Cruise to the beautiful Bahamas
What a busy January! Michael and I had three back-to-back weekend trips celebrating a friend’s birthday with a cruise to the beautiful Bahamas, a wedding in Atlanta, and Mardi Gras back home in Louisiana with my family!
While all three trips had their lasting memories, today’s post is going to focus on our incredible cruise to the beautiful Bahamas.
In 2019, Michael and I went on our first cruise together. It didn’t make me say, “I absolutely love cruises”, but it was memorable. This time around was different – it changed my view on cruises because it was just that fun!
Cruise to the Beautiful Bahamas - Planning
Michael and I were looking up Royal Caribbean cruises in February 2023, when a few days later our good friend Caitlin said they also planned to book a cruise with the family to celebrate the milestone 40th birthday of Ian, her husband. We couldn't miss it, especially because Ian and Michael are bffs!
We booked the Liberty of the Seas three-day cruise out of Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas. The trip consisted of one day in Nassau and the other on Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay. Booking almost a year out gave us a huge discount so we would highly recommend booking your cruise early. Michael and I upgraded to an ocean view with a balcony, 8th floor near the stairs, which turned out to be a pretty convenient location since the elevator can sometimes take a while. We also prepaid for gratuities, which meant no additional costs on the ship.
Deals Purchased Early On – Drink Package and Excursion
In June 2023 we purchased our deluxe beverage package. By doing this you receive endless drinks on the ship (this includes coffee, Gatorade, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages) and on the Coco Cay Island since Royal Caribbean owns the island – that is an added perk we did not have on our other cruise.
We booked our excursion to swim with the famous pigs in June 2023, an exciting adventure I always wanted to do!
With all of this booked months in advance there wasn’t much else to do planning wise except purchase our flights to Fort Lauderdale. We also got a hotel room the night before the trip on that Thursday to ensure we could check in on time on that Friday.
Cruise to the Beautiful Bahamas - One month out
About a week out Royal Caribbean sent us a link to check in and submit our photo IDs. Downloading the app was a timesaver and a great way to stay updated on everything before (and during) the cruise. We checked in and set up our “SeaPass Account”. This account is the ticket to everything. Think of it as a cashless system that allowed us to keep track of one card while on the ship. It’s scanned when getting on and off the boat, ordering drinks (for purchase or bought using the drink package), and when buying food at restaurants not included in your Royal Caribbean food package. At the end of the cruise, they will automatically charge the card linked to the SeaPass Account and email a copy of your statement. Super easy!
Once the check in was complete, we received our SetSail Pass. It’s like a boarding pass to get on a plane. On sailing day, it allowed us to skip the line at check-in and head directly to security. They scanned our SetSail Pass and we got on board much faster!
During the check in process, we got to choose the time we could board. The ship departed at 4:30, but we chose the earlier boarding time available, the 12:30pm-1pm time slot, to take advantage of our time on the ship.
Note: It’s really important to board during the scheduled time to help the crew get everyone through faster.
Cruise to the Beautiful Bahamas - Day Before
I mentioned this earlier, but we booked a hotel in Fort Lauderdale near the Port the night before we departed in case there were any flight delays or other interruptions. Luckily it was smooth sailing for all of us. Royal Caribbean also sent us a pre-health screening to complete the day before we boarded to ensure we were feeling okay (AKA to make sure no one had COVID). We stayed in an area called Dania Beach, which was great to stroll around and not far from the Port.
Cruise to the Beautiful Bahamas - It's Time!
Friday, Day 1: Board Ship
We ate breakfast at our hotel and then took an Uber to the port, which was only a short drive away. Check in was simple with our SeaPass account set up and our SetSail Passes easily accessible! We dropped off our luggage outside, which the staff brought to our room. It’s one less thing to carry through security. They also have an efficient drop-off system.
Now the fun begins! Unlike our last cruise, we did our safety briefing through the Royal Caribbean app before boarding. This saved so much time. Once on board all we had to do was head to our mustard station to check in.
Our rooms were ready a couple hours later. The balcony rooms have a good amount of space and offer an outdoor escape from your room.
We selected a 5:30pm dinner time during the check in process. Florence and Eliseo were our waiter and waitress for the weekend and were the absolute best! We mentioned it was Ian’s birthday trip and comically they sang “Happy Birthday” every night and brought him cake. We joked that it was a real life Groundhog Day situation and we still laugh about it.
Note: By choosing a designated dinner time before, you will always have a table ready for you at that time and the same waiters/waitresses.
Things to do on the ship (click here to see map of cruise ship)
That night we explored the ship a little more and although we made a list of everything the ship had to offer before our trip, we did not have time to do it all. I included a list here with some of our notes!
Activities and places we visited on the ship
Deck 3
- Studio B Ice Skating Show: This was so cool and the kids loved it! The performers were so impressive and it's easily accessible (Studio B, midship).
- Platinum Theatre: This theatre (actually on decks 2, 3, and 4) has various performances. We saw a comedy show in here as well as aerial acrobatics. They also had "Saturday night fever", a free broadway show.
Deck 5 - Main Dining Room and Promenade
- Main Dining Room: This is where you go to eat if you reserve a dining time. The menu changes every night, and there are so many options. You can order as much food as you want to try it all! You can also dine here without a reserved dining time, but you may have to wait.
- Vintage Wine Bar (Promenade): We loved getting a glass of wine here.
- Sorrentos Pizza (Promenade): This was just a great snack when needed. The pizza is included in the cruise meal plan so it's free, good, and convenient.
- Cafe Promenade (Promenade): Every morning, we got coffees here.
- Hoof and Claw English Bar (Promenade): This bar had live music and was a great place to stop by and have a drink in a cozy atmosphere.
Deck 11
- Cruise Fitness Center: Caitlin and I took advantage of the morning stretch and the morning abs class in the gym’s fitness center. It was a nice workout to start the day, but be warned the abs class was INTENSE.
- Windjammer Café: The cafe is where you want to go to get your breakfast, lunch, and dinner staples. They also have a bar in the front of the cafe. They made us personalized espresso martinis!
- Pools and Solarium: The pools and Solarium (deck 11) offer a little something for everyone. With multiple hot tubs, TVs, seating, and bars, you can stay entertained here for hours. There is a great kids area and an adults only area called The Solarium with hot tubs that hang over the side of the ship.
Deck 13
- Mini Golf Course: We all stopped by the mini golf course on our first night. The kids loved the area and we had a beautiful view of the stars and moon.
Other amenities we did not have time to visit
- On Air: Karaoke (deck 3)
- Schnoor Bar: Piano bar (deck 4)
- Boleros Lounge: Dancing bar (deck 4)
- Shuffle Board: Game (deck 4)
- Casino (deck 4)
- R Bar: Bar (deck 5 in the promenade)
- Sail Away Track (deck 5)
- Helipad (deck 5)
- Card Room (deck 10)
- Vitality Sea Spa (deck 12)
- Jogging Track (deck 12)
- Sky Bar: Bar (deck 12)
- Flowrider: Wave machine (deck 13)
- Rock Climbing (deck 13)
- Olive and Twist: Bar (deck 14)
Note: Using the app to view the ship’s schedule can keep you informed on everything happening.
Cruise to the Beautiful Bahamas
Saturday, Day 2: Nassau
We arrived in Nassau early on Saturday and Michael and I were ready to get off the ship to swim with the pigs. Ian and Caitlin booked a beach day with the kids.
Items we recommend bringing when getting off the ship:
- SeaPass Card
- Cash (if you want souvenirs)
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Water shoes
- Fanny pack/backpack
Pearl Beach
For our adventure, we took a 40-minute boat ride to a private island, Pearl Beach. It took a little more than an hour to get off of the cruise ship with the other participating guests and get onto this smaller boat. Once on board, our guide Mario gave us insight into which celebrities owned million-dollar homes along the shoreline (hello Michel Jordan) and other historical facts about Nassau.
Once we got to Pearl Beach Island, there were drinks for purchase and lunch included in our excursion tickets. It was a delicious authentic meal.
We explored the island, kayaked, and climbed to the top of this lighthouse with panoramic views.
*Note: The cruise drink package didn’t work on this private island and beach.
Finally, after a few hours on the beach we took another short boat ride across the water to an island where the pigs live! We were given some food to feed the pigs that entices them to swim in the water. The water was a little cold since it was January, but some brave souls went farther than we did into the water to get the pigs to swim. This was a great experience, but I wish we had had more time with the pigs.
Afterward we took the 40-minute boat ride back to Nassau and got back on the cruise ship. This night was formal night, so we all dressed up. We gifted Ian a crown and sash for his birthday. He reluctantly wore the getup, but we were THRILLED. The night ended with us singing happy birthday for the second night in a row.
Note: Formal night is quite common on all cruises and you can get as dressy as you want.
Since Michael is a Packers fan, we watched Green Bay play the 49ers on the big screen in the pool area from the hot tub. Those who watched the game may recall it was a great game in the beginning with the Packers leading for the most part....until they didn’t. Michael was devastated when they lost.
Cruise to the Beautiful Bahamas
Sunday, Day 3: CocoCay
There's so much do on CocoCay! We found some chairs to sit in at South Beach, which had a great view. The water was a little chilly, so we spent most of our time exploring the island, playing volleyball, and checking out the many food options.
Note: All food is included since the island is owned by Royal Caribbean. The drink package also works on the island.
Here's the breakdown of the island I researched before our trip:
Items to bring:
- SeaPass Card
- Cash (if want souvenirs)
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Fanny pack/backpack
- Kids beach toys
Additional notes:
- Don’t need towels; they have them everywhere on the island
- Lockers are available for free
- Drink package works at any bar on the island
- Food is included
- If only one ship is docked (versus two), the island is way less packed
Immediate Photo Opp
Once you arrive and get off the boat, immediately go left to the bridge for the best photo opportunity with the CocoCay sign.
The island has five zones (click here to view a map):
- Water Park: Admission fee; no age limit, but height and weight limit
- Oasis Pool: Free
- Chill Island: Free
- South Beach: Free
- Coco Beach Club: Admission fee to enter (starting at $99 a person); Includes access to a premium beach, clubhouse, infinity pool, and complimentary dining at an exclusive restaurant with an elevated menu.
Walk Times and Transportation
There is a free tram that can take you around the island (may be a wait depending on how busy the island is that day). To walk from the ship to Arrivals Plaza takes about 6 minutes. From Arrivals Plaza to:
- Thrill Waterpark: 3 minutes
- Harbor Beach: 5 minutes
- Chill Island: 5-10 minutes
- Oasis Lagoon: 8 minutes
- Coco Beach Club: 10 minutes
- South Beach: 14 minutes
Pools
- Wave Pool
- Adventure Pool
- Coco Beach Club
- Oasis Lagoon (Largest pool on island and also has a swim-up bar as well as in-water loungers. Go early for chairs. It's also less crowded later in the day as people head back to the ship.)
Beaches
- South Beach: Beach chairs and umbrellas available. This is a good spot for 18+ and there are sports courts, food, and a bar nearby.
- Chill Island: Beach chairs and umbrellas available. This area has sports courts nearby and is good for all ages
- Harbor Beach: Beach chairs and umbrellas available. This is the least crowded beach and good for kids because the area is close to the boat.
Note: More chairs are typically open on the beaches versus the pool areas; beaches are also less crowded than pools.
Thrills for kids
- Splashaway Bay: We brought the kids here and they loved it!
- Captain Jill’s Galleon
- Zip Line: Admission fee
- Water Slide: Admission fee ($89-$169 per person), but you can use your armband to get in and out all day. It's also the tallest waterslide in North America.
Food
- Skipper’s Grill
- Snack Shack
- Chill Grill
- Captain Jack’s
Monday, Day 4
We were back in Fort Lauderdale by 6am and had plenty of time to get off of the ship and to the airport for our 10:40am flight. There are two options when getting off the ship:
- Carry your own luggage off and de-board at any time you want; or
- Have the Royal Caribbean staff carry your luggage off at a designated de-board time. This is a good option for those with a ton of luggage.
Overall, we would highly recommend a cruise to the beautiful Bahamas. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Checklist Travelers get our itinerary and price breakdown!
