Is Freeport really that bad?

[papa60]

We will be taking our 8 year old granddaughter on a cruise net year. One of the stops is Freeport. I was looking at some old reviews, and it seems everyone thinks it is a horror port! Is it safe to take her off the ship? If it is, what should we do?

[penny3333]

Papa55, Freeport used to be one of my favorite islands in the Bahamas. I haven't been there in years, and everything that I have read has not sounded very positive. It sounds like it would be a good beach day, near one of the resorts.

[MACLEODC]

It is one of my least favorite ports & it will be our last stop for our 7 day Glory cruise. Last time we were there my husband didn't even get off the ship. It was hit by a hurricane serveral years ago & they are still trying to rebuild. We took an island tour on our fist cruise there in 2005 & I felt like I was riding around in the gehtto. In 2006 we did a beach break excursion thru Carnival & it was pretty good. Nice beach & we actually saw our neighbors there. (we didn't even know they were on the same ship as us, can you imgine running into your neighbor in the Bahamas...too funny) I have always said that a cruise is as fun as you yourself make it. We usually just stay on the boat in Freeport & have the pool area mostly to ourselves, plus you can get some great deals in the spa on port days. Have fun.

[Jim C.]

Its not that it is dangerous or anything, so to answer your question, sure you can take her off the ship. BUT, I think of Freeport as the very definition of "Tourist Trap". The ship pulls up, everyone gets off and you are forced to take a $15 cab ride (That's in 1990 dollars BTW) across the island where they drop you off in the shopping village. Which is all there was to do when we went. We found a beach by the village and relaxed. But we felt like we were being taken from the moment the ship pulled in.

If you want something to do, take the beach break tour. Its your best bet.

[Dave]

That is how I look at Freeport - it isn't that it is unsafe but that it is a cliché tourist trap.

[Cruise Fanatic]

Check out this site, then you can judge for yourself.

[papa60]

Thank you for the site. The pictures it shows paints a beautiful picture. The people who have been there think otherwise. I will have to play it as it comes.

[penny3333]

Since it's been a long time since I've been there, I can't say for sure, but there used to be some beautiful beaches there. We stayed at the King's Inn in Lucaya, the beach was gorgeous there. Good luck!