Freeport and Lucaya are often referred to as if they were one city. Together they make up the development on Grand Bahama Island, but they actually started off as two separate places.
Freeport is the landlocked business center of the island, where you'll find offices, banks, shops and hotels. Lucaya is the waterfront development a few miles/kilometers to the east, where the newer hotels, shops and restaurants line a strip of land between the sea and a salt pond.
Those who arrive by ship will be met by the modern cruise-passenger terminal, the Lucayan Harbour Cruise Facility, and its landscaped retail village. Old Bahama Bay on West End, the island's original tourist site and still its capital city, is now home to a marina and resort. One main resort, some smaller hotels, a casino and a bustling shopping center and marina keep Port Lucaya the island's most vital resort area.
Yachters seek out the beautiful ports and outstanding marinas of Freeport and Lucaya. The cities also attract couples, as the scenery is perfect for weddings in a tropical paradise.
Freeport underwent a massive reconfiguration and development project in the early 2000s, but in 2004 and 2005 sustained such major hurricane damage that its signature resort-casino shut down and the International Bazaar now has only a few places of business open at its fringes.
Another blow by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 inflicted more severe damage on Grand Bahama Island. Recovery efforts are ongoing.
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.