Sunday, March 31, 2024

THE 25 BEST Carnival Cruises to Nassau with Prices on Cruise Critic

carnival cruise port in nassau bahamas

Admission costs $13.50 for adults and $6.75 for kids between the ages of 4 and 17. The cost of admission for one adult is $110, but it does not include any food or drink; you will be responsible for those purchases. Included in the cost is pool, beach, and water park access; SurfStream surf simulator; lounge chairs, umbrellas, and towels; an oceanfront pool and hot tub; and complimentary Wi-Fi. If you want to take home some authentic Bahamian souvenirs, there’s no better place to visit than the Straw Market. Here you’ll find hundreds of local handicrafts, including the famous woven straw bowls that are such a strong part of Bahamian tradition. You’ll also find T-shirts, beaded necklaces and plenty of other island-themed souvenirs to take home with you.

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Fort Fincastle is a historic fort that was built back in 1793 to protect Nassau from pirates. At Fort Fincastle, you will gain access to some incredible views of the cruise port. The resort is located on cable, which is a minute drive from the cruise terminal.

What I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Nassau on a Cruise

Even though there are nearby hotels and resorts, their facilities are only available to guests or those who purchased a day pass. The Fort Fincastle and the Queen’s Staircase are two highlights amongst the major historical landmarks of Nassau. Although within walking distance, both require some guidance, as does a tour of the imposing Fort Charlotte. In downtown Nassau (2-minutes walk away) there are very nice and interesting landmarks and museums to visit. For those that wish to enjoy more upscale beaches, there are excellent day-passes offering all-inclusive beach-breaks including the iconic Atlantis Resort.

Pirates of Nassau Museum

The Cruise Port in Nassau is not everyone's cup of tea and has been a preferred target of bad reviews, and many cruise visitors stay on the ship when calling at the most visited port in The Bahamas. In July 2021 was officially opened Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau. Day passes cost US$115 (adults), US$45 (kids 3-12), US$0 (kids under 3). Day passes are inclusive of Water Park fee, US$25 credit (food and beverages), Wi-Fi (unlimited), beach access (chairs). Nassau Cruise Port terminal serves major passenger shipping companies as a port of call. This explains why these port cities are used as seasonal turnaround ports for homeporting (roundtrip itineraries) by many major cruise companies with ship deployments in the Caribbean.

Nassau can experience higher humidity and tropical storms during the summer months, which is why Winter is typically the best time to visit Nassau, Bahamas. On Paradise Island you can also head to Cabbage Beach, which is arguably the best beach in the area (and one of the busiest). To help you make the most of your time in port, we’ve put together tons of information on what to expect, the lay of the land, and more to ensure you have a great stay in this tropical stop.

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carnival cruise port in nassau bahamas

To make the most of your time here, you will want to make sure that you research and plan ahead. The pre-purchase window for certain products and activities closes between one and three days prior to the sail date. If you missed the purchase window, check with us once you're on board — we'll help you find what you’re looking for.

The Queens Staircase is free to visit, to access the inside of Fort Fincastle requires paid entry. You can opt to do a self-guided tour or purchase an audio guide for less than $20 per person. Educulture Junkanoo Museum is a great place to learn more about Junkanoo, a popular street festival in the Bahamas that takes place on Boxing Day and New Year's Day each year.

Oceania Cruises organizes 25 shore excursions, and Princess has 15 excursions available. Regardless of all the bad mouthing and press, the cruise traveler will find that the Cruise Port of Nassau has a lot to offer both in quality and diversity. If you are cruising on a budget, there are many affordable (an even free) things to do.

carnival cruise port in nassau bahamas

Fort Fincastle was built in 1793 to protect the island from Pirates. It’s perched on top of Bennet’s Hills and has impressive views across the city and of the cruise port. The queens staircase is the furthest attraction away on the Old Town walking route. Carved out of the Cliffside, the staircase leads up to the cliff-top fort – Fort Fincastle.

The Excel-class currently consists of sister ships Carnival Celebration, Carnival Mardi Gras, and Carnival Jubilee, plus another, as-yet-unnamed ship just announced by Carnival. Depending on where the ship is docked, between 50 and 300 meters. Discover the Top Shore Excursions for cruise passengers to the Port of Nassau. Reviews with the highlights of the excursions, Cruise Line Price Comparison, Duration, Videos, Location Map, and more ...

The only activity not in reach of the Nassau Cruise Port is the Bahamas Swimming Pigs! These famous swimming pigs live on a small island in the Exumas –which is a short plane flight away. Bahamas Air Tours is the only tour operator in Nassau to offer Day Excursions to Pig Beach to visit the Swimming Pigs.

If not, then head away from the ships on your own or on an excursion and you’ll see things calm down quickly. At least 18 Carnival cruise ships will sail regularly from their homeports to Celebration Key in 2025 and 2026, with a total of 500 itineraries. Grabbing a taxi is the easiest way to get to the Nassau Cruise Port. Walk outside the international and domestic terminals to find an endless supply of taxis. The ride should take around 20 to 30 minutes to the Nassau Bahamas cruise port.

The Queen’s Staircase was named after Queen Victoria and is a 66-step staircase that was carved out of limestone in 1793 and meant to provide a direct route from downtown Nassau to Fort Fincastle. The purchase window for certain products and activities closes before to the sail end date. If you missed the purchase window, check with us on board, we'll help you find what you’re looking for. Saunders Beach is just west of downtown Nassau and is one of the local favorites for relaxing sun and surf, plus, there are great food stands on the weekend. If you’re in the mood to check out some wildlife, take the Ardastra Gardens and City Tour.

The piers are crowded all day, and moving in and out of the terminal can be chaotic. In December 2018, to The Bahamas government received bids for cruise terminal concession. Nassau cruise terminal is at Prince George Wharf, located on the island's northern coast. Passenger ferries provide regularly scheduled shipping service from Nassau to the surrounding islands, and mainly to Paradise Island.

Celebration Key, Carnival's Grand Bahama Cruise Port

carnival cruise port in nassau bahamas

If all you want is a quick taste of Bahamian Cuisine or pickup a souvenir without having to trek over at the Straw Market then Festival Place will meet all your needs. You can even take a horse drawn carriage for a scenic tour of Nassau Old Town. Like RIU Palace, Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas is Paradise Island for guests ages 16+. Here, you will find a small beach that you can enjoy; however, the main feature is the large pool. A day pass to the Warwick is $125 per person and is all-inclusive, so you will not have to pay extra for any food or drink purchases. Balmoral Island, unlike the other to islands mentioned, has two freshwater pools for guests to enjoy if they want a break from the salty ocean.

Shore excursions and tours

A visitor can spend an entire day exploring the property, which features one of the world's largest private collections, chocolate-making and cigar-rolling facilities, art galleries and craft shops. Nassau's nearby private islands offer a premium beach experience within a 15- to 20-minute ferry ride. Most cruise lines offer shore excursions to Blue Lagoon Island, but travelers can also book a visit through a travel advisor or on their own online. The excursion tends to be popular and does sell out, so be sure to reserve early in your voyage or before you leave home. Consider yourself a VIP, if only for a day, when you visit Half Moon Cay (aka Little San Salvador Island).

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And, of course, there are also well-known places to just hang out, enjoy live entertainment and a drink or two - places like SeƱor Frogs or Sharkeez. Truly Bahamian flavors like conch salad or fried fish are particularly delicious when tasted on Arawak Cay - aka Fish Fry, a bit over 2 miles west of Downtown. The famous Atlantis Resort is a must see with lots to do but, in Paradise Island (where Atlantis is located), the public Cabbage Beach is another highlight to be explored.

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Museums

If you’re looking to try an authentic Bahamian Lunch, then check out Potter’s Cay conch shacks. Here, you will find bright-colored conch shacks that feature dishes from 40 different chefs who are cooking different dishes. This excursion combines a scenic ride with a high-speed thrill ride. Once you arrive at Rose Island, you will be greeted by friendly pigs who are domesticated and love attention.

carnival cruise port in nassau bahamas

Its always a good idea to haggle for a good rate and your taxi driver can arrange to go anywhere on our list. In fact taxi is by far the quickest and cheapest (for a family) way to get to Paradise Island and the Atlantis Resort. Friendly taxi drivers will show you all the best things to do in Nassau Bahamas Port. Tru Bahamian Food Tours is the most popular tour operator, and they offer different tours geared toward experiencing Bahamian cuisine.

The luxury resort of Baha Mar has a 15-acre water park onsite that offers a limited number of day passes. In addition to beach access, you will find 24 water slides, a lazy river, FlowRider surf simulator, infinity and wave pool, kids-only pool and slides, as well as an outdoor casino. The city's main shopping street (Bay Street) is a block from the cruise terminal. The building offers a lot of services for tourists like information and brochures. There a lot of possibilities for shore excursions, offered by the cruise ship companies or organized by your own. The Bahamas' capital city offers travelers the chance to swim with dolphins, dive among Caribbean reef sharks and cruise the coastline on a speedboat excursion.

Balmoral Island

Nassau's main seaport is Prince George Wharf, which also serves cruise liners. Shipping and transportation around the Family Islands is primarily by mailboats homeported at Potters Cay. High-speed ferries to Exuma, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells are available daily. However, the Jet Ski Adventure at Cabbage Beach is highly recommended as they will pick you up at the cruise port and transport you to the beach. These island beach escapes are excursions that can typically be purchased through the cruise line. This makes for a hassle-free experience as you won’t have to worry about transportation and planning.

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Winter highs average around 80 degrees while summer temperatures regularly reach the low 90s. As you might guess, humidity gets heavy, especially in the summers when it can rain considerably with passing afternoon showers. Carnival revealed that the first cruises will arrive at Celebration Key in July 2025. The cruise line opened sales for approximately 400 itineraries that will call in the new Bahamian port. Rounding up the sections of Celebration Key is the Retail Portal, an area that will contain local Bahamian artisan goods and retailers, plus duty-free outlets. Called Lokono Cove, it will be an authentic Bahamian artisan market specializing in everything from handcrafted goods to jewellery.

carnival cruise port in nassau bahamas

Festival Place is an outdoor bazaar located next to the cruise port. Festival Place features over 45 vendors who sell crafts, food, and drinks. If you’re looking to get off the cruise for a bit and grab a quick drink, then head over to Pirate Republic Brewing Co.

Bay Street also features a proliferation of high-end, designer stores selling luxury goods including apparel, jewelry, cosmetics and fragrances. Check first with a local or with a frequent Bahamas visitor (like a travel advisor) to determine which stall is the best for the day. With 25 years in the same location, McKenzie, a former conch fisherman turned restaurateur, is a local celebrity among Potter Cay purveyors, with a shack positioned as the first on the bridge's west end. The beach at Goodman's Bay features recreational facilities for children and is popular among joggers and exercise enthusiasts. Sandyport Beach is connected by a small bridge to the Venice-like resort Sandyport development near Cable Beach.

The picturesque Government House, which is uphill from the cruise port, was the home of the Bahamas Governor (under British rule). In the gardens is the statue of Christopher Columbus, the captain who discovered the Bahamas – which he original named Baha Mar – meaning “shallow waters” in Spanish. This specific food tour starts at $75 per adult and $49 per child between the ages of 4 and 12. There is also the option to book a day pass directly through Atlantis' website. This probably will not save you any money, and you will have to pay for transportation. You may, however, have more options when it comes to what activities you would like to do.

The new cruise ship port is being built on the southern part of the island, about 20 miles east of Freeport. The 369-acre port will be able to hold two large cruise ships simultaneously and will house Bahamian-operated stores, as well as a nature reserve and indoor water feature. Nassau's Caribbean flavor, warm temperatures and beautiful natural environment have made the port a staple on cruise itineraries. At Blue Lagoon, cruisers can swim in a calm lagoon, enjoy kayaking, water-biking or snorkeling tours, play with water toys like floats and inner tubes, or simply relax in a beach hammock under coconut palms. Blue Lagoon offers a gift shop, changing rooms, restrooms and shower facilities. As a result, visitors can take a DIY-approach to exploring Nassau with help from the Bahamas.com website.

Love Beach is located a bit further than Cable Beach, and many people say it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the Bahamas. Excursions Are Ideal in NassauYes, you can definitely head out on your own and have fun, but Nassau is one spot where we’d recommend an excursion. The reason is that many of the most attractive things to do involve getting out of the port area and often to more hidden away spots that otherwise aren’t easily accessible for tourists. An excursion makes it simple to leave the ship, have fun you couldn’t do otherwise, and then get back to the ship. These days, it’s among the busiest cruise destinations on the planet with literally millions of passengers visiting each year. So if you have an upcoming stop in Nassau, then know you aren’t alone.

Absolutely you can, and there are a number of things to see close by. Sidewalks aren’t always smooth (if they exist at all), nor are walk signals at most intersections. As well, keep in mind that cars drive on the left here, so it will come from the opposite side when you cross streets. Leave the port and you’ll find a number of vendors offering scooters or golf carts for rent.

The beach tends to lure most visitors with its beauty—and the flavors and rhythms of a complimentary beach barbecue. But during your time in Princess Cays you can also try snorkeling, kayaking, paddle wheeling or banana boat riding (for an additional fee). Aqua chairs and private bungalows are also available for rent, or you can set off in a dune buggy to explore the island’s pink sands and the local flora of the Leon Levy Native Plant Reserve. Whatever you do, make sure you sample a slice of local pineapple, or perhaps a drink with a wedge of pineapple. The island is famous for its pineapple crop, so there’s no better place to savor the fruit’s sweetness. There are three long piers parallel to the shore with docking spots for up to 8 cruise ships (depending on the size).

Delaporte Beach is west of Cable Beach near the former plantation village of Delaporte. East of Nassau lies Saunders Beach, also popular with visitors and locals, and known for its beautiful twilight views. Cruise travelers whose ships arrive early in Nassau may want to take the approximately one-hour drive to Stuart's Cove, where they can experience snorkeling, diving and swimming with sharks. The British Colonial Hilton Nassau is another Nassau resort where you can use points. Spend 50,000 Hilton Honors points for a night's stay (which you'd use as a day room).

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