Eleuthera — A Dealer Ship Voyage

May 5–10, 2026

Six days cruising the length of Eleuthera aboard the Dealer Ship — from the Glass Window Bridge south to Governor’s Harbor and on to the tip of Cape Eleuthera. Three birthday celebrations, a week of extraordinary food, flat turquoise seas, pink sand beaches, and a crew that knows how to throw a party at anchor. Eleuthera, consider yourself conquered.

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The Skinny

Tuesday, May 5

·      Flew into Spanish Wells, Eleuthera and boated to the Glass Window Bridge area to anchor at Galding Beach

·      Swims, beach walk, and chat with locals

·      Asian-themed dinner and Hitster music game on the boat

Wednesday, May 6 — JoJo’s 60th Birthday!

·      Snorkeling at Galding Cay — turtles and fish in flat, glassy water

·      The Cove Eleuthera for lunch — a stunning Relais & Châteaux property perched above the rocky coast

·      The party of all parties for JoJo — Jo-rades, Jo-roke, and Red Velvet cake

Skip: Hatchet Bay (hot and buggy) and The Front Porch bar there — industrial, run-down, and closed when we visited.

Thursday, May 7 — Vanessa’s Birthday!

·      Morning swims in the turquoise waters

·      Docked at French Leave Resort (a Marriott property) in Governor’s Harbor — a home run

·      Half-mile walk to French Leave Beach — one of the most beautiful in the Bahamas

·      Poolside painkillers, yacht rock lounge, and an all-out dance party for the birthday girl

Friday, May 8

·      Morning exercise session and bay swims

·      Walk into Governor’s Harbor town: Bahama Hand Prints, Norma’s, The Buccaneer Shop & Restaurant, The Squire

·      Underway to Cape Eleuthera — 3-hour ride

·      Explored Cape Eleuthera Resort & Marina on foot and by bike

·      Late afternoon: fishing and beach swims

Saturday, May 9 — Drew’s Birthday!

·      Morning walks, bike rides, and pickleball

·      Snorkeling at Sunset Beach (best spot, marked by buoys)

·      Fishing crew hauled in 4 big mahi mahi

·      Richard Simmons surprise birthday appearance for Drew — need we say more

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The Meat on the Bones

Tuesday, May 5 — Arrival

Spanish Wells to Glass Window Bridge

Flew into Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, quick shuttle to the tender, and then over to the Dealer Ship, where we got underway toward the Glass Window Bridge for an overnight anchor. Lunch was a gorgeous shrimp and chicken taco spread with a festive Cinco de Mayo tablescape — complete with piñata — enjoyed on the water during the three-hour cruise down the west side of long, skinny Eleuthera.

The Glass Window Bridge

Dropped anchor just south of the famed Glass Window Bridge. We took the tender up to investigate. It’s built over stunning rock formations that run the length of the coast, and apparently quite the dramatic scene when storms send waves crashing over it — but on a calm day, the hike up the side to see the other half isn’t really worth it. Proceed with managed expectations.

Galding Beach

Anchored at Galding Beach and tiny Galding Cay, we boated over for a swim and walk along the shore. Chatted with some locals and learned of a new small boutique resort being renovated by the former owner of The Cove Eleuthera — just about a mile south. Worth watching for future visits.

Dinner

That night’s dinner was a stunning Asian theme — Buddha gracing the table, zen black rocks, and black china for the stuffed sweet potato and kimchi-marinated ground turkey. Hitster music game to follow.

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Wednesday, May 6 — JoJo’s 60th!

The day started with through-the-years photos adorning the salon, a tablescape of specially themed bucket hats for JoJo, scrambled eggs with spinach and toast, plus the always-beautiful platter of sliced fruit and yogurt.

Snorkeling at Galding Cay

The most stunning weather day of the trip — flat seas and no wind. Perfect conditions for snorkeling at Galding Cay, where we spotted turtles and abundant fish life.

Lunch — The Cove Eleuthera

The Dealer Ship departed toward Hatchet Bay, but after finding it hot and potentially buggy, she anchored south at a new beach instead. We backtracked to The Cove Eleuthera for lunch. A stunning Relais & Château property perched atop the rocky coast, surrounded by manicured lawn and a feeling of total isolation. Unreal views and two lovely beaches. Lunch runs on Bahamian time, but the fresh decor and views make it very easy to soak in.

Skip: Hatchet Bay — hot and buggy as an anchorage. And The Front Porch, the local bar and restaurant there, was industrial, rusty, run-down, and closed when we visited. We couldn’t get out fast enough.

The Party of All Parties

And then — the party. The decor was full JoJo: Belle pretty in pink, her court all in navy. Dinner was a beet salad stack and yellowfin snapper over fingerling potatoes, finished with Her Majesty’s favorite — Red Velvet cake — presented by the 1966-themed crew. Jo-rades and Jo-roke followed, and our dancing queen held court until late.

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Thursday, May 7 — Vanessa’s Birthday & Governor’s Harbor

Morning & the Passage South

Morning swims in the never-gets-old turquoise water, then an amazing breakfast of avocado toast adorned with a fried egg, bacon, and the ever-present fresh fruit — tablescape featuring the newly gifted themed coloring books and a rainbow of fancy adult crayons. This creativity, not to mention the treatment, also never gets old.

Anchors up and heading south to Governor’s Harbor with mahjong, reading, and backgammon for the two-hour trip.

French Leave Resort — A Home Run

Docking at French Leave Resort (a Marriott property) — which sounds more commercial than it is. In fact, it’s a really pretty, small development across the bay from Governor’s Harbor town. Small villas of various sizes, pool, restaurant, fitness center, and a two-slip dock. A true secret that anyone would relish.

French Leave Beach

The half-mile walk across to the other side of the island reveals one of the most beautiful beaches in the Bahamas. Deserted and speckled with pink sand, it is truly breathtaking. After a Greek-themed lunch of chicken kebabs, naan bread, tzatziki, hummus, and tomato-cucumber salad, we spent the afternoon swimming, walking the beach, and capped the day with poolside painkillers and mudslides.

Vanessa’s Birthday Dinner

Pool drinks and martinis primed the entertainment for yacht rock lounge, with flowers and red wine bottles artfully arranged. Burrata and heirloom tomato salad, followed by homemade lasagna and ricotta lemon cake. Post-dinner: two teams, a shot of tequila, Hitster roaring, and the yacht DJ taking over for an all-out dance party. The swan song was the in-house stand-up comedian. What a night.

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Friday, May 8 — Governor’s Harbor & Cape Eleuthera

Morning in Governor’s Harbor

Morning exercise session with Eugene, followed by a quick boat jaunt into the bay for morning swims. Breakfast was again stunning — lime and lemon table colors for the prosciutto, sun-dried tomato, and pesto frittata. I mean…

Then a walk into town for a look around and retail therapy. Bahama Hand Prints from Nassau has a shop here and we thoroughly covered it. Other stops worth making:

·      Norma’s

·      The Buccaneer Shop & Restaurant — looks fun as a casual open-air local spot

·      The Squire — gifts and coffee bar

According to a young couple we met, there are other good spots nearby — but you need a car for those.

A Note on Renting Near French Leave Beach

We talked to several people who return to Governor’s Harbor every year and rent the same houses. Worth investigating:

·      Aqua Villa — also has a sister property called Pink Sands for larger groups of up to 16

·      The Beach House — right up the hill from French Leave Beach

All are right on or near French Leave Beach. Highly recommend checking these out as an alternative to the resort.

Cape Eleuthera

After a pool swim, underway to Cape Eleuthera Resort & Marina — a stunning lunch on the boat of pasta salad, lobster salad, and grilled chicken for the three-hour ride. Very secluded on the very tip of Eleuthera’s “fish tail,” it is a white-painted marina of private homes, small villas and cottages, pool, provisions and gift shop, dive shop, and fitness room, along with a very new pickleball court. Gorgeous water on all sides. But it is primarily known as a serious fishing destination: a shelf drops from 20 to 1,200 feet just offshore.

One group headed out late afternoon and caught several fish — bonus: a pod of pilot whales sighted. Dinner was grilled fish pockets and skirt steak with chimichurri and a mass of roasted vegetables, followed by Reese bars. Early night for all.

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Saturday, May 9 — Drew’s Birthday & the Best Last Day

Morning at Cape Eleuthera

Last day — and another best day. Started with morning walks, bike rides, or rousing pickleball, with Drew and Dillon joining in. Dillon added a new dimension with Energizer-bunny agility and flip flops. Breakfast was crepes with cream cheese, lox, and Nutella.

Snorkeling & Fishing

A tender survey of the area, then back for a spread of spinach and leeks galette, lobster salad, and green salad. The afternoon took some snorkeling with Donny — the best spot is just offshore Sunset Beach, marked by buoys. The deserted nearby islands were pretty and interesting, but not a must. The waters, however, are just gorgeous — at any vantage point you can count at least seven different shades of aqua. The fishing crew switched in and scored big: four large mahi mahi.

Drew’s Birthday Dinner

A shared album review of the week over drinks, followed by a killer dinner: roasted vegetable soup, salad, baked fresh fish, and tenderloin with mashed potatoes — all followed by tres leches cake for Drew, presented by none other than Richard Simmons, who appeared to lead a workout class for the birthday boy. The crew joined in with muscle shirts and full 80’s attire. Another round of Hitster before retiring.

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Sunday, May 10 — Happy Mother’s Day!

What a way to celebrate birthdays and Mother’s Day — or birth week and Mother’s Week. Just true perfection.

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Quick Reference

ANCHORAGES & MARINAS

·      Galding Beach & Galding Cay — beautiful, secure anchorage; great snorkeling for turtles and fish

·      Hatchet Bay — skip; hot, buggy, and nothing to do ashore - unless you need protection from the weather

·      French Leave Resort Marina, Governor’s Harbor — home run; two-slip dock; access to resort amenities

·      Cape Eleuthera Resort & Marina — remote and beautiful; world-class fishing; serious angler destination

RESTAURANTS & BARS

·      The Cove Eleuthera — Relais & Château; stunning views; plan for Bahamian-paced lunch

·      The Buccaneer Shop & Restaurant, Governor’s Harbor — looks fun; casual open-air local spot

·      The Squire, Governor’s Harbor — gifts and coffee bar

·      The Front Porch, Hatchet Bay — skip; industrial, run-down, and closed when we visited!

SHOPPING

·      Bahama Hand Prints — Nassau brand with a Governor’s Harbor outpost; thoroughly recommended

·      Norma’s, Governor’s Harbor

BEACHES

·      Galding Beach — lovely and quiet; good for swims and walks

·      French Leave Beach — one of the most beautiful in the Bahamas; deserted, pink-tinged sand; half-mile walk from French Leave Resort

·      Sunset Beach, Cape Eleuthera — best snorkeling offshore, marked by buoys

ACTIVITIES

·      Glass Window Bridge — worth a look from the water/bridge level; hiking up the side not necessary on a calm day

·      Snorkeling at Galding Cay — turtles and good fish life in flat, clear water

·      Fishing at Cape Eleuthera — a 20-to-1,200-foot shelf drop makes it exceptional; pilot whales a bonus

·      Pickleball at Cape Eleuthera Marina — brand new court

ACCOMMODATION TO INVESTIGATE NEAR FRENCH LEAVE BEACH

·      Aqua Villa — also has a sister property, Pink Sands, for groups up to 16

·      The Beach House — right up the hill from French Leave Beach

Note: Several regulars return annually to rent private houses on or near French Leave Beach. Worth researching as an alternative to the resort.