Where and when do they sail?

While being part of the Caribbean region, the Bahamas are actually located in the Atlantic Ocean, to the north of the ‘main’ Caribbean islands and the closest to Florida. Generally, Caribbean cruises travel further and so naturally last a little longer but Bahamas cruises tend to be shorter, usually between 3 and 5 nights. These often set sail from Florida, either from Cape Canaveral (which is 1 hour east of Orlando), Fort Lauderdale, or Miami, all down the east coast of Florida. Cruises generally include a day at sea plus a 1-3 port days depending on the itinerary and cruise line. This often includes Nassau, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. If you’re cruising with Disney or Royal Caribbean (two of our favourites) it will include a stop at one (or two) of their private islands. Check out our port guides below, covering some of the most popular stops for a cruise in the Bahamas.

Why choose a cruise to the Bahamas?

Bahamas cruises are some of the most common in the industry, with all of the major cruise lines offering cruises to both here and the Caribbean in some form or another. Because they’re so commonplace and are relatively short you can often get some great deals. A cruise also compliments a longer stay in Florida very nicely, either as part of a trip to the theme parks or elsewhere in Florida. If you’re new to cruising then these can also make a good starter cruise to see if you like them.

What’s our top tip?

We’d suggest picking your cruise line, ship and itinerary carefully here as the shorter, weekend cruises can sometimes turn into ‘booze-cruises’. On the other hand, as Bahamas cruises are the most common, cruise lines will often try and entice passengers by putting on special events (e.g. Pixar or Star Wars days at sea with Disney) or by putting their newest and most popular ships on these routes. So make sure to do your research on your cruise line, ship and itinerary before you book.