Cruising and the Bahamas have gone hand in hand since trendy cruising started within the Seventies. Made up of 700 islands unfold throughout 100,000 sq. miles of the North Atlantic Ocean, the Bahamas boasts a number of the Caribbean’s most lovely clear blue water, white and pink sand seashores, heat temperatures and sights galore. As we speak, the nation is likely one of the business’s main cruise port locations, with the capital metropolis of Nassau being one of many world’s busiest ports of name.
Nassau is a staple port of name for a number of cruise strains, together with Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages.
In 2024, Nassau Cruise Port broke its annual passenger file, welcoming 5.6 million cruise passengers. This was helped by the truth that the port capability elevated from 20,000 passengers per day to greater than 30,000 in Could 2023, because of a $300 million renovation. The challenge expanded and revitalized the Prince George Wharf port and added a brand new berth, permitting it to accommodate six ships per day.
Nassau Cruise Port now incorporates a streamlined trendy arrivals plaza that gives a clean entry and exit. A brand new cruise tour store lets visitors ebook every part from taxis to Atlantis excursions in a single spot. New sights like The Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo, extra outlets, eating places and bars and an growth of the long-lasting Straw Market present a bevy of issues to do proper on the port as properly. And whereas the expanded port means extra passengers in Nassau, the arrivals plaza and surrounding space are laid out properly, spreading out crowds and making a much less frenetic environment.
However Nassau is extra than simply its cruise port. It is also a vibrant metropolis full of plenty of diversions, anchoring the 21-mile-long island of New Windfall. In the meantime, simply to the north, Paradise Island options giant motels and all-inclusive resorts that provide day packages for cruise guests, offering entry to premium golf (on the Baha Mar resort), on line casino gaming (at Atlantis Paradise Island) and eating places, outlets and nightlife.
Let’s discover all this in style vacation spot has to supply.
3 issues TPG loves about Nassau
- “Solar and enjoyable” actions
- Historic and cultural sights
- Distinctive delicacies
What we may do with out
Nassau is on an island inside an unlimited archipelago. Many merchandise are essentially imported — which suggests costs, together with meals at eating places, will be excessive. Nassau also can really feel a bit touristy at instances, because the cruise port at Prince George Wharf can host as many as six giant cruise ships directly. On busy days, cruise vacationers are ubiquitous across the downtown space. As with all busy vacation spot, vacationers ought to keep alert and pay attention to their environment.
Nassau Cruise Port quick information
Nassau is extraordinarily in style as a warm-weather getaway vacation spot that is nearer to the USA’ Atlantic coast than most Caribbean international locations. As a plus, whereas technically not positioned within the Caribbean, Nassau and the Bahamas supply the identical splendid sunny skies, sensible azure waters and wonderful tradition and traditions.
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Nassau Cruise Port is often a bustling affair, full of disembarking visitors strolling from the pier to Bay Road, parallel to the water. The downtown procuring space is the place you will discover tour guides, tour operators, taxis for rent, scooter leases, craft and memento outlets, hair braiders and extra.
Nassau’s close by Paradise Island district affords seashores, eating places and outlets, in addition to the Atlantis megaresort, which is amongst a number of properties providing day packages for cruisers looking for a daylong all-inclusive expertise. With somewhat preparation, it needs to be straightforward to search out the precise Nassau exercise to suit your private trip type.
Associated: The 8 best Bahamas cruises for every type of traveler
Arrival particulars
As talked about, cruise ships visiting Nassau dock on the Nassau Cruise Port at Prince George Wharf, which is a brief strolling distance from Bay Road and the downtown district. Passengers booked on cruise line excursions will discover suppliers staged in areas main from the dock. Personal operators, together with those that booked excursions with visitors separate from the cruise line, will probably be discovered past the primary group.
You’ll be able to ebook taxis and excursions upon disembarking at clearly marked kiosks. In case your ship is docked at one of many farther berths, it may be a protracted stroll out of your ship to the port exit. The port additionally gives shuttles to the terminal constructing for passengers with mobility points.
Time zone: The Bahamas operates on Japanese Customary Time.
Language: English is the official language.
Forex: The Bahamian greenback is equal to the U.S. greenback. Each are broadly accepted, and it is usually not essential to change cash. If you wish to change cash, you are able to do so aboard your ship, though you may often acquire a greater charge at an area financial institution or ATM. A number of banks line Parliament Road, a brief stroll from the Nassau cruise terminal. You may also discover quite a few ATMs round downtown.
Map:
High issues to do in Nassau
Seaside lovers and vacationers who get pleasure from water sports activities, diving or snorkeling will discover all kinds of excursions and actions to swimsuit their tastes. Nassau additionally hosts a sturdy procuring and eating scene, and guests would do properly to discover the realm’s wealthy historical past. You’ll be able to ebook excursions by your cruise line or independently.
Associated: Best shore excursions for Bahamas cruises
Fashionable Nassau excursions
Water sports activities
Nassau affords a mess of actions targeted across the space’s unbelievable waters and pure atmosphere. Nearly each water sport is accessible to Nassau guests by way of cruise ship excursions, together with crusing, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing and encounters with sea lions, dolphins, stingrays and even swimming pigs.
Different cruise ship excursions characteristic glass-bottom and jet boat excursions, catamaran sailings paired with reef snorkeling, deep-sea fishing and unique seashore days with personal cabanas.
Whereas the luxurious Grand Hyatt Baha Mar on Cable Seaside doesn’t supply day passes, guests not staying on-site can play within the on line casino, go to the property’s eating places, bars and outlets, ebook a spa therapy and play golf there.
ResortPass affords day passes to the Baha Bay water park (on the swanky Baha Mar advanced) for $146 per grownup and $60 per baby, which embody raft rides, drop slides, free-fall slides, a wave pool, an motion river, a surf simulator and the Caribbean’s solely water-coaster. You may also chill at one of many infinity swimming pools on the park, with entry to a bar and restaurant. The move doesn’t present entry to some other elements of the resort, nevertheless.
ResortPass additionally sells day passes to the British Colonial Nassau lodge — which just lately reopened after a complete renovation — for $89 per grownup and $35 per baby. The move consists of entry to the out of doors heated pool, the youngsters pool, seashore lounge chairs, towel service and a ten% low cost on meals and drinks.
Nassau’s close by personal islands additionally supply premium seashore experiences inside a 15- to 20-minute ferry journey. Most cruise strains supply shore excursions to Blue Lagoon Island, however vacationers also can ebook a go to by a journey adviser or on their very own on-line. The tour is in style and sometimes sells out, so reserve early in your voyage or previous to your cruise date.
At Blue Lagoon, cruisers can swim within the calm waters, get pleasure from kayaking, water-biking or snorkeling excursions, calm down on floats or internal tubes or relax in a seashore hammock beneath coconut palms. Blue Lagoon affords a present store, altering rooms, restrooms and bathe amenities.
Balmoral Island, Pearl Island and Sandy Toes additionally supply personal island experiences close to Nassau.
Cruise vacationers whose ships arrive early in Nassau might need to take the roughly one-hour drive to Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas, the place they’ll expertise snorkeling, diving and swimming with sharks.
Historic websites
Nassau’s historical past is carefully tied to the Caribbean pirate period of the seventeenth and 18th centuries. The city served as a pirate sanctuary till 1718, when British Gov. Woodes Rogers expelled the buccaneers. As we speak, the downtown district affords 20 sq. blocks that includes structure and monuments courting to this compelling period, most inside strolling distance of the cruise pier.
Guests can take a DIY method to exploring Nassau’s historical past or ebook a cruise ship tour highlighting historic forts, Bahamian delicacies, “land and sea” packages, personal island experiences and even Junkanoo-style music and dancing.
Historic websites close to Prince George Wharf embody Parliament Sq., which hosts the eye-catching pink colonial-era facades of the Home of Meeting, Senate Constructing and Supreme Court docket of the Bahamas. A statue of Queen Victoria has presided over the sq. since 1905.
Bahamian tradition was additionally formed by enslaved Africans delivered to the territory from Sierra Leone and different West African nations. Others traveled to the Bahamas immediately from Africa, Bermuda and Haiti — both enslaved by ex-British loyalists from Georgia and South Carolina or as former troopers who received their freedom preventing for the British in the course of the American Revolutionary Struggle.
A number of historic websites round Nassau acknowledge this affect, together with Adelaide, Fox Hill and Gambier. Liberated Africans settled these three villages within the 1800s, and their descendants nonetheless preserve their African heritage. Cultural and sightseeing excursions to those villages can be found. Nassau’s Pompey Museum of Slavery & Emancipation additionally incorporates a everlasting exhibit on the African expertise within the Bahamas.
The Nationwide Artwork Gallery of The Bahamas is a superb discover for artwork lovers. Housed within the beautiful 1860s-era Villa Doyle, the museum showcases historic and modern Bahamian artwork all through its 4 gallery areas.
Greatest seashores close to Nassau Cruise Port
There isn’t any scarcity of nice seashores in and round Nassau. Along with the close by personal island seashore experiences, a number of native seashores are inside strolling or brief driving distance.
Junkanoo Seaside
Junkanoo Seaside is a couple of 15-minute stroll from the port, providing vacationers a reasonable and handy method to get pleasure from some solar and enjoyable. You’ll be able to usually see your cruise ship from the close by seashore, and distributors dotting the seashore promote buckets of ice-cold Kalik and Sands beer (the native favorites). Remember to deliver your towel; chairs can be found for hire from distributors. Some will package deal a bucket of beer with chairs and an umbrella.
Cabbage Seaside
Cabbage Seaside on Paradise Island is a 20-minute stroll or brief taxi journey from Nassau, simply over the bridge that spans the islands. Although lovely, the waters are generally tough. The seashore doesn’t supply many facilities, although locals often parade up and down the seashore, providing chairs for hire and drinks on the market.
Cable Seaside
Cable Seaside is a couple of 20-minute drive from Prince George Wharf. Get there by way of an area taxi or cheaper various, the quantity 10 bus, which prices $1.25 per journey. The two 1/2-mile-long seashore is usually described as Nassau’s greatest, however it’s one in every of a whole lot throughout the Bahamas distinguished by bleach-white sands and remarkably clear blue waters.
Cable Seaside is dwelling to a number of high Nassau resorts like Sandals Royal Bahamian and Margaritaville Seaside Resort Nassau, which provide a full array of water sports activities actions. Cruise passengers should buy day passes to get pleasure from resort facilities. Day passes for Sandals are $340 per individual. Margaritaville resort day passes value $145 for adults and $63 for visitors ages 12 and beneath; these costs lower barely when a part of a Margaritaville at Sea cruise package deal.
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Different high Nassau seashores
Montagu Seaside is located east of the Paradise Island Bridge and is dwelling to a historic fort constructed within the 18th century. The seashore promenade is a well-liked hangout on weekends and public holidays, with distributors providing scrumptious native meals and drinks. The seashore can be a most popular spot for wading and picnicking.
West of the cruise port, Saunders Seaside is in style with each guests and locals. Proceed down Bay St. to achieve the seashore at Goodman’s Bay, which options leisure amenities for youngsters and is in style amongst joggers and train fanatics.
Previous Cable Seaside, a small bridge connects Sandyport Seaside to the Sandyport resort improvement. Proceed west to achieve Delaporte Seaside, positioned close to the previous plantation village of Delaporte.
Easy methods to get round by yourself
On foot: A lot of Nassau’s historic websites and the Bay Road retail district are inside strolling distance of the cruise ship pier and the downtown space. Bay Road is lined with outlets, eating places and bars, and cruisers who’re so inclined can spend the day strolling the realm.
By taxi: You’ll be able to ebook a taxi on the arrivals space from a marked kiosk. Taxis aren’t metered, so all the time negotiate the fare earlier than getting into the automobile.
By bus: Nassau’s public buses are generally known as jitneys and supply a thrifty and handy various to automobile leases or taxis. The jitneys cease at in style spots, together with Cable Seaside.
Different transportation: You’ll be able to often catch ferries to many close by sights. It is also attainable to hire a automobile or motor scooter.
Nassau eating places close to the cruise port
True to its Caribbean traditions, the Bahamas’ indigenous delicacies combines flavorful spices with contemporary tropical fruit and seafood. Whether or not discovered at a energetic out of doors market or gourmand restaurant, Bahamian gastronomy is full of island taste.
Guests will discover a wide range of spots serving native favorites like conch fritters — bite-size flakes of conch meat and greens fried in batter and seasoned with goat pepper, scorching sauce and sea salt. This Bahamian deal with is the territory’s undisputed favourite dish. Different conventional dishes price making an attempt embody peas and rice (deep brown pigeon peas and white long-grain rice seasoned with tomatoes, onions, thyme, tomato paste, goat pepper and salted pork) and johnnycakes, a dense and barely candy bread usually served at breakfast.
An array of Nassau meals experiences — from informal to upscale — await guests. For instance, the Potters Cay conch shacks sit beneath the high-arching bridge that connects Nassau to Paradise Island. Adjoining to energetic fruit markets, the brightly coloured conch shacks characteristic almost 40 cooks in numerous shacks cooking contemporary conch dishes in myriad methods.
It is a terrific place to pattern an genuine Bahamian lunch that includes the freshest fritters and different native dishes. You may also work together with the cooks and different locals as they chat in regards to the day’s catch or argue over a sport of dominoes.
Examine first with an area or with a frequent Bahamas customer (like a journey adviser) to find out which stall is the very best for the day. With 25 years in the identical location, McKenzie, a former conch fisherman turned restaurateur, is an area movie star amongst Potters Cay purveyors, with a shack positioned first on the bridge’s west finish.
For a distinct Bahamas expertise, head to Graycliff Restaurant, a couple of 15-minute stroll or a short taxi journey from the port. The restaurant is within the Graycliff Resort, an 18th-century mansion constructed by the well-known pirate captain John Howard Graysmith. You’ll be able to spend a day exploring the property, which options a formidable heritage museum, chocolate-making and cigar-rolling amenities, artwork galleries and craft outlets.
The spotlight, nevertheless, is likely to be the restaurant, a chic venue with a menu combining continental and Bahamian traditions. The splendid restaurant options 4 air-conditioned eating rooms and a backyard eating space, with every room embellished to replicate Graycliff’s origins as a non-public dwelling. In step with its environment, the “elegant informal” gown code is strictly enforced.
Nassau cruise port procuring
When procuring within the Bahamas, search for souvenirs like authentic work, wooden carvings and craftwork, plus handmade clothes in vivid tropical colours. Nassau’s Bay Road retail district is steps from the cruise ship dock, however there are a lot extra hidden procuring spots price venturing out for as properly.
Nearly adjoining to the port is Pageant Place, an out of doors bazaar that includes 45 distributors promoting crafts, meals and drinks. It is supreme for folk looking for last-minute souvenirs and presents simply earlier than they board their ship, and for arriving passengers seeking procuring near the port.
As soon as an open-air affair, Nassau’s long-running Straw Market has been expanded into the brand new cruise port terminal. Its brightly hued stalls characteristic Bahamian presents, crafts, souvenirs and distinctive Bahamian-designed clothes and artwork.
One other cruise port standout, Bahama Hand Prints sells clothes, equipment and residential decor constructed out of its authentic brightly coloured and patterned materials. The corporate was created by two native artists in 1966, and the shop’s merchandise continues to be produced in-house.
Exterior the port, Bay Road incorporates a proliferation of high-end, designer shops promoting luxurious items, together with attire, jewellery, cosmetics and fragrances.
In case you’re keen to take a taxi to your procuring vacation spot, Craft Cottage Bahamas is positioned inside steps of the Doongalik Studios artwork gallery in jap Nassau. It is a terrific place to assist native artists by buying artwork, jewellery, bathtub merchandise and different reward objects with Bahamian aptitude. Whilst you’re there, take a look at the studio’s present exhibitions that includes Bahamian artists and craftspeople; the constructing itself is an instance of conventional Bahamian structure.
Free issues to do in Nassau
In case you do not need to spend any money once you get to Nassau, loads of actions within the Bahamian capital will not value you a dime.
Because you’re within the Bahamas, reap the benefits of the seashore, a free exercise. Junkanoo Seaside is only a 15-minute stroll from the cruise port. Convey a towel and a ebook and spend the day sunbathing and swimming within the clear, turquoise water free of charge.
The Queen’s Staircase, or 66 Steps, is framed by lush gardens and hyperlinks downtown Nassau with Fort Fincastle, which sits atop Bennett’s Hill. Ascend to the highest of the staircase to achieve the fort, constructed within the late 1700s. From there, you may get pleasure from sweeping views of downtown Nassau, the harbor and the cruise ship dock.
Nassau’s historic district and Bay Road are additionally inside strolling distance of the port — and window procuring is all the time free.
Backside line
Nassau generally will get a foul rap as a touristy port of name, and cruise vacationers usually inundate it. Nevertheless, the Bahamas’ capital metropolis is a various port with a formidable array of historic sights, diversified seashore experiences, distinctive delicacies and in depth procuring alternatives. It is no surprise Nassau’s Caribbean taste, heat temperatures and delightful pure atmosphere have saved the port a staple on cruise itineraries.
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