My 4 day Bahama Cruise to Freeport and Nassau on the Carnival Ecstasy.
In March of 2018 I went on a 4 day Carnival cruise to Freeport and Nassau Bahamas with 12 friends. It was my first cruise and the beginning of many future cruises.
However, (and I still don’t understand why) I took absolutely no video and barely any photos. I guess I was busy absorbing the experience instead of thinking about documenting the cruise.
Once I got home I realized how few memories I had captured. No video, a few pics, and very few souvenirs. I had bought a blue scarf while in Nassau and I kept hanging it around the house trying to figure out the best place to show it off and eventually it found its home draped across a dark wood dresser. I love seeing it everyday. So I made myself the commitment that next I traveled, I would make sure I came home with souvenirs for my home along with more photos and videos.
Embarkment Day, Charleston S.C.
I had driven to Charleston S.C. the night before and stayed in a hotel with 2 other girls who were part of our group. So we were the first of our group to board The Ecstasy. My roomie Kim arrived shortly after.
Our 4 day Bahama cruise left out of Charleston SC. The group of friends that I was cruising with were from all over NC and arriving at different times. It was decided that everyone would gather at one place while waiting for others to arrive and for our rooms to become available. We choose The Red Frog Pub on the Lido deck, and since then it’s been the gathering place for every Carnival cruise I’ve been on.
It rained all morning and many of us got wet while boarding. The Red Frog Rum Bars covered area kept us out of the rain and wind so we could enjoy our 1st drinks named the Friendship.
Nassau Bahamas, Cabbage Beach
Instead of pre-booking excursions, the majority of the group decided we would leave the ship and figure it out as we go along. After getting off the ship we were swarmed with cabbies, tour guides and other locals offering to take us somewhere. We chose a free access beach called Cabbage Beach. It was a short taxi/mini bus ride from the port, however the walk from the parking lot (threw sand dunes) to the beach was difficult for some, and was even more difficult when it was time to leave when the sun was bearing down on us.
2 members in our group left and heading back to port shortly after arriving. One of them said she couldn’t enjoy herself because of all the straws (trash) in the sand. And she was right. There were locals providing drinks in coconut shells to the tourist and the evidence of the daily drinking was everywhere. However, there were also some very skimpy bathing suits and a little nudity among the other beach-goers, (I think from other countries outside the US) and I think it bothered one of them more than the straws. But it didn’t bother me and believe me, it wasn’t always attractive. But to me it added to the global experience of traveling that I loved.
Although the water was chilly in March, I did get in the water a few times. 2 in our group had brought snorkeling masks but neither used them. I’m not sure if it was because the water was too cold for them or the drinks too plentiful. I also taught a friend how to pee in an ocean for their 1st time, something that was hysterical then and now for those of us there that day. Goes to show you never know what memories you’re going to make when traveling.
Overall I enjoyed hanging out at the beach with friends, drinking the watered down coconut drinks that bartenders delivered from the beach bar all day. I enjoyed the local venders stopping and asking us to buy things. The blue scarf mentioned above was bought from a beach vender there. I guess the vendor’s could bother some people but they were never rude or pushy and I thought it added to the charm of this local beach. One of my friends got her hair wrapped, a few others bought coconut shell turtles, and all the girls got matching bahama string bracelets because someone walked up and asked us if we wanted to buy something while we drank and laughed in the sun.
If you’re looking for an upscale beach resort area then Cabbage Beach is not for you. But if you want an affordable beach to hang out with friends and get your drink on while watching naked people picking up straws, it’s perfect. It ended up being my favorite day of the cruise.
Freeport and remainder of cruise.
The next day our Carnival cruise took us to Freeport Bahama. Some in our group had an excursion booked, but then someone backed out. Another said she was just gonna stay on ship. Then another wanted to go on an excursion but then they couldn’t go for some reason and that screwed up the plans of 4 others. It was a mess. Eventually me and my roomie Kim left ship and did a little 2 hr. historical bus tour around the city. We returned back to the port area and did some shopping. Eventually Cindy showed up and we got back on board. Other than it being hot, I don’t remember much about the day, which is a shame.
Serenity.
Serenity is the adult only area located on the stern of the ship. Although it doesn’t have a pool, it did have 2 hot tubs.
Dining.
Our group had dining reserved for 8pm. If you are going on a cruise with a large group of people, I highly recommend doing reserved over anytime dining. It’s a great way for everyone who scattered in different directions during the day to get together and share their adventures.
The first seaday was also formal dinner night.
Our dinners together also made it easier to plan out our evening activities. This usually began with group photos of everyone hanging out on the deck while waiting for a show to start.
On the last night of the cruise everyone enjoyed listening to the 80’s lounge band at the Metropolis Bar. (I also want to share that I made the 3-piece necklace I’m wearing to match the dress.)
I wish I had taken more photos and booked better excursions and could now post more. But it was my first cruise and a learning experience. I think going with a large group gives everyone the opportunity to do things with others if their roomies don’t want do something. I always had someone to go to a show with, or to walk around with. But unfortunately I also learned that some people are going to complain about everything. And they will suck the joy right out of you when around them. I also learned to book port excursions before leaving home. We also wasted too much time trying to get folks organized to do things together. Then figuring out transport and haggling for the best prices in port.
Although I’ve taken several cruises around the caribbean since my first cruise, I will definitely go back to the Bahamas again.
