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A Day In Nassau, Bahamas: What To Do While Your Cruise Is In Port

Cruising and the Bahamas have gone hand in hand since modern cruising began in the 1970s. The first itineraries focused on three- and four-night Bahamas sailings from Miami. Today, seven-night and longer Caribbean itineraries often include a port call in Nassau.

The Bahamas is one of the industry’s leading cruise port destinations, with the capital city of Nassau being one of the world’s busiest ports of call.

Made up of 700 islands spread across 100,000 square miles of the North Atlantic Ocean, the Bahamas boasts some of the Caribbean’s most beautiful, clear blue water, white and pink sand beaches, warm temperatures and attractions galore. Nassau is more than a cruise port on the 112-mile-long island of New Providence. It is also a vibrant metropolis filled with lots of diversions.

In the north, Paradise Island has large hotels and all-inclusive resorts that offer day packages for cruise visitors, providing access to premium golf (at the Baha Mar resort), casino gaming (at Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas) and restaurants, shops and nightlife.

Not surprisingly, Nassau is a staple port of call for several cruise lines, including 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.

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According to the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, in 2024, the Bahamas is expected to host 5.6 million cruise passengers. This figure exceeds the 5.4 million the port hosted in prepandemic 2019. Nassau’s cruise port capacity increased from 20,000 passengers per day to more than 30,000 in May 2023, thanks to a $300 million renovation. The project expanded and revitalized the Prince George Wharf port and added a new berth, allowing it to accommodate six ships per day.

The Nassau cruise port now features a streamlined modern arrivals plaza that provides a smooth entry and exit. A new Nassau cruise excursion shop lets guests book everything from taxis to Atlantis tours in one spot. New attractions like the Museum of Junkanoo, more shops, restaurants and bars and an expansion of the iconic Straw Market provide a bevy of things to do at the Nassau cruise port. While the expanded port means more passengers in Nassau, the arrivals plaza and surrounding area are well-laid-out, spreading out crowds and creating a less frenetic atmosphere.

3 things TPG loves about Nassau

“Sun and fun” activities
Historic and cultural attractions
Distinctive cuisine

What we could do without

Nassau is on an island within a vast archipelago. Many products are necessarily imported, which means prices, including meals at restaurants, can be high. Nassau can also feel a bit “touristy” at times, as the Nassau Cruise Port at Prince George Wharf can host as many as six large cruise ships at once. On busy days, cruise travelers are ubiquitous around the downtown area. As with any busy destination, travelers should stay alert and be aware of their surroundings.

Nassau Cruise Port fast facts

Nassau is extremely popular as a warm-weather getaway destination that’s closer to the U.S. Atlantic Coast than most Caribbean basin countries. As a plus, while technically not located in the Caribbean, Nassau and the Bahamas offer the same splendid sunny skies, brilliant azure waters and amazing culture and traditions.

On the small island of New Providence, Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. The port is normally a bustling affair as disembarking guests walk from the pier to Bay Street, parallel to the water. The downtown shopping area is where you’ll find tour guides and Jet Ski, beach and watersports excursion operators, taxis for hire, scooter rentals, craft and souvenir shops and hair braiders.

Nassau’s nearby Paradise Island district offers beaches, restaurants and shops, as well as the Atlantis megaresort, which is among several properties offering day packages for cruisers seeking a daylong all-inclusive experience. The good news is that, with a little preparation, it will be easy to find the right Nassau activity to fit your personal vacation style.

Arrival details

Cruise ships visiting Nassau dock at the Nassau Cruise Port at Prince George Wharf, which is a short walking distance from Bay Street and the downtown district. Passengers who are booked on cruise line excursions will find providers staged in areas leading from the dock. Private operators, including those who booked tours with guests separate from the cruise line, will be found beyond the first group.

You can book taxis and tours upon disembarking at a clearly marked kiosk. If your ship is docked at one of the farther berths, it can be a long walk from your ship to the port exit. The port provides shuttles to the terminal building for passengers with mobility issues.

Time zone: The Bahamas operates on Eastern Standard Time.

Language: English is the official language.

Currency: The Bahamian dollar is equivalent to the U.S. dollar. Both are widely accepted and generally, it’s not necessary to exchange money. If you want to exchange money, you can do so aboard your ship, although you can usually obtain a better rate at a local bank or ATM. Several banks are on Parliament Street, a short walk from the Nassau cruise terminal. Numerous ATMs are also around downtown.

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NASSAU BAHAMAS CRUISE TERMINAL

Top things to do in Nassau Cruise Port

Beach lovers and travelers who enjoy water sports, diving or snorkeling will find a wide variety of excursions and activities to suit their tastes. Nassau is also a robust shopping and dining scene. Visitors should definitely explore the area’s rich history. You can book excursions through your cruise line or independently.

Popular Nassau excursions

Water sports

Nassau offers a multitude of activities focused around the area’s fantastic waters and natural environment. Just about every water sport is available to Nassau visitors via cruise ship excursions, including sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing and encounters with sea lions, dolphins, stingrays and even swimming pigs.

Other cruise ship tours feature glass-bottom and jet boat excursions, catamaran sailings paired with reef snorkeling, deep-sea fishing and exclusive beach days with private cabanas.

While the luxurious Grand Hyatt Baha Mar on Nassau’s Cable Beach does not offer day passes, nonguests can play in the casino, visit the property’s restaurants, bars and shops, book a spa treatment and play golf here.

BAHA BAY AT BAHA MAR RESORT

ResortPass offers day passes to the Baha Bay Waterpark (at the swanky Baha Mar complex where the Grand Hyatt is located) for $146 (per adult) and $60 (per child) and includes raft rides, drop slides, free-fall slides, a wave pool, an action river, a surf simulator and the Caribbean’s only water-coaster. You can also chill at one of the infinity pools at the park, with access to a bar and restaurant. The pass does not provide access to any other parts of the resort, however.

It also sells a day pass to the British Colonial Nassau (formerly a Hilton), which recently reopened after a total renovation, for $90 per adult and $45 per child. The pass includes access to the outdoor heated pool, the kids pool, beach lounge chairs, towel service and a 10% discount on food and drinks.

Nassau’s nearby private islands offer a premium beach experience within a 15- to 20-minute ferry ride. Most cruise lines offer shore excursions to Blue Lagoon Island, but travelers can also book a visit through a travel advisor or on their own online. The excursion is popular and often sells out, so reserve early in your voyage or prior to your cruise date.

At Blue Lagoon, cruisers can swim in a calm lagoon, enjoy kayaking, water-biking or snorkeling tours, play with water toys like floats and inner tubes or simply relax in a beach hammock under coconut palms. Blue Lagoon offers a gift shop, changing rooms, restrooms and shower facilities.

Balmoral Island, Pearl Island and Sandy Toes also offer private island experiences near Nassau.

Cruise travelers whose ships arrive early in Nassau may want to take the approximately one-hour drive to Stuart’s Cove, where they can experience snorkeling, diving and swimming with sharks.

Historic sites

DANIEL SLIM/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Nassau’s history is closely tied to the Caribbean pirate era of the 17th and 18th centuries. The town served as a pirate sanctuary until 1718 when British Governor Woodes Rogers expelled the buccaneers. Today, the downtown district offers 20 square blocks featuring architecture and monuments dating to this compelling era, most within walking distance of the cruise pier.

As a result, visitors can take a DIY approach to exploring Nassau or book a cruise ship excursion highlighting historic forts, Bahamian cuisine, “land and sea” programs, private island experiences and even Junkanoo-style music and dancing.

Historic sites near Prince George Wharf include Parliament Square, which hosts the House of Assembly, the Senate Building and the Supreme Court of the Bahamas in pink neo-Georgian buildings. A statue of Queen Victoria erected in the early 1900s also stands at the site.

Bahamian culture was also shaped by Africans who arrived in the territory as slaves from Sierra Leone and other West African nations. Others traveled to the Bahamas directly from Africa, Bermuda and Haiti — either enslaved by ex-British loyalists from Georgia and South Carolina or former soldiers who won their freedom fighting for the British during the American Revolutionary War.

Several historic sites around Nassau recognize this influence, including Adelaide, Fox Hill and Gambier. Liberated Africans settled these three historic villages in the 1800s and still maintain their African heritage. Cultural and sightseeing tours to these villages are available. Nassau’s Pompey Museum of Slavery & Emancipation features a permanent exhibit on the African experience in the Bahamas.

Don’t miss the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas. Housed in the lovely 1860s-era Villa Doyle, the museum showcases historic and contemporary Bahamian art throughout its four gallery spaces.

Best beaches near the Nassau Cruise Port

There’s no shortage of great beaches in and around Nassau. In addition to the nearby private island beach experiences, several local beaches are within walking or short driving distance.

Junkanoo Beach

Junkanoo Beach. SKYHIGHSTUDIOS/GETTY IMAGES

Junkanoo Beach is about a 15-minute walk from the cruise port, offering travelers an inexpensive and convenient way to enjoy some sun and fun. You can normally see your cruise ship from the nearby beach, and vendors dotting the beach sell buckets of ice-cold Kalik and Sands beer (the local favorites). Don’t forget to bring your towel; chairs are available for rent from vendors. Some will package a bucket of beer with chairs and an umbrella.

Cabbage Beach

Cabbage Beach on Paradise Island is a 20-minute walk or short taxi ride from Nassau, just over the bridge that spans the islands. Though beautiful, the waters are sometimes rough, and the beach does not offer many amenities. However, locals parade up and down the beach, offering chairs for rent and beverages for sale.

Cable Beach

The beach at the Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY

Cable Beach is about a 20-minute drive from Prince George’s Wharf. Get there via local taxi or a cheaper alternative, the No.10 bus, which charges around $1.25 per person. The 2.5-mile-long beach is often described as Nassau’s best, but it’s one of hundreds across the Bahamas distinguished by bleach-white sands and remarkably clear blue waters. Cable Beach is home to several top Nassau resorts like Sandals Royal Bahamian and Margaritaville Beach Resort, which offer a full array of watersports activities. Cruise passengers can purchase day passes to enjoy resort amenities. Day passes for Sandals are $340 per person; Margaritaville at Sea day passes cost $110 (for adults) and $55 (for guests age 12 and under).

Other top Nassau beaches

Montague Beach is situated east of the Paradise Island Bridge and is home to a historic fort constructed in the 18th century. The beach promenade is a popular hangout on weekends and public holidays, with vendors offering delicious local food and drinks. The beach is also a preferred spot for wading and picnicking.

Delaporte Beach is west of Cable Beach, near the former plantation village of Delaporte. East of Nassau lies Saunders Beach, which is also popular with visitors and locals.

The beach at Goodman’s Bay features recreational facilities for children and is popular among joggers and exercise enthusiasts. A small bridge connects Sandyport Beach to the Venice-like Sandyport resort development near Cable Beach.

How to get around on your own

On foot: Many of Nassau’s historic sites and the Bay Street retail district are within walking distance of the cruise ship pier and the downtown area, and one of the most popular things to do is stroll around here. Bay Street is lined with shops, restaurants and bars, and cruisers who are so inclined can spend the day strolling the area. Just put on your sneakers, disembark your ship, take a few steps and start exploring.

By taxi: You can book a taxi at the arrivals area from a marked kiosk. Taxis are not metered, so always negotiate the fare before entering the vehicle.

By bus: Nassau’s public buses are known as jitneys and offer a thrifty and convenient alternative to car rentals or taxis. The jitneys cost around $1.25 per person and stop at popular spots, including Cable Beach (see below).

Other transportation: There are also ferries to nearby attractions, and it’s also possible to rent a car or motor scooter.

Nassau restaurants near the cruise port

Bahamian conch fritters. SARA KENDALL/SHUTTERSTOCK

True to its Caribbean traditions, the Bahamas’ indigenous cuisine combines flavorful spices with fresh tropical fruit and seafood. Whether found at a lively outdoor market or gourmet restaurant, Bahamian gastronomy is filled with island flavor.

Visitors will find a variety of spots serving local favorites like conch fritters, bite-sized flakes of conch meat fried in batter seasoned with goat pepper, hot sauce and sea salt, plus common Bahamian vegetables. This Bahamian treat is the territory’s undisputed favorite dish. Other traditional dishes worth trying include 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 Johnny cakes, a dense and slightly sweet cake-like bread often served at breakfast.

A handful of Nassau food experiences — from casual to upscale — await visitors. For example, the Potter’s Cay conch shacks are beneath the high-arching bridge that connects Nassau to Paradise Island. Adjacent to lively fruit markets, the brightly colored conch shacks feature nearly 40 chefs in different shacks cooking fresh conch dishes in myriad ways.

It’s a great place to sample an authentic Bahamian lunch featuring the freshest conch fritters and local dishes. You can also interact with the chefs and other locals as they chat about the day’s catch or argue over a game of dominoes.

Check first with a local or with a frequent Bahamas visitor (like a travel advisor) to determine which stall is the best for the day. With 25 years in the same location, McKenzie, a former conch fisherman turned restaurateur, is a local celebrity among Potter Cay purveyors, with a shack positioned as the first on the bridge’s west end.

For a different Bahamas experience, head to Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant, about a 15-minute walk or a brief taxi ride from the cruise port. The restaurant is in Graycliff Hotel, a historic 18th-century mansion that was once the headquarters of a pirate, Captain John Howard Graysmith. Spend an afternoon exploring the property, which features an impressive heritage museum, chocolate-making and cigar-rolling facilities, art galleries and craft shops.

The highlight, however, may be the hotel’s five-star Graycliff Restaurant, an elegant venue with a menu combining continental and Bahamian traditions. The sumptuous restaurant features four air-conditioned dining rooms and a garden dining area, with each room decorated to reflect Graycliff’s origins as a private home. In keeping with its atmosphere, the “elegant casual” dress code is strictly enforced.

Nassau Cruise Port shopping

When shopping in the Bahamas, look for souvenirs like original paintings, wood carvings and craftwork and handmade garments in bright tropical colors. Nassau’s Bay Street retail district is steps from the cruise ship dock, but there are a few hidden shopping spots just a short taxi ride away.

Virtually adjacent to the cruise port is Festival Place, an outdoor bazaar featuring 45 vendors selling crafts, food and drinks. It’s ideal for folks seeking last-minute souvenirs and gifts just before they depart aboard their ship and for arriving passengers in search of shopping close to the port.

Once an open-air affair, Nassau’s long-running Straw Market has been expanded into the new cruise port terminal. Its brightly hued stalls feature Bahamian gifts, crafts, souvenirs and unique Bahamian-designed clothing and art. Bay Street features a proliferation of high-end, designer stores selling luxury goods, including apparel, jewelry, cosmetics and fragrances.

You can also take a taxi to reach Nassau’s best-kept secrets when it comes to handcrafted, original art and crafts, plus apparel and home goods. Near the corner of Ernest Street and Okra Hill, Bahama Hand Prints offers “bold and brilliant” designs across a wide range of garments, accessories and home furnishings. The shop was established in 1966 by artists Helen Astarita and Berta Sands. All products are developed in-house and crafted by the shop’s talented sewing team. Visitors are encouraged to drop in at the factory, speak with the staff and watch the printers at work.

At Craft Cottage Bahamas, you can find locally made home decor, glassware, jewelry, soaps, clothing and artwork. On the grounds of the Doongalik Studios & Art Gallery in Eastern Nassau, the charming shop and gallery feature a diverse and eclectic array of Bahamian-inspired items and emphasize traditional crafting techniques.

The facility is housed in a traditional Bahamian-style home that shares the grounds with a variety of local Bahamian artists who also use the property to work on their own art and products. The shop offers an extensive and impressive array of handcrafted jewelry, painted glass, straw bags and accessories, including homemade soaps and bath products.

Free things to do in Nassau Cruise Port

If you don’t want to spend any cash when you get to the Nassau cruise port, a handful of things to do in the Bahamian capital won’t cost you a dime.

Since you are in the Bahamas, take advantage of the beach, a free activity. Junkanoo Beach is just a 15-minute walk from the cruise port. Bring a towel and a book and spend the day sunbathing and swimming in the clear, turquoise water for free.

The Queen’s Staircase, or “66 Steps,” is framed by lush gardens and links downtown Nassau with Fort Fincastle. Ascend to the top of the staircase to reach Fort Fincastle, constructed in the late 1700s atop Bennett’s Hill. From there, enjoy sweeping views of downtown Nassau, the harbor and the cruise ship dock.

Nassau’s historic district and Bay Street, which is filled with more shops, are also within walking distance of the port, and looking is always free.

Bottom line

Nassau sometimes gets a bad rap as a “touristy” port of call, and cruise travelers often inundate it. However, the Bahamas’ capital city is a diverse port with an impressive array of historic attractions, varied beach experiences, distinctive cuisine and extensive shopping opportunities. Nassau’s Caribbean flavor, warm temperatures and beautiful natural environment have made the port a staple on cruise itineraries.

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