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Sometimes you need to get away, but you might not have the time or money for a full week’s vacation. Luckily, several cruise lines offer travelers a variety of quick getaways.
Often these three- to five-night trips stop at the Bahamas, just 180 miles east of Miami. If you’ve avoided these types of cruises in the past, it might be time to reconsider — the islands are especially inviting from winter (when you really want to get away) and well into spring.
Here are our 8 reasons you should consider a short Bahamas cruise.
The best thing about a short cruise is that you can maximize your vacation days. Many three-day cruises sail on Friday to Monday itineraries. Depending on where you live, this might mean you can get away with taking only a half-day off of work on the front and/or back end of the cruise. If you have the flexibility to work from home, you could even escape without using any of your accrued paid time off. Not bad.
Many of the low fares that you see advertised are for these short cruises. Depending on the timing of your cruise, you can often score a trip for less than $75 a person per day. Or, you can get a loyalty rewards credit card like we did. Once you accrue enough points, your cruise will be totally free (minus taxes and fees). We have scored two such long weekend cruises that only cost us about $80 a person for the entire length of the trip!
Unlike other cruises, you can often find a deal on a short Bahamas cruise pretty last minute. Given the competition and the fact that these cruises occur quite often, the odds are in your favor that you will be able to squeeze onto a ship doing a three- or four-day loop if you get some unexpected days to yourself. Your room choices might be limited, but who stays in the cabin anyway? You are here for the sunshine, the sea and the carefree days to unwind.
If you're concerned you'll be bored on a cruise ship, these short cruises offer you a chance to test out cruising with few hassles. Many of the three- and four-day getaways include two or three port days. The Bahamas has been receiving tourists for years, so you will find a variety of different things to do and see at these popular ports of call. For us, we are happy staying on board the ship.
Looking for a couple of days away with the girls? Or planning a bachelor party? Well, you should consider jumping on a cruise ship with your group of family or friends for a quick getaway. You won’t have to worry about cooking or coordinating activities as everything is available right on the ship. These short cruises are great for many types of celebrations, so don’t be surprised if you see several groups onboard wearing matching T-shirts. (See Cruiseable's Group Cruises section for more ideas.)
Many times these short Bahamas cruises include a stop at the cruise line’s own private island. This means that on one of those port days, you will get to enjoy a relaxing beach day all to yourself. Food and drinks are available at these private islands, so you won’t have to worry about spending much extra money. This is especially true if you opt for the cruise line beverage package, which works on most private islands. If lounging around the beach isn’t exactly your thing, there will be plenty of opportunities for tours, kayaking, snorkeling and other activities.
Short cruises tend to have a different vibe than your typical seven-day voyages. These quick jaunts to the Bahamas and back are usually made up of a more outgoing — dare I say rowdy? — crowd. Still, everyone is there to relax and have a good time, so you should do the same. The dress code is more laid back as well, so you won’t see cruisers dressed up for “formal night.” A casual, laid-back couple of days might be just the escape you need from your stuffy office.
Would you rather stay on land and engage in the same old boring routines? We would take a day on a cruise over a day on land any time of year. If you have the vacation time and come across a great deal, go ahead and book that quick jaunt to the Bahamas now. With the great service that we have come to expect on a cruise, you will get the pampering you need before heading back to reality. It’s a good thing that we don’t live too close to a major cruise port or else we'd be hopping on these short cruises all the time. Find out what it is about these quick Bahamas getaways that have so many cruisers coming back for return trips. Book yours now!
What do you think? Have you been on a quick Bahamas getaway? What was the best part or worst part?
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