Long Island, Bahamas cruise port
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Long Island, Bahamas

Eighty miles long and barely four miles wide, Long Island is the Bahamas at its most raw — dramatic Atlantic cliffs on one side, impossibly calm turquoise flats on the other, crowned by one of the world's deepest known saltwater blue holes.

⚓ Tender port🕒 Typical call: 6–8 hrs💵 USD / Bahamian Dollar (1:1)🗣️ English🤿 Free-diving mecca
Docking
Tender to Clarence Town dock — no cruise pier currently
Walk to center
5 min from tender dock to Clarence Town village
Best For
Snorkeling Dean's Blue Hole, pristine beaches, authentic Bahamian culture
Don't Miss
Dean's Blue Hole and Father Jerome's twin hilltop churches

Getting Ashore

Cruise ships anchor offshore and tender passengers to the dock in Clarence Town — give yourself time for the return tender queue.

Getting Ashore

  • 1
    Tender to Clarence TownShips anchor in the bay and operate tender service to the public dock in Clarence Town. Collect a tender ticket early; last tender times are strictly enforced.
  • 2
    Arrange transport at the dockTaxis and pre-arranged rental cars meet ships. Most attractions require a vehicle — Dean's Blue Hole is 20 min south, Cape Santa Maria beach is 1+ hour north. Book car rental in advance.
  • 3
    Drive the Queen's HighwayOne road runs the length of the island. Drive on the left. Navigation is simple — there are no traffic lights on the entire island.

💡 Pro move: Calypso Cove, a planned mega-pier resort near Gordon's in the south, is under development but not yet open as of 2026.

Piers & Tendering by Cruise Line

Long Island has no permanent cruise pier — all ships tender ashore to Clarence Town's public dock.

Cruise LineTypical Berth / ArrivalDock or Tender
Luxury & expedition lines (SeaDream, Windstar, Ponant, Seabourn)Clarence Town public dock📍Tendered
All other cruise shipsClarence Town public dock📍Tendered

Top Excursions

Long Island rewards explorers — rent a car and discover world-class free-diving, historic churches, and beaches that routinely top global best-of lists.

Nature

Dean's Blue Hole

One of the deepest known saltwater blue holes on Earth plunges 663 feet (202 m) — long held the depth record and still a freediving mecca. Swim, snorkel, or watch elite free-divers train. The surrounding cove of white sand and clear shallow water makes it stunning even for non-divers.

⏱ 2–3 hrs🚗 20 min south of Clarence Town💲 Free entry📷 Unmissable
Find Dean's Blue Hole tours →
History

Father Jerome's Twin Churches

Eccentric Anglican-turned-Catholic architect Father Jerome built two Mediterranean-style churches on rival hilltops in Clarence Town. Climb the tower of Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church for panoramic views over the harbour.

⏱ 45–60 mins🚶 10–15 min uphill from tender dock💲 Free (donations welcome)🏛️ Unique architecture
Find Clarence Town walking tours →
Relax

Cape Santa Maria Beach

Consistently ranked among the world's top 10 beaches, this mile-long arc of powdery white sand on the north end of the island features calm, gin-clear turquoise water perfect for swimming. Remote and rarely crowded.

⏱ Half-day🚗 ~1 hr 15 min north of Clarence Town💲 Free🏖️ World-class
Find Cape Santa Maria excursions →
Adventure

Hamilton's Cave Guided Tour

One of the largest cave systems in the Bahamas, inhabited by Lucayan Indians around 500 AD. Stalactites, stalagmites, and resident bats fill the chambers. Must be visited with a local guide from the Cartwright family.

⏱ 1–2 hrs🚗 Central island, Salt Pond area💲 ~$15–$20 pp🦇 Fascinating history
Find Hamilton's Cave tours →
Adventure

Bonefishing Charter

Long Island's shallow western flats are world-renowned for bonefish. Half-day guided charters with knowledgeable local guides offer some of the best light-tackle fishing in the Bahamas.

⏱ Half-day 4–5 hrs💲 $400–$700 per charter🎣 World-class bonefishing
Find Long Island fishing charters →
History

Columbus Monument, North Point

At the island's dramatic northern tip, a monument marks Christopher Columbus's 1492 landing. The point offers spectacular cliff-top views where the Atlantic crashes against the Caribbean side — one of Long Island's most scenic spots.

⏱ 30–45 mins🚗 ~1.5 hrs north of Clarence Town💲 Free📷 Dramatic views
Find northern Long Island tours →

Self-Guided Walks & Hikes

The tender dock drops you in Clarence Town village where the famous twin churches are an easy uphill walk — beyond that you need wheels.

Clarence Town Church Walk

1 mi / 30–45 min / Easy-Moderate (hilly)

From the tender dock, walk uphill into Clarence Town to visit Father Jerome's two hilltop churches. St. Paul's Anglican and Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church sit on opposing hills with great harbour views. A few local shops and eateries are nearby.

  1. StartClarence Town public dock, Long Island, Bahamas
  2. EndSaints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Clarence Town, Long Island, Bahamas
🗺️ See full route in Maps →

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Climate normals for Long Island, Bahamas (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.

MonthAvg HighAvg LowRainy DaysSunriseSunset
Jan77°F / 25°C74°F / 23°C106:43 AM5:35 PM
Feb77°F / 25°C74°F / 23°C76:32 AM5:56 PM
Mar77°F / 25°C74°F / 23°C67:08 AM7:09 PM
Apr78°F / 26°C76°F / 24°C76:39 AM7:20 PM
May80°F / 27°C77°F / 25°C146:18 AM7:33 PM
Jun82°F / 28°C80°F / 27°C106:14 AM7:46 PM
Jul83°F / 28°C81°F / 27°C116:23 AM7:48 PM
Aug84°F / 29°C81°F / 27°C116:36 AM7:31 PM
Sep84°F / 29°C81°F / 27°C156:46 AM7:02 PM
Oct83°F / 28°C80°F / 27°C186:57 AM6:33 PM
Nov81°F / 27°C78°F / 26°C146:13 AM5:15 PM
Dec79°F / 26°C76°F / 24°C116:33 AM5:16 PM

Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)

Insider Tips

  • 🚗
    Rent a car in advance. The island is 80 miles long — without a vehicle you'll only see Clarence Town. Book online before your cruise; local suppliers (Unique Wheels, Flying Fish Marina) are limited.
  • 💵
    Bring cash. The US Dollar and Bahamian Dollar are interchangeable (1:1). Many cave guides, beach bars, and taxi drivers don't accept credit cards.
  • Watch your time. Cape Santa Maria beach is 1h15 north of Clarence Town. If you go that far, leave serious buffer to make the last tender back.
  • 🌿
    Bring bug spray. Sandflies (no-see-ums) can be active on calm, windless days — especially near shaded beaches. DEET-based repellent works best.
  • 🙏
    Sunday closures. Long Island is deeply religious — shops, restaurants, and local businesses often close on Sundays. Check ship call day.

Cruises Calling Here

Upcoming cruises that call at Long Island, Bahamas. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.

Emerald Sakara
Emerald Cruises
San Juan → Miami
⚓ Calls 24 Nov 20267 nights7 portsDeparts 2026 Nov 21
View itinerary · 7 ports
7 days, one-way from San Juan to Miami
  1. 21 NovDeparting from San Juan, Puerto Rico
  2. 23 NovGrand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos
  3. 24 NovLong Island Bahamas, Clarence Town, Calypso Cove
  4. 25 NovSan Salvador Island Bahamas, Cockburn Town
  5. 26 NovExuma Islands, Bahamas, George Town
  6. 27 NovNassau, Bahamas, New Providence Island
  7. 28 NovArriving in Miami, Florida
Find this cruise to book →
Price on request
Emerald Sakara
Emerald Cruises
Miami → St Thomas Island USVI
⚓ Calls 04 Dec 202613 nights13 portsDeparts 2026 Nov 30
View itinerary · 13 ports
13 days, one-way from Miami to St Thomas Island USVI
  1. 30 NovDeparting from Miami, Florida
  2. 01 DecNassau, Bahamas, New Providence Island
  3. 02 DecExuma Islands, Bahamas, George Town
  4. 03 DecSan Salvador Island Bahamas, Cockburn Town
  5. 04 DecLong Island Bahamas, Clarence Town, Calypso Cove
  6. 05 DecGrand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos
  7. 07 DecSan Juan, Puerto Rico
  8. 08 DecSt John Island USVI, Cruz Bay, US Virgin Islands
  9. 09 DecCharlestown Nevis, Nevis Island
  10. 10 DecFalmouth Antigua
  11. 11 DecGustavia St Barths, Saint-Barthelemy Island France
  12. 12 DecAnguilla Island, UK, Sandy Ground
  13. 13 DecArriving in St Thomas Island USVI, Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands
Find this cruise to book →
$10890from / pp
SeaDream II
SeaDream Yacht Club Cruises
San Juan → West Palm Beach
⚓ Calls 17 Mar 20277 nights8 portsDeparts 2027 Mar 13
View itinerary · 8 ports
7 days, one-way from San Juan to West Palm Beach
  1. 13 MarDeparting from San Juan, Puerto Rico
  2. 14 MarSamana, Dominicana
  3. 15 MarGrand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos
  4. 16 Marsea cruising
  5. 17 MarLong Island Bahamas, Clarence Town, Calypso Cove
  6. 18 MarStaniel Cay Bahamas, Exumas Islands
  7. 19 MarFreeport, Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island
  8. 20 MarArriving in West Palm Beach, Florida
Find this cruise to book →
$7419from / pp
SeaDream II
SeaDream Yacht Club Cruises
Round-trip from West Palm Beach
⚓ Calls 23 Mar 20277 nights8 portsDeparts 2027 Mar 20
View itinerary · 8 ports
7 days, round-trip 7 Night Palm Beach to Palm Beach Cruise
  1. 20 MarDeparting from West Palm Beach, Florida
  2. 21 MarAndros Island Bahamas
  3. 22 MarExuma Islands, Bahamas, George Town
  4. 23 MarLong Island Bahamas, Clarence Town, Calypso Cove
  5. 24 MarSan Salvador Island Bahamas, Cockburn Town
  6. 25 MarStaniel Cay Bahamas, Exumas Islands
  7. 26 MarFreeport, Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island
  8. 27 MarArriving in West Palm Beach, Florida
Find this cruise to book →
$7419from / pp
SeaDream II
SeaDream Yacht Club Cruises
Round-trip from West Palm Beach
⚓ Calls 30 Mar 20277 nights8 portsDeparts 2027 Mar 27
View itinerary · 8 ports
7 days, round-trip 7 Night Palm Beach to Palm Beach Cruise
  1. 27 MarDeparting from West Palm Beach, Florida
  2. 28 MarAndros Island Bahamas
  3. 29 MarExuma Islands, Bahamas, George Town
  4. 30 MarLong Island Bahamas, Clarence Town, Calypso Cove
  5. 31 MarSan Salvador Island Bahamas, Cockburn Town
  6. 01 AprStaniel Cay Bahamas, Exumas Islands
  7. 02 AprFreeport, Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island
  8. 03 AprArriving in West Palm Beach, Florida
Find this cruise to book →
$6919from / pp
SeaDream II
SeaDream Yacht Club Cruises
Round-trip from West Palm Beach
⚓ Calls 06 Apr 20277 nights8 portsDeparts 2027 Apr 03
View itinerary · 8 ports
7 days, round-trip 7 Night Palm Beach to Palm Beach Cruise
  1. 03 AprDeparting from West Palm Beach, Florida
  2. 04 AprAndros Island Bahamas
  3. 05 AprExuma Islands, Bahamas, George Town
  4. 06 AprLong Island Bahamas, Clarence Town, Calypso Cove
  5. 07 AprSan Salvador Island Bahamas, Cockburn Town
  6. 08 AprStaniel Cay Bahamas, Exumas Islands
  7. 09 AprFreeport, Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island
  8. 10 AprArriving in West Palm Beach, Florida
Find this cruise to book →
$7419from / pp
Emerald Kaia
Emerald Cruises
San Juan → Miami
⚓ Calls 15 Feb 202814 nights13 portsDeparts 2028 Feb 05
View itinerary · 13 ports
14 days, one-way from San Juan to Miami
  1. 05 FebDeparting from San Juan, Puerto Rico
  2. 06 FebVieques Island, Puerto Rico
  3. 07 FebSt John Island USVI, Cruz Bay, US Virgin Islands
  4. 08 FebJost Van Dyke Island BVI, Belle Vue, UK Virgin Islands
  5. 09 FebVirgin Gorda Island BVI, Spanish Town, UK Virgin Islands
  6. 10 FebSan Juan, Puerto Rico
  7. 11 FebSt John Island USVI, Cruz Bay, US Virgin Islands
  8. 12 FebPonce, Puerto Rico, Caja de Muertos Island
  9. 14 FebGrand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos
  10. 15 FebLong Island Bahamas, Clarence Town, Calypso Cove
  11. 16 FebSan Salvador Island Bahamas, Cockburn Town
  12. 17 Feb - 18 FebNassau, Bahamas, New Providence Island
  13. 19 FebArriving in Miami, Florida
Find this cruise to book →
$14390from / pp
Emerald Kaia
Emerald Cruises
San Juan → Miami
⚓ Calls 15 Feb 20289 nights8 portsDeparts 2028 Feb 10
View itinerary · 8 ports
9 days, one-way from San Juan to Miami
  1. 10 FebDeparting from San Juan, Puerto Rico
  2. 11 FebSt John Island USVI, Cruz Bay, US Virgin Islands
  3. 12 FebPonce, Puerto Rico, Caja de Muertos Island
  4. 14 FebGrand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos
  5. 15 FebLong Island Bahamas, Clarence Town, Calypso Cove
  6. 16 FebSan Salvador Island Bahamas, Cockburn Town
  7. 17 Feb - 18 FebNassau, Bahamas, New Providence Island
  8. 19 FebArriving in Miami, Florida
Find this cruise to book →
$7972from / pp
SeaDream II
SeaDream Yacht Club Cruises
San Juan → West Palm Beach
⚓ Calls 29 Mar 20287 nights8 portsDeparts 2028 Mar 25
View itinerary · 8 ports
7 days, one-way from San Juan to West Palm Beach
  1. 25 MarDeparting from San Juan, Puerto Rico
  2. 26 MarSamana, Dominicana
  3. 27 MarGrand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos
  4. 28 Marsea cruising
  5. 29 MarLong Island Bahamas, Clarence Town, Calypso Cove
  6. 30 MarStaniel Cay Bahamas, Exumas Islands
  7. 31 MarFreeport, Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island
  8. 01 AprArriving in West Palm Beach, Florida
Find this cruise to book →
$5419from / pp
SeaDream II
SeaDream Yacht Club Cruises
Round-trip from West Palm Beach
⚓ Calls 04 Apr 20287 nights8 portsDeparts 2028 Apr 01
View itinerary · 8 ports
7 days, round-trip 7 Night Palm Beach to Palm Beach Cruise
  1. 01 AprDeparting from West Palm Beach, Florida
  2. 02 AprAndros Island Bahamas
  3. 03 AprExuma Islands, Bahamas, George Town
  4. 04 AprLong Island Bahamas, Clarence Town, Calypso Cove
  5. 05 AprSan Salvador Island Bahamas, Cockburn Town
  6. 06 AprStaniel Cay Bahamas, Exumas Islands
  7. 07 AprFreeport, Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island
  8. 08 AprArriving in West Palm Beach, Florida
Find this cruise to book →
$5419from / pp
SeaDream II
SeaDream Yacht Club Cruises
Round-trip from West Palm Beach
⚓ Calls 11 Apr 20287 nights8 portsDeparts 2028 Apr 08
View itinerary · 8 ports
7 days, round-trip 7 Night Palm Beach to Palm Beach Cruise
  1. 08 AprDeparting from West Palm Beach, Florida
  2. 09 AprAndros Island Bahamas
  3. 10 AprExuma Islands, Bahamas, George Town
  4. 11 AprLong Island Bahamas, Clarence Town, Calypso Cove
  5. 12 AprSan Salvador Island Bahamas, Cockburn Town
  6. 13 AprStaniel Cay Bahamas, Exumas Islands
  7. 14 AprFreeport, Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island
  8. 15 AprArriving in West Palm Beach, Florida
Find this cruise to book →
$5419from / pp
SeaDream II
SeaDream Yacht Club Cruises
Round-trip from West Palm Beach
⚓ Calls 18 Apr 20287 nights8 portsDeparts 2028 Apr 15
View itinerary · 8 ports
7 days, round-trip 7 Night Palm Beach to Palm Beach Cruise
  1. 15 AprDeparting from West Palm Beach, Florida
  2. 16 AprAndros Island Bahamas
  3. 17 AprExuma Islands, Bahamas, George Town
  4. 18 AprLong Island Bahamas, Clarence Town, Calypso Cove
  5. 19 AprSan Salvador Island Bahamas, Cockburn Town
  6. 20 AprStaniel Cay Bahamas, Exumas Islands
  7. 21 AprFreeport, Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island
  8. 22 AprArriving in West Palm Beach, Florida
Find this cruise to book →
$4919from / pp
See more cruises visiting Long Island →

Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.