Shriners Fantasy Itinerary

6-Nights Bahamas + Key West Cruise From Charleston, SC 

Key West Overview 

Attractions

Enjoy the pleasures of a glass-bottom boat on a unique and informative eco-tour of the only living coral reef in the continental United States. It's home to over 300 species of fish, which complete the colorful and intriguing seascape. The boats are specially designed to provide maximum viewing with minimum stress to the delicate reef environment. 

Nassau Overview

Nassau, with its blend of influences from West Africa to England an d from Haiti to the United States, is one of the most popular (and often congested) cruise ports in the Caribbean and Bahamas.

The capital of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Nassau is located on the 21-mile-long-island of New Providence and is connected, via bridge, to Paradise Island, another famous Bahamian destination.

The city of Nassau itself features tropical, tree-lined streets, filled with horse-drawn surreys, ruled by policemen in white starched jackets and colorful pith helmets; soft-sanded beaches for kicking back and catching ocean breezes; lavish, Vegas-type casinos; and a decent range of duty-free shopping stops. But, as much as this vibrant town center is a cruise visitor's first impression, most head out on beach adventures at massive hotel and resort complexes like Atlantis or on boating adventures that range from dolphin encounters to booze cruises.

Freeport Overview
Freeport's greatest distinction is that it's on the Bahamas' nearest island to Miami. Located a mere 50 miles east, Grand Bahama Island is a regular on the short-cruise circuit from South Florida. But the isle, the fourth largest in the Bahamas' 700-strong chain, also owes its popularity to its beaches -- pretty, smooth white sand rings Grand Bahama Island -- and its water sports, from snorkeling to deep sea fishing.

In the 1950's, the island realized its great potential for tourism-related revenue when Wallace Groves, an American financier from Virginia, proposed building a town that both appealed to visitors and sufficiently supported industry. Since then, Freeport has boomed with hotels, restaurants, casinos and most recently eco-tourism attractions like Lucayan National Park. Its island atmosphere and miles of sunny beaches coupled with its close proximity to the United States, makes the Bahamas, and specifically Freeport, a top choice for Americans anxious to take a vacation.

Indeed, Lucaya and its marketplace have evolved into the tourist hub of the island, partly through design and partly because of the hurricane damage to other parts of Freeport. The International Bazaar offers a collection of shops and restaurants with themes inspired from places around the world, and though some tourist shops and a small Straw Market are still operating, that shopping area, once one of Freeport's biggest tourist attractions, has lost many of its stores to Port Lucaya Marketplace (not to be confused with Port Lucaya, where ships dock). Freeport's got everything from shops and beaches to restaurants and a casino -- not to mention two major golf courses, part of The Westin at Our Lucaya and adjacent Sheraton at Our Lucaya resorts.