Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. It lies on the island of New Providence, with neighboring Paradise Island accessible via Nassau Harbor bridges. A popular cruise-ship stop, the city has a hilly landscape and is known for beaches as well as its offshore coral reefs, popular for diving and snorkeling. It retains many of its typical pastel-colored British colonial buildings.

These days I often hear fellow cruisers complain about Nassau but in reality Nassau features all the charms of the Caribbean in one place. This cruise port has the beaches, the people, nature, the history and attractions that mix so well to give you a great cruise destination.

It’s always a good idea to set aside some little time to explore a port of call. Whether you go on a guided tour or a DIY exploration and here you can experience the culture, history, and heritage of Nassau. Your ship will dock at Prince George Wharf which is very large and able to accommodate 7 vessels at once. This cruise terminal is conveniently located near the heart of Nassau and it’s just a 10-minute walk to get to downtown Nassau.
Once you exit the pier you will find tourist’s information desks, taxi stations, and a festive center.  These facilities will provide you with everything you need to get your day in Nassau started, just don’t get overwhelmed with everyone wanting your attention.

So what are some things you can do? Well, if you are a beach person there are many beautiful beaches here. There is a lot of culture and history to explore. Check out the Queens Staircase and Fort Fincastle. The staircase was carved out of limestone rock by slaves in 1793. Parliament square has 3 pink and white Georgian neoclassical buildings that house the parliament and other government houses. Visit the Pirates of Nassau Museum to learn the history of the nation’s pirates.

Visit the iconic straw market located at the heart of Nassau Town on Bay street. The market displays gorgeous works of straw weaved in straw baskets, straw hats, carved wood animals, and sculptures. Besides that, you can also get beaded jewelry, t-shirts, clothing, and other popular port merchandise.

Visit the Ardastra Gardens. It’s a nice place to learn about the tropical animals of the Bahamas.

A lot of people like to visit Atlantis and enjoy all the activities available there with a day pass.

And there are many other things you can do too. Just jump online and explore the plethora of visitor websites.

Here are some photos of our first visit to Nassau: