Andros Island cruise port guide

Arrival & Getting Ashore

SeaDream's beach retreat describes a tender transfer to the lodge dock and a return by tender. Its Androsia excursion explicitly identifies the tender landing at Small Hope Bay Lodge and warns that passengers must manage steps there. Discuss boarding and mobility requirements with the ship before selecting an outing.

The arrival is managed through the ship's shore programme. Use the crew's briefing for your boat, meeting point and permission to explore independently. A landing at a private lodge does not by itself include use of its beach facilities: SeaDream sells that experience as a separate excursion. Pack for the time ashore before boarding the tender.

About this port

Andros offers a quieter Bahamas call built around a lodge beach, local crafts and trips onto the reef. SeaDream includes the island on its ocean-going yacht itineraries. Its current shore programme uses Small Hope Bay Lodge as a tender landing, so this guide is scoped to that arrival. An itinerary naming only Andros should not be read as a promise of a particular town-centre berth.

Choose one main outing rather than trying to tour the whole island. A beach retreat suits passengers wanting an easy base ashore; certified diving offers a more active day. Androsia's fabric-making provides a land-based alternative, subject to arranging the visit and transport.

Getting Around

The lodge-based beach programme lets participants move between the beach and its relaxation areas after an orientation. For an inland visit, organise both the outward transport and the return to the same landing. SeaDream's Androsia programme travels from Small Hope Bay Lodge to the factory; it is an excursion transfer, not a public town shuttle.

The Bahamas tourism board places the Androsia factory in Fresh Creek. Give that specific destination when discussing a separate visit. Keep the tender meeting point written down rather than asking a driver simply to return to “Andros port”.

Things to Do

Beach retreat at Small Hope Bay Lodge: SeaDream lists a four-hour visit with beach time, hammocks, kayaking and use of the hot tub. The advertised price is US$99, checked 2026-09-25 and subject to change. Chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and food and drinks cost extra. This is the simplest choice if the group wants a shared base and flexible time within the excursion.

A reef dive for qualified divers: The Scuba Diving Adventure is for divers with Open Water certification or higher. Equipment is supplied and the dive team chooses the site to suit conditions. The advertised underwater portion lasts approximately 30–45 minutes, within a longer excursion that also includes transfers and preparation. Take your certification details and read the operator's participation requirements before booking.

Androsia batik: The tourism board describes factory tours, lessons and a gift shop. Watching wax designs become dyed cloth makes a useful change from beach activities; arrange any workshop before travelling. SeaDream combines this with Captain Bill's Blue Hole, but the Bahamas National Trust lists Blue Holes National Park as temporarily closed, checked 2026-09-25. Treat the park portion as unavailable unless the park authority confirms reopening and the operator confirms the revised outing.

Getting back to your ship

Return to the lodge's designated tender meeting point at the time given by the shore team. Leave time to collect belongings and board the boat; reaching the beach is not the same as being back aboard. Keep any independent driver tied to that meeting time. Follow crew instructions if weather or sea conditions alter transfers, and use the ship's announced final tender time rather than an assumed island closing hour.

Practical Information

Bring sun protection, drinking water, swimwear and footwear suited to steps and natural surfaces. SeaDream's beach-retreat instructions specify US dollars or a credit card for lodge purchases; a water station is provided. Keep valuables in a splash-resistant bag for boat transfers.

Book the activity that matches your needs: the lodge's overnight accommodation packages and a cruise day excursion have different inclusions. The ship publishes final excursion departure times onboard, and activities can change.