Free Wi-Fi Hotspots in the Bahamas
By Alara Shannon, Marketing | January 01, 2013 ( Comments)
One of the more appealing aspects of a cruise vacation is that you, both mentally and physically, disconnect from the mainland.
Although people always say they want to leave their email, texts, and Facebook updates at home so they can enjoy their vacation – if left to their own devices they would still log on. We just can’t help it, can we?
Even though modern cruise ships now offer the convenience of Wi-Fi or Internet Cafes onboard, they are not free. Packages are available for purchase, or you can pay-by-the-minute. But, the latter can get somewhat expensive as the connection is slower than what we are used to on land (hey, you are in the middle of the ocean after all!).
Due to the hurdles of speed and connectivity guests decide to give in, unplug and unwind.
But, there are of course times when have a communication channel is extremely important; parents needing to check in on children, checking work email – hopefully not – but if you must then you must, or if you just have to check your Fantasy Football league – hopefully not – but if you must then you must.
The least expensive way to get up to speed with the real world is to take advantage of Wi-Fi hotspots.
If you are taking a cruise to the Bahamas, you fortunately have quite a few to choose from.
Keep in Mind:
Wi-Fi is great for keeping up with everyone at home, or uploading pictures, but it is still an unsecured connection. Protect yourself by not conducting any personal business, like accessing bank information, over an unsecured connection especially while traveling internationally.
While we have gathered the latest information on hotspots, they can always change, so the crew of your ship will be the best resource for finding free or inexpensive Wi-Fi hotspots; this is how they keep in touch with their families, too!
Nassau, Bahamas
- Festival Place Welcome Center, at the Prince George Wharf. When you exit your cruise ship, you will walk through this Welcome Center to enter downtown Nassau. Within the center, also a shopping plaza, you can access their free Wi-Fi. This is one of the most popular spots due to its convenience, so the connection is not the fastest.
- McDonald’s offers free Wi-Fi in their downtown Nassau store. Take a right out of the cruise terminal, walking towards Senor Frogs. Take a left and you will see McDonald’s, across from the Hilton, with free high-speed Wi-Fi.
- Dunkin Donuts offers free and fast Wi-Fi at their downtown store with purchase, also located across from the British Colonial Hilton, and their store on Paradise Island.
- Conch Fritters Bar & Grill is a popular restaurant with free Wi-Fi on Marlborough St and Blue Hill Road. Scoop up some delicious local seafood with your internet, and you have to try the conch fritters of course.
- Cable Beach Casino offers free Wi-Fi in their lobby for beach bums that would like to head to Cable Beach.
- Twin Brothers Grill not only features a delicious daiquiri, but Wi-Fi as well, in their very Bahamian-vibe restaurant. Located in Arawak Cay of West Bay Street in Nassau.
- Starbucks has 7 stores (yes, 7!) on Nassau and Paradise Island. While their Wi-Fi isn’t free (they charge about $3/hour) it is air-conditioned with comfy seats and your favorite familiar coffee drink!
If you decided not to lug around your laptop or mobile device, or just would rather leave it locked in your cabin, there are a few Internet Cafes in Nassau.
- Festival Place Welcome Center not only offers free Wi-Fi but there are 4 internet terminals for $5/hour on the computers.
- Tikal Internet Cafe, on Bay Street in the heart of downtown Nassau. It’s one of the largest internet cafes in Nassau; they’ve also got Wi-Fi. They charge $0.20 per minute. Open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Phone: (242) 322-1050.
- Net Deli Internet Cafe, located at East and Bay Streets next to QBC. It’s one of the largest internet cafes in Nassau, and a mere 3 minute walk from the Cruise Terminal. Open daily 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Phone (242) 676-6986. 10 cents per minute $4 per hour
Freeport, Bahamas
There are quite a few hotspots for free Wi-Fi in Freeport. Those within the Port Lucaya Marketplace are probably most convenient for cruise ship passengers.
- Le Med Restaurant
- Rooster’s Sports Bar
- Yummy Yum Ice Cream Parlor & Snack Food, East Sunrise Hwy
- Butler’s Food World
- Ruby Swiss Restaurant, West Sunrise and Atlantic Drive
- Cafe Breezes, Port Lucaya Marketplace
- Sparky’s Bar, Port Lucaya Marketplace
- Burger King, East Mall Drive
- Zorba’s Restaurant
- Areas throughout Port Lucaya Marketplace
- Sunrise Resort and Marina
- Grand Bahama Yacht Club
- Coconuts Bar & Grill, Island Seas Resort
- Bonefish Foley’s Restaurant, Old Bahama Bay
- Coral Beach Bar, Coral Beach Hotel
- Straw Bar, Old Bahama Bay
- Flamingo Restaurant, Best Western Castaways Hotel
- Red Beard’s Bar and Restaurant
Cruise Line Private Islands
On a Bahamas cruise itinerary, many cruise lines offer their guests a chance to visit their own personal private island destination. These slivers of oasis are either owned or leased by major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay and Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay.
Setup to provide the guests with the perfect beach day, these ports of call offer fun in the sun, crystal clear waters, sugar-white beaches, great water sports, tropical drinks, beach-side service, and plenty of hammocks nestled among palm trees. While offering many conveniences of an actual city like restrooms and restaurants, no cruise line private island is able to offer a Wi-Fi connection. If you need to log-on, it will need to be on the ship.
