2014 Bahamas Telecoms & Internet Acces

With the 2014 cruising season fast approaching, I would like to hear from fellow cruisers about what are the best options for telephone & internet access while cruising on the bahamas. Jay Sea Dee cruised there in 2009 and came through there again in 2012. Back in 2009 we had an unlocked cell phone and bought a Batelco pay as you go sim card for telephone service but we did not have any 2G or 4G products. We relied heavily on our sailmail SSB systems for emails.

We also now have a Bullet2HP wifi system for getting on local hotspots. Is there a network of hotspots in the Bahamas under one plan?

I assume much has changed and more service is available.....what should we plan for? do we need to get another unlocked phone before we go? We use T mobile here at home in Colorado, is there roaming service available in the Bahamas

So what are your thoughts on trying to unlock an existing Android GSM phone (HTC-One-S) vs buying a new or used phone that is already unlocked.

Hi Hayden, we are making our first trip to Bahamas (IP32), Do you recommend any sites or
Bahamas Cruising Guides, since you have been there before. We plan on going early Dec
from Sarasota, to Miami, to Bimini? Where would you suggest we go from there? Thanks!

The Bahamas offer a wide range of cruising opportunities. There are more places than there are days to visit during one winter cruising season. For example: you can hang around places like Georgetown, Marsh Harbor, or near Nassau and get the traditional cruising experience and interact with other cruisers or you can venture off grid to gunkhole in areas like the Ragged islands and be on your own.

I believe the key element to a successful Bahamas cruise is to have the boat well prepared and fully maintained. Simple things like a broken water pump become far far more difficult to resolve in the Bahamas than here in the states. Buy any spares you think you might need before you go and don't ignore even the smallest problems. There are very few places to haul out in the Bahamas. A small problem can grow into an expensive fix in the Bahamas.

It is important to know where the safe harbors are located as during the wintertime, cold fronts come barreling off the USA and temporarily disturb the typical ENE flow. Every cruiser will flock to these harbors for a couple of days and then disperse until the next front. these harbors are where you get protection from the West quadrant winds.

Dont wait to long to cross over from Florida, back in 2009, the door closed for 3 weeks in January due to lingering weather.

This year we will stock the boat to an even greater level than we did the last time. In Spring 2012 a case of Bud cost over $50 in the Bahamas. There are no Sam's, Costco's, or Super-Walmarts there, do all that here before you go. I use to day dream about how nice it would be to have a Super tanker converted into a mini mall complete with a West Marine that would visit the primary anchorages every 2 weeks or so.

SarasotaChap,

We sailed in the Bahamas during the winter for 8 seasons - Dec - to - May. We plan to leave Miami again in Dec. We sail down from NC and then cross. My views are a little bit contrarian, but here they are none the less.

1. We have usually gone from Miami to Nassau in one hop, taken a marina in Nassau, and cleared in there, rested a day, and then continued down the Exuma chain. It is 30 hrs more or less to Nassau. Why this route? Because if you stop in Bimini and the weather turns you can be there for 7-10 days. If it isn't good enough to go beyond Bimini, we wait in Miami. Also, when you leave Bimini (in a small Island Packet) you still have an overnight to Nassau. If you go to Chub in the Berrys it is dark when you get to Chub unless you leave Bimini at a very dark 0430. Neither is a good idea for a first timer. A note of caution - - The Gulf Stream going over is not an issue. Crossing is a day sail. If it is bad when you get out there - COME BACK. If someone tells you that they had a terrible crossing all the way, ask them why they continued???? A slightly shorter trip would be Miami to Bullock Harbor, you could clear in there, it is 24 hrs and quite protected inside, can't anchor inside, dock only. From there a long day sail to Nassau.

2. Planning to anchor on the banks, as part of your basic plan, is a fools errand. Talk with someone who has experienced 15-18 knts at anchor on the banks. Green water over the house. If you are out there and if it is flat calm, okay, absolutely beautiful. Get way off the explorer track, like behind Mackey Shoal. There are inter-island freighters out there. But my advice is to keep going.

3. Given the above, the weather you want to watch is for 24hrs after you leaving Miami, What will it be like in the Tongue of the Ocean? As I indicated before if the Gulf Stream isn't what you expected - - turn around.

4. Do you own weather planning, period! (I believe a SSB receiver is a must - to listen to Chris Parker and Basar.) NOAA is fantastic going up and down the coast and crossing. My experience is that the people who bad mouth NOAA, and there are many, didn't listen closely or heard what they wanted to hear. With all that said, boats congregate at demarcation points to cross, .... if you are the only boat leaving you should be asking yourself why?

5. Finally, you want to be south of Nassau in the winter - the Abacos are okay if you are at a dock. Otherwise too cold and windy.

Internet Access - Miami and the US in general have great connectivity. If being connected is all that important you should review why you are going to a second world country. A Bahamian cell phone will give you good emergency and daily calls home. We bought ours from Radio Shack in Nassau, about $55. As of last year, a call to the Bahamian Cell phone from the US or Canada using an international calling card wasn't charged (i.e. no time used) against the Bahamian cell phone.

Finally, There ain't no Walmart or Cosco, yet, Thank God. So take a spare for everything you can afford or carry. Fresh Water Pump, Maserator, Fuel and Oil filters, Belts, some hoses, and hose splices. I will be happy to send you our spares list if you wish.

George
S/V Delicia IP40 (a small IP)