Many of the best things to do in the Bahamas on a cruise happen in the remote islands of the Exuma Cays. Unfortunately, most cruise ships don’t make stops in the Exuma Cays because shallow waters prevent big vessels from docking there. This is both a curse and a blessing as it keeps the mass tourism in the north of the Bahamas and the southern Exumas become a sort of escape oasis.
The Exuma Cays are a collection of more than half of the islands and cays which make up the Bahamas. The islands a part of this chain are known for their eye-popping, contrasting colors and dramatic natural views and attractions
Exuma day trips are becoming a trendy alternative option to excursions based around the cruise port in Nassau. Tour companies are adjusting their transportation methods so you can arrive in the beautiful Exumas with the most amount of time for island hopping possible.
As you are sailing around the Caribbean, the last thing you want to be doing is planning things to do in the Bahamas on a cruise. Wouldn’t you rather be enjoying the environment while you are there and do your planning beforehand? Here at Bahamas Air Tours, let us assist you with all the places to visit in Bahamas so you are not stuck in the cruise port where everything is sensationalized and there is no sense of culture.
8 Things to do in the Bahamas on a Cruise
Hop on a plane, fly over some of the most serene views you will ever see all the way down the chain of Exuma islands on Staniel Cay day trips where you will have a plethora of excursions at your fingertips. After reading, you will know exactly what to do in the Bahamas.
1.Swimming with Pigs Bahamas on Pig Island
Join one of our swimming pigs tours to Pig Beach to see the Exuma pigs in the Bahamas on Big Major Cay. Our swimming pigs Nassau tour will be the best decision you make on your Bahamas vacation.
Learn proper Bahamas swimming pigs etiquette before your trip to Bahamas.
2. Wading in Caribbean waters with Reef Sharks
Compass Cay Marina is home to a sanctuary of Nurse and Reef sharks which tourists have the opportunity to get in the water with. These creatures are not dangerous unless they feel threatened. Although, sometimes that is hard to believe with these ten foot mammoths are brushing up on the side of you.
They hang out in the shallow waters so almost anyone can participate if you dare!
3. Spotting endangered Bahamian Rock Iguanas
The Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana used to be indiginous to only three islands in the world. Now, that number is down to one; Bitter Guana Cay in the Exuma Cays.
Take a hike around the island on your excursion to the Exumas and see if you can spot one of these rare giant iguanas. Some of them can reach up to four feet in length, though, you are more likely to spot one about half that size. This is of the perfect things to do in the Bahamas on a cruise.
4. Rocky adventures at Thunderball Grotto
James Bond once explored this cave-like grotto jutting from the sea in the 1965 British spy film, “Thunderball”, and now you can too.
What 007 fan would turn down the chance to live the adventure of a James Bond movie set? Sean Connery starred in the movie and now you are at the famous Bahamas Thunderball Grotto! Bring your snorkel and find the hidden entrances that lead you into the hollow rock formation where you will find an oasis of sea life, brightly-colored coral, and natural skylight carved overhead.
5. Take in the magnificent views from the sky
Your private plane to the Exumas will be like luxury you have never experienced before. Everyone gets their own window seat with the largest viewing windows aboard an aircraft in the world. You will have a dazzling bird’s eye view of one of the most spectacular views man has ever seen. And the best part is that our route from Nassau will take us directly over the heart of the chain of islands and cays all the way down to Staniel Cay.
It may be easy to look ahead at all the things to do in the Bahamas on a cruise excursion to the Exumas, but don’t forget about the incredible experience in the sky before you arrive!
Its easy to take a Cruise Excursion from the Nassau Cruise Port with Bahamas Air Tours.
6. Take a deep sea fishing day trip with an expert
The Bahamas is known to have some of the best fishing in the world. In the Exumas, you will find an array of exotic fish you probably have never tried before.
If you are going to travel all the way to the southern side of the country, you may as well come back home with a fresh catch for dinner.
You can rent a boat and a local fisherman as a guide for either a half day or full day. The guides are experts of the area and will put you right on top of the most lively fishing holes in the region.
7. Have a drink at the famed Staniel Cay Yacht Club
At a bar and don’t know what to do in the Bahamas? Staniel Cay Yacht Club is one of the oldest things to do in the Bahamas on a cruise. That is an easy one! Order a “Bahama Mama”, a tasty local cocktail. And there is no better place to have a drink than at Staniel Cay Yacht Club with all of its history and notoriety. Sean Connery used to frequent this place during the filming of “Thunderball” in the Sixties.
8. Dive around a sunken underwater plane wreck
The Colombian cartel used to use Norman’s Cay as a halfway point in smuggling drugs to the United States. Then, one night a cartel plane crashed just miles from Norman’s Cay into the shallow waters of the Caribbean. No one can know exactly what happened but the next morning the plane was found abandoned and loaded with marijuana.
Now, sitting ten feet under the water, it is one of the most accessible underwater plane wrecks in the world and you would be crazy not to grab your snorkel and check it out! It doesn’t take long to explore which makes it an awesome things to do in the Bahamas on a cruise.
Snorkel with exotic marine life and sunken planes as one of the top things to do in the Bahamas on a cruise.
Extra things to do in Nassau Bahamas
If you are itching for more things to do in the Bahamas on a cruise stop in Nassau, here are a few ideas:
Shop Local at the Straw Market
The Straw Market is a traditional open-air market of local vendors selling hand woven straw crafts, trinkets, and souvenirs for tourists. It is open every day until 5pm.
Taking a slow walk around the Straw Market is probably one of our favorite things to do in Nassau Bahamas.
Try Rum Cake
If you are limited on time, getting a taste of a local delicacy may be one of the easiest things to do in Nassau on a cruise excursion.
Rum Cake is simply caked baked with various flavors and Bahamian rum and tourists love it! Because of time restrictions, it is one of the easiest things to do in the Bahamas on a cruise.
Discover the renowned Atlantis Resorts
Many people consider a day pass to Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark to be one of the top things to do in Nassau on a cruise break. However, we would prefer heading south on a swimming with pigs Nassau tour.
Hit the sand at Junkanoo Beach
There are plenty of other things to do in the Bahamas on a cruise than Junkanoo Beach. It is one of the closest beaches to the cruise port (walking distance) and, therefore, typically crowded with tourists.
Not only that, but there are local vendors persistent enough in their nagging to get on your nerves. Unless there is no opportunity to get to another beach (like Jaw’s Beach), we try to steer clear of Junkanoo.
Local flavor at the port in Nassau.
Book Your Swimming Pigs Tours to Pig Island Today!
If looking for things to do in the Bahamas on a cruise, take a minute to think about yourself aboard a private luxury Bahamas air charter flying right over a region that astronauts have said is the most beautiful view of Earth from space.
The colors of the Exumas contrast so beautiful with its earthy greens and mixtures of azure blues and topped off with its fine white sand looking down from the pillowy-soft clouds from above.
If on a one day cruise to Bahamas, you must do all you can to make it to the Exumas. Allow Bahamas Air Tours to assist you on your Nassau to Staniel Cay day tour where we promise you will have the most exciting experience of your day trip to Bahamas.
There is no reason you should be trapped in the busy cruise port where you get dropped off. Organize a true Bahamas day trips by plane so you can explore all the places to visit in Bahamas. Bahamas Air Tours offers Day Trips to the Swimming Pigs at Staniel Cay direct from your cruise stop over in Nassau or Miami cruise ports.
Select images courtesy of the Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism.
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