1
The only one I am aware of is this day cruise (can go by boat and you don't have to return on same day if you don't want) from Ft Lauderdale to Grand Bahama.2
Yes, I think the small cruise ship to Freeport on Grand Bahama mentioned by #1 is your only option. Fare is around $100 round trip as I recall.The downside to this from what you are asking is that it is difficult to get to anyplace else in the Bahamas from from Freeport except to Nassau - so you might as well fly to Nassau in the First place as Nassau is the transportation hub for the Bahamas. Spirit airlines has frequent sell-off fares from Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau for under $50. There is a fast ferry from Nassau to Eleuthera, but Eleuthers is one of the most expensive destinations in the Bahamas
3
If you get into Nassau as #2 says, you have lots of options. Here's the ferry schedule page for Bahama Ferries. You can also ride the mail boats that leave out of Nassau, although I understand it is a very SLOW process and perhaps not as "romantic" as it sounds (by contrast, the Bahama Ferries are quite nice and efficient). Here are a couple of links where you can learn more. Link 1 Link 2There's a link to an article about ferry service from Ft. Lauderdale to Freeport being suspended, but I know that the day cruise that I menitoned above is still running, or at least it was when I was in Grand Bahama earlier this month.
5
Any updated info available for Ferries to Bahamas? I'm looking at the options for a trip early in 2012
