Nassau Cruise Port: Things To See in Nassau on Your Own
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Plan your one-day Nassau cruise stop with tips on do-it-yourself excursions, Atlantis options, and everything you need to explore the Bahamas cruise port solo.
Cruise Port of Nassau Bahamas: (Jump To)
Visiting Nassau on a Cruise Ship
The Nassau cruise port puts you steps from downtown, making it easy to plan things to do in Nassau, Bahamas without a tour. From quick beaches and Nassau Bahamas cruise port sights to DIY stops like the Straw Market, Fort Fincastle, and the Pirates of Nassau, you can see the best things to see in Nassau in a single day.
Nassau is the capital and largest city in the country of The Bahamas. The country consists of over 3000 small islands on an ocean Archipelago. The name of the island where Nassau is located is New Providence. Seventy percent of the country’s population lives on this island.
How To Get To Nassau From the Port
Ships dock at Prince George Wharf, and it’s a five- to ten-minute walk from the Nassau cruise port to downtown and the beach near the Nassau cruise port. For Atlantis on Paradise Island, grab a taxi, rideshare, or the water taxi from the pier—download a Nassau cruise port map and follow the signs from the terminal.
When you arrive at the port of Nassau you dock directly in the city center at Price George Wharf. From here it’s an easy walk to downtown Nassau. The majority of the attractions and shopping in town are easily accessible on foot.
What To See in Nassau, Bahamas on Your Own
Start with top things to do in Nassau like the Nassau Straw Market, Queen’s Staircase, Fort Fincastle, and Junkanoo Beach, then add a DIY peek at Atlantis if time allows. Whether you want beaches near the cruise port in Nassau, Bahamas, quick museum stops, or Nassau cruise excursions you can book yourself, this guide covers the best things to do in Nassau, Bahamas in one port day.
Nassau is pretty small and easy to navigate on your own. There is a good amount of souvenir shopping that caters to the cruise crowd.
Bahamas Rum Cake Factory
The most popular thing to purchase during your visit is Rum Cake. It’s basically a bundt cake soaked in rum. They are available in every souvenir shop, but the best place to get one is at the Bahamas Rum Cake Factory. Inside you’ll find free cake samples, stacks of boxed cakes for sale, and a few other gifts. You can peer into the bakery to see the cakes being made.
The Pirates of Nassau
While it is quite pricy to visit (currently USD$13.50 per person) The Pirates of Nassau is a necessary stop for pirate-loving children and adults. Exhibits detail the role of Nassau in the 18th-century Caribbean pirate heyday. The dioramas border on the cheesy in the same way the famous Disney attraction does. Overall it’s a fun hour inside.
Fort Fincastle
A slightly longer walk (or an easy cab ride) will take you to Fort Fincastle. The hilltop limestone fortress includes a lighthouse. There are a few signs and plaques with historical information. This is a great place for a skyline view of the island and harbor.
Fort Charlotte
A similar experience to Fort Fincastle. This is a former British fortress that is open for tours on a limited basis. The walk up to the fort is a bit treacherous, lacking sidewalks and crosswalks. Fincastle is a better option unless you’re really into Caribbean history.
Nassau Straw Market
The Nassau Straw Market is an indoor flea market with loads of local goods for sale. Each booth inside the market is a little bit different while also being quite similar. Feel free to haggle prices here, but you may find better prices elsewhere.
Atlantis Paradise Island
The mega-resort of Atlantis is a very popular thing to see on the island. The resort has a waterpark, aquarium, casino, and numerous pools. We visited the resort for a weekend (read about that visit here).
Currently, a day pass to the resort is USD$160 for people aged 12 or above. The waterpark is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It has the best lazy river we have ever been on and the world-famous tunnel waterslide through a shark tank.
For your money, it might be a better value to take a quick flight from Florida to Nassau and book a night at the resort at the start or finish of your trip. The rooms are not that expensive, and they all include full resort access.
You can walk around much of the resort for free. Many of the aquarium animals are easy to see without admission to the physical aquarium.
If you decide to visit, you must book your tickets a day in advance.
