Your Journey at a Glance
Your Ferry Options to Eleuthera
From most reliable to "cross your fingers and hope"
Nassau → Spanish Wells → North Eleuthera
Bahamas Ferries + Water Taxi
Regular Weekend Service
Departure: 8:00 AM from Potter's Cay
Arrival: Spanish Wells at 10:30 AM, Harbour Island at 11:00 AM
Return: 3:30 PM from Harbour Island (arrives Nassau 6:30 PM)
Mark's Tip: "This is THE way to go! Spanish Wells is gorgeous, and from there you can grab a quick water taxi to the Eleuthera mainland. My kids love exploring Spanish Wells while we wait for our taxi. Pro tip: grab conch salad at the dock!"
Nassau → Governor's Harbour (Direct)
Bahamas Ferries
Irregular Schedule (MUST CONFIRM)
Warning: This service is extremely unreliable. Schedule changes frequently without notice. Some weeks it doesn't run at all!
Reality Check: "We tried this route twice. First time: cancelled. Second time: 6-hour delay. Now we always use the Spanish Wells route or fly. Save yourself the headache!" - Mark
Insider Tips for Your Eleuthera Ferry Trip
From 50+ trips and plenty of "learning experiences"
Always Call First
Getting to Potter's Cay
Pack Smart
Spanish Wells Stop
Save Money
Best Seats
What to Expect on Your Journey
The blow-by-blow from a family that's done it dozens of times
The Spanish Wells Route Experience
7:15 AM: Arrive at Potter's Cay. It's bustling! Local vendors selling breakfast, taxi drivers offering rides, music playing. Kids love the energy!
7:30 AM: Check in at Bahamas Ferries window. Have your confirmation and ID ready. They'll give you boarding passes — don't lose them!
8:00 AM: Board the Bo Hengy III. It's a catamaran, very stable. Grab seats upstairs for the views or inside for AC. Ferry café opens once we depart.
8:30 AM: Cruising past Paradise Island. Great photo ops! Dolphins often race alongside — my kids count them every trip (record: 12!).
10:30 AM: Arrive Spanish Wells. Charming island! If continuing to mainland Eleuthera, water taxis are right at the dock ($5 per person, 10-minute ride).
Pro tip: Spanish Wells has the best conch salad in the Bahamas (fight me). The lady at the dock makes it fresh. Also, their beaches are PINK!
Jennifer's Nurse Note: "The Bo Hengy has life jackets for all ages, clean bathrooms, and a first aid station. I've never seen anyone seriously seasick on it — it's a smooth ride!"
When Ferries Don't Work Out
Because sometimes you just need a Plan B (or C)
Fly Instead
From Nassau: Bahamasair, Western Air, or Pineapple Air fly to North Eleuthera (ELH), Governor's Harbour (GHB), or Rock Sound (RSD). About $180 round trip, 20-minute flight.
Mark's take: "Sure, it's faster. But with baggage fees, taxi costs, and airport hassles, you're looking at $300+ per person. We save $1,000+ taking the ferry with our family of five!"
Mail Boat Adventure
Cheapest option: Mail boats run to Eleuthera for about $35, but it's a 5-6 hour overnight journey on a cargo ship. Definitely an adventure!
Schedule: M/V Current Pride or M/V Bahamas Daybreak - check dockmaster at Potter's Cay for current schedule.
Reality: "We did this once. ONCE. With three kids. Never again. But hey, it was memorable!" - Mark
Ready to Explore Eleuthera?
110 miles of pink sand beaches, pineapple fields, and island adventures await!
Check Ferry Availability