M&EM — The Postcards from Paradise Cruise

Day 1

Albany Marina — New Providence Island

M&EM arrives to anchor off Albany Resort and Country Club on New Providence Island following an 18-hour overnight cruise from Miami. Albany represents Nassau's newest and most exclusive community, host to the PGA Hero Challenge Golf Tournament, and home to several PGA tour players including Tiger Woods, Justin Rose, and Ian Poulter.

Arrival & Customs

Vessel Cleared In

Immigration and customs arrival procedures processed over approximately one hour. Water sports, foil board, or kayaking available during clearance.

0900 arrival

Shore Activity

Golf at Albany Golf Club & Resort

Signature golf course at Albany Resort. Possible biking to see the western side of New Providence Island beforehand.

Late afternoon tee time

Dinner onboard M&EM. Early rest ahead of tomorrow's departure.

Day 2

Southbound to The Exumas

M&EM departs Albany for an eight-hour cruise south through the Tongue of the Ocean, then east across the Great Bahama Bank to Norman's Cay, in the heart of the Exuma Land and Sea Park. The Exuma Islands are a central district of the Bahamas consisting of 365 islands called "cays" -- secluded, wild, and wonderful.

Vessel Transit
Albany to Norman's Cay
Full day at sea. Fishing underway may be possible depending on conditions. Departure time is not flexible due to navigation constraints crossing the Great Bahama Bank.
Depart 0700~8 hours underway

Optional: Nine holes of golf or a 3-4 hour bike ride at sunrise before a late-morning departure, if desired.

Anchor off Norman's Cay for the evening. Water sports, foil boarding, or kayaking on arrival. Dinner and a movie beneath the stars.

Day 3

Norman's Cay

Greet the sun from the famous, and notorious, Norman's Cay -- the former operations headquarters of Carlos Lehder's drug smuggling operation (1978-1982), depicted in the film "Blow" starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz.

Sunrise Kayak
Norman's Cay Pond Lagoon
Accessible lagoon within the island border. Caves to explore along the western side of the lagoon. Option to snorkel a sunken DC-3 cargo plane on return -- it crashed in 1981 carrying Lehder's product and now sits in twelve feet of water with reef fish, sting rays, and sea turtles.
8 miles4-6 hours

Rest & Recovery

Breakfast & Spa Treatments Onboard

Relaxation onboard through early afternoon. Water sports available.

Afternoon Kayak
Norman's Cay to Shroud Cay via Wax Cay
Meander through reefs and sand banks along Wax Cay and Little Wax Cay. Cross to Shroud Cay's north end, stop at Camp Driftwood -- the FBI/ATF surveillance site from the early 80s. White sugar sand, turquoise gin-clear water, not another soul in sight. Paddle west through Northern Shroud's mangrove creeks; watch for sting rays, eagle rays, and hawksbill sea turtles.
6-7 miles4-5 hours

M&EM repositions to Shroud Cay during excursion. Dinner al fresco on the Owner's Deck Aft, movie on the Bridge Deck Aft.

Day 4

Shroud Cay

Sunrise Kayak
Shroud Cay South Mangrove Creek
Circumnavigate the southern half of Shroud Cay through the second tidewater creek system. Secluded beaches and beautiful rock outcrops throughout.
8 miles4-5 hours

Vessel Transit

Shroud Cay to Pipe Cay

M&EM underway at breakfast for six-hour cruise south to evening anchorage off Pipe Cay. Breakfast al fresco and spa treatments galore.

~6 hours underway

Foil board and water sports in the afternoon on arrival at Pipe Cay.

Day 5

Compass Cay & Pipe Creek

Sunrise Kayak
Pipe Creek to Compass Cay
Some of the prettiest water in the Exuma chain. Pass Little Halls Pond Island (Johnny Depp's vacation home) and White Bay Cay (Tyler Perry's 14,000 sq ft compound). Swim with nurse sharks and stingrays at Compass Cay Marina, then on to Rocky Dundas.
6-8 miles5-6 hours

Rest & Recovery

Breakfast & Spa Treatments

Return to M&EM for a well-deserved breakfast and massage.

Afternoon Kayak
Pipe Creek South to Twin Cays via Over Yonder Cay
Southern portion of Pipe Creek, continuing along Over Yonder Cay to the Twin Cays while M&EM repositions.
6 miles4-5 hours

Evening anchorage at Twin Cays. Dinner onboard.

Day 6

Sandy Cay

Morning Kayak
Twin Cays to Sampson Cay to Sandy Cay
Progress south through Sampson Cay Lagoon to Sandy Cay, where M&EM waits following reposition.
6 miles4-5 hours

Rest & Recovery

Breakfast & Spa Treatments

Breakfast onboard. Relaxation before the afternoon circuit.

Afternoon Kayak
Fowl Cay, Big Major's Cay & Thunderball Grotto
Circumnavigate Big Major's Cay to visit the famous Swimming Pigs (~20 pigs and piglets, sustained by three freshwater springs). Snorkel the Thunderball Grotto at low tide -- James Bond filming location (1965), caves, tropical reef fish, Queen Angel Fish. Return to Sandy Cay.
Full afternoon circuit

Evening

Sandy Cay Beach BBQ & Bonfire

M&EM crew have the fire going, the table set, and the grill hot on Sandy Cay's crescent half-moon beach. Stunning panoramic views. Beachside massage available.

Sunset & evening

Day 7

Staniel Cay

Sunrise Kayak (Boosted Start)
Staniel Cay Circumnavigation
Tender drops you adjacent to Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Circumnavigate Staniel Cay including interior lagoon beside the airstrip, finishing along the Harvey Cays. Tender collects you off the Harvey Cay reef line.
10-12 miles4-6 hours

Fishing Option: Early morning fishing charters available out of Staniel Cay as an alternative to the kayak tour. Coordinate with guides in advance.

Vessel Transit

Sandy Cay to Warderick Wells

M&EM underway mid-afternoon for 4-5 hour reposition north. Breakfast al fresco and spa treatments en route.

4-5 hours underway

Evening anchorage near the Malabar Cays off Warderick Wells.

Day 8

Warderick Wells Cay

The hub of the Exuma Land and Sea Park, and home to the park's ranger station. From rocky bluffs to sand dunes, mangrove creeks to salt flats, Warderick Wells is one of the most eco-diverse islands in the central chain.

Sunrise Kayak & Hike
Warderick Wells Circumnavigation
Two-mile paddle to the ranger station dock. See the 53-foot sperm whale skeleton on the beach (died after ingesting a plastic bag). Hike at low tide across sand flats to Boo Boo Hill -- the highest elevation in all the Exumas -- to see blow holes on the eastern shore. Circumnavigate counterclockwise, ending at The Aquarium, a beautiful islet-rimmed cove with white sand beaches.
7 miles4-6 hours+ 1 hr hike to Boo Boo Hill

Vessel Transit

Warderick Wells to Hawksbill Cay

M&EM underway 3 hours north to evening anchorage off Hawksbill Cay. Breakfast and spa treatments.

~3 hours underway

Day 9

Hawksbill Cay

Final Sunrise Kayak
Hawksbill Cay Circumnavigation
The final sunrise kayak of the Exuma marathon. Multitude of creeks and beautiful white sand beaches to explore. Pick your route carefully on north and south ends -- sand banks are long, flat, shallow and convoluted. Circumnavigate counterclockwise.
8-9 miles4-6 hours

Vessel Transit

Return to Albany, New Providence Island

M&EM underway back across the Great Bahama Bank and north into the Tongue of the Ocean. Breakfast, spa treatments, and well-deserved massage during the long run home.

~9-10 hours underwayArriving after sunset

Evening anchorage off Albany, New Providence Island.

Day 10

Albany Resort — Departure

Morning Options

Bootcamp, Golf, or Biking

Sunrise bootcamp and circuit training on the bridge deck aft with M&EM crew, nine holes at Albany Golf Club, or morning bike around southern New Providence. Optional sunrise kayak along the south shore.

Sunrise onwards

Departure

Transfer to Nassau Airport

10-minute tender ride and 20-30 minute transfer to Nassau airport. Depart for Charleston.