Bahamas Cruise Port: Top 8 Things to Do in Nassau
Welcome to Nassau! This Bahamas cruise port is renowned for its dreamy clear-blue waters and relaxing atmosphere, perfect for turning on that out-of-office email and decompressing for a few days. If you are wondering if there is anything to do in this ocean paradise aside from relaxing by the water, you will find there is plenty to discover. From exploring secluded sand bars to swimming in the famous Jaws 4 Beach, this guide will cover the top 8 things to do in Nassau!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, my blog may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Top 8 Things to Do in Nassau
#1: Snorkel or Scuba Dive
The waters of The Bahamas are crystal clear and generally calm, making them one of the best places to explore the underwater world. The clarity is so remarkable that you can easily look over the side of a boat and see straight into the water! There is so much marine life to explore including stingrays, nurse sharks, eels, seahorses, and a variety of colorful fish.
Some of the best places to explore include:
Thunderball Grotto: Named after the 1965 James Bond film “Thunderball,” this naturally formed cave is a unique spot to snorkel. There was plenty of fish swimming about, but I will say the area was a bit wavy! I recommend wearing a life jacket if you are not a confident swimmer. A boat is required for access.
Exuma Drug Smuggler Plane Wreck: Snorkeling a wreck is always an exhilarating experience, especially one that is as shallow and recent as this! This plane can be found near Staniel Cay and is believed to have been from the late 70s/80s Colombian cartel empire. The Bahamas were supposedly used as the halfway point for the cartel between Colombia and the US. Sadly, there were no survivors that we know of. As for marine life, there was not too much to see—mostly wrasse, grunts, and sergeant majors. A boat is required for access.
BREEF Coral Reef Sculpture Garden & Nursery: This is an underwater gallery of sculptures that have been submerged over the years, perfect for snorkelers! This area is right off of the coast (here) and is just a short swim away.
Unfortunately, when I was here, I did not take advantage of the scuba diving. However, I do know there is an abundance of marine life and incredible experiences offered during the right seasons including swimming with bull sharks and tiger sharks. Head here for some more information.
#2: Visit Iguana Island
Iguana Island is a must-see in the Bahamas, even more so because the Bahamian rock iguanas are among one of the most endangered lizards on Earth! As your boat docks near the secluded island, you may see some of these reptiles swimming in the water, sunbathing, awaiting your arrival for a snack, and a few hiding amongst the bushes! Some of these guys were massive! The island itself is stunning, with pristine white sands and crystal-clear aqua-blue waters stretching for miles. The island can be accessed through an excursion, boat tour, or private boat.
Pro Tip: Although it can be tempting for some people to chase, pet, feed, (etc.) the iguanas, keep in mind that these are wild reptiles and you are visiting their island. So keep your distance and treat them with respect and curiosity only.
#3: Visit a Secluded Sandbar
The Bahamas is an archipelago of around 30 inhabited islands and around 700 coral islands. This means endless opportunities exist to discover small, secluded beaches and islands waiting to be explored. Many boat tours include stops in secluded areas like the one shown in the photo above. There were no other tours in the area so we had this small magical sandbar to ourselves. This photo is entirely unedited, giving you a true sense of how beautiful and serene these islands can be. I recommend bringing a camera to capture the magic, as friends and family might not fully grasp just how stunning it is.
#4: Have a Boat DAy
Many of the stops I have referred to above, Thunderball Grotto, the plane wreck, secluded sandbars, and Iguana Island, can all be reached with one incredible day on a boat! I went on a tour similar to this one, and although it was expensive, I would spend every penny to do it again. It was one of the best travel days of my life, and I have some of the most incredible memories from it that I will continue to talk about for years.
Envision being out on a boat with miles of turquoise clear waters surrounding you, fresh, clean air brushing against your face, and the sun rays warming your skin. We stopped at 7-8 different places, all of which were very different from one another, and we even took a private jumper plane ride over to the Exumas that had views that were just breathtaking. You can see a little of what I mean from the photos at the top of this post.
#5: Relax on the Beach
The Bahamas, being an island, is essentially one massive beach. So, if you do not want to hop on a boat, there are many different beaches to explore around the island by car or ATV. A few of my favorites include Cable Beach, Cabbage Beach, Junkanoo Beach (this one can get crowded since it is in closest proximity to “downtown” Nassau), and the famous Jaws Beach, where the filming of Jaws 4 took place.
#6: Enjoy a meal on the water
One of the best things about spending time on an island is enjoying the views of the beautiful water no matter where you go, and eating out should be no different. There are several spots to eat with an oceanfront view. Some of my top spots include Oia for a more upscale experience or Twisted Lime Sports Bar & Grill for a more laid-back setting.
#7: Explore the “downtown area”
For on-land exploring, Nassau has one main “downtown area” for wandering. You only need a few hours to explore the area. I recommend heading here either early in the morning or later in the evening (before sunset) to avoid peak heat hours.
Pirates of Nassau: An interactive pirate experience perfect for families and younger children. For some history on the Pirates of Nassau, you can check out their website here! I did skip this experience.
Entrance Fee: Adults 14 USD | Children (4-17) 7 USD
Hours: Weekdays 9 AM-5 PM | Weekends 9 AM-3 PM | Holidays may affect hours
National Art Gallery of The Bahamas: An art gallery displaying different exhibits throughout the year. The building itself is quite beautiful to walk around.
Entrance Fee: Adults 10 USD | Residents 7 USD | Senior Citizens/Students/Children<12 Free
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM-5 PM | Sunday 12 PM-5 PM | Closed Monday and Public Holidays
Fort Fincastle: A historic fort perched on a hill designed to protect Nassau from pirate and enemy invasions in the late 1700s. This fort is small but is a nice area to roam around and explore to get a closer look at The Bahamas’ history.
Queens Staircase: This is a 66-step limestone staircase built by slaves in the late 1700s that was used as an escape route from Fort Fincastle. I enjoyed this little nature-esc area. It was a nice escape from the sun and offered a lovely view over Nassau and Atlantis.
Entrance Fee: Donation-based
Hours: Daily 8 AM to 5 PM
You do not need a guide for this at all. People are waiting at the entrance to attempt to take you into the area and give you a history of it. They will expect some form of donation for their time.
Parliament Square: A charming white and pink building with colonial influences, where the Prime Minister and members of Parliament meet to debate. If a debate is in session, it is said you can enter and listen, but I was not lucky enough for them to be in session.
John Watling's Distillery: A rum distillery open for tastings and tours. I did not experience the distillery since I do not drink alcohol, but you can find more information on their website!
#8: Compass Cay Nurse Shark Swimming
Compass Cay is known for its beautifully clear water, where you jump off a dock and swim with nurse sharks. Nurse sharks are, for the most part, even-tempered fish that are not known for harming humans. They are generally gentle bottom feeders. I have been scuba diving with them in Cozumel, Mexico, and have never felt danger near them. So yes, I jumped right into the water with them! The water was shallow and could be a great option for adventurous children as well.
I am usually very iffy about these experiences in terms of whether they are ethical or not. I am sure this is not entirely ethical since they are feeding the nurse sharks so that they come back, but I did like that the area was not netted or fenced in and the fish were free to enter and go as they please. I enjoyed my swim with them up close! I would not recommend petting or holding them just for a photo. Perhaps taking this as a rare opportunity to experience such a beautiful land and gentle fish up close is best!
Ethical Note on Swimming With the Pigs
Alright, this is one of the most popular activities in The Bahamas, and I am not saying you should not do it. I went on an excursion to swim with the pigs back in 2020 and thoroughly enjoyed giving them all my love. However, I am now more ethically aware—or at least trying to be—and I have come to realize that this experience is problematic. The sad part is that more people are introducing pigs to other islands in The Bahamas to attract tourism and make money.
I have read of people feeding the pigs alcohol—thinking it is funny, leaving trash lying around, chasing the pigs, teasing them, etc. I have also read a lot of the pigs end up passing away earlier due to being overfed and ingesting too much sand. Some pigs are even killed for population control, which is mind-boggling since people are adding pigs to other islands?! No pig is native to a Caribbean island— that is just a fact of the matter. If you want to read more, you can check out PETA’s review of the famous Pig Island.
With all of that being said, everyone can make their own decision based on their morals and beliefs, and if you do choose to visit, I suggest the following:
Do not bring trash on the island, and if you do, clean up after yourself.
Do not chase, endanger, hit, or scare the pigs, etc.
DO NOT give them alcohol— it is not a funny joke.
I would even consider not feeding the pigs at all. You do not know how much they have already eaten.
If you do feed them, only feed them hog feed from your hand or a bowl to avoid sand ingestion.
If you are wondering what I would do, I would go back in time to when I visited and skip Pig Island and instead opt for a different excursion.
General Information on Nassau (&the Bahamas)
Best Time to Visit:
High Season: December - April | Hurricane/Rainy Season: May - November
The best time to visit the Bahamas for optimal weather is December to April. I visited the last week of November and had amazing weather the entire time.
How to Get to the Bahamas:
Flying: To arrive in the Bahamas, you must fly into one of the airports on the islands. The most common international airport to fly into is Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA). A passport is required for entrance, but no visa is required.
Cruise Ship: Many cruises offer entire itineraries dedicated to the Bahamas. Some of the most popular are Norwegian, Carnival, Holland America, and Celebrity.
Mode of Transport in The Bahamas:
Private Taxi: If you plan to leave your resort, the best way to get around is by taxi or with a paid tour. Taxis can be quite expensive, which is why most people remain at their resort or book specific excursions. You can find more pricing information for airport taxis here.
To hop around the islands, you will either travel by private boat, boat day trips, jumper planes, or with Bahamasair Airline (there are a few others as well).
Where to Stay:
The best area to stay in Nassau is on the same coast as Downtown Nassau. Many of the hotels and resorts are located there and have ease of access to excursions and the top things to do. I have listed some of the best options below!
Accommodation Options For Every Traveler
Best Low-Budget: Silk Cotton Villas
Best Mid-Budget: Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau or Goldwynn Resort & Residences
Best High-End Budget: SLS at Baha Mar (I stayed here) or Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
Best Luxury Budget: The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas or Coral Sands Hotel
Are There Vegan Options?
Eating vegan in a resort can be a bit difficult. I recommend packing some packaged snacks and protein powder too! I do know there are a few resorts that are better at vegan diets than others.
SLS Baha Mar (I was able to eat vegan here by getting creative.)
Is It Safe?
I felt pretty safe in Nassau and the Exumas. However, I did not travel outside of tourist zones.
I recommend staying up to date with your country’s travel advisories. Follow basic rules of safety while traveling, in addition to:
Never travel without the right insurance in case of any sickness, injuries, or theft. Safety Wing is by far the best travel medical insurance. It has saved me numerous times by covering hospital visits when I was sick during my travels in Asia.
Emergency Contact Number: 9-1-1 or 9-1-9
