Getting To The Bahamas

Official Site of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

Easy access to The Bahamas is one reason for its long-standing popularity as a winter holiday destination. Only a few miles from the south Florida coast, in fact closer than Caribbean destinations, the islands can be reached quickly either by air or by sea.

Airlines | Cruise Lines | Fishing & Sailing Charters

Travelling Between Islands by: Mailboats
Travelling Within Islands by: Taxis | Horse & Carriage | Buses | Car Rental

Airlines

Plenty of large airlines service The Bahamas, as well as several charter airlines. Frequent flights are available to Nassau, Freeport, and the Out Islands. Although there are no direct flights from Europe to The Bahamas, a quick stopover in Miami is easy and perfectly viable.

Air Canada
Nassau International Airport
P.O. Box N-5
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: (242) 377-8411
Fax: (242) 377-7026

Air Jamaica
Nassau International Airport
P.O. Box N-951
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: (242) 377-7035
Fax: (242) 377-5239

American Airlines
Nassau International Airport
P.O. Box N-8314
Nassau, Bahamas

Freeport International Airport
P.O. Box F-2441
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Tel: (242) 352-5415
(800) 433-7300
Fax: (242) 3377-7889

AOM-French Airlines
P.O. Box N-1401
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: (242) 322-2606
Fax: (242) 326-5734
Contact: Hans Borghardt

Tel: 33-1-497-91000
Fax: 33-1-497-91012
Contact: Giles Meynard

Bahamasair
Nassau International Airport
P.O. Box N-4881
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: (242) 327-5505
(800) 222-4262
Fax: (242) 377-7408-9

Freeport International Airport
P.O. Box F-2696
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Tel: (242) 352-8341-6
(242) 352-3418
Fax: (242) 352-2180

Carnival Airlines
Nassau International Airport
P.O. Box N-8314
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: (242) 377-6449
(242) 377-6449
(800) 722-2248
(800) 8-AIRFUN
Fax: (242) 377-8328

Chalks Airlines (Bahamas)
Tel: (242) 363-1687
Fax: (242) 363-3649
750 SW 34 Street
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315-3566
Tel: (305) 359-0414
(800) 4-CHALKS
Fax: (305) 359-5240

Comair
Freeport International Airport
P.O. Box F-359
Tel: (242) 352-3070
Fax: (242) 354-9822

Condor-German Airlines
P.O. Box N-1401
Nassau. Bahamas
Tel: (242) 322-2606
Fax: (242 326-5734
Contact: Hans Borghardt

Tel: (312) 686-8441
Fax: (312) 686-8447
Chicago Contact: Charles Hughes

Tel: (305) 536-8905
Fax: (305) 530-2150
Miami Contact: Angelic Jecobs

Continental Airlines/Nassau-Paradise Island Express
400 Plaza Drive
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Tel: (201) 864-3500
(800) 722-4262
Fax: (201) 864-4832

Delta Airlines
Nassau International Airport
P.O. Box N-4828
Tel: (242) 377-7751
(242) 377-7774
(242) 322-3133
(800) 221-1212

Freeport International Airport
P.O. Box F-4828
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Tel: (242) 354-9822

Golf Stream International Airlines, Inc.
Nassau International Airport
Fax: (242) 356-7314
Fax: (242) 356-7594

USAir Express Formerly Paradise Island Airlines
P.O. Box N-4777
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: (242) 363-2845-6
(800) 425-7714
(242) 423-7714

US Air
Nassau International Airport
P.O. Box CB-10995
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: (242) 377-8886
(800) 428-4322
Fax: (242) 377-6496

Cruise Lines

A host of major cruise lines center their business on The Bahamas:

Carnival Cruise Lines
Fantasy
Ecstasy

3655 N.W. 87 Ave.
Miami, FL, 33178
Tel: (305) 599-2600
Fax: (305) 471-4700

Celebrity Cruises
Horizon
Meridian
Zenith

Penthouse Suite
5200 Blue Lagoon Drive
Miami, FL, 33126
Tel: (305) 262-6677
Fax: (305) 267-3505

Commodore Cruise Lines / Crown Cruise Lines
Crown Dynasty

800 Douglas Road
Suite 700
Coral Gables, FL, 33134
Tel: (305) 430-4524
Fax: (305)567-9482

Costa Cruise Lines
Costa Romantica
Costa Allegra
Costa Classica

80 S.W. 8th St.
Miami, FL, 33130
Tel: (305) 358-7325
Fax: (305) 375-0675

Dolphin Cruise Lines/Majesty Cruise Line
Royal Majesty
Dolphin
Seabreeze

901 South America Way
Miami, FL, 33132
Tel: (305) 358-5122
Fax: (305) 358-4807

Holland America Line
Westerdam
Wyndam
Statendam
Naasdam
Veendam

300 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA. 98119
Tel: (206) 281-3535
Fax: (206) 281-7110

Norwegian Cruise Line
The Norway
The Leeward

95 Merrick Way
Coral Gables, FL, 33134
Tel: (305) 447-9660
Fax: (800) 327-7030

Premier Cruise Lines
Oceanic
Atlantic
400 Challenger Boulevard
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Tel: (407) 783-5061, x 432
(800) 327-7113
Fax: (407) 784-9421

Princess Cruises
Star Princess - Princess Cays
Crown Princess - Princess Cays
Sky Princess - Princess Cays
Sun Princess - Princess Cays

10100 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Tel: (310) 553-6330
Fax: (310) 284-2833

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Nordic Empress
Sovereign of the Seas

1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, FL, 33131
Tel: (305) 539-6000
Fax: (305) 327-7030

Fishing/Sailing Charters

Chartering your own boat is another option--and if you don't know how to sail, charter a crew as well so you can pay more attention to enjoying the ride.

The Abacos

Abaco Bahamas Charter, Ltd.
242 626-5690

Bluff House Club & Marina
242 355-4247

Green Turtle Club & Marina
242 365-4271

Island Marine Boat Charters
Hope Town
242 366-0282
Fax: 242-366-0281
17 ft. Boston Whalers - 22 ft. Aquasports

Pinder's Cottages

The Exumas

Exuma Fantasea
242 336-3483

The Moorings
800 334-2435

Sampson Cay Colony
242 355-2034

Grand Bahama Island

Ocean Reef Yacht Club
242 373-4662

New Providence/Paradise Island

Born Free
242 363-2003

Brown's Charters
242 393-3331/3680

Chubasco Charters
242 322-8148

King Fisher
242 363-2335

Reef Tours Ltd.
242 363-5880

Travelling Between Islands

Air Transportation

Since there are so many islands in such close proximity in The Bahamas, many visitors choose to visit more than one. BahamasAir operates scheduled flights to all major Out Islands. In addition, charter companies operate scheduled flights, and private airplanes are also available for hire.

Out Island Mailboats

Inter-island mailboats run weekly to/from all islands. The mailboats are a leisurely way to get around--one-way passage to just about anywhere is to be had for around $35. Remember, these mailboats run on Bahamas time; they're a great way to slow down to the steady rhythm of the islands. Following is the Mailboat schedule :

Abilin--Long Island: Clarence Town.

Bahamas Day Break II--Eleuthera: Rock Sound, Davis Harbour, South Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, Harbour Island, The Bluff.

Bahamawave--Charters to any island.

Bimini Mack --Cat Cay & Bimini

Capt. Moxey --South Andros: Kemp's Bay, Bluff, Long Bay Cays, Driggs Hill.

Champion II--Abaco: Sandy Point, Moore's Island, Bullock's Harbour.

Current Pride--Eleuthera: Current Island, Upper & Lower Bouge.

Deborah K II--Abaco: Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay, Green Turtle Cay.

Eleuthera Express--Eleuthera: Governor's Harbour

Emmitt & Cephas-- Ragged Island only.

Grand Master--Exuma: George Town.

Harley & Charley--Eluethera: Governor's Harbour, Hatchet Bay.

Lady D--Central Andros: Fresh Creek, Stafford Creek, Blanket Sound, Staniard Creek, Behring Point.

Lady Francis--San Salvador: United States, Rum Cay, Cockburn Town; Exuma Cays: Staniel Cay, Black Point, Farmer's Cay, Barraterre.

Lady Gloria--Andros: Mangrove Cay, Cargill Creek, Bowen Sound.

Lady Mathilda--Mayaguana/Acklins: Abraham's Bay; Inagua/Crooked Island: Matthew Town.

Lisa J II--North Andros: Nicholls Town, Mastic Point, Morgans Bluff.

Mangrove Cay Express--Andros: Mangrove Cay, Lisbon Creek.

Marcella III--Grand Bahama: Freeport, High Rock, Eight Mile Rock, West End.

Mia Dean--North Long Island: Salt Pond, Deadman's Cay, Seymour's.

North Cat Island Special--North & South: Authur's Town, Bennet's Harbour, Bluff, Bight.

Sea Hauler--South Cat Island: Smith Bay, Bight, Old Bight.

Spanish Rose--Spanish Wells only.

Check with the Dockmaster's office in Nassau for schedules, Tel: (242)393-1064.

Travelling Within the Islands

Taxis
Metered with rates fixed by law. Available by telephone/hail in street/ Taxi stands Surcharges over 2 people - $2.00 per person. Luggage over 2 bags per person: $0.50 per bag. No evening surcharge. Suggested Tip - 15% of fare.

Horse-Drawn Surreys
This may be the transportation of choice for love-struck couples in no great hurry. The fresh Bahamas air and brilliant days and nights make riding en plein air under a blanket of stars particularly attractive. In Nassau, surreys may be hired in Rawson Square. Approximately US $5 for 30 minutes. Rates are negotiable. Horses are rested during the peak of the day's heat (1-3 pm May to October).

Buses
All destinations one way $0.75 adults/$0.50 children (bus drivers do not give change). Buses (jitneys) run throughout the day until about 8 pm. Some hotels have free service to city center. Most of the major Islands have bus service

On Grand Bahama, there is bus transportation between Lucaya/International Bazaar/Downtown/Eight Mile Rock Hawksbill - $0.75 within Freeport area, $1.00 outside.

Car Rental
You can also do it yourself with readily-available and reasonably-rated car rentals. If you're from the US, it may take a little getting used to, as Bahamians drive on the left side of the road. But the benefits are obvious: you can travel at your own pace, stop when you want, and someone can always stretch out on the backseat. Here is a listing of companies:

AVIS

Nassau International Airport
242 377-7121
International Reservations: 800 228-0668
Freeport International Airport
242 352-7666

Budget
Nassau International Airport
242 377-9000
International Reservations: 800 872-2760

Courtesy Car Rentals
P.O. Box F-2568, Freeport Grand Bahama
242 352-5212

Dollar Rent A Car

P.O. Box N-3948, Nassau
242 377-8300/2, 377-7231, 377-8168
P.O. Box F-2631, Freeport, Grand Bahama
242 352-3714

Hertz Rent A Car

P.O. Box N-1603, Nassau
242 377-6866, 242 377-6321, 800 654-3131, 242 377-7936
P.O. Box F-3379, Freeport, Grand Bahama
242 352-3297, 242 352-9250, 242 373-144 Ext 553

The Islands of The Bahamas