Bahamas via cruise?

DanandVan

Our cruise stops on Grand Bahama Island, Nassau, and Great Stirrup Cay. Any rec's for things to do, places to eat, etc?
We'll have our 9, 7, and 1 yr old with us.
I'd like to stick to a tight budget - one excursion type tour (snorkeling, perhaps?), and the rest of our time more finding our own fun.
Thanks! Any tips for bringing a 1 yr old on a cruise is also totally needed!

jessica490

Try Blue Lagoon in Nassau! We went there on our cruise last year and it was so fun!! Check it out on trip advisor.

marleyjustine

I know many people prefer to book excursions through the cruise ship - the first time my fiancee and I cruised, that's what we did and the first thing we noticed when we got off the ship was that ashore, all of the same excursions were being offered at a lower price. Since then, we make a point to have an idea of what we would like to do in each port of call, we get off the ship, look around, we get an idea of pricing from vendors and then we go back to the vendor with the best deal.

Marley
www.marleyjustine.com

dragon_chica

Nassau has the Fish Fry, which is an area with restaurants that serve popular local food.  It's a bit of a walk from the main waterfront so I don't know if you would want to do that with 3 kids. 

With cruise sponsored excursions the only things you're getting out of booking with the cruise ship is security that the ship won't leave you if your excursion runs late, hassle-free since your guide pretty much meets you the moment you step off (no searching for your guide at the dock), they take care of all the legwork.  With that said, DH and I have done excursions via cruise line and outside vendors.  Depending on which one can get us the best deal (we've gotten better deals through the cruise but that's one in a blue moon) determines if we stick with the cruise line or not. 

With your 1 year old and the fact that you have two older, non-napping kids you're little one is just going to suck it up for the duration.  Bring a carrier for him/her to nap in while you're out and about.  Any moments "at sea" when you can leave the older ones at the kid's club take it and do naps for the 1 y/o so the little one isn't completely overtired the entire trip.  See if the cruiseline is partnered with an outside vendor that can deliver baby essentials for you.  Disney cruises has that and I love that before the cruise I can order diapers, wipes, toddler snacks, etc and when we get on the ship all of that is waiting for us in our stateroom.  It beats having to pack all of that along with your typical cruise packing.  Take advantage of any nursery they might have on the ship.  Use it for specific times when maybe you and DH want a romantic dinner or afternoon and especially on the day before you return to give yourself time to pack without interruptions.  Some cruises will offer some sort of crib so look into that if you don't bedshare.  It would be a tight squeeze though.  When our DS was 6 months we brought a Rock 'n Play with us and it was the perfect size.  Find out if the ship has an onboard laundromat.  Take advantage of that so you don't have to pack a ton of clothes for the kids.  You can buy those laundry sheets that work in the washer and transfers to dryer so you don't have to lug detergent and you don't have to buy what they have there.  You can find it on Amazon. 

HTH.  GL!