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Plan A Quick Vacation Getaway To The Bahamas And Key West
Make your short getaway to key west and the bahamas a vacation sensation.
By Eben Diskin | Published on March 6, 2023
The perfect island vacation means as little hassle as possible, and as much peace and relaxation as you can handle. That's what makes the Caribbean — particularly cruises to the Caribbean — so ideal for travelers looking to leave behind the daily grind.
Cruising on a Key West getaway is the best place to start. Here, you'll find a laid-back vacation destination that feels oceans away from home. Closer to Havana than Miami, Key West, Florida, certainly moves on island time, with a stunning natural landscape, an abundance of exciting bars and restaurants, colorful buildings and the historic Old Town. From scuba diving and snorkeling to exploring the coral reefs of Dry Tortugas National Park, a Key West vacation has everything you could want in a tropical getaway.
Extend your short sojourn to Key West with a stop in the Bahamas for the ultimate cruise vacation. Just off the coast of Florida, the Bahamas has something for everyone. Nearly 700 coral islands make up the Bahamas — and only 30 of those are inhabited. The capital Nassau sits on New Providence Island, which remained under British rule — along with the rest of the Bahamas — until 1973. Though the islands gained their independence decades ago, traces of British culture remain, like driving on the left side of the road.
It's so exciting to dive into the distinct culture here, consisting of Goombay music and local cuisine like johnnycakes, rock lobsters, pigeon peas and rice, and guava duff. Add the rambunctious pigs on Great Exuma Island and snorkeling among the reefs, and you've got more than enough fodder for an epic Bahamas vacation.
Where To Start Your Key West And Bahamas Getaway Vacation
Royal Caribbean cruises to the Bahamas year-round. The first step to planning your vacation is to choose your port. Picking the right port is important not just for convenience, but because the port is a destination in itself. The port is your home base, and you'll want to take full advantage of it either before you board or after you depart. Vacation cruises to Key West and the Bahamas depart from Miami, Tampa and Orlando in Florida, and Galveston, Texas.
Key West Vacation: Rich History And Florida's Floral Beauty
Bahamas Vacation: Explore The Caribbean Wildlife And Island Adventures
You can't visit the Bahamas for vacation without seeing the famous swimming pigs of the Exuma Island chain. Big Major Cay is the island most famous for its pig population, with around 20 pigs and piglets living here completely carefree. The pigs aren't island natives, and no one is quite sure how they first arrived here, but they've nonetheless made the island home. " Pig Beach " is uninhabited by humans and only accessible by boat, via a guided tour. Once there, you'll be able to swim alongside not only pigs, but also nurse sharks, and you can even have a sandbar picnic.
If sharks are more enticing to you than pigs, go scuba diving at Runway Wall. Located right off the coast of Nassau, divers can explore shipwrecks, underwater walls and reefs, all while swimming alongside reef sharks. Some tour companies even offer a shark-feeding experience, where divers can get up close and personal with the animals. Also in Nassau, check out the James Bond Wrecks, so named for its role in several Bond films. Bond fans will instantly recognize the impressive coral formations from the big screen. For a more mild, shark-free experience, go snorkeling at Elbow Cay or Fowl Cays National Park in the Abacos, islands known for their clear, lagoon-like water.
Blue Lagoon Island might be the most holistic Bahamas adventure experience. This private island is just three miles from Nassau, so it's easily reachable when you only have one day in port. Blue Lagoon has everything from Caribbean wildlife encounters to Segway tours and curated beach days. Spend a tranquil day sitting by the lagoon enjoying a buffet lunch, dive into the lagoon with California sea lions and stingrays, or take an eco-adventure tour through the island's unique flora and marine geology.
Written By EBEN DISKIN
Eben Diskin is a travel writer, amateur pizza connoisseur, avid Indoorsman, and the Senior Staff Writer at Matador Network. While traveling, he pretends to enjoy activities like hiking, camping, fine dining, and museums, when all he really wants to do is drink Jack and Cokes at the hotel bar. He has a degree in History from Wheaton College and a definitely-not-useless Master's in Fiction Writing from the University of Edinburgh.
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