The Bahamas is located in the Atlantic Ocean, east of Florida in the United States, north of Cuba and the Caribbean, and west of the British dependency of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Andros Island is the largest of the Bahamas, with an area of 2,300 square miles. Known as "The Bonefishing Capital of the World," it is flat and marked by numerous inlets and inland lakes teeming with fish. The landscape includes extensive virgin pine, palm and mahogany forests, scrub and mangrove swamps.
The Bimini Islands are just 50 miles east of Florida. They are a tiny group of islands, consisting of North and South Bimini, Cat Cay and Gun Cay. The waters of this little chunk of the Bahamas spawn some of the largest game fish in the world.
The island of Grand Bahama is home to the second largest city in the country, Freeport.
The island of Abaco is to its east. This group of islands curves over 130 miles of emerald sea. Immigrants from Great Britain and Loyalists fleeing the United States after the American Revolution settled here in the 17th and 18th centuries and liked it so much they never left. These origins are reflected in the New England-style architecture and traditional activities of quiet villages.
The most southeastern island is Inagua. Other notable islands include Eleuthera, Cat Island, San Salvador, Acklins, Crooked Island, Exuma and Mayaguana. Nassau is the capital and largest city, located on New Providence. The islands have a subtropical climate, moderated by the Gulf Stream.
Originally called "Guanahani," Christopher Columbus made the tiny, 63-sq.-mile area of San Salvador, the most historically important island of the Bahamas. It still remains undiscovered, cloaked in its past, prominently visible amongst the tumbling Loyalists plantation ruins and relics and artifacts from it native Indian past.
Stretching out for 130 square miles, the Exuma islands offer remarkable cruising and are known by yachtsmen as the "Sailing Capital of The Bahamas." There are 365 cays with pure sand beaches, isolated anchorages and landlocked harbors. Some islands are merely a pile of sand in the sea; others are high-cliffed and heavily forested.
Acklins and Crooked Island are part of a group of four islands covering 100 miles. Fortune Island flanks Crooked and Castle Island as well as Aklins Island. Acklins at 120 square miles and is rocky and steep and has a population of 428. Crooked Island's 92 square miles is mainly comprised of tidal flats and deep creeks.
Take a cruise to the Bahamas with Norwegian Cruise Line. It is known for its flexibility, from its open dining schedule to its relaxed dis-embarking schedule. Enjoy a relaxed family vacation or a honeymoon break on one of its 12 ships. The Bahamas cruise sailing roundtrip from New York City. Cruise includes Port Canaveral, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.
In Nassau visit Coral World Marine Park and Underwater Observatory, a place unlike anything you've ever seen. Then you can swim with playful dolphins. There's also the world famous straw market and international duty-free shopping too. Get a really good tan, feel the sand between your toes, hear the rhythmic beat of a steel drum, drink a pina'colada and you'll know why a Bahamas cruise vacation is right for you!