Bahamas Cruises from Miami Provide an Easy Escape to the Caribbean
Miami provides many options for sailing to the Caribbean, including getaways to the Bahamas. Here are some of the things you’ll want to know before planning and booking Bahamas cruises from Miami.
Distance of the Bahamas from Miami
The Bahamas are in the northeastern part of the Caribbean. The Bahamas are geographically located almost directly east of Miami and there are 184 miles separating Nassau, the main cruise port of the Bahamas, and Miami.
This close proximity means that the Bahamas are an easy getaway from the coast of Florida. You can embark from Miami and be in Nassau by the following morning.
This doesn’t mean, however, that your cruise will always go straight to the Bahamas. Depending on the length of your cruise, you may stop in other ports of call on the way, or visit another destination after you leave the Bahamas before returning to Miami.
The Embarkation Port for Bahamas Cruises from Miami
The cruise port in Miami is the Miami Cruise Ship Terminal located within PortMiami. There are shuttles from Miami International Airport to the cruise port and many hotels in Miami offer shuttles as well, or it’s an easy Uber or cab ride from most hotels in the Miami area.
If you live close to Miami and want to drive to the embarkation port, there is long term parking located near the cruise terminal as well.
The Main Port of Call for Bahamas Cruises from Miami
Cruise ships typically pull into the port in Nassau, which is the capital of the Bahamas. Nassau is aesthetically pleasing thanks to its colorful buildings in pastel shades of pink, yellow, blue, and green. Adjacent to Nassau is Paradise Island, known for its golf course, famous resort (Atlantis Resort, to which cruisers can get day passes) and gorgeous sea views. Nassau and Paradise Island are connected by two one-way bridges over Nassau Harbor.
Popular Shore Excursions in Nassau
Need some ideas for what to do while in the Bahamas? Here are some top picks:
Aquaventure Waterpark: This massive water park is located on the grounds of Atlantis Resort, which is one of the defining landmarks of Nassau, Bahamas.
Snorkeling and Snuba: Bahamas is home to incredible coral reefs where you can see an abundance of tropical fish, sea anemones, and other ocean mammals.
Blue Lagoon Island: Get away for a relaxing beach day on Blue Lagoon Island where you can lounge on beach chairs, sip tropical drinks, take an eco-tour of the private island, and go swimming in the calm salty sea.
Nassau Straw Market: If you love to shop, visiting the Nassau Straw Market is a fun way to browse for local goods and souvenirs in a relaxed setting.
Top Itineraries for Bahamas Cruises from Miami
When you sail to the Bahamas from Miami, you have two main itinerary choices: a short getaway or a longer cruise that will use up a week or two of vacation time (but will give you much more time in the Caribbean!).
The short getaways are generally three to four nights long, though you can find some quick ones for as short as two nights. Many Bahamas cruise getaways just include a stop in Nassau, though the 4-night itineraries also may include a port of call in Key West, Florida.
When sailing on one of the 3-night Bahamas cruises from Miami you’ll get to board your ship and then enjoy your first night at sea feasting on delicious cuisine and taking in a live show in the ship’s theatre or enjoying some music and a skillfully made cocktail in one of the onboard lounges.
You’ll wake up the following morning and enjoy the ocean breeze as your day at sea begins. Schedule a spa treatment, lounge by the pool, find some peace and solitude to catch up on that long unread novel in the ship’s library, dine in a specialty restaurant, and attend a wine class…all in one day if you’d like!
The next day, your ship will pull into Nassau. Since you’ll have recharged your batteries the day before during your day at sea, you’ll be ready to explore the Bahamas. After your day in port, enjoy one last night sailing the Caribbean before arriving back in Miami.
If your itinerary includes an extra night and a port of call in Key West, you’ll stop in Key West either before or after visiting Nassau with a day at sea in between the two ports. The 2-night cruises just visit Nassau without a day at sea.
Longer Bahamas cruises from Miami include other ports of call in the Caribbean beyond the Bahamas region of the Caribbean. Many of the Bahamas cruises from Miami sail Eastern Caribbean itineraries. In addition to Nassau, your Eastern Caribbean cruise will likely include stops in some of the following ports: San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Your itinerary on a longer Bahamas cruise from Miami will also likely include one or two days at sea, which you can spend exploring the ship or taking part in similar activities to the ones previously listed for the short Bahamas cruises. After exploring all of these delightful and varied ports of call and days at sea, your cruise ship will make its way back to Miami.
Endless Equinox Summer From Miami
What’s the Endless Equinox Summer? It’s when the stylish and luxurious Celebrity Equinox cruise ship sails to the Caribbean for fun and relaxing itineraries, some of which visit the Bahamas.
Celebrity Equinox is part of the Solstice-class of cruise ships by Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity Equinox made its maiden voyage in 2009 and has been delighting guests with its modern amenities and comfortable accommodations and lounge spaces ever since.
Celebrity Equinox has the Lawn Club on board, one of the features that made the innovative Solstice-class famous in the cruise industry. The Lawn Club features real grass covering the ship’s top deck with enough space for guests to picnic on the grass and even play bocce ball. Celebrity Equinox also has a Hot Glass Show adjacent to the Lawn Club where guests can watch a demonstration of the art of glassblowing.
During the 2018 Endless Equinox Summer event, Celebrity Equinox will be sailing a variety of itineraries of various lengths, including ones that visit Nassau. The Endless Equinox Summer promotion will also have big savings for cruisers.
If summer doesn’t work for you to sail to the Bahamas, but you’d like to do so on Celebrity Equinox, don’t worry — the “endless” summer means Celebrity Equinox will be continuing to sail the Caribbean through the fall and winter months.
If you’re ready to book your Bahamas cruise on Celebrity Equinox or one of the other fabulous Celebrity Cruises ships that sail to the Bahamas from Miami, visit Celebrity Cruises. You can browse itineraries, reserve airfare, choose your stateroom or suite, and pick the shore excursions you want to do while in Nassau and other Caribbean ports all in one easy to navigate place.
