Day 21 - Friday - 4/4/25 - Nassau, Bahamas

 After a day at sea, we arrived at the downtown Nassau Bahamas port just before 8 AM. We were already in the morning devotional with Kevin Williams. The MSC Seaside was already moored and we took a berth next to them. Here in the Bahamas we had scheduled an another snorkeling trip and we gathered up our gear after breakfast and headed down to the pier where we found the local guides. What was very interesting was that they offered to cancel our snorkeling trip because it was windy and there was current and we asked if it was still possible to snorkel and they said of course it was. So we elected to go ahead with the trip and we were joined by another couple who signed up for the same event. There were many other events going on on Pearl Island besides our snorkeling trip so when everybody had checked in, we then followed our guide down to the waiting catamaran and were whisked out to Pearl Island. I believe there were three different types of groups going on excursions from this venue. Our group snorkeling location included hidden sculpture gardens and sunken airplane and sunken boat. Another group did a glass boat tour and third there was another beach day group which could also include snorkeling.

At the dock, a new guide led us to our snorkeling location, which was at the far end of the island. After donning our gear, we got into the water and I swam out well beyond where we're supposed to, but eventually came back and found the sunken airplane and boat. There was also a coral reef and there were lots of fish at all the locations.  After finishing the snorkeling, we ventured out to the end of the island where there's a iguana point and there's a 19 year-old iguana there which we were allowed to hold and pet and it was a nice experience. There's a tipping jar to  compensate the handler.

Squid

We then walked to the other end of the island where there's a lighthouse and a hall where we were served a nice picnic style lunch of chicken and rice and potato salad. We also took the opportunity to climb the lighthouse and take some pictures from up there. Too soon it was time to re-board our catamaran at around 1:45 to head back to the ship.

While on the little tender boat, I received a text message from our pastor indicating he needed to talk to me and I replied back that I probably couldn't for another 45 minutes till I got to land; however, I found a quiet spot on the outside deck of the boat and we had a nice video chat. I was able to show him pictures of what was all around me and we concluded our business before hanging up. The channel that we came in is lined with very expensive multimillion dollar homes owned by celebrities and we passed under a bridge named after the actor Sydney Portier.  Back of the port, the catamaran dropped us off at a more downtown location where we could stroll through the gated port area and visit the shops. We had a good conversation with a couple that was on the MSC ship and they were thrilled with how inexpensive it was to sail on the ship and found the food quite good.

It's worth noting that when we returned to the port, there were two additional ships on the adjoining pier: Celebrity Summit and Carnival Freedom. We were the first to depart and sound our horn on our our departure and we were out of the harbor and into the open sea.

Again, our custom to as have dinner in the main dining room at 5 o'clock and we were joined by Kathy and had a good dinner together before heading off to getting in line for the 8 PM show. I lined up second in line 90 minutes before show time.  It's important to do this as the theater fills quite rapidly, and we like to have a seat in a certain area of the raised section.  Fortunately, tonight, our purple color was the preferred color and we got first choice of the available seats still, we were a little farther back than where we normally try to sit.  We were seated next to a couple from Norway and I had a really good conversation with the husband before the show and afterwards we two couples continued discussing things until they they kicked us out of the theater. This is one reason we enjoy cruising so much as we can meet people of different countries and different Ideas and minds and thoughts.

 

After the two hour concert, we returned to our room and watched some Gaither video and unwound for the day. We have another active day scheduled tomorrow and we're not sure yet whether we will be able to get on the snorkeling boat at Half Moon Cay. We are currently on the waitlist for a snorkeling trip..