THE BAHAMAS
DESTINATION GUIDES
THE BAHAMAS With over 700 islands & cays, The Bahamas are one of the Caribbean’s largest island groups covering a massive 180,000 square miles from just east of the United States down to the Turks & Caicos islands and the Caribbean Sea. Well known to cruise customers as one of the world’s most common ship registries, the Bahamas is also host to the majority of cruise lines’ private islands and is therefore a regular call for most lines with a presence in the Caribbean. Cruises to the Bahamian islands can either come as part of a wider Caribbean cruise or, for many larger US based lines, as a cruise specifically taking them in. Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line in particular all run cruises out of the US that take in the Bahamas from their US ports. This is particularly useful for many lines who are not US flagged, as the Bahamas proximity means lines can take in a number of ports for a packed cruise and return to the same port swiftly. The Cruise Industry provides a huge amount of money to the country and consequently the economy of the Bahamas is quite strong and, although there are still housing & educational difficulties in the country, this is noticeable in the modern resorts and settlements that are accessible for visitors to the islands. The majority of the population live in Nassau, the capital of the country, and therefore this is the largest and most modern city, as well as the location for the major tourist hotels & resorts. Indeed, over 5/6ths of the population are split between the island of New Providence, location of Nassau, and Grand Bahama, which hosts the country’s next largest 2 residential areas. Cruising to the Bahamas offers fantastic opportunities for watersports and natural ecological tourism with incredible clear waters and beautiful beaches, as well as incredible geographical features. As a major destination for cruise, the majority of ports have facilities for ships to call alongside, so while they may not be the most attractive of landing places, embarkation and disembarkation should be swift and easy, allowing consumers the maximum time to enjoy the fantastic weather and lifestyle in these Caribbean islands.
www.cruiseexperts.org
Key Ports
Nassau, Bahamas Freeport, Bahamas
Private Islands Princess Cays
PRINCESS CRUISES
Half Moon Cay HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Great Stirrup Cay
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Coco Cay
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
Castaway Cay
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Key Attractions Queen’s Staircase & Fort Fincastle Nassau Glass Window Bridge, Eleuthera Dean’s Blue Hole, Long Island Pirates of Nassau Museum, Nassau Atlantis Paradise Resort, Nassau Snorkelling at Athol Island Elbow Cay, Abaco Islands
Best Times to Go
Peak Season: The best time to
cruise in Canada is usually around Autumn, especially with the fantastic scenery complemented by the Autumn leaves.
Shoulder Season: The summer
season is usually the shoulder season in this region, but the pleasant temperatures mean this is still a highly enjoyable time to travel.
Key Information
Languages: English is the standard language across the nation, however French is also spoken as the national language in certain states.
Currencies Bahamian Dollar BSD ($) Visa Required:
Visas are not required for cruise ship passengers from the UK arriving at the Bahamas, but guests will be required to have 6 months validity on their passport to enter the country.
History
Unlike many of the destinations covered in our Destination Guide series so far, the Bahamas do not have a particularly long history. As a nation made up of many islands, some of which remain uninhabited today, the first contact made with the island was by the Lucayans, who crossed from the islands of Hispaniola and Cuba in canoes. They settled on the islands and it was this branch of the prevalent Taino people who inhabited most of the Caribbean that were first encountered as natives of the new world by Christopher Columbus, when he put ashore at Guanahani on the Eastern side of the Bahamas group, renaming it San Salvador Island. It has not been confirmed which island Guanahani was – one island in the Bahamas is believed the most likely candidate and therefore was itself named San Salvador, however it is not certain. Following the arrival of Columbus it is believed almost the entire Lucayan tribe were transported to other settlements to work as slaves for the Spanish. It is believed that following this mass forced exodus, the islands lay unpopulated for almost 130 years, prior to them being ceded to the British as part of the conclusion of America’s war for Independence. The British settled the islands, however trade was limited to begin with and much of the main commerce for the island was salvaging wrecks of naval & merchant ships for lucrative sale. Following the sacking of Nassau by French & Spanish fleets, the British governors fled the city leaving it without government from Europe. It was this, and the backhanded trade of salvaging & wrecking, that led to the Bahamas reputation as a hold for pirates – many famous pirates, including the notorious Blackbeard, used Nassau on New Providence as a homeport, and thus the islands were regularly raided by Spanish & French fleets both as a pirate & British settlement. British fleets, led by Woodes Rogers, made a concerted effort to reclaim the Bahamas for the crown in the 1700s, with Rogers appointed as governor and tasked with removing the pirate threat from the islands. Rogers was ultimately successful and settled in the Bahamas as Governor until his death. Into the 1800s the Bahamas gained popularity as a settling place for both escaped and emancipated slaves, as well as a place to home former slaves following Abolition. The majority of the islands’ population in the modern day are descended from these inhabitants. The Bahamas has prospered at times throughout the wars of the major colonial powers in the region, be it as a base for blockade running during the Civil War, or as a naval operations base during the later World Wars. However, while these have brought short term gain for the residents they have not left significant lasting benefits. However, since the 1950’s the advent of Tourism has led to an upturn for the Bahamian economy – the country gained independence in 1964 and has since established itself as one of the richest of the Caribbean countries, despite ongoing problems with state infrastructure, immigration and the age-old usage of the islands as bases for smuggling.
Cuisine
The Bahamian cuisine has not become as Westernised as many nations and retains many elements of the past. The national dish, Conch, a large mollusc, is still widely eaten and shows a loyalty to local produce. This has long been part of the Bahamian identity and seafood is therefore a staple part of the diet for nationals of these islands. Similarly, coconut is a key part of the diet as both a food & a beverage, while many classic Caribbean dishes such as split pea & ham soup, Callaloo and bonefish are also prevalent. Many dishes often associated with the American South are also found here, such as grits, mac and cheese & potato salad to name a few, due to the shared heritage and culture of the inhabitants, most of whom are descended from former slave families. Rum is produced on the island and is therefore very popular, with most bars having their own Rum punch recipes to share with locals & tourists.
www.cruiseexperts.org
THE BAHAMAS With over 700 islands & cays, The Bahamas are one of the Caribbean’s largest island groups covering a massive 180,000 square miles from just east of the United States down to the Turks & Caicos islands and the Caribbean Sea. Well known to cruise customers as one of the world’s most common ship registries, the Bahamas is also host to the majority of cruise lines’ private islands and is therefore a regular call for most lines with a presence in the Caribbean. Cruises to the Bahamian islands can either come as part of a wider Caribbean cruise or, for many larger US based lines, as a cruise specifically taking them in. Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line in particular all run cruises out of the US that take in the Bahamas from their US ports. This is particularly useful for many lines who are not US flagged, as the Bahamas proximity means lines can take in a number of ports for a packed cruise and return to the same port swiftly. The Cruise Industry provides a huge amount of money to the country and consequently the economy of the Bahamas is quite strong and, although there are still housing & educational difficulties in the country, this is noticeable in the modern resorts and settlements that are accessible for visitors to the islands. The majority of the population live in Nassau, the capital of the country, and therefore this is the largest and most modern city, as well as the location for the major tourist hotels & resorts. Indeed, over 5/6ths of the population are split between the island of New Providence, location of Nassau, and Grand Bahama, which hosts the country’s next largest 2 residential areas. Cruising to the Bahamas offers fantastic opportunities for watersports and natural ecological tourism with incredible clear waters and beautiful beaches, as well as incredible geographical features. As a major destination for cruise, the majority of ports have facilities for ships to call alongside, so while they may not be the most attractive of landing places, embarkation and disembarkation should be swift and easy, allowing consumers the maximum time to enjoy the fantastic weather and lifestyle in these Caribbean islands.
www.cruiseexperts.org
Key Ports
Nassau, Bahamas Freeport, Bahamas
Private Islands Princess Cays
PRINCESS CRUISES
Half Moon Cay HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Great Stirrup Cay
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Coco Cay
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
Castaway Cay
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Key Attractions Queen’s Staircase & Fort Fincastle Nassau Glass Window Bridge, Eleuthera Dean’s Blue Hole, Long Island Pirates of Nassau Museum, Nassau Atlantis Paradise Resort, Nassau Snorkelling at Athol Island Elbow Cay, Abaco Islands
Best Times to Go
Peak Season: The best time to
cruise in Canada is usually around Autumn, especially with the fantastic scenery complemented by the Autumn leaves.
Shoulder Season: The summer
season is usually the shoulder season in this region, but the pleasant temperatures mean this is still a highly enjoyable time to travel.
Key Information
Languages: English is the standard language across the nation, however French is also spoken as the national language in certain states.
Currencies Bahamian Dollar BSD ($) Visa Required:
Visas are not required for cruise ship passengers from the UK arriving at the Bahamas, but guests will be required to have 6 months validity on their passport to enter the country.
History
Unlike many of the destinations covered in our Destination Guide series so far, the Bahamas do not have a particularly long history. As a nation made up of many islands, some of which remain uninhabited today, the first contact made with the island was by the Lucayans, who crossed from the islands of Hispaniola and Cuba in canoes. They settled on the islands and it was this branch of the prevalent Taino people who inhabited most of the Caribbean that were first encountered as natives of the new world by Christopher Columbus, when he put ashore at Guanahani on the Eastern side of the Bahamas group, renaming it San Salvador Island. It has not been confirmed which island Guanahani was – one island in the Bahamas is believed the most likely candidate and therefore was itself named San Salvador, however it is not certain. Following the arrival of Columbus it is believed almost the entire Lucayan tribe were transported to other settlements to work as slaves for the Spanish. It is believed that following this mass forced exodus, the islands lay unpopulated for almost 130 years, prior to them being ceded to the British as part of the conclusion of America’s war for Independence. The British settled the islands, however trade was limited to begin with and much of the main commerce for the island was salvaging wrecks of naval & merchant ships for lucrative sale. Following the sacking of Nassau by French & Spanish fleets, the British governors fled the city leaving it without government from Europe. It was this, and the backhanded trade of salvaging & wrecking, that led to the Bahamas reputation as a hold for pirates – many famous pirates, including the notorious Blackbeard, used Nassau on New Providence as a homeport, and thus the islands were regularly raided by Spanish & French fleets both as a pirate & British settlement. British fleets, led by Woodes Rogers, made a concerted effort to reclaim the Bahamas for the crown in the 1700s, with Rogers appointed as governor and tasked with removing the pirate threat from the islands. Rogers was ultimately successful and settled in the Bahamas as Governor until his death. Into the 1800s the Bahamas gained popularity as a settling place for both escaped and emancipated slaves, as well as a place to home former slaves following Abolition. The majority of the islands’ population in the modern day are descended from these inhabitants. The Bahamas has prospered at times throughout the wars of the major colonial powers in the region, be it as a base for blockade running during the Civil War, or as a naval operations base during the later World Wars. However, while these have brought short term gain for the residents they have not left significant lasting benefits. However, since the 1950’s the advent of Tourism has led to an upturn for the Bahamian economy – the country gained independence in 1964 and has since established itself as one of the richest of the Caribbean countries, despite ongoing problems with state infrastructure, immigration and the age-old usage of the islands as bases for smuggling.
Cuisine
The Bahamian cuisine has not become as Westernised as many nations and retains many elements of the past. The national dish, Conch, a large mollusc, is still widely eaten and shows a loyalty to local produce. This has long been part of the Bahamian identity and seafood is therefore a staple part of the diet for nationals of these islands. Similarly, coconut is a key part of the diet as both a food & a beverage, while many classic Caribbean dishes such as split pea & ham soup, Callaloo and bonefish are also prevalent. Many dishes often associated with the American South are also found here, such as grits, mac and cheese & potato salad to name a few, due to the shared heritage and culture of the inhabitants, most of whom are descended from former slave families. Rum is produced on the island and is therefore very popular, with most bars having their own Rum punch recipes to share with locals & tourists.
www.cruiseexperts.org
