Are you looking for an Affordable Bahamas Cruise? Maybe searching for an alternative to flying to Freeport? Are you between 18 – 21 and planning a vacation with friends? Maybe you are a first-time cruiser looking to see if it’s for you? With eight restaurants, a full-service spa, live entertainment, adult-only pool areas, a casino and shopping plaza onboard, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Grand Classica is the perfect two-night getaway!
Affordable Bahamas Cruise
About Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line
bahamasparadisecruise.com
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is the only provider of two-night cruises and cruise & resort stays to Grand Bahama Island year-round from the Port of Palm Beach. Majority owned by the family of former Norwegian Cruise Line President and CEO Kevin Sheehan since December 2016, the company now operates Grand Celebration and Grand Classica as of April 2018. The addition of a second ship doubles the Line’s capacity and with both ships sailing to Grand Bahama Island, the company is projected to carry more than 500,000 passengers annually and be the largest contributor to tourism in Grand Bahama Island.
When we received the invitation to go on board one of the 2 ships offered by Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, I went online to give them a look. I was happy to see the great overall reviews, but I was a bit concerned after traveling on 3 cruises on larger newer ships already this year, I could be disappointed. For the dates we were able to travel we were booked on the Grand Classica. I could have saved any concerns for as soon as we walked onto the Grand Classica, we were
Built in 1991, the Grand Classica certainly does not have the bells and whistles of the newer much larger ships. However, the ship has character. Only holding about 1100 passengers gives the Grand Classica an opportunity to give passengers something special. From the interaction with the staff as well as the freshness of the food, I can honestly say that we were so impressed with both of these aspects of cruising with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line.
Being September, it’s slow season, so we had just over 200 vacationers with us on board. If you are one to not like big crowds, this is something to keep in mind when considering when to travel. It was a treat to feel like we had the whole ship to ourselves. We truly had an incredible experience and here are a few of the reason why.
Crew
Everyone that we came into contact with that works for Bahamas Paradise Cruise Lines was eager to greet us and make sure we were having a great time. Cyril, the Guest Services Manager and the concierge Kundalini, took a lot of time to make sure that our experience was perfect. We were booked into a spacious ocean view room, however, we were upgraded to one of 10 balcony suites and let me tell you, that was a treat.
Cabins
The Grand Classica offers 4 different room types and all of the options offer more space than most new cruise ships. Here’s a
INTERIOR STATEROOMS
Lounge out in style with a stay in an Interior Stateroom. These cozy rooms are situated on decks 4, 5, 6, and 7, offering a variety of sleeping accommodations at an incredible value. Enjoy all the amenities you need, including a desk, table and chair, large-screen TV, and shower bathroom. These staterooms allow up to four guests.
OCEANVIEW STATEROOMS
Make your stay as scenic as can be with a stay in an Oceanview Stateroom. These rooms located on decks 4, 5, 6, and 7 are ultra-comfy and spacious, featuring upscale furniture, a large-screen TV, and a large picture window or porthole. These staterooms allow up to four guests.
JUNIOR SUITES
Enjoy total relaxation with a beautiful Junior Suite. Located on deck 5, there are only two of them on the whole ship. The Junior Suites feature a queen-sized bed, living room with a pull-out sofa, a host of amenities, and a large window with scenic views of the turquoise sea. These suites allow up to two guests.
SUITES with Balconies
A stay in a Grand Classica Suite is the best way to cruise to paradise. With only 10 Suites total on deck 10, these special rooms provide the perfect private getaway. Enjoy a host of premium amenities to enhance your stay, including a queen-sized bed, bathroom with shower and large jetted tub, a sitting area with a pull-out sofa bed, large closet, and a scenic balcony. These suites allow up to four guests.
Food
Let’s face it, food is a huge part of the cruising experience. Specialty dining is offered on both of the ships and we took advantage of this for dinner and one
Admirals Steak and Sea Food
One of the things we learned on the Grand Classica is that the food is fresh, not frozen. The meals are made when ordered, and you can tell. At the Admirals Steak and Sea Food we hand and elevated breakfast experience, at tried the New England eggs benedict and the delicious brioche French toast. An array of bubbly drinks were offered from the champagne menu as well as bloody marys.
For dinner, I LOVED the Baked Goat Cheese Soufflé and the Lobster Bisque was to die for, seriously. The steaks were cooked to perfection and were really great too, but those apps, they are a must try.
The Rock Grill
This is an interactive experience restaurant on the Grand Classica. Here you get to create a memorable experience by cooking your steak, chicken and/or seafood on a volcanic rock that is over 700 degrees right at the dining table. There are tons of side options as well as dipping sauces. I had the tenderloin and scallops for dinner, which were so delicious. The watermelon salad as a starter was also a treat. So refreshing and really good.
Ocean View Buffet
This would be what you would consider the typical cruise buffet. The food was fresh, some cooked to order. The staff was attentive to clearing the table and catering to guest needs and again, the food was fantastic. The fruit especially was sweet.
Grand Bahama Island Port
This was the first time I had visited Freeport, and it was nice to see a different kind of Bahamas. Freeport is very different than Nassau. We enjoyed checking out the Port Lucaya Marketplace, where we felt safe and shopping wasn’t stressful with ever vendor fighting for your attention. We also checked out the Garden of the Groves while on the island, and it was nice to spend some time in the lush gardens and learn about how it came about. I think our favorite part of Grand Bahama Island was the UNEXSO Dolphin Encounter we experienced, I mean, dolphins! What could be better than that while in the Bahamas? There’s a whole other post coming on all of these experiences, but make sure to see what excursions the ship offers. They have something for everyone.
UNEXSO Dolphin Experience
Port Lucaya Marketplace 
The Garden of the Groves
Sail and Stay
There are options to take the ship to Freeport and stay on the island and then take the cruise back. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Lines has partnered with hotels on the island to get special package deals. This is a great alternative to flying
Needless to say, we really enjoyed our time with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Grand Classica and visiting Freeport. The fact this port is close to Orlando and you can plan a last minute trip makes it accessible to the drive market as well as anyone traveling in Florida that wants to do something affordable and fun for a few days. I know we will be going again and again and look forward to
Follow Bahamas Paradise Cruise on Facebook, Twitter
Thank you to Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line for hosting us on this fun little getaway. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
Read more
- You Have to Remember – 9/11, 20 Years Later - September 11, 2021
- Creating the Perfect Look with a Maxi Dress - October 20, 2020
- Brand Better Giveaway - October 6, 2020
Leave a Reply