For those looking into more active pursuits, the most popular tours invite the cruise traveler to explore the Aquaventure Water Park. Unlike some ports, Nassau is a port day you want to prepare for before arriving. Cable Beach is home to several top Nassau resorts and offers a full array of watersports activities. It seems you are not allowed to do that right now. That was huge. 9:00 AM Other tours available at Blue Lagoon Island include a segway and eco nature walking tour. Overall, we had a great time; although, we loved the Allure more. Day 4 - Cruising. 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. 9:30 AM There are tours offered by outside providers as well. Snorkel at a combination of Nassau's famous reefs, Hollywood sites, and shipwrecks on this half day cruise snorkeling trip. 12:50 PM. Just put on your sneakers, disembark your ship, take a few steps and start exploring. The first and most important that really hooked us was 2 major things, A voyager class ship that has been amped and has tons to do and 2 days at Coco Cay. Service was slow and they seemed very over worked. Learn More , The port Terminals Driving Tunnel Parking Highlights Shopping, Discover all Reviews and Travel Guides to The Most Popular Cruise Ports in the Caribbean. Things to Do at Perfect Day at CocoCay Bahamas for a Fee 3. We are a young (60) year old couple that enjoy life to its fullest and were celebrating our (40) year wedding anniversary. They offer Discover Scuba dives for first-time divers as well as dives for certified divers to the coral reels, shipwrecks, and walls around the island. A 15-20 minute boat ride from Nassau's port. Blue Lagoon Island is another small island north of downtown Nassau. During this perfect day, you'll serenely glide along tropical Caribbean waters. Paradise Island has something for everyone. Guests will be greeted with the strong smell of fresh cake (and rum). On foot: Many of Nassaus historic sites and the Bay Street retail district are within walking distance of the cruise ship pier and the downtown area. Plenty of Nassaus most historic sites are located just a 5 or 10 minute walk from the cruise port. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. Nassau offers a multitude of activities focused around the archipelagos beautiful blue waters and magnificent natural environment. There is a small fee to enter the museum. 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. Dont forget to bring your towel; chairs are available for rent chairs from vendors. Start Times: Several banks are located on Parliament Street, a short walk from the cruise terminal. Start Times: The shop offers an extensive and impressive array of handcrafted jewelry, painted glass, straw bags and accessories including homemade soaps and bath products. Please follow the instructions to reset your password. Home page with highlights and listing of reviews, port guides and articles. As a side note as much as I lo Interact with the dolphins in their sea water habitat. Beautiful, relaxing, FUN. This historic Caribbean city is one of the world's most popular cruise and snorkeling destinations, and it's easy to see why. Private Charter for up to 12 passengers on a 38ft Private Boat with Triple 300HP Engines. An unknown error has occurred. 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. 1:00 PM. All Rights ReservedDuplication in part or whole without prior written consent is prohibited by international laws. Both cards offer hefty welcome bonuses, 130,000 and 150,000 points, respectively, after you meet the required spend of $2,000 within the first three months of account opening for the Surpass and $4,000 in the first three months of account opening for the Aspire. Technically, it's not part of the Caribbean region. Answers to Your Cruise Questions. Wave Pool 6. Virtually adjacent to the cruise port is Festival Place, an outdoor bazaar featuring 45 vendors selling crafts, food and drinks. 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. The translucent, crystal clear waters of The Bahamas are an invitation for snorkeling. 12 Coolest Slides On Cruise Ships Long Weekend Cruises 10 bus, which charges around $1.25 per person. Feel like a time traveler as you explore the historic side of Nassau via ATV. Currency: The Bahamian dollar is equivalent to the U.S. dollar. ACCESSIBLE SHORE EXCURSIONS Explore in Comfort with Accessible Shore Excursions Immerse yourself in our destinations with Accessible Shore Excursions, unique cultural excursions that accommodate scooters, wheelchairs, walkers and more. Enjoy a great shallow water encounter with these lovable mammals, with access to the Blue Lagoon resort. Both are widely accepted, and generally, it's not necessary to exchange money. Nassau Private Charters - Exuma, Spanish Wells Swimming Pigs, Rose Island. Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean all sail here, as does luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises, premium cruise operators Celebrity Cruises and Oceania Cruises and budget operator Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. Find excursions for your cruise itinerary Craft Cottage Bahamas is the premier showcase for locally made home dcor, glassware, jewelry, soaps, clothing and artwork in Nassau. Only offered onboard by Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises, this excursion to the pristine Balmoral Island (a private atoll) is an excellent way to spend the day in Nassau. Stops include a favorite family owned "down home" eatery serving soul-warming Bahamian classics, locally sourced jams, salts, and island bush teas from a specialty spice merchant, and Nassau's best Euro-Caribbean fusion and an organic, fair trade Chocolatier featuring hand-made truffles by an award winning pastry chef will guarantee you experience a taste of Nassau. Reaffirm your love for one another on an incomparable Bahamian beach. A password reset email has been sent. Pearl Island - Highlights. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. 2. Two the standard that RCI promotes. These three historic villages were settled by liberated Africans in the 1800s and still maintain their African heritage. The highlight, however, may be the hotels five-star restaurant, an elegant eatery with a menu combining continental and Bahamian traditions. While Nassau sometimes gets a bad rap as a touristy port of call and is often inundated by cruise travelers, the Bahamas capital city is actually a diverse port with an impressive array of historic attractions, a variety of beach experiences, distinctive cuisine and extensive shopping opportunities. 12:00 PM. Royal Caribbean has not released all the health protocols and changes for Adventure of the Seas restarted sailings from The Bahamas, but expect to only be able to go on cruise line shore excursions. Johnny cake: Made of flour, milk, butter, sugar and baking powder, this breakfast food is more bread than cake, with a texture that combines dense bread with a slightly sweet cake. However, locals parade up and down the beach offering chairs for rent and beverages sale. Take 4 hours out of your vacation to give something back to the people of the Caribbean. 7:45 AM The Bahamas Rum Cake Factory was established in 2000 and has since been named the Official Rum Cake of the Bahamas. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, Carnival Cruise Line Nassau Cruise Reviews, Vantage Deluxe World Travel Nassau Cruise Reviews. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. 11:45 AM. Water sports (kayaks, snorkeling gear, paddleboards, etc.) 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. There are a handful of Nassau food experiences visitors should definitely target during their day in port, from the casual to the exclusive. Nassau is extremely popular as a warm-weather getaway destination thats closer to the U.S. Atlantic Coast than most Caribbean basin countries. Nassau Straw Market. Other Black people traveled to the Bahamas directly from Africa, Bermuda and Haiti, some enslaved by ex-British loyalists from Georgia and South Carolina, and others as ex-soldiers who won their freedom fighting for the British during the American Revolutionary War. We caught the cruise bug after a 32 year hiatus (it's called putting kids thru school!) Private operators, including those who booked tours with guests separate from the cruise line, will be found beyond the first group. Indeed, the modern cruise industrys first itineraries in the 1970s focused on three- and four-day Bahamas sailings from Miami. 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. It's a five-star Caribbean restaurant complete with a delicious wine tasting. A small fee is required to enter the museum and optional guided tours are available. General admission to Baha Bay is currently $160, while junior admission (guests under 48) is $65. Downtown Nassau is home to several museums which can be a nice activity to do on days with poor weather or after you return to the cruise port from a shore excursion. 39. Pedal your way through Nassau with this unique tour that takes you along beautiful beaches, to Fort Charlotte and to the Conch Salad show. Located on New Providence Island, Nassau's sightseeing opportunities, crystal clear blue waters, and white sand beaches make it a truly remarkable tropical vacation destination. and after 2 wonderful cruises on the Vista 2018 and Symphony 2019 we couldnt wait to get back. This convenient 90-minute cruise showcases the best attractions on the island. John Watlings Distillery is a distillery located on a historic estate founded in 1789. If you feel like ditching the beach chairs and treating yourself to a Bahamian dining experience, you can enjoy a unique meal at Graycliff. Language: English is the official language. Adventure Tours. Experience the beautiful clear waters, white-sand beaches, and warm tropical sun from this hidden gem of an island. Remember These Things to Do in Nassau, Bahamas. Most beaches are free and open to the public, and some are located just a short walk from the cruise terminal. Those looking to experience the rest of the resort can purchase day passes. You can normally see your cruise ship from the nearby beach, and vendors selling buckets of ice-cold Kalik and Sands beer (the local favorites) can be found lining the beach. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Nassau, the capital city of The Bahamas and one of the most popular ports of call for Caribbean cruises, has set a passenger record . 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. VIP guests will have a lounge chair in the adults-only VIP beach. If that's not enough, we've also got tons of SCUBA tours, dolphin swims, and trips to the Blue Lagoon. 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. You can, of course, do a food tour on your own by walking or taking a taxi to the popular bars and restaurants in Nassau. Royal Caribbean offers tours such as the Discover Nassau Harbor Cruise, which brings guests on a scenic catamaran ride around Paradise Island as they learn about the history and culture of Nassau. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. With the expansion of Nassaus docks and ship capacity, the destination is expecting as many as 1,260 cruise ship calls in 2023, for a total of nearly 4 million passengers. The ship sailed with 1100 passengers roughly. Ready? Conch fritters are bite-sized flakes of conch meat fried in batter seasoned with goat pepper, hot sauce and sea salt, plus common Bahamian vegetables. The cabana also has a fully stocked cooler, complimentary towels, a power outlet, and ceiling fan. I decided to check it out for myself and see what it offers.