Let’s face it: there are not many 4- and 5-day cruises to the Bahamas or the Caribbean. In fact there is only one company offering this option: Carnival Cruises. The company launched their Bahamas/Caribbean programme on Monday 7th November with the departure of Carnival Ecstasy from Port Canaveral.

The cruise to Freeport, Nassau and the private island of Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas was the first of 78 such cruises the company will offer during the next year.

Cruise lovers have the choice of two different 4-day itineraries. The 5-day cruises also offer two different options.

The 4-day cruises, also fondly referred to as ‘long weekend’ cruises, leave on Thursdays and dock at Nassau and either Freeport or Half Moon Cay. The 5-day journeys set sail on Saturdays and Mondays and call at Freeport, Nassau and Key West or Half Moon Cay.

Cruise prices start at £205 ($329) for 4-day journeys and £218 ($349) per person for 5-day voyages. These are non-refundable early booking rates.

The new program is set to further cement Carnival Cruises’ position at the largest cruise line operating from Port Canaveral. The company currently has three ships using this port as their home base. They carry more than 600,000 passengers every year.

The president of Carnival Cruises, Gerry Cahill, had the following comment: “The growth of Port Canaveral as a cruise departure point is truly extraordinary and millions of consumers have discovered the benefits of sailing from this convenient and centrally located homeport.”