Nassau cruise port guide: How to spend your day in the Bahamas

Cruising and the Bahamas have gone hand in hand since modern cruising began in the 1970s. 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. Today, the nation 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.

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.

In 2024, Nassau Cruise Port broke its annual passenger record, welcoming 5.6 million cruise passengers. This was helped by the fact that the 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.

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

But Nassau is more than just its cruise port. It’s also a vibrant metropolis filled with lots of diversions, anchoring the 21-mile-long island of New Providence. Meanwhile, just to the north, Paradise Island features 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) and restaurants, shops and nightlife.

Let’s explore all this popular destination has to offer.

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 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 United States’ Atlantic coast than most Caribbean 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.

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Nassau Cruise Port is normally a bustling affair, packed with disembarking guests walking from the pier to Bay Street, parallel to the water. The downtown shopping area is where you’ll find tour guides, excursion operators, taxis for hire, scooter rentals, craft and souvenir shops, hair braiders and more.

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. With a little preparation, it should be easy to find the right Nassau activity to fit your personal vacation style.

Related: The 8 best Bahamas cruises for every type of traveler

Arrival details

As mentioned, 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 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 clearly marked kiosks. 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 also 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 it’s generally 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 line Parliament Street, a short walk from the Nassau cruise terminal. You can also find numerous ATMs around downtown.

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Top things to do in Nassau

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 also hosts a robust shopping and dining scene, and visitors would do well to explore the area’s rich history. You can book excursions through your cruise line or independently.

Related: Best shore excursions for Bahamas cruises

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 Cable Beach does not offer day passes, visitors not staying on-site can play in the casino, visit the property’s restaurants, bars and shops, book a spa treatment and play golf there.

ResortPass offers day passes to the Baha Bay water park (at the swanky Baha Mar complex) for $146 per adult and $60 per child, which include 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.

ResortPass also sells day passes to the British Colonial Nassau hotel — which recently reopened after a total renovation — for $89 per adult and $35 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 also offer premium beach experiences 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 adviser 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 the calm waters, enjoy kayaking, water-biking or snorkeling tours, relax on floats or inner tubes or chill out 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 Cove’s Dive Bahamas, where they can experience snorkeling, diving and swimming with sharks.

Historic sites

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 Gov. 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.

Visitors can take a DIY approach to exploring Nassau’s history 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 eye-catching pink colonial-era facades of the House of Assembly, Senate Building and Supreme Court of the Bahamas. A statue of Queen Victoria has presided over the square since 1905.

Bahamian culture was also shaped by enslaved Africans brought to the territory 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 as 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 villages in the 1800s, and their descendants still maintain their African heritage. Cultural and sightseeing tours to these villages are available. Nassau’s Pompey Museum of Slavery & Emancipation also features a permanent exhibit on the African experience in the Bahamas.

The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas is a great find for art lovers. Housed in the lovely 1860s-era Villa Doyle, the museum showcases historic and contemporary Bahamian art throughout its four gallery spaces.

Best beaches near 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 is about a 15-minute walk from the 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. The beach does not offer many amenities, though locals usually parade up and down the beach, offering chairs for rent and beverages for sale.

Cable Beach

Cable Beach is about a 20-minute drive from Prince George Wharf. Get there via a local taxi or cheaper alternative, the number 10 bus, which charges $1.25 per ride. The 2 1/2-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 Nassau, which offer a full array of water sports activities. Cruise passengers can purchase day passes to enjoy resort amenities. Day passes for Sandals are $340 per person. Margaritaville resort day passes cost $145 for adults and $63 for guests ages 12 and under; these prices decrease slightly when part of a Margaritaville at Sea cruise package.

Related: Bahamas cruise packing list: What to pack for the islands

Other top Nassau beaches

Montagu 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.

West of the cruise port, Saunders Beach is popular with both visitors and locals. Continue down Bay St. to reach the beach at Goodman’s Bay, which features recreational facilities for children and is popular among joggers and exercise enthusiasts.

Past Cable Beach, a small bridge connects Sandyport Beach to the Sandyport resort development. Continue west to reach Delaporte Beach, located near the former plantation village of Delaporte.

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. Bay Street is lined with shops, restaurants and bars, and cruisers who are so inclined can spend the day walking the area.

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 stop at popular spots, including Cable Beach.

Other transportation: You can usually catch ferries to many nearby attractions. It’s also possible to rent a car or motor scooter.

Nassau restaurants near the cruise port

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 packed with island flavor.

Visitors will find a variety of spots serving local favorites like conch fritters — bite-size flakes of conch meat and vegetables fried in batter and seasoned with goat pepper, hot sauce and sea salt. 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 johnnycakes, a dense and slightly sweet bread often served at breakfast.

An array of Nassau food experiences — from casual to upscale — await visitors. For example, the Potters Cay conch shacks sit 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 fritters and other 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 adviser) 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 Potters Cay purveyors, with a shack positioned first on the bridge’s west end.

For a different Bahamas experience, head to Graycliff Restaurant, about a 15-minute walk or a brief taxi ride from the port. The restaurant is in the Graycliff Hotel, an 18th-century mansion built by the famous pirate captain John Howard Graysmith. You can 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, might be the 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, plus handmade garments in bright tropical colors. Nassau’s Bay Street retail district is steps from the cruise ship dock, but there are plenty more hidden shopping spots worth venturing out for as well.

Virtually adjacent to the 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 board 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.

Another cruise port standout, Bahama Hand Prints sells clothing, accessories and home decor constructed out of its original brightly colored and patterned fabrics. The company was created by two local artists in 1966, and the store’s merchandise continues to be produced in-house.

Outside the port, Bay Street features a proliferation of high-end, designer stores selling luxury goods, including apparel, jewelry, cosmetics and fragrances.

If you’re willing to take a taxi to your shopping destination, Craft Cottage Bahamas is located within steps of the Doongalik Studios art gallery in eastern Nassau. It’s a great place to support local artists by purchasing art, jewelry, bath products and other gift items with Bahamian flair. While you’re there, check out the studio’s current exhibitions featuring Bahamian artists and craftspeople; the building itself is an example of traditional Bahamian architecture.

Free things to do in Nassau

If you don’t want to spend any cash when you get to Nassau, plenty of activities in the Bahamian capital won’t cost you a dime.

Since you’re 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, which sits atop Bennett’s Hill. Ascend to the top of the staircase to reach the fort, constructed in the late 1700s. From there, you can enjoy sweeping views of downtown Nassau, the harbor and the cruise ship dock.

Nassau’s historic district and Bay Street are also within walking distance of the port — and window shopping 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. It’s no wonder Nassau’s Caribbean flavor, warm temperatures and beautiful natural environment have kept the port a staple on cruise itineraries.

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