowwite]

Ship specific groups on Facebook have taken much of the traffic from Cruise Critic.

Figures. I quit FB