Exceptional return to cruising. Yet visitors are missing out on genuine colonial-era history if they dont also spend time exploring the historic architecture and attractions located steps from the cruise pier. Saunders Beach: Spend free time on one of Nassau's most inviting beaches; also a popular swimming spot for the locals. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Nassau Shore Excursion: Bahamas Snorkel Adventure. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Tropical beach bars, food, and a Starbucks are available on the island for an extra cost. Nassau's best activities can be broken down into a few categories: Beaches Islands for a beach day Day passes at resorts Adventures on and in the water Food & drink History & museums Walk around downtown Nassau Beaches New Providence Island, where Nassau is located, has plenty of beaches to choose from. Atlantis is a world in itself with such an array of attractions - beaches, shops, water park, golf course, and casino - that all cruise lines offer at least half a dozen different tours to fully enjoy this site. And, don't forget that the Chase travel portal offers excursions bookable with cash or Ultimate Rewards points. A cheaper alternative is the No. Kick back and relax during this amazing 6-hour cruise featuring our famous barbecue! However, if your itinerary visits several islands where you want to snorkel, it might be worth it to bring your own gear as opposed to booking excursions or gear rentals. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Start Times: There is a small fee to enter the museum. Start Times: 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 bridges west end. I decided to check it out for myself and see what it offers. Experience the beautiful clear waters, white-sand beaches, and warm tropical sun from this hidden gem of an island. The waterscape includes lagoons, pools, and habitats for marine animals. Service was slow and they seemed very over worked. Port of Nassau Requirements - My Experience. Adventure Pool 5. It's truly one of my family's favorite places in the world. No matter your style, there are plenty of activities for you to see and do on this lovely island. A hybrid sea and land tour is also available, where guests start the tour on a catamaran and end with a land tour of downtown Nassau. . Guests will travel to Pearl Island via boat from the cruise port and spend the day relaxing on the islands beaches, enjoying a traditional Bahamian lunch, walking around the islands paths, and participating in water activities. With these staggering numbers, it's easy to see that Nassau is truly a spot you won't want to miss. It's also close to Paradise Island, home to the world-famous Atlantis Resort. The Heritage Museum of the Bahamas takes visitors on a journey from pre-historic times in the Bahamas to today. Best Nassau, Bahamas shore . A simple, yet elegant wedding on one of Nassau's loveliest beaches. ShoreTrips' many shore excursions in Nassau reveal its Caribbean elegance. Nassau, the capital city of The Bahamas and one of the most popular ports of call for Caribbean cruises, has set a passenger record with an astonishing 28,554 guests visiting from cruise ships in a single day on Monday, February 27, 2023. Cultural and sightseeing tours to these villages can be arranged. *Selections and optional choices will be made during checkout. An island tour with history and adventure. Virtually adjacent to the cruise port is Festival Place, an outdoor bazaar featuring 45 vendors selling crafts, food and drinks. Nassau and New Providence Island have a good number of attractions, landmarks, and sites to explore, which all cruise lines offer on shore excursions with different packages and all sorts of combinations. This is so cool. Day visitors have the chance to. Beautiful, relaxing, FUN. Sail Date: July . However, we are both vaccinated and healthy. (Additional volunteers after initial 2 for up to 6 total volunteers), (Additional volunteers after initial 2 for up to 5 total volunteers), (Age 3 and Under - Encounter and Beach Combo with a participating, paying adult), (Private boat for up to 4 divers with private instructor), (Private boat for up to 8 divers with private instructor), (Charter for up to 6 people, 4 fishing at a time. We were the 6th time out, and the staff told us that several things that weren't allowed were starting to be added back, such as the dance party on pool deck in, My wife and I are regular cruisers on Royal Caribbean, so while I am not normally the type to write reviews, it would seem helpful to add insight to the relatively new experience of post-Covid cruising out of the Bahamas by writing about our July 2021 cruise. Day 1 - Miami, Florida. Royal Caribbean offers the Island Food & Culinary Insight tour, which takes guests on an air-conditioned ride around Nassau to taste local food and drinks. Thrill Waterpark 4. 9:00 AM If you want to get a taste of city life, take a walking tour of downtown and nearby sightseeing destinations. Junkanoo is the most popular festival in the Bahamas. Nassau is a surprisingly diverse port. Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. The shop offers an extensive and impressive array of handcrafted jewelry, painted glass, straw bags and accessories including homemade soaps and bath products. You will have the opportunity to ride an underwater motorbike and enjoy the splendor of a shallow reef. By bus: Nassaus public buses are known as jitneys and offer a thrifty and convenient alternative to car rentals or taxis. Likewise, many cruise passengers skip Nassau altogether and stay on the ship, believing that there is nothing worth seeing or doing on the island. Nassau is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, receiving around 3 million cruise passengers per year. A line-by-line guide, 12 giant ships that are packed with fun features, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Original paintings, carvings and craftwork, Handmade garments in bright tropical colors. Spend the day on water trampolines, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. It's a five-star Caribbean restaurant complete with a delicious wine tasting. Junkanoo Beach is approximately a 15-minute walk from the cruise port, offering travelers an inexpensive and convenient way to enjoy some sun and fun. I have cruised many times and had Nassau as a port of call at least three times before and I have never gotten off the ship. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! It is, however, a warm-weather destination on the edge of the Caribbean and shares many of its cultural traditions, cuisine and music. The translucent, crystal clear waters of The Bahamas are an invitation for snorkeling. This was one of the best cruises we have been on primarily for that reason. 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. Nassaus 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 in search of a daylong all-inclusive experience. We booked a shore excursion through our cruise line Royal Caribbean to go on a tour of different places in Nassau. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. 11:45 AM, Start Times: Or, spend 10,000 points plus $140. 8:40 AM Introducing the new, fun Sea Lion Encounter a first in the Bahamas! Snorkeling equipment is included for VIP guests. Learn the basics of scuba diving and enjoy your first dive alongside your professional instructor in a perfect setting for those new to the sport. Its also possible to take a taxi to reach Nassaus best-kept secrets when it comes to hand-crafted, original art and crafts, plus apparel and home goods: Established in 1966 by artists Helen Astarita and Berta Sands, Bahama Hand Prints (near the corner of Ernest Street and Okra Hill) offers bold and brilliant designs across a wide range of garments, accessories and home furnishings. Please refresh the page and try again. Several historic sites around Nassau recognize this influence, including Adelaide, Fox Hill and Gambier. The ingredients combine to provide the rice its signature brown coloring. The Baha Mar is another luxury resort located on Paradise Island. Guests interested in Bahamian art and culture may want to visit the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas. Splash. Enjoy a great shallow water encounter with these lovable mammals, with access to the Blue Lagoon resort. Potter's Cay. Swim, play, hug, kiss, and dance with dolphins - what a cool experience! $$= $51-99. Cruise travelers whose ships arrive early in Nassau may want to take the approximately one-hour drive to Stuarts Cove, where they can experience snorkeling, diving and swimming with sharks. The first day of the cruise was a port in Nassau. This Nassau shore excursion tour is the easiest way to get to know the Bahamas' capital city in just a few hours, without having to worry about planning transport. You can also explore Paradise Island's popular Atlantis Resort and its legendary Aquaventure water park. The information for the Hilton Aspire Amex card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. Renowned for its wine cellar with over 250,000 bottles from over 400 vintners in 15 countries, the Graycliff Hotel is equally praised for its Cigar and Chocolate factories that are a delight to tour. Dive with this first-rate dive shop that was recently featured in National Geographic. 1:00 PM. . The territory of the Bahamas includes 700 islands and 2,000 rocks and cays spread across 100,000 square miles of the North Atlantic Ocean. All cruise lines offer this type of tour with stops and photo ops in places like the Fort Charlotte, Queens staircase, the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay among others. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Related: 8 Perfect Cruise Line Private Islands for Every Type of Traveler There was something available for everyone no matter the age. Updated: September 11, 2022 The Blue Lagoon Island excursion is on of the main attractions in The Bahamas, and just a 40-minute - 3 miles (5 km) - scenic boat ride away from the cruise port in Nassau. The expanded berths are certainly delivering on the sizeable investment that we have made in them, creating the additional capacity required to achieve this extraordinary new record today.. 1:30 PM. Discover Nassau for an introduction to the Bahamas' best and most beautiful highlights, including downtown Nassau, Paradise Island, Atlantis Resort, Junkanoo Beach, Arawak Cay, and Nassau Harbor. By taxi: Taxi operators are staged around the Prince George Wharf area. Start Times: 144. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. Passengers looking to set sail and explore Nassau from the sea have plenty of options. It's our favorite Royal Caribbean cruise excursion. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Montague Beach is situated east of the Paradise Island Bridge and is home to a historic fort constructed in the 18th century. Pearl Island - Highlights. A long walk down the beach will bring visitors to Atlantis, where they can pose for their prerequisite Instagram shot. Afterward, the fun of your . Visitors to Nassau can choose to bring their own snorkel gear or book a snorkeling excursion through Royal Caribbean or an outside provider. There's no shortage of great beaches in and around Nassau. Flavors include pineapple, chocolate, caramel, Irish cream, Kentucky honey bourbon, and the original rum cake with pecans. Blue Lagoon Island is another small island north of downtown Nassau. Snorkel at a combination of Nassau's famous reefs, Hollywood sites, and shipwrecks on this half day cruise snorkeling trip. Paradise Island, positioned immediately to Nassaus north, 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) as well as restaurants, shops and nightlife. A huge aspect of discovering new cultures is trying new foods, and Nassau offers plenty of opportunities to do so. ", Related: Are drinks packages on cruise ships worth it? We sorted through the choices to find you the best Bahamas shore excursions. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Background, wife and I are longtime cruiser almost exclusively with Royal Caribbean. 12:15 PM. At Shore Excursions Group, we offer an incredible variety of Bahamian sightseeing island tours sure to impress. Craft Cottage Bahamas is the premier showcase for locally made home dcor, glassware, jewelry, soaps, clothing and artwork in Nassau. The benefit of booking with a tour as opposed to snorkeling on your own is that you do not have to pack snorkeling gear with you for the cruise. The information on this page was accurate when last updated and published but changes may have occurred without notice.It is advisable to confirm details with local your cruise line or local tourist information before planning your cruise, excursions and tours of Nassau.If any inaccuracies are found or if there are any suggestions to improve the content of this page please let us know. 8:00 AM Related: Disney Cruise Line review Sailing Disney Wonder. Choose three of our most popular excursions bundled together for a special discounted price. A specific reason we chose this cruise was the requirement that all guest, We chose this cruise for a few reasons. $$$$=$200-499. Several hotels and resorts in Nassau offer day passes, which allow cruise ship guests to access the resorts amenities for the day. Besides being a great place to sample an authentic Bahamian lunch featuring the freshest conch fritters and local dishes, the Potters Cay shacks are a great place to interact with locals, other visitors and the chefs themselves as they chat about the days catch and argue over a game of dominoes. What started as baskets to carry fruit and other . One way around this is to find a nearby restaurant or bar when you need a restroom. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. Hand-crafted cocktails available include the Canchera Rum, which is made with amber rum, Bahamian honey, lemon juice, and club soda, and Skylarkin, made with pale and coconut rum, coconut pulp, coconut water, and nutmeg. Sandyport Beach is connected by a small bridge to the Venice-like resort Sandyport development near Cable Beach. Or relax in front of the iconic lighthouse while enjoying a frozen drink and freshly made conch salad. Nassaus Pompey Museum features a permanent exhibit on the African experience in the Bahamas. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. A line-by-line guide. However, exploring them on a Bahamas shore excursion is the best way to experience these paradise islands. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Scuba diving opportunities are also plentiful in Nassau. How to plan a cruise with points and miles, The best Caribbean cruise for every type of traveler, Disney Cruise Line review Sailing Disney Wonder, 21 tips and tricks that will make your first cruise go smoothly, Everything you need to know about tipping on a cruise ship, 8 cabin locations on cruise ships that you definitely should avoid, The TPG guide to travel insurance for cruises, Are drinks packages on cruise ships worth it? Modified Date: Feb 28, 2023. As a VIP guest on Blue Lagoon Island, guests will receive lunch as well as unlimited Bahama Mama cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. The jitneys cost around $1.25 per person and stop at popular spots, including Cable Beach (see below). Balmoral Island, Pearl Island and Sandy Toes also offer private-island experiences near Nassau. Nassau is one of the most visited cruise ports in the Bahamas and one of the most popular cruising destinations in the Caribbean. Escape the bustle of the Nassau waterfront for some time on the beach and take a scenic Nassau harbor cruise to idyllic Pearl Island. 2023 INDEPENDENT QUEST LLC Florida - USA. Short on time? Sat Nassau Depart 9:00, We wanted to participate in the first sailing, shame on us for assuming it would be special. Are you a chocoholic? We caught the cruise bug after a 32 year hiatus (it's called putting kids thru school!) About 4-4.5 hours on the island with a delicious lunch included. There are tours offered by outside providers as well. Prices for the same tours can vary across cruise lines and third-party sellers, so tours are listed below by price ranges, using the following shorthand (per adult): $= $0-50. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Just about every conceivable water sport is available to Nassau visitors via cruise ship excursion. Most day passes range from $70-125. Rose Island, Spanish Wells Pigs, Exuma Pigs, Allens Cay Iguanas and more Options. Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles. Stuart Cove is also the diving provider for Royal Caribbean shore excursions. Cruise lines make a . We also offer plenty of snorkeling and scuba diving excursions for those who want to experience the Bahamas' exquisite marine life. Set sail in Bahamas' deep blue waters and learn how to catch Billfish and more on this private deep sea fishing tour in Nassau. The most basic shore excusion is titled "Discover Atlantis Tour", which can be combined with a day at the beach and many othe different activities. ShoreTrips' many shore excursions in Nassau reveal its Caribbean elegance. The best and the most popular shore excursions for passengers on a cruise to Nassau port: Reviews of Atlantis, Blue Lagoon, Scuba, Seaworld Explorer, Glass Bottom Boat, and more . By: Editor-in-Chief Update: January 6, 2023. Some day passes are all-inclusive, whereas others give guests a monetary voucher for food and drinks. Bay Street is lined with shops, restaurants and bars, and cruisers so inclined can spend the day strolling the area. The most popular tour is the Bites of Nassau Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour, during which guests stop at six tasting locations around downtown Nassau to taste local foods including steamed chicken, Caribbean rice, and rum cakes. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Photo Courtesy of Blue Lagoon Management The sumptuous restaurant features four air-conditioned dining rooms and a garden dining area, with each room decorated to reflect the Graycliffs origins as a private home. You can swim with the dolphins, interact with stingrays, snorkel with sharks, and have personal encounters with sea lions, all in their natural environment. Find excursions for your cruise itinerary Also, we picked this cruise line for the luxury and I actually thought Carnival is better. Cruise ships visiting Nassau dock at the Prince George Wharf within short walking distance of Bay Street and the downtown district. Beachbumps. The cabana also has a fully stocked cooler, complimentary towels, a power outlet, and ceiling fan. 9:00 AM. We went in knowing there would be kinks but as a family we were treated like lepers. In 2019, the Bahamas hosted 5.43 million cruise visitors, more than any other global cruise port, and it greeted nearly 1 million more travelers than Cozumel, Mexico, the next most-visited port. Start Times: You won't leave hungry on this food-oriented Nassau walking tour. Pearl Island is located eight miles east of Nassau. Relax and take in the quiet stretch of white sand, lined with tropical . Admission is $13.50 for adults and $6.75 for children 4-17. You can also look for a resort offering day passes. Seeing the islands from a ship is amazing on its own. Technically, it's not part of the Caribbean region. A password reset email has been sent. Please refresh the page and sign in if necessary. is a cruise expert with a focus on the Caribbean and Latin America. Answers to Your Cruise Questions. Itinerary Overview. The number of visitors is even more impressive when considering that, collectively, the six ships also brought 10,302 international crew members to the port, for a grand total of 38,856 guests in a single day. Swim with dolphins during one of our dolphin encounters, learn to scuba dive, enjoy snorkeling among stingrays and the beautiful Bahamian coral reefs, or dive down in your own personal SUB for a one-of-a-kind diving experience. Reaffirm your love for one another on an incomparable Bahamian beach. The boats crew are dressed as pirates who tell pirate tales, share history, and provide an immersive experience for guests onboard. #28 of 237 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Nassau Outdoor Activities, Boat Tours & Water Sports, Tours, More East Bay Street | East Bay Shopping Centre, Nassau, New Providence Island Open today: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Save Pearl Island Escape with Snorkeling Experience and Lunch 405 Book in advance from $115.00 per adult Things to Do in Nassau. A kid-friendly boat tour is Blackbeards Pirate Revenge, which takes guests around Nassau in an 18th century pirate ship replica. Interact with the dolphins in their sea water habitat. 279 Reviews Full Details Excursion Size:Standard Excursion Type:Cultural, Scenic Food/Beverage:Not Included Activity Level:Easy Excursion Duration:2 Hours and 30 Minutes Pearl Island Beach Escape Price: $105.00 Nassau, the capital city of The Bahamas and one of the most popular ports of call for Caribbean cruises, has set a passenger record . Related: 7 tips for visiting Atlantis on a budget. All rights reserved. The information on this page was accurate when last updated and published but changes may have occurred without notice. Blue Lagoon offers a gift shop, changing rooms, restrooms and shower facilities. Caribbean. The expansion will permit the port to welcome as many as three Oasis-class vessels simultaneously, further increasing its guest capacity. 1.1K. Yesterday, Nassau Cruise Port set a new single-day record welcoming 28,554 passengers with six ships in port. Experience an unforgettable day on Pearl Island, a unique private island minutes from Nassau. Nassau is extremely popular as a warm-weather getaway destination thats closer to the U.S. Atlantic Coast than most Caribbean basin countries. Your easy-to-ride beach cruiser is the perfect mode of transport for exploring Nassau. You can book a day pass to Pearl Island on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner or Pearl Islands website. Transportation, lunch, kayaks, paddleboards, beach chairs, water mats and trampolines, showers, and bathroom facilities are included in the day pass for guests. Guests will be greeted with the strong smell of fresh cake (and rum). Related: 12 giant ships that are packed with fun features. The ship sailed with 1100 passengers roughly. 1. The same excursion can be booked through Royal Caribbean for cruisers stopping at that line's private island, CocoCay. The tour makes stops at Tasty Teas, the World Famous Fish Fry, Potters Cay Dock, and John Watlings Distillery. per adult. In keeping with its atmosphere, the dress code is strictly enforced at Graycliff Restaurant with required lunch attire described as "elegant casual. Lunch is included in the excursion to Blue Lagoon as well, where you can enjoy hamburgers, chicken, veggie burgers, Caribbean rice, and a salad bar. 9:10 AM Start Times: The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. Guests looking for a more exclusive experience at Pearl Island can reserve a VIP Cabana. Nassau. Perfect Day Coco Cay Oasis Lagoon Aerial with Cabanas. 1 - 10 of 21 Royal Caribbean Nassau Cruise Reviews. 8:15 AM Numerous ATMs are also found around downtown. Day 3 - Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas. The Queens Staircase or 66 Steps are framed by lush gardens and link downtown Nassau with Fort Fincastle. Visit the private island of Balmoral where you'll get to see the famous Bahamian swimming pigs, or join one of our dolphin encounters for an up-close and personal experience with dolphins and sea lions. These tours were designed with you in mind. Aquaventure: Atlantis Aquaventure via Royal Caribbean Excursion - See 7,473 traveler reviews, 4,055 candid photos, and great deals for Nassau, New Providence Island, at Tripadvisor. But all other cruise travelers can book a beach break tour, including lunch, directly (on-line). 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.