Over the past few years, I’ve learned that cruising is all about relaxing. Taking it slow, unwinding, and disconnecting from the daily routine. When you cruise around the Caribbean or the Atlantic, many of the stops are at small places that might not be super touristy or well-known. That’s different from cruising through the Adriatic or Mediterranean, like we did a few years ago, where the cities you visit usually deserve more than just one day to truly explore. One of those low-key Atlantic stops, in my opinion, is Freeport. So here, I’ll share what it’s like to visit Freeport Harbour straight off the cruise ship — just a few hours, without leaving the cruise port.
— Puedes leer esto en español aquí —
Of course, cruises always offer excursion options. It might be a trip to another part of the island, a local beach, or something more adventurous like a catamaran tour or a hiking experience.
Freeport Harbour, where cruise ships dock, isn’t located in a touristy area like in other Caribbean ports. It’s actually within the industrial part of the city, which surprises many visitors when they arrive. But from there, it’s easy to reach beautiful beaches like Taino Beach or the Port Lucaya Marketplace, where you’ll find a fun Bahamian vibe with shops, music, and local food. That’s the area my parents visited back in the ’90s and really enjoyed.
Here at Freeport Harbour, you’ll also find small shops, a crafts market, and a few places to eat… including Señor Frogs.
Another option, especially if you’re on one of those mega ships — the huge cruise ships that take time to explore properly — is to stay onboard and enjoy the ship with fewer people around. It might be the perfect opportunity to relax and discover more of what the cruise has to offer.
You can also reach this destination from Fort Lauderdale by taking a one-day ferry trip (or even stay overnight in Grand Bahama) with Balearia. Balearia offers ferry service between Fort Lauderdale and both Bimini and Grand Bahama (Freeport), round trip. I’ll leave a link to their site if you want to learn more about that option.
So if Freeport is one of the stops on your upcoming cruise itinerary, I hope this helps give you an idea of what to expect at the cruise port — and maybe even help you decide whether to take an excursion to explore beyond or stay on the ship and enjoy the quiet time onboard.
Here’s our video of Freeport Harbour — Freeport’s cruise port: (click CC for subtitles)
