NassauCruise Port Guide
You dock right at Bay Street. Timed plans, real tour prices, and the downtown sights a few minutes' walk away.
Welcome to Nassau
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Nassau: Sunken Sculpture Snorkel at Pearl Island with Lunch
A short ferry hop to Pearl Island to snorkel over a sunken plane and underwater statues, then a Bahamian lunch and time on two beaches. The 11:00 session runs five hours, so it suits a long port day, and snorkelers must be 8 or older.
From $90/ person
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Fast Track Swimming Pigs: Ultimate Rose Island Escape
A boat out to Rose Island to meet its famous swimming pigs, with a rustic beach bar for food and drinks. It leaves downtown Nassau at 9:30 or 11:30, with check-in 30 minutes before, so pick the departure that leaves the most time before all-aboard.
From $69/ person
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Nassau: Cultural Walking Tour of Downtown Nassau Attractions
A guided walk up to the Queen's Staircase and Fort Fincastle, then through the National Art Gallery, a rum distillery, Graycliff's chocolate shop and the Straw Market. It meets about three minutes from the pier at 11:00, and doesn't run on Mondays.
From $55/ person
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Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Nassau in 3 hours
ATV Tour
Nassau ATV Tour
Drive your own ATV to the Rum Cake Factory, the Queen's Staircase and a small-batch distillery with a local guide. Sessions at 9:00, 12:00 and 15:30; drivers need a license and must be 18 or older.
From$120.25
Time required2 hours 30 minutes
Boat Party
Adults-Only Booze Cruise
A 21-and-over harbour cruise to Athol Island with drinks, snorkeling and a swim with friendly pigs. It leaves from downtown Nassau, with sessions listed at 9:30 and 12:15.
From$125
Time required2 hours 30 minutes
Nassau in 5 hours
Swimming Pigs
Swimming Pigs, Turtles & Snorkel
A small-group boat trip to swim with the pigs, look for sea turtles and snorkel, with drinks and snacks aboard. It meets on Woodes Rogers Walk by the port at 10:00; arrive 15 minutes early.
From$150
Time required3 hours
Sail & Snorkel
Sail & Snorkel Catamaran
A custom-built sailing catamaran out to a snorkel stop in Bahamian waters. It leaves from slip 7 at the Paradise Island ferry terminal, behind Margaritaville, at 9:00 or 13:00, so allow time to get across the harbour.
From$109.90
Time required3 hours 30 minutes
Swimming Pigs
Rose Island Swimming Pigs
A boat out to Rose Island to meet the swimming pigs, with a rustic beach bar on the sand. Departs downtown Nassau at 9:30 or 11:30, with check-in 30 minutes earlier.
From$69
Time required4 hours
Nassau in 7 hours
Island Snorkel
Pearl Island Sculpture Snorkel
Snorkel a sunken plane and underwater statues off Pearl Island, then lunch, kayaks and two beaches. One 11:00 session, round-trip ferry included; arrive 15 minutes early.
From$90
Time required5 hours
Catamaran Day
Party Catamaran to Rose Island
A full-day catamaran to a private beach on Rose Island with snorkeling, the swimming pigs and a Bahamian lunch. It runs 10:00 to 3:45 from Margaritaville on Paradise Island, so it only works with a late-afternoon all-aboard.
From$130
Time required6 hours
Within a stroll of the boat
Six stops on foot from the cruise terminal at Festival Place, all within about 15 minutes. Distances are straight-line, so allow a few extra minutes for streets, and remember traffic drives on the left.
Drinks · 0.1 mi · ~4 min
Pirate Republic Brewing
The Bahamas' first craft brewery pours from 16 taps a few steps along the waterfront from the terminal. An easy first or last stop of the day.
Plaza · 0.1 mi · ~4 min
Parliament Square
Pink colonial government buildings and a statue of Queen Victoria, just across Bay Street from the port. The quickest bit of history in town.
Eat · 0.1 mi · ~5 min
Bahamian Cookin'
A family-run lunch spot cooking Bahamian food since 1986: conch fritters, conch chowder, and peas and rice. Open for lunch, Monday to Saturday.
Market · 0.2 mi · ~5 min
Straw Market
Nassau's big covered craft market, between Bay Street and the water, full of straw work, carvings and souvenirs.
Museum · 0.2 mi · ~6 min
Pompey Museum of Slavery & Emancipation
A small museum on slavery and emancipation in Vendue House, an 18th-century building on Bay Street that was once a marketplace.
Beach · 0.6 mi · ~13 min
Junkanoo Beach
The closest public beach, under a mile west of the port along the shore. The State Department advises never swimming alone and staying alert on downtown beaches.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Nassau.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
- Nassau Cruise Port — berth information
- Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board — getting around
- Atlantis Paradise Island — day passes
- The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism — island FAQ
- Royal Caribbean — will the ship wait?
- Nassau Cruise Port — FAQ
- Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board — things to know
- Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board — travel information
- US State Department — Bahamas travel advisory
- T-Mobile — roaming on cruises
- Bahamas Ministry of Tourism — cruise port Welcome Desk FAQ
- The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism — Bahamian Cookin'
Getting ashore
Can you walk from the Nassau cruise port to downtown?
Yes — Nassau's cruise terminal at Prince George Wharf is a short walk from downtown, and Nassau Cruise Port puts the city centre just 0.3 miles away. Parliament Square is about 4 minutes on foot and the Straw Market about 5. Ships at berths 5 and 6, further east along the wharf, add roughly 5 minutes. The stroll map has six easy stops.
Atlantis & Paradise Island
How do I get to Atlantis from the cruise port?
The quickest way to Atlantis from Nassau's cruise port is by boat: the tourism board lists a ferry from Woodes Rogers Wharf to Paradise Island for about $7 per person, roughly 10 minutes each way. Atlantis says cruise passengers can also board its ferry at the port's ferry terminal, every 30 minutes from 9 am to noon. Taxis go too, at a set zone fare plus the Paradise Island bridge toll.
Can I buy an Atlantis day pass on my own?
Yes — Atlantis sells Aquaventure day passes to non-resort guests, and you need one to use its water park, marine habitats, resort pools and beaches. Atlantis doesn't publish a fixed price; it varies by date and season, so check the resort's day-pass page for your port day. Its ferry for cruise passengers leaves the Nassau Cruise Port ferry terminal every 30 minutes from 9 am to noon.
Getting around
How much are taxis from the Nassau cruise port?
Nassau taxis don't use meters: fares are set by zone, according to the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board, and cover two passengers, with extra charges for more people and luggage, plus the bridge toll if you're heading to Paradise Island. Not every taxi takes cards, so carry cash, and The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism says drivers usually get about 15% as a tip.
Time ashore
Is Nassau on the same time as the ship?
Usually yes — The Bahamas is on Eastern Time and follows Daylight Saving Time, so Nassau's clocks match Florida's all year, and a ship on Eastern time shows the same time as the town. Still plan around the all-aboard time your ship gives you: Royal Caribbean, for one, says the ship will not wait for guests who are late from their own plans.
Money
Do I need Bahamian dollars or can I use US dollars in Nassau?
No — US dollars work everywhere in Nassau: the Bahamian dollar is held at par with the US dollar, and The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism says both are accepted interchangeably on all islands. Some places take cards, though not every taxi does, and Nassau Cruise Port says ATMs on the PLUS and Cirrus networks are at the city's commercial banks.
Is gratuity included at Nassau restaurants?
Often, yes — Nassau restaurants frequently add a 15% gratuity to food and drink bills, according to the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board, so check your bill before tipping. Where it isn't included, about 15% is customary for waiters, and the board suggests leaving extra only for exceptional service.
Safety & health
Is it safe to walk around Nassau from the cruise ship?
Nassau calls for extra caution, not avoidance: the US State Department rates The Bahamas Level 2, "Exercise increased caution", because of crime, in an advisory updated July 27, 2026. It says most crime happens in Nassau and Freeport, and advises staying alert in Nassau's "Over the Hill" area, south of Shirley Street.
Are jet ski rentals in Nassau safe?
The US State Department urges caution with Nassau jet skis: it says boating in The Bahamas isn't well regulated, some watercraft operators are unlicensed or uninsured, and sexual assaults by jet ski operators have been reported. Its own staff may not rent jet skis or personal watercraft from independent operators on New Providence or Paradise Island.
Can you drink the tap water in Nassau?
Nassau's tap water is treated and generally considered safe to drink, but it can taste of chlorine or salt from desalination and older plumbing, so many visitors stick to bottled water. If water from a tap looks cloudy or tastes odd, switch to bottled.
Phones & Wi-Fi
Is there Wi-Fi at the Nassau cruise port?
Yes — Nassau Cruise Port offers free Wi-Fi at the terminal. Away from it, your phone roams on local Bahamian networks under your plan's international terms; T-Mobile notes that the ship's own cellular network is billed separately as cruise roaming, so check which network you're on before using data.
Beaches & food
Is it safe to walk to Junkanoo Beach from the ship?
Junkanoo Beach, Nassau's nearest public beach, is about a 15–18 minute walk west of the cruise port along the shore, according to the Ministry of Tourism. For the beach itself, the US State Department advises never swimming alone, watching for jet skis close to shore and staying aware of your surroundings: it says sexual assaults have occurred on and near downtown Nassau beaches.
Where can I find authentic Bahamian food near the port?
For Bahamian food near Nassau's port, Bahamian Cookin' on Trinity Place, a few minutes' walk away, has served conch fritters, conch chowder and peas and rice since 1986. The Ministry of Tourism also points cruisers to Arawak Cay's Fish Fry and Potter's Cay Dock; Arawak Cay is about 1.4 miles west of the terminal, roughly a 30-minute walk.