Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tration) or a Bahamian AOC (Air Operator Certificate) certificate. Major charter compan-
ies flying in this region include the following:
Air Flight Charter
(
954-359-0320;
www.airflightcharters.com
;
hub Fort Lauderdale
Jet Center)
Cherokee Air
(
242-367-3450;
www.cherokeeair.com
;
hub Marsh Harbour, Abaco)
Island Air Charters
(
954-359-9942;
www.islandaircharters.com
; hub Fort Lauder-
dale)
Twin Air Airways
(
954-359-8266;
www.flytwinair.com
; hub Fort Lauderdale Jet
Center)
Yellow Air Taxi
(
888-935-5694;
www.flyyellowairtaxi.com
;
hub Fort Lauderdale Jet
Center)
TICKETS
As an alternative to booking directly with airlines, there's a plethora of web-based com-
panies selling flights to the Bahamas. The Connections to Nassau table includes average
high-season prices for one-way tickets on popular routes. Many flights have layovers in
Nassau, Miami or other cities.
Sea
CRUISE SHIP
Two and a half times more visitors arrive in the Bahamas by sea - usually by cruise ship -
than by air. Those are impressive stats, even for the cruise-happy Caribbean. Nassau is the
number one port of call, followed by Grand Bahama. While none of the Out Islands have
their own cruise-ship ports, several cruise lines have bought isolated cays to use as private
islands solely for their own passengers.
Cruise experiences vary vastly according to the cruise company and individual ship you
choose. One person's sugar may be another's poison. For example, some passengers may
wish to avoid the cruise liners now trotting out old rock bands such as REO Speedwagon or
Foreigner for 'rock-nights,' while other travelers may whip out their snakeskin boots and
shoulder pads, fix their combovers, and just get on down.
Caveat emptor!
Cruise Line International Association
(
www.cruising.org
)
is a handy resource. Most
cruises that visit the Bahamas depart from Florida and, less frequently, from New York.
Immigration and customs formalities are handled by the cruise companies upon arrival
in port.
