Official Language:
English
Secondary Language:
Creole
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Currency:
Bahamian Dollar
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Population:
Approximately 41,000 people call Freeport home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Freeport Bahamas: Because of the Gulf Stream, winters in the Bahamas are fairly mild, about degrees 10°F/5°C warmer than in nearby Florida. The summers can be humid, rainy and warm (day temperatures reaching into the low 90s °F/33°C, but are moderated by trade winds. High season is from November to mid April, when the weather is generally good. Hurricane season is from July to October, and most rain falls at that time. There really is no bad time to go, but take along at least a sweater during the winter. Average day temperatures in fall and spring are in the 70s-80s °F/23-32°C, with nights in the 60s °F/15-22 C. Winter temperatures can be about 10 degrees°F (5°C) cooler.
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Grand Bahama Island is the Bahamas fourth largest isle. Located only 50 miles off the coast of Florida, it easily accessible and a popular 3 & 4 night cruise destination -- while Freeport is the "official" port designation, most of the action - beaches, shopping, snorkeling and kayaking - takes place beyond city limits. Lucaya Harbor, basically a suburb of Freeport. Located about five miles west of town in a somewhat industrial area. There is a shuttle service that provides transfers to the heart of the city and the beach areas of Lucaya. Freeport, on Grand Bahama Island within the Bahamas, is a great cruise vacation destination. White sand beaches is just the main reason this port of call is considered a tropical paradise..
Unlike some ports of call, where you land in the heart of everything, on Grand Bahama Island you're deposited in what cruisers call the middle of nowhere -- the west end of the island. You'll want to take a $10 taxi ride (for two passengers) over to Freeport and its International Bazaar, the center of most of the action. As you'll quickly learn after leaving the dreary port area, everything on this island is spread out. Grand Bahama doesn't have the compactness of Nassau. In the Port Terminal, you'll find phones where you can make long-distance calls.
The Bahamas is a coral-based series of over 700 islands, it is made up of over 700 islands. Grand Bahama Island is a significant portion of the 100,000 square miles of dry land that comprise the islands of the Bahamas.Prior to the 1950’s, Freeport was a pinewood forest and almost completely uninhabited. Freeport is now a tourism mecca. Wallace Groves felt that this quiet island could be made into a miniature Miami, and right he was! Today the island is home to high-rise hotels, casinos, and beautiful beachs plus so much more.
During 1964, Great Britain granted The Bahamas internal rule. The Commonwealth of The Bahamas took control in 1973, The island has remained in the British Commonwealth, and the British monarch continues to be the head of state. The Bahamas currently has a two-house Parliament, this is in accordance with the policy of Great Britain. A Bahamian general, which is appointed by the Queen, represents the Crown.
Columbus was not here first. The Siboney Indians inhabited Grand Bahama Island more than 7,000 years ago. They were then followed by the Lucayans, who were members of the Arawak people.
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Attractions |
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Parrot Jungle's Garden of the Groves:
The prime attraction is the 5-hectare (12-acre), at the intersection of Midshipman Road and Magellan Drive; 11 km (7 miles) east of the International Bazaar, this scenic preserve of waterfalls and flowering shrubs has some 10,000 trees.
The Palmetto Café:
(tel. 242/373-5668) serves snacks and drinks, and a Bahamian straw market sits at the entrance gate. Filled with mangrove, pine, and palm trees, the 40-acre (17h), (tel. 242/373-5668).
Lucaya National Park:
Sunrise Highway, is about 19km (12 miles) from Lucaya. The park contains one of the loveliest, most secluded beaches on Grand Bahama. A wooden path winding through the trees leads to this long, wide-dune-covered stretch. You'll cross Gold Rock Creek, fed by a spring from what is said to be the world's largest underground freshwater cavern system. You can enter two caves, exposed when a portion of ground collapsed. The pools there are composed of 2m (6 ft.) of freshwater atop a heavier layer of saltwater.
The Rand Memorial Nature Centre:
Located 3km (2 miles) east of Freeport's center. East Settlers Way, is the regional headquarters of The Bahamas National Trust, a nonprofit conservation organization. Forest nature trails highlight native flora and bush medicine in this 40-hectare (100-acre) pineland sanctuary. Wild birds abound. Other features include native animal displays, an education center, and a gift shop.
Royal Oasis Resort & Casino Gambling The Day Away:
Even though there are casinos aboard ships, many passengers head immediately for a land-based casino once they hit shore.Most of the daylife/nightlife in Freeport/Lucaya centers, a glittering, giant, Moroccan-style palace. The casino is open daily from 9am to 3am --(tel. 242/350-7000).
Garden of the Groves:
A preserve of waterfalls this is Grand Bahama Island’s main attraction.
Bahamas Princess Resort and Casino:
A Moroccan style casino. This one was the first of 2 casinos and remains the hot spot for high rollers!
Sports
Even for the cruise-ship passenger with very limited time on the island, Grand Bahama offers a wealth of sporting activities ranging from golf to sailing. It is especially known for its golf courses, but passengers should make reservations as early as possible, especially if arriving in the winter months when they have to compete for time with land-based passengers. Golfing, two major golf destinations on Grand Bahama Island are the Lucayan and Reef courses at the Westin & Sheraton at Our Lucaya Beach Resort and the Emerald and Ruby courses at the Royal Oasis.
Shopping
The International Bazaar -- There's no place for shopping in The Bahamas quite like the International Bazaar, at East Mall Drive and East Sunrise Highway. It's one of the world's most unusual shopping marts -- Bahamian kitsch in poured concrete and plastic, 4 hectares (10 acres) of born-to-shop theme park tastelessness -- but in the nearly 100 shops, you're bound to find something that is both a discovery and a bargain. Displayed here are African handcrafts, Chinese jade, British china, Swiss watches, Irish linens, and Colombian emeralds -- and that's just for starters. Continental cafes and dozens of shops loaded with merchandise await visitors. Buses marked INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR will take you right to the much-photographed Toril Gate, a Japanese symbol of welcome. Port Lucaya Marketplace The first of its kind in The Bahamas, Port Lucaya on Seahorse Road was named after the original settlers of Grand Bahama. This is a shopping and dining complex set on 2.4 hectares (6 acres). Free entertainment, such as steel-drum bands and strolling musicians, adds to a festival atmosphere. Full advantage is taken of the waterfront location. Many of the restaurants and shops overlook a 50-slip marina. A variety of charter vessels are also based at the Port Lucaya Marina, and dockage at the marina is available to visitors coming by boat to shop or dine. A boardwalk along the water makes it easy to watch the frolicking dolphins and join in other activities at the Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO). Merchandise in the shops of Port Lucaya ranges from leather to lingerie to wind chimes. Traditional and contemporary fashions are featured for men, women, and children.
Beaches
Grand Bahama has some 97km (60 miles) of white-sand beaches rimming the blue-green waters of the Atlantic. The 1.5km- (1-mile-) long Xanadu Beach, at the Xanadu Beach Resort, is the premier beach in the Freeport area.
Swim - or dive - with dolphins; Unexso (www.unexso.com) offers a variety of different types of dolphin-related encounters. Most beaches are in the Lucaya area, site of the major resort hotels. The resort beaches, with a fairly active program of watersports, tend to be the most crowded in winter, of course.
Other island beaches include Taíno Beach, lying to the east of Freeport, plus Smith's Point and Fortune Beach, the latter one of the finest on Grand Bahama. Another good beach, about a 20-minute ride east of Lucaya, is Gold Rock Beach, a favorite picnic spot with the locals, especially on weekends
Best All-Around Party & Recreation Beach: Lucayan Beach, which runs in front of Our Lucaya Beach Resort (comprised of the Sheraton and the Westin), has watersports outfitters, bars, restaurants and equipment rentals. Another candidate is Mather Town Beach, about three miles from Port Lucaya. There are limited water activities, but it is a great beach for swimming, eating, drinking and hanging out with the locals. Family Beach: Taino Beach, in front of the Ritz Beach Resort, offers watersports and the waters themselves are calm enough for kids.
Good snorkeling: Deadman's Reef is the home of Paradise Cove, the site of a fairly recent archeological dig. You can take a look at artifacts that belonged to Lucayan Indians. Peaceful Beach: Gold Rock Beach, part of Lucayan National Park, is protected by the National Trust. There aren't many services - bring your own lunch - but it's gorgeous and away from the crowds. While you are there, check out the birdwatching trails. Snorkeling and scuba diving at Paradise Cove - Deadman's Reef, on the island's west end, where in addition to the reef you also can see underwater archeological excavations.
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More Information |
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Visitor Information & Getting Around --A branch office of the Grand Bahama Tourist Board (tel. 242/352-8356) is found at the cruise-ship docks. Plenty of taxis are available to take you where you want to go on Grand Bahama Island.
Shore Excursions -- The offerings here are weak. You can often manage better on your own. Most cruise ships tout a 40km (25-mile) round-trip sightseeing trip, during which you spend about 30 minutes at the Garden of the Groves and then are led like cattle around the International Bazaar. This latter is better explored on your own.
Seeing The Sights -- None of the island's major attractions are close to the cruise-ship docks. To reach the center of the action, you'll have to taxi over to the Freeport or Lucaya area.
Useful Links About Freeport:
Freeport Travel Information
Bahamas Tourism Guide
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