With millions of visitors passing through it each year, Nassau Bahamas is the 5th busiest cruise ship port in the world. Given its popularity as a travel destination, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are many exciting things to do in Nassau Bahamas while on a cruise.
From learning about history on the island and lounging around the postcard-perfect beaches to embarking on day trips to the surrounding area, Nassau is a destination that has something to offer everyone. In fact, once they arrive, many travelers realize that the problem isn’t finding things to do in Nassau Bahamas on a cruise – it’s fitting everything you want to see into your itinerary.
In this post, we’re going to take a look at seven things anyone wondering what to do in Nassau port can enjoy.
Keep reading to discover more!
Things to Do in Nassau Bahamas While on a Cruise: 7 Activities
1. Hang Out at Junkanoo Beach
As you might expect, New Providence is full of gorgeous beaches you’ll want to spend some time at. But when you’re looking for things to do in Nassau Bahamas while on a cruise, Junkanoo beach is one beach you’ll really want to consider visiting.
Located right near the cruise ship port, Junkanoo beach is as accessible as it is beautiful. With soft white sand, palm trees swaying in the warm breeze, and azure water everywhere you look, a visit to Junkanoo beach is a great answer for anyone wondering what to do in Nassau port.
Junkanoo Beach is beautiful, lively, and conveniently located.
Besides offering spectacular views, Junkanoo Beach is also a lively and fun destination. With nearby shops and prime access to bars, restaurants, and shops, it’s an area you can spend hours exploring.
2. Sign up for an Exuma Day Trip
Although Nassau has a lot to offer, New Providence is just one of 700 islands that comprise the archipelago. Because of that, one of the best things to do in Nassau Bahamas while on a cruise is to sign up for a Nassau day trip to Pig Island in Exuma.
If you’re unfamiliar with it, Pig Beach is an uninhabited island home to a couple of dozen pigs. No one knows how exactly the Exuma Pigs arrived on their island, but the site has become one of the most well-known places in the Bahamas on account of how friendly the pigs are.
When you’re on a tight schedule and are looking for things to do in Nassau port, flying to the Exuma Cays on a day trip with Bahamas Air Tours is the best way to see the Swimming Pigs. Flying gets you to the Exuma Cays in 30 minutes, is much more comfortable than boat tours, and offers incredible views of the region from above.
In addition to meeting the pigs, a day trip also lets you do much more. From swimming with nurse sharks at Compass Cay to walking around sugar-white sandbars, a Swimming Pigs tour is one of the best things to do in Nassau Bahamas while on a cruise.
On a Swimming Pigs day trip, you also get to go swimming with sharks!
3. Visit Downtown
You’ll find some of the best things to do in Nassau Bahamas while on a cruise downtown. Luckily, this area is right by the cruise ship port, ensuring that it’s easy to make the most of your time.
Downtown has many exciting things to do in Nassau Bahamas while on a cruise.
From visiting museums, like the Pirates of Nassau, to stopping by the many cultural and historic sites in the area, like Parliament Square, the area has a lot to offer travelers. When you’re feeling hungry (or like you’re ready for a drink), you can choose from a plethora of lively restaurants and bars.
4. Explore Paradise Island
Previously known as Hog Island (not to be confused with Pig Island in the Exumas), Paradise Island is the premier resort island in the Nassau area. From Atlantis to The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort, Paradise Island is the place to stay for anyone looking for luxurious accommodations.
That said, the island is also full of fun things to do in Nassau Bahamas while on a cruise. For example, a day pass will let you visit Atlantis and soak up all that it has to offer. Whether you go zipping down water slides at Aquaventure or just want to see marine life in the resort’s many aquariums, there are many things to do in Nassau on a cruise there.
Likewise, at The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort, you can see 14th-century French cloisters and Versailles gardens. Although you have to stay at the hotel to walk around them, you can nevertheless appreciate their beauty from a distance.
The Ocean Club houses the remains of a 14th-century French monastery.
5. Go Rum Tasting at John Watling’s Distillery
Back on New Providence, you can partake in another one of the best things to do in Nassau Bahamas while on a cruise: rum tasting. This quintessential Caribbean activity takes place at John Watling’s Distillery, another site found right in downtown Nassau.
Visiting John Watling’s Distillery is another one of the top things to do in Nassau port.
Located on the historic Buena Vista Estate, a rum tour at John Watling’s Distillery lets you sample several distinct rum varieties, as well as explore the beautiful grounds. Besides enjoying the different rum flavors and other cocktails of your choice, you’ll also get to see what goes into rum production.
6. Ascend Queen’s Staircase
Nassau has hundreds of years’ worth of history, and Queen’s Staircase is one of the many places in the area where you can appreciate it. Carved into solid limestone by slaves in the late 18th century, the 66 steps lead to another one of the top things to do in Nassau Bahamas while on a cruise: Fort Fincastle.
Some of the best things to do in Nassau Bahamas while on a crusie include visiting Fort Fincastle and Queen’s Staircase.
Piracy was a real problem for early Nassau, which led Lord Dunmore to order its construction in 1793. With its massive walls and cannons, residents hoped that the fort would help reduce the pervasiveness of pirate raids in the area.
When you visit the site today, you can also appreciate the spectacular views it offers of the Nassau Harbour. All of that makes Fort Fincastle and Queen’s Staircase two of the other top things to do in Nassau Bahamas on a cruise.
7. Shop at the Nassau Straw Market
If you’re looking for a place to buy a souvenir for yourself or someone back home, give yourself time to stop by the Nassau Straw Market. Found close to the Nassau cruise port, shopping in the market is another one of the many fantastic things to do in Nassau on a cruise.
Anyone wondering what to do in Nassau port should visit the local straw market.
From handmade dolls to hats, bags, and more, you can find all sorts of gifts within the market’s stalls. Just keep in mind that the locals expect you to barter a bit. If you don’t, you might end up paying more than you expected!
What to Do in Nassau Port: Enjoy a Day Trip to Exuma
There are many things to do in Nassau Bahamas while on a cruise. From exploring the cultural and historic sites to soaking up the sun on New Providence’s beautiful beaches, the area is a vacationer’s dream.
Even if you’re just in the Bahamas for an afternoon, a day trip is the perfect opportunity to make the most of your time. When you fly to the Exuma Cays on a Swimming Pigs tour, you’ll get to meet the Exuma Pigs, swim with nurse sharks, explore underwater caves, and do so much more.
Sign up for a top-rated Bahamas Air Tours day trip today!
Discover the Bahamas Out Islands
With beautifully illustrated maps and informative destination guides.
Download the Guidebook
