What to See, Eat, and Do

The Bahamas is famend for its historical past and exquisite seashores, making it a beloved trip vacation spot. Its capital metropolis, Nassau, boasts one of many world’s busiest cruise ports, with hundreds of thousands of holiday makers yearly. The Nassau Cruise Port, also referred to as Prince George Wharf, hosts Caribbean cruise itineraries from dozens of strains, from Carnival and Royal Caribbean to Holland America, Celeb, and extra.

In the event you’re stopping quickly at this bustling port of name, contemplate this your information. We tapped a number of cruise specialists to share their prime recommendations on getting across the vacation spot, together with one of the best issues to see and do when in port, together with the highest excursions, seashores, eating places, sights, and extra.

Port Info

The Nassau Cruise Port at the moment provides a complete of six operational cruise ship berths. Lately, the port has “undergone a serious growth and renovation together with a brand new terminal, native retail area, and scrumptious meals and beverage services,” explains Jennifer Travis, a journey advisor at Marvelous Mouse Travels. Moreover, “As you get off the ship, there are trams that may assist company get each to the entrance of the port in addition to to the ship, which is ideal for purchasers with disabilities.”

It’s additionally value noting that the port is inside shut proximity of a few of Nassau’s hottest historic websites, retailers, eating places, and seashores. Whenever you disembark from the ship, you should definitely carry alongside necessities similar to money and bank cards, your passport, sunscreen, and your cellphone (bonus factors when you’ve got a conveyable charger, too!). In the meantime, says Travis, “Different objects are going to be depending on what you might be doing in Nassau; for instance, if it is a water exercise, contemplate bringing a towel, your bathing swimsuit, a hat, or a cover-up.”

Issues to Do in Nassau

There isn’t any scarcity of issues to see and do in Nassau. Make sure to spend a while strolling by means of the bustling downtown space. “Elizabeth Avenue is a good spot to stroll round and absorb all the historical past, together with the Queen’s Staircase and Fort Fincastle, whereas additionally testing the retail retailers,” says Travis. A couple of favorites embody A. Baker & Sons, a haberdashery based in 1894, or the well-known open-air Straw Market, the place you’ll discover handmade Bahamian crafts, equipment, and extra.

The Bahamas can be famend for its rum, which is finest loved — and skilled — at John Watling’s Distillery, a 20-minute stroll from the port. The historic distillery, housed in a hanging 18th-century property, provides tastings and improbable free excursions. Travis additionally recommends testing The Lucerne, which she describes as “a speakeasy that actually transports you to the time of prohibition and the rum-running historical past of the Bahamas.”

Across the nook from John Watling’s lies the Nationwide Artwork Gallery of the Bahamas (NAGB), which homes over 500 works inside an 1860s-era mansion. There’s additionally an amphitheater and an aptly named outside sculpture park known as Artwork Park that’s teeming with native flora, in addition to colourful murals and sculptures.

For genuine Bahamian food and drinks, make a beeline for Arawak Cay, which is dotted with mom-and-pop eating places and bars housed in colourful buildings. Beloved by locals and vacationers alike, this strip is residence to a few of The Bahamas’ signature eats, together with conch — for my part, finest loved in fritter or salad type. Wash it down with a traditional Bahama Mama or Sky Juice, a refreshing mixture of gin, coconut water, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gourmands will particularly recognize a go to to Graycliff Lodge, which boasts one of many world’s largest wine cellars (over 250,000 bottles!), together with an on-site chocolatier and a chic restaurant that provides wine luncheons and afternoon tea.

In fact, Nassau can be residence to a slew of gorgeous seashores for individuals who need to take in the solar — extra on that in a bit — in addition to a number of splashy water parks, together with Baha Bay Water Park at Baha Mar and Aquaventure Water Park at Atlantis Paradise Island.

Journey seekers and wildlife lovers also can partake in ample snorkeling and diving alternatives, together with the prospect to stand up near vibrant marine life. For the latter, Fora cruise advisor Cameron Tempest tells Journey + Leisure that there are “infinite choices” and that “standard spots embody the coral reefs and shipwrecks and arranged journeys to swim with dolphins and stingrays.”

Seashores Close to the Port

These seeking to hit the sand whereas they’re in Nassau needn’t journey removed from port. Junkanoo Seashore is the closest choice to the port, sitting roughly quarter-hour away on foot. The stretch of sand dotted with colourful oceanfront snack shacks is legendary for its vigorous environment, making it a favourite with vacationers who need to be on the heart of the motion. Don’t go away right here with out stopping at Tiki Bikini Hut for a chew (cracked conch, anybody?) washed down with a refreshing cocktail.

The two.5-mile-long, resort-lined Cable Seashore is one other wonderful choice — albeit a bit additional, a few 20-minute drive from the port — and it occurs to be Travis’ private favourite. “The sand and water right here is simply attractive!” she tells T+L. Whereas we wouldn’t blame you should you spent your whole afternoon posted up on the sand or wading within the ocean, water sports activities leases are additionally out there right here.

Tempest, in the meantime, particularly recommends Cabbage Seashore on close by Paradise Island, which is a few 15-minute cab trip from the port. Per the professional, this particular stretch of sand, which spans a complete of two miles, boasts “stunning surroundings and a vibrant environment.” It’s additionally a preferred spot for parasailing and waterskiing. The one caveat? “ It may possibly get extraordinarily crowded, particularly on weekends,” Tempest says.

Final however not least is Jaws Seashore, situated in Clifton Heritage Nationwide Park and eponymously named for the well-known flick filmed right here again within the ’70s. Travis notes that it’s usually uncrowded and effectively fitted to snorkeling and scuba, although the half-hour drive required to get right here from the port generally is a draw back for these on a brief cease. With that in thoughts, she says, be aware of the time — you don’t need to miss your boat.

In style Cruise Excursions From Nassau

Blue Lagoon Island, also referred to as Salt Cay, is a pristine non-public island simply three miles from Nassau (a few 20-minute boat trip from the port). “Whether or not you need to relax and sip fruity drinks together with your ft within the sand within the adults-only space, swim with dolphins, kayak, snorkel, [or] sip and paint, there’s actually one thing for everybody,” says Jennaca Boose, a journey advisor at Marvelous Mouse Travels. “It’s an awesome tour for multi-gen households touring collectively and searching for one thing to appease everybody.”

Animal lovers searching for a very distinctive expertise can go swimming with pigs. “You’re taking a ferry over to Pig Seashore within the Exuma cays to fulfill, feed, and work together with some swimming pigs,” says Travis.

In response to Tempest, many cruisers additionally buy day passes to resorts like Atlantis, Baha Mar, or Breezes, “which supply entry to swimming pools, seashores, waterparks, aquariums, and numerous facilities.” Per the professional, this can be a nice choice for households, because it permits for each kid-friendly enjoyable and waterfront leisure.

Getting Round

The island of New Windfall, which Nassau is situated on, is comparatively small (simply 21 miles lengthy and 7 miles huge), making getting round a breeze. Whereas some sights are inside strolling distance of the port, others are a brief drive away. Luckily, taxis are comparatively out there, they usually’re among the many hottest modes of transportation. In response to Boose, the cabs can be found “as quickly as you make your means off the pier close to Bay Avenue.”

“One other approach to get round Nassau is through the use of their Jitney buses,” says Travis. At about $1.50 for a one-way trip, these inexpensive buses cease at all kinds of locations, together with Cable Seashore.

Those that need to discover on their very own can lease a automobile, although be ready for the truth that they drive on the left within the Bahamas. Water taxis are additionally out there for offshore journey — Paradise Island, as an example, is a few 10-minute water taxi trip from the port.