21 Things I Learned on My Cruise to The Bahamas

I went on my first cruise a few weeks ago, and it was an awesome experience! My husband and I went on a Christmas vacation to The Bahamas with his family. I had had several people tell me things about cruises, but it wasn’t all like I was expecting.

Here’s a few things I learned along the way…

• Plan to get to the port as early as they’ll allow so you can beat as much of the line as possible.
• Have a manila envelope to keep your boarding pass, forms, and ID (passport, birth certificate, etc.) handy for getting on and off the ship at the beginning and ending of your trip.
• A small backpack is really handy, both for your days on the ship and your days in port.
• You definitely feel the boat swaying, but it’s kinda nice when you’re in bed. It’s trippy all the rest of the time.
• If you get seasick, take your meds (Bo-nine seemed to work better than Dramamine) first thing in the morning so they get you through the whole day.
• Staring at the pool will only make you more seasick since the water in the pool does the same thing as the water outside the boat.

• All your food is included in your ticket price, so this is the the perfect opportunity to try new foods.
• Since the cruise ship gives you a schedule of events for each day, take a picture of it with your phone so you have it with you throughout the day.
• But, make sure your phone is on airplane mode. This helps you to avoid racking up international roaming charges, accidentally connecting to the ship’s expensive wifi, and disconnecting from your hectic life back home.
• The ocean down in the Caribbean is insane. Words can’t describe it.

• If anyone offers you the chance to ride a Segway, take it!
• They don’t use blinkers in Nassau, they just honk and go for it!
• Nassau’s port can be host to anywhere from 6-8 cruise ships. That means, on any given day, the city can have an influx of over 8,000 visitors.
• Freeport, Grand Bahama Island is privately run, which is why they’re not as big a stop for cruise ships…
• …unless they’re in for repairs. Freeport has some of the largest dry docks: they repair cruise ships, carriers, and pretty much any other big boat you can think of.

• Kayaking through mangroves is probably not the best choice for your first time in a kayak. Though, if swimming isn’t your forte, it’s not a problem since the water is only 2-5 feet deep.
• Freeport is only a 3 hour boat ride away from Fort Lauderdale.
• According to our excursion guide, you can become a Bahamian citizen by owning $250,000 in house and land and spending 6 months out of the year down there.
• There are 3 times as many people on New Providence as Grand Bahama Island, despite it being about 1/3 the size land wise.
• Make sure you have some type of bag that can double as an overnight, because you’ll probably have to put your luggage out for pickup the night before you arrive home.

• And, of course, be sure to catch at least one sunrise and one sunset while you’re at sea.