Our thanks to fellow cruising guide author, Skipper Bob, for allowing us to reproduce his note below, which originally appeared on the Great Loop list. Bob has some excellent words of wisdom for those planning to meet up with other cruising guests flying in from the USA.

I do not recommend that cruisers try to meet visitors in Nassau. Particularly during the holidays. The Bahamas has four distinct areas that you can fly into. They include the Abacos, Nassau, Freeport and the Exumas. During late December and early January cold fronts with high winds frequently visit the Bahamas. Travel by boat between these areas is very difficult at that time. Thus, if you plan to meet someone in Nassau or Freeport around Christmas you may (1) first have a problem getting there at the appropriate time to meet them and (2) once there (depending on how long your guests are staying) you may not be able to go away from the Nassau or Freeport area to visit the "real" Bahamas.
Don't get me wrong, Nassau and Freeport are an interesting cities, but they have become so "touristy" that they no longer resemble the real Bahamas. They are more like Miami on steroids. There are gambling casinos and lots of tourist shops, but the truly friendly people of the Bahamas in their quaint little villages are nowhere to be found. Usually one or two days is "enough" for most visitors. Thus, people who are visiting the Bahamas to join up with cruisers should really fly into either Marsh Harbour in the Abacos or Georgetown in the Exumas.
I always recommend that cruisers meet guests in Marsh Harbour, Abacos. Flights connect from Fort Lauderdale. From Marsh Harbour you are within less than a days cruise in most any weather from a dozen great cays (islands). Little Harbour, Hopetown, Man-O-War, Guana Cay, and Green Turtle Cay, just to mention a few. From my experience, there is far more to see and do in the Marsh Harbour area for short term visitors than you will experience in Georgetown. Further, my guests would never have enjoyed either Nassau or Freeport as they did Marsh Harbour.
Bob
Skipper Bob Publications
http://SkipperBob.home.att.net

Our thanks to fellow cruising guide author, Skipper Bob, for allowing us to reproduce his note below, which originally appeared on the Great Loop list. Bob has some excellent words of wisdom for those planning to meet up with other cruising guests flying in from the USA.

I do not recommend that cruisers try to meet visitors in Nassau. Particularly during the holidays. The Bahamas has four distinct areas that you can fly into. They include the Abacos, Nassau, Freeport and the Exumas. During late December and early January cold fronts with high winds frequently visit the Bahamas. Travel by boat between these areas is very difficult at that time. Thus, if you plan to meet someone in Nassau or Freeport around Christmas you may (1) first have a problem getting there at the appropriate time to meet them and (2) once there (depending on how long your guests are staying) you may not be able to go away from the Nassau or Freeport area to visit the "real" Bahamas.
Don't get me wrong, Nassau and Freeport are an interesting cities, but they have become so "touristy" that they no longer resemble the real Bahamas. They are more like Miami on steroids. There are gambling casinos and lots of tourist shops, but the truly friendly people of the Bahamas in their quaint little villages are nowhere to be found. Usually one or two days is "enough" for most visitors. Thus, people who are visiting the Bahamas to join up with cruisers should really fly into either Marsh Harbour in the Abacos or Georgetown in the Exumas.
I always recommend that cruisers meet guests in Marsh Harbour, Abacos. Flights connect from Fort Lauderdale. From Marsh Harbour you are within less than a days cruise in most any weather from a dozen great cays (islands). Little Harbour, Hopetown, Man-O-War, Guana Cay, and Green Turtle Cay, just to mention a few. From my experience, there is far more to see and do in the Marsh Harbour area for short term visitors than you will experience in Georgetown. Further, my guests would never have enjoyed either Nassau or Freeport as they did Marsh Harbour.
Bob
Skipper Bob Publications
http://SkipperBob.home.att.net