A. Water Fantaseas, Inc. is pleased to provide the following sample itineraries and excursions as a base to begin planning your own charter from. Please note that these are not “group trips” or cruises that you can purchase individual tickets for, rather they are ideas, suggestions and samples of what you can do and where you can go when you charter a private yacht from A. Water Fantaseas, Inc.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS  (7 days, 6 nights) ::

   
The island nation of The Bahamas presents us with a delightful opportunity to “go foreign” without having to go that far. North and South Bimini are less than 50 miles from Miami Beach, and crossing the Gulf Stream to Bimini provides an ocean passage that is just long enough to be a real open ocean voyage, well out of the sight of land, and yet at the same time, not so long as to be tiring. Because The Bahamas is a sovereign nation, with its own laws and regulations, there are some technicalities involved and we should perhaps discuss them first since they are an inevitable part of every trip:

Proof of Citizenship: No one will be permitted to land in The Bahamas or back in the U.S. without it. A passport is required of all but U.S. citizens, though this is still the best proof you can have. For U.S. Citizens without a passport, a proper birth certificate will do if you also have a photo ID such as a driver license. Proof of citizenship must be presented to your Captain and approved prior to departure.

U.S.Immigration: The U.S. government currently requires that ALL occupants of returning vessels appear in person at the nearest Immigration Office as soon as possible after again setting foot in the U.S. Depending on the day and time of return, this may require waiting until the next morning, which will add to the total length of time involved, since the entire party must remain together on the boat until this trip to Immigration has been completed.

We bring up these technicalities right at the start simply to avoid any disappointment or surprises later on. But the truth is that in the whole scope of things, none of them is but a minor detail, which will be totally insignificant when compared to the overall enjoyment of the experience. So let’s explore the possibilities.


If you have a week available, this trip offers many different island experiences all rolled into one. Nassau is the largest city and the busiest port in all The Bahamas. It is also the island nation’s capital, and home to many banks and other businesses. Because it is a major tourist destination, mainly for those who arrive both by air and cruise ship, you’ll find an extremely wide variety of things to see and do ashore, along with restaurants of all kinds from those featuring delicious native specialties, such as cracked conch, served in simple surroundings to elegant dining rooms boasting the finest in Continental Cuisine.

Because of the greater number of visitors arriving by ship or plane, Bahamian Customs and Immigration agents pay primary attention to the airport and cruise ship terminal; waiting for them to visit a private yacht in a marina can take hours – sometimes half again as long as the trip itself. So again, though it is entirely possible to cruise directly to Nassau from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, we highly recommend stopping first at Bimini. Besides, everyone visiting The Bahamas should spend at least one night in Alice Town. When we reach Nassau and enter the busy harbor, we have a choice of marinas – some on Nassau’s waterfront on New Providence Island, others across the harbor on Paradise Island. The newest of these is also a prime destination in its own right: the resort known as Atlantis, which has, in addition to the posh marina that’s geared to large luxury yachts, several fine restaurants, bars, and a major casino. It also has beaches, swimming pools and other attractions as well.

Please note that while we have a choice of marinas, the decision should be made well before our departure from Florida so as to secure reservations sufficiently in advance to guarantee a slip. There is enough to see and do in and around Nassau to make it your prime stop for the bulk of your trip. But if you prefer greater variety, it’s also possible to stop at Chub Cay on the way to or from Nassau. Located on one of the Berry Islands, this resort consists of beachfront rooms and villas and a clubhouse that doubles as a social center. There’s also a fine restaurant that serves both Bahamian and Continental Cuisine. This Out Islands location, once a private island, offers the spectacular, untouched natural beauty that’s unique to the Bahamas. It is quieter and far more private than Bimini, Nassau or Lucaya.

The trip back to the States can also be one hop (direct from Nassau to Miami) two hop (stopping overnight at Chub Cay) or three hop (also stopping again in Bimini). Whichever approach you prefer, and the choice is entirely yours, this Nassau Adventure gives you The Bahamas on several levels and styles. It can be a week you’ll remember forever.

Original Content: Boat Write