Provisioning in the Bahamas

[hogHunter]

What islands have you found to be the best for provisioning in the Bahamas, besides the obvious (Nassau)?

We have found that nearly every island has a tiny store but the supplies can be meager to non-existent, especially fresh fruits and veggies.

Our favorite store, Exuma Market, in Georgetown, Exuma, has far more variety and consistently has more in stock than any other store in the Bahamas outside of the hub of Nassau.





What is your favorite provisioning location (or a few of them) in the Bahamas?

[Captain Bill]

Maxwell's in Marsh Harbor beats Exuma Market hands down for stock, but not for convenience. It's a bit of a hike to the dinghy dock.

[hogHunter]

Originally Posted by Captain Bill

Maxwell's in Marsh Harbor beats Exuma Market hands down for stock, but not for convenience. It's a bit of a hike to the dinghy dock.

Yes, good point, one I forgot to mention, Exuma Market is also great because it is soooo convenient for cruisers (i.e. it's close to the dinghy dock!)

[R2boat]

Hillside Grocery in Thompson Bay, Long Island....any place that has an active fishing community...very well stocked, and if Betty does not have it she will certainly get it for you....

Same would apply for Spanish Wells and oh, usually a lot cheaper...

Prices at Exuma Markets seem to vary according to the size of the cruiser community...certainly lower around the time of the Family Island Regatta.

Have not heard as yet the status of Hillside after Joaquin but seriously doubt they had any flooding.

Enjoy

[colemj]

Originally Posted by R2boat

Hillside Grocery in Thompson Bay, Long Island....any place that has an active fishing community...very well stocked, and if Betty does not have it she will certainly get it for you....

And the cheeses are fantastic - incredible selection and prices, as is the New Zealand butter. Where else in the Bahamas can one find full wheels of Brie, Blue, Stilson, etc?

We have always found Exuma Market to be pretty terrible.

However, we haven't been to the Bahamas for 6yrs, so everything may be different now.

Currently, on our way, though.

Mark

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by colemj

----We have always found Exuma Market to be pretty terrible.

However, we haven't been to the Bahamas for 6yrs, so everything may be different now.
----

I think you will find Exuma Market to be very good now.
And they furnish the cruising community with a large dinghy dock and free RO water!

[jcapo]

Originally Posted by R2boat

Have not heard as yet the status of Hillside after Joaquin but seriously doubt they had any flooding.

If Hillside flooded, Georgetown would be gone! I love Long Island.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by FSMike

I think you will find Exuma Market to be very good now.
And they furnish the cruising community with a large dinghy dock and free RO water!

Yes, the large dock and RO water were there 6 yrs ago.

Unless something unexpected happens, we won't be in Georgetown. Not our type of scene.

Mark

[Dulcesuenos]

Originally Posted by Captain Bill

Maxwell's in Marsh Harbor beats Exuma Market hands down for stock, but not for convenience. It's a bit of a hike to the dinghy dock.

Prices are insane. We found triple to quadruple same item in U.S.

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[R2boat]

In general shop where the fishermen are, Long Island, Spanish Wells, etc. Last year we used Bahamas Food Services, worked well, might need to work with others to get the volume correct, order on line, comes on the mailboat but it helps to have access to a freezer, prices were much better...much, much cheaper than Exuma Market where the prices fluctuate wildly depending on how many cruisers are there

[sailorboy1]

The best grocery stores I found were Marsh Harbor, Rock Sound, and Georgetown. Those are the places to do major stocking and everything else is basic even though some stores might be "big" by Bahamas standards and others are tiny.

[R2boat]

I would suggest a trip to Long Island, Thompson Bay and Hillside, Betty is hands down cheaper and better supplied than Rock Sound or Exuma Markets and if do not see what you are looking for ask her or her husband, William. They have much more out back and will even cut that ribeye you want, or order your rice cakes from Nassau....

That advice comes after 15 years of visiting our Bahamian friends, all of them

[Amapola]

Maxwells and Save Rite in Marsh Harbour

[Tingum]

Plan on paying just about double stateside prices. Better to bring everything you can carry!

[R2boat]

Not practical....again find the fishermen and stay away from the tourists and you should do fine, recently bought a beef tenderloin here on Long Island, paid $2 more/lb than Costco in the states, not double by a long shot