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Exuma BahamasFred Coolridge (123)  Great Exuma Island, Bahamas Bahamas Cruise Tips What you need to knowPosted Tuesday, October 14, 2008 (1 year 41 days ago.) Viewed 97 times. Thousands of people take cruises in the Bahamas every year for various reasons. Without a doubt, two of the main reasons have to do with the spectacular weather and the beautiful beaches. While some people go to relax, others book a cruise to meet new people and have fun. Whatever your motivation is for taking a vacation from the routine of everyday life, the Bahamas is a great place to visit. Here are some Bahamas cruise tips that will inform you on what ship, time of year, and events are best for you. Bahamas Cruise Tips: Which one is my dream boat? Carnival Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line offer fun-filled and family oriented vacations. With supervised activities available for children, parents can enjoy the getaways as much as the kids! In most cases, the ships are huge and guests can choose from a wide range of entertainment and dining options.
For a more intimate setting, Windstar Cruises promote smaller-scale tours for adults only. Their ships accommodate only a few hundred people, giving them a private yacht ambiance. Guests often appreciate the cruise's intention for less entertainment and more peace and quiet. An added bonus is being able to dock in much smaller ports than larger ships. There are many other choices of cruise lines, some of which cater to vacationers with specific interests. Some focus on spring break, some provide an open bar, some boast an exciting casino, and others are Italian-themed. The great selection of tours is part of what makes Bahamas cruises so popular. When is the best time to go? Holidays and Cultural Events Emancipation Day on August 1st celebrates the freeing of slaves in the British Empire. The first day includes a fun-filled footrace. The world-famous Bahamas Junkanoo Festival is held the following day in Fox Hill Village, near Nassau. Here tourists are invited to enjoy an outstanding feast of locally-prepared foods, while musicians compete against one another. Another Bahamas-specific event is July 10th – Independence Day. Beach parties are in full swing and fireworks are displayed all over the Bahamas, the largest celebration being on Paradise Island and in Nassau.
Things to do In the water Another exciting underwater excursion is Hartley's Undersea Walk. Air is pumped into lead masks that bring guests to the ocean floor, allowing them to interact with marine life. Swimming with the dolphins has become an extremely popular activity that takes place on Blue Lagoon Island. Participants can feed and pet the dolphins; however, visitors should book early. Also located on Blue Lagoon Island is Stingray City where tourists can actually swim with these friendly fish. In all the underwater activities, natural coral and colorful fish abound, so do not forget your waterproof camera! On land For those who prefer to be on foot, the Versailles Gardens are spectacular! Even though they are located on hotel grounds, they are open to all, free of charge. In addition to exotic tropical flora, the gardens feature French statues and art work. Golf-enthusiasts can enjoy some of the world's most beautiful courses on Grand Bahama Island and Paradise Island, while those looking for a taste of culture and history can visit the Queens Staircase. This is a walking tour of Nassau, featuring a 102 feet high staircase built by slaves in 1793. Interesting sites are plentiful! Whatever ship you choose to set sail on, your destination should be the Bahamas - a great spot to relax and have fun!
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Permalink Comments (0) Not just Sun & Surf: Top 10 Things to do in Exuma, BahamasPosted Thursday, April 03, 2008 (1 year 235 days ago.) Viewed 169 times. The scenery is breath-taking! The surf is lapping at your feet and its waves beckon you to envelop yourself in their crystal clear warmth. The beaches may be addictive, but there are plenty of other things to do in Exuma, Bahamas. There are must-sees and must-dos for every individual's taste. The beaches are only the beginning.  1. Delve beneath the surface Exuma boasts some of the most famous underwater caves and blue holes. Thunderball Grotto is a popular and interesting spot for divers and snorkelers; the underwater cave was featured in two James Bond films. Exuma caves are famous for their diversity, varying in length, depth, and beauty. Explore the lush vegetation and unusual inhabitants of the briny deep and be sure to bring those underwater cameras! 2. Hook a bone! Bonefishing is an intriguing Bahamian sport and is popular pass time in Exuma, Bahamas. The south western shores of the Exumas are the ideal location to engage in this exciting, tide-dependent sport because bonefish keep to the sandy shallows in search of food. Bonefish are slippery, silvery creatures that can streak up to 25 miles per hour to elude predators. They are mostly caught in the spirit of the sport, as they are not known to be particularly appetizing. The average number of bonefish sighted in Exuma per day is between 40 and 400, while the average number of fish caught daily is between 3 and 45. The usual weight of a bonefish is between 4 and 6 pounds, but they can reach up to 19 pounds! 3. Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park There are numerous things to do in Exuma, Bahamas, so before you take the trip, do some research. You will discover that the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park, a marine wildlife reserve located on Great Exuma, is worthwhile exploring. Opening in 1959, it was the first of its kind. It spreads over 176 square miles. The scuba diving is spectacular due to the crystal-clear waters that provide excellent visibility on any given day. The park's remoteness offers you a personal paradise where large groups of reef fish can be observed in their natural environment. This land and sea park is home to the lutia, a rabbit-like rodent that was thought to be extinct until 1966.  4. Swimming with the dolphins Swimming with the dolphins literally takes your breath away, and is definitely considered one of the most memorable things to do in Exuma, Bahamas. It is an activity that can involve the whole family touching, interacting, and even hand-feeding these wonderful creatures in their natural habitat. 5. Become a Bahamas history buff Soak up some of the local history by visiting the Bowe Family Plantation, an old cotton plantation that tells of the colonial history of the Bahamas. The main structure lies in ruins today, yet visitors can clearly make out the arrangement of the house, including the location of the kitchen and slave quarters. For the not so faint at of heart, there are spooky things to do in Exuma, Bahamas, such as a visit to the Rolle Town Tombs, a cemetery wherein rest an overseer and his wife that lived during times of slavery. If that is not chilling enough, make your way to The Hermitage, another cemetery located eight miles from Georgetown, where the tombs date back to the 1800s, and are most interesting when visited with a knowledgeable guide. 6. Parading about If you want to experience the Bahamian culture to its fullest, participating in the annual Exuma Junkanoo Summer Festival is essential. Not only can you sample local foods and beverages, and participate in games and old-fashioned competitions, but you can also learn much about the island since great emphasis is placed on Bahamian heritage, culture, and entertainment during this celebration. 7. Did someone say sailing? One of the outstanding things to do in Exuma, Bahamas is sailing. Each April, Exuma holds its annual National Family Island Regatta, where the world's best sailors flock to compete for the coveted title of "Best in the Bahamas." The competition is based on boating skills and excellence in the sport. Beginning in the 1950s, the regatta is held in the waters between George Town and Elizabeth Harbour. It is always an animated and boisterous event that concludes with a junkanoo parade in Regatta Park with the Nassau Police Band entertaining the crowd.  8. Biting into the Bahamas Definitely deserving of a spot in the top 10 things to do in Exuma, Bahamas is the superb gastronomy experience. With menus replete with sumptuous seafood, savory spices and chilled exotic beverages, sampling the native fare is a must! Begin with a nice bowl of souse, a soup made of onions, lime juice, peppers, celery and meat, and then move on to a main course of conch meat. The conch is an ocean mollusk that produces a peachy meat which can be eaten fresh, uncooked, and seasoned with lime juice and spices. Afterwards, relax with a bottle of Kalik, the local beer in Exuma, or a tasty glass of Sky Juice, a rich concoction of coconut milk, coconut rum, and gin. Shaken, not stirred! 9. A View from the Top Imagine floating through the balmy Bahamian breeze staring down at a veritable kaleidoscope of brilliant blues and greens. That is the reality of parasailing in the Exumas. It offers you a view that you never dreamed possible. Seeing the splendor of the islands from 400 feet in the air is an unforgettable experience that is well-deserving of a place on the list of things to do in Exuma, Bahamas. 10. Life's a Beach! Last, but not least, are the magnificent beaches! Located on Little Exuma is the Tropic of Cancer beach, the longest beach on the island, stretching one and a half miles, and boasting powdery sand and turquoise water. This beach got its name from its geographical location - the Tropic of Cancer runs right through it. Equally inviting is the affectionately nicknamed Hamburger Beach and Volleyball Beach on Stocking Island. Only a 10-minute ride from the Georgetown docks, visitors to the area can enjoy a hearty meal at the Chill'n'Chat or the P & P Hamburger Stand. These beaches are hotspots for avid surfers and seashell gatherers as their shores are rich with exotic and unusual seashells. Finding the perfect sandy nook is one of the easiest things to do in Exuma, Bahamas, that and finding total relaxation, of course. About the Author: Fred Coolridge is the content manager and author for the website Great Exuma Island, Bahamas - www.exumabahamas.org.
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Those
looking for a luxurious experience should check
out the high-end 
The
natural beauty of the Caribbean islands is breathtaking
and some activities allow guests a closer look.
Scuba diving is a popular attraction
in the Bahamas; Andros Island is said to be
the best place to dive and explore.