Forget about fighting for that last package of hamburger rolls the night before your Memorial Day barbecue. (Admit it. It almost came to fisticuffs over a bag of chips last year.)
This May, convince your friends and/or family to head to the Bahamas instead. There are a variety of three-, four-, and seven-night itineraries that are still available—and they’re priced to sell.
Memorial Day is a fantastic time to cruise the Bahamas. The weather is perfect for sunbathing without being overbearingly hot and the seas are calm. And, with that day off from work, you won’t have to take much—if any—vacation time.
Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival, and Disney Cruise Line are experts in this region and each has its own private island that you’ll visit in addition to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas on New Providence island.
You can spend your day in Nassau or nearby Paradise Island (the two are connected by bridges). Typical activities include beach bathing, boating, fishing, snorkeling, diving, shopping, or gambling at one of the local hotel casinos. Atlantis is the best known resort complex on Paradise Island and is a popular destination for cruise ship day-trippers.
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Embarkation ports for Memorial Day weekend cruises include New York City, Baltimore, Miami, and Port Canaveral. Here are a few of the itineraries to consider…
Duration: Seven nights
Embarkation Port: New York City roundtrip
Embarkation Date: May 25, 2013
Itinerary: Three sea days, plus calls on Port Canaveral, Florida as well as Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau in the Bahamas
Fares start at: $719 per person
Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas
Duration: Seven nights
Embarkation Port: Baltimore roundtrip
Embarkation Date: May 24, 2013
Itinerary: Three sea days, plus calls on Port Canaveral, Florida as well as CocoCay and Nassau in the Bahamas
Fares start at: $664 per person
Duration: Four nights
Embarkation Port: Port Canaveral roundtrip
Embarkation Date: May 26, 2013
Itinerary: One sea day, plus Nassau and Castaway Cay in the Bahamas
Fares start at: $1,028 per person
Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas
Duration: Three nights
Embarkation Port: Port Canaveral roundtrip
Embarkation Date: May 24, 2013
Itinerary: CocoCay and Nassau in the Bahamas
Fares start at: $449 per person
Duration: Three nights
Embarkation Port: Miami roundtrip
Embarkation Date: May 24, 2013
Itinerary: Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau in the Bahamas
Fares start at: $369 per person
Duration: Three nights
Embarkation Port: Miami roundtrip
Embarkation Date: May 24, 2013
Itinerary: Two days in Nassau, Bahamas
Fares start at: $309 per person
Andrea M. Rotondo is a freelance writer based in New York City. She covers cruise news and luxury travel trends for Fodors.com and writes for a variety of outlets, including her website Luxury Travel Mavens. Follow her on Twitter: @luxtravelmavens.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line