The Bahamas are one of the most visited countries by Americans, with over 80% of tourists to this Caribbean country being from the USA. Even travelers from other countries will often take a plane or ship from Florida to get here. But what makes this country so appealing, and is it really worth visiting? And if you do go, is it better to cruise or fly?
Should you visit the Bahamas?
I just recently visited the Bahamas for the first time. The flight from Orlando to Nassau was nice, as it took less than an hour to make it to a new country. And though Nassau didn’t have a lot of sights, it definitely had some cool things, such as old British forts and great views of the cruise ships as they came in and out of port in the morning and evening.
Admittedly, I did not visit the Out Islands like Exuma, and those could be completely different. But overall I thought it was a bit overrated. In terms of proximity to the US, it’s pretty easy to fly to, so I definitely understand the appeal, and it’s an especially good cruise destination. However, the further you live from the Caribbean, the harder it is to justify. If you are European, for example, I personally don’t think it’s worth going unless you’re either already in the region or trying to hit every country like I am.
But what really got me was the costs. Bahamas is easily one of the most expensive countries I’ve visited so far – I was only there for 2 nights and was not particularly happy with how much I spent. Let’s take a look at what you’d expect to pay if you visit.
Costs (and cruising vs flying)
What you will pay to visit the Bahamas of course depends on where you are from. If you’re from Florida, round-trip flights are normally around $250-300, and obviously this scales up as you travel further away. However, this does not take into account food, lodging, or transportation costs.
Most of my meals in Nassau set me back at least $20-30 even at the cheaper spots, and obviously they are even more if you get drinks. Almost every hotel will set you back at least couple hundred dollars a night, and even the guesthouse I stayed in was still $230 for two nights. Taxis can also be quite expensive – make sure to arrange the price before getting in one or you will probably be overcharged. A “cheap” driver will charge about $30 between the airport and downtown Nassau.
On the other hand, you can often find 3-4 day cruises from Florida for $300-400, and you can sometimes even find deals for around $200! When you compare those costs to flying, the difference becomes clear, as well as the reason why most people visit – if you want to have a cheap vacation, this is the way to do it.
Why cruising is the best way to see the country
Generally, I am not a proponent of cruising to see new countries. When I visited Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia for the first time on a Panama Canal cruise a couple years ago, I felt like I didn’t really experience them properly.
But that is different for the Bahamas, and I would even say the Caribbean in general. With island nations, you can see most of the sights and attractions within the time you’re in port. And if you want to do something else, there are a myriad of excursions which you can pay some extra money for, such as swimming with pigs or snorkeling.
In fact, for the Bahamas, I’d argue pricewise you can often see more by cruising than by flying. If you have a 4- or 5-day cruise, you will have 2 or 3 ports, so besides Nassau you will also visit other islands like Exuma or Bimini, whereas if you fly between them it would greatly drive up the costs. Most cruise lines also have their own private islands, such as CocoCay for Royal Caribbean – generally the short 3-day cruises will just go here.
Not only that, but everything you need is paid for already. All of your meals on the ship are provided, there are no other transportation costs, and there are always tons of activities to do around the ship. Of course, if you want to get a drink package or Wi-Fi you will need to spend some extra money, but the great thing is it’s not a necessity.
All of these reasons are why 80%+ of the tourists to the Bahamas are by cruise ship. But what are the merits of flying? Typically, resorts like Atlantis in Nassau are the biggest reason.
Resorts: the main reason to fly to the Bahamas
In my opinion, there really isn’t a ton to do in Nassau – a day in port is generally enough to see the most interesting things. Besides people who are staying at a resort, flying is really only a good option if you’re limited on time, trying to maximize countries visited, or using Bahamas as a flexible add-on destination. Otherwise, resorts give you the chance to both see the sights of Nassau and also just relax.
I want to be very clear here: staying in a resort is not a cheap way to travel, at all. But if you are fine with spending a lot of money, you will definitely have an enjoyable time. There are plenty of food options, shops, and even golf carts you can rent to travel around easier.
Not only that, but Paradise Island, the main resort stay near Nassau which includes Atlantis, is very safe, whereas some of Nassau itself is pretty sketchy – especially after the cruise ships leave. I personally felt uncomfortable walking around at night even in a “nicer” area where my guesthouse was.
Just like on a cruise, you can spend some extra money for excursions, with tours that can be booked directly through the Atlantis website, for example. But you can even just go to one of the several beaches which line the island and you will enjoy yourself.
Personal experience and closing thoughts
Everyone will experience the Bahamas differently. I thought it was enjoyable, but fairly overrated. However, my circumstances were admittedly a bit more unique, only being there for a couple nights. Regardless, it genuinely isn’t somewhere I’d really recommend flying to, at least for Nassau. It was just too expensive, and I wasn’t overly blown away by the sights there. There are some interesting things for sure, but if you want to visit cheaply, travel by air is not the way to go.
Cruising is overall the best way to see the Bahamas. You can often get good deals, you don’t have to worry about paying for meals or transportation, and there are plenty of things to see and do, even if you don’t spend extra money on excursions. You are likely to see more places by cruise than by flying, even if those places are more touristy – but there’s nothing wrong with that! The Bahamas are basically the epitome of a tourist hotspot – a place to relax, swim, enjoy the beach, and bask in the wonderfully warm weather.