On your next cruise vacation, you may debate whether you should book excursions or venture off the boat on your own. While either can be great, I definitely recommend booking an excursion for Nassau and just winging it in Balmoral Island. This is why.
Balmoral Island
If your boat is stopping in Nassau, I definitely recommend Balmoral Island. Most people spend hundreds of dollars going to Atlantis for the day when Balmoral Island is just as good… even better!
Personally, I think Atlantis is overrated and not worth it. This is my opinion.
This was my second time going to Balmoral Island and Ryan’s first. He had an amazing time. (It was actually his birthday the day we were there and he said it was “the best birthday ever”)
You get to Balmoral Island by a 20-minute charter ride. The ride is beautiful as you pass by everyday Nassau life. The boat employees will even give you some info on the history and geography of the Bahamas.
The excursion is around 80 dollars a person and includes lunch and a drink. However, if you don’t get a package, Balmoral Island has a sweet little cafe and bar to enjoy. The island is private which means the place is clean and never too crowded. When you imagine the Bahamas, Balmoral Island is what you have in mind: Beautiful, white sand with crystal clear water.
They also offer swimming with dolphins, stingrays, etc. for an extra cost.
Princess Cays
Princess Cays is one of Carnival’s private ports. This private resort on the island of Eleuthera, Bahamas was designed to be classic cruising perfection.
Since it is Carnival owned, the beach is already set up with beach chairs for you to set up on. Get to Princess Cays early in the morning so you can secure your spot before the place gets crazy.
Lunch is free— the BBQ pit is already fired up for lunch, and a supervised kids’ area ready to receive your little ones. Unfortunately, alcoholic beverages are not. Even if you have the Cheers! service.
Make sure to explore all of the island. Most people don’t venture to the far end and miss some pretty cool things, including a dock to watch marine life and
During our trip, we decided to try stand-up paddleboarding. You are able to rent kayaks, SUPs, small boats, and more! There is SO much more to do on this island than just swimming.
You should definitely get off the boat for this destination.
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Where are you going on your next cruise? Will you be booking an excursion or figuring it out as you go?
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