Abacos © Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

There are various Eastern Caribbean cruises that feature the Bahamas as a port of call, bringing passengers from all over the world to revel in the natural splendour, beautiful beaches and near-perfect weather of this island paradise. Once there, passengers will find Grand Bahama is an idyllic island of white sandy beaches and beautiful waters.

In town there are plenty of boutiques and bazaars to explore, and a variety of restaurants to dine at. Local attractions include a number of casinos, Lucayan National Park, acclaimed dive sites and the island's natural flora and fauna. Kayaking in the mangrove creeks is also popular.

Cruise ships dock at Lucayan Harbour, a ten minute drive from Freeport, on Grand Bahama Island. Lucayan Harbour has 106 berths, accommodating boats of up to 170ft (51.8m). The Lucayan Harbour Cruise Facility is a modernized cruise-passenger terminal featuring a Tourist Information centre and retail village.

Contact

Lucayan Harbour Cruise Facility

Tel: +1 (242) 350 8000

www.gbpa.com

Transport

Lucayan Harbour is a 10 minute drive from Freeport. Taxis are available from the pier and are metered but often charge a flat fee. There are also vans to ferry passengers into town. Rental cars and scooters are available to hire.

Attractions

Freeport and Lucaya attractions include the Pirates of the Bahama Theme Park, on Taino Beach, and the Bahamian Tings art gallery in Freeport, exhibiting sculptures, paintings and other 'tings' produced by local artists. Port Lucayan's UNESCO Dolphin Experience, where guests can view and swim with the dolphins, is another great feature of the island. And then, of course, there are the beaches - Lucayan, Taino and Gold Rock beaches are the most popular, while diving at Paradise Cove to see Deadman's Reef is a must.

Restaurants

Red Beard's Pub - restaurant and bar with island food and cocktails

Island Java - homey coffeeshop with gret pancakes and fresh gelato

Pisces Seafood House and Pizzeria - fresh seafood and pizzas with creative cocktails

Best Dish

Conch fritters

Shopping

Grand Bahama Island has many shopping options for visitors to enjoy. Freeport's International Bazaar boasts over 100 shops, with themed subdivisions representing different parts of the world. Port Lucayan Marketplace and Marina is another major shopping area where tourists will find any number of bargains, from local produce to designer labels.

Best Buy

Self mixed, bottled and named perfume (The Perfume Factory at International Bazaar)

Excursions

See Eleuthera Island's Glass Window Bridge

Take in the mysterious stone blocks off Bimini Islands, thought to be part of the 'lost city' of Atlantis

Long Island boasts the world's deepest 'blue hole', a fascinating dive site

Snorkelling on Paradise Island