Traffic is absolutely horrible in South Florida. When I say horrible, I mean HORRIBLE. What we used to refer to as "Rush Hour Traffic" is now non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week...it just goes on and on and on...and on.
Regardless of what time of day you leave your home to go just about anywhere, traffic is piled up for miles. If you even think about leaving Miami to go to Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach to meet a friend or enjoy a change of scenery, you quickly change your mind because you know that it will take you hours - and a lot of frustration and headache - just to get there!
Of course, then there is also the drive home once you are done with whatever you headed north for! Thankfully, South Florida now has this amazing new alternative to driving between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach: The Brightline Train!
Brightline to Bahamas Paradise Celebration in West Palm Beach
While the Brightline train will be expanding to Orlando in 2021, they currently offer routes between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, which each segment being about 30 minutes long. Say goodbye to rush hour traffic and accidents on the expressways!
Brightline offers several trip options, including Smart, SmartPlus and Select, with prices ranging from about $17 to $50 roundtrip, depending on the day, time and length of journey.
Smart includes: A comfortable business class option, ideal for commuters, families and groups of friends.
SmartPlus includes: All the benefits of SMART, plus one complimentary snack and beverage to sweeten the ride. Alcoholic beverages limited to one beer or wine.
Plus includes:
A first class experience with all-inclusive amenities to take care of your every need included with your fare, at an extra $30+ value.
My friends and I enjoyed the SmartPlus experience, which had a very comfortable, spacious cabin and a delightful attendant! It was very similar to a flight attendant on a plane.
We took the Brightline train to West Palm Beach and boarded the Bahamas Paradise for a quick, 2 day trip to the Bahamas. It was the perfect little girl's getaway!
Photo courtesy of Bahamas Paradise.
Our suite was just gorgeous, it was honestly much more than I anticipated!
We had a living room and sitting area, a very spacious bathroom, and a beautiful bedroom.
You can take a peek at this video I took as we checked in for the full experience!
The Grand Bahamas Celebration is short and sweet, sailing each day of the week from West Palm Beach to Freeport in Grand Bahama Island.
Are you looking for other travel tips for the Caribbean?
Amenities on the Bahamas Paradise Celebration
Par-A-Dice Casino
The Bahamas Paradise Casino has everything from slots and roulette to blackjack and craps and even Texas Hold Em’.
Dining Options
The Bahamas Paradise Celebration offers complimentary and specialty dining (for an additional fee).
Complimentary dining options include Stellar Prime, The Yellow Elder, and the Ocean View Buffet, as well as the Plunge Grill, Ocean Breeze Bar and 24 Hour Room Service.
Specialty dining options include Admiral's Steak & Seafood, the Bull Gourmet Burgers and Lattetude Coffee Bar, as well as Grand Cafe, the Rock Grill, and the Crows Nest Sports Bar.
Las Vegas Style Entertainment
Want all of the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas without the flight and expensive hotels? You'll find plenty of fun with karaoke, live jazz music, magicians, and singers and dancers!
Book an Excursion
While you can spend an incredible day on the Bahamas Paradise Celebration while it is in port in Freeport, why not venture off the ship and sink your toes into the sand?
That is what we did, and it was gorgeous!
The perfect way to end the day is by watching the sunset as you sail away....
I love the environment just as much as the next person, and I am happy to announced that Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, the only provider of daily, two-night cruises from the Port of Palm Beach to Grand Bahama Island, has announced it will no longer use plastic straws and stirrers on board its fleet – Grand Classica and Grand Celebration – and instead offer paper straws upon request.
Woo hoo! To be honest, I am kind of addicted to straws and Angeline and I have reusable plastic straws that we use at home. When I am on a cruise or at a resort that doesn't use straws, I usually remember to bring my own...it's kinda weird to drink a pina colada without a straw!
Rolled out in February 2019, this plan will translate to the removal of at least 2 million straws and stirrers annually.
As part of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s larger environmental initiative, the elimination of single-use plastics is one of several ecological efforts the Palm Beach-based cruise line offers – including providing guests with eco-adventure opportunities at Loggerhead Marinelife Center and Manatee Lagoon.
“By going straw-free, we are able to eliminate a substantial amount of plastic waste from entering the ocean,” shares Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line CEO Oneil Khosa. “Our commitment is to not only provide guests with a great experience but also offer sustainably responsible practices that reduce the footprint of our cruise ships.”
In addition to moving away from single-use plastics, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has partnered with two of Palm Beach’s leading wildlife centers to offer guests fun ecological adventures with an educational twist.
Guests can choose from two Eco-Discovery Tours – Pre-Sail or Post-Sail – which both offer tours of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center and Manatee Lagoon. Isn't that amazing?!
The Manatee Lagoon, a Florida Power and Light (FPL) Eco-Discovery Center, showcases South Florida’s manatees and their fragile ecosystem. The center is dedicated to educating the public about these gentle giants and inspiring the community to preserve and protect Florida’s environment and wildlife for future generations.
The second stop in each package is the family-friendly Loggerhead Marinelife Center, which specializes in the rehabilitation of sea turtles. The center features an outdoor turtle hospital and exhibit hall, which cruise guests can explore with a special behind-the-gate tour. Guests will also be able to meet some of the hospital’s charming turtles as they learn about the center’s impactful conservation efforts.
In addition to the two wildlife centers, the Post-Sail tour also includes lunch at the waterfront Marina Village, kayaking or paddleboarding around Peanut Island and the opportunity to snorkel in the Lake Worth Lagoon. Both the Pre-Sail and Post-Sail packages offer the perfect beginning or ending to a memorable Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line cruise experience.
For more information on Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and its Eco-Discovery Tours or to book a cruise, please visit: https://www.bahamasparadisecruise.com/shore-excursions.php or call 800.995.3201. Two-night cruises start at $139 per person, based on double occupancy for an interior cabin.
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