7 Great Reasons To Get Off At Nassau Bahamas' Cruise Port For Food and Fun
Updated: 7 days ago
Nassau, Bahamas is one of the most frequently visited weekend destinations for cruisers from Florida. A three night cruise sets sail Friday evenings and lets you linger only miles offshore from the Florida coastline for a weekend of "something different".
But the shame is, most of these cruisers have no idea what to do when they get to Nassau. Many people step off the boat, see the grungy, crowded terminal area, and get right back on the boat, missing all the treasures that can be found on foot just minutes away.
Seriously, just about everyone I talk to thinks it's not worth getting off the ship in Nassau. Those who do will buy into the ship's Nassau shore excursions like visiting Atlantis, swimming with dolphins, or other marine activities, and that's cool - but not a good way to experience Nassau's cruise port at its heart.
Below you'll find a walking route that will take you past the grit of the port and into foodie paradise. Trust me, with this walking route you'll be sure to share my opinion that it is definitely worth getting off the ship for!
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Booking Your Cruise to Nassau
Nassau cruises are cheap. I mean like, $50 a day cheap. You get to drink tropical drinks, sail the open waters, have a beach day, and maybe get a cool folded towel animal in your room every night.
It's a fun trip, simple for Floridians especially, and takes little effort to plan. Booking is as easy as browsing your favorite ship brand like MSC Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean (who all travel to Nassau), or by doing price comparisons on aggregate websites like CruiseDirect.com.
Ships frequently depart year round from Port Canaveral, Miami, Tampa and other Caribbean ports to Downtown Nassau.
Need more help booking a cruise? Read my article: How to Book a Cruise Including How to Find Last Minute Cruise Deals or browse options below.
The Pain Points to Visiting Nassau
I like to cruise to see new ports and destinations. But many people simply cruise for the shows, the food or the beach days.
Everyone I talk to says the same thing - don't get off the ship in Nassau, or "I don't bother getting off the ship in Nassau", and I get it. The port is a little sketchy, makes you feel a little uneasy, and it's not super clear what to do when you step off the boat. (I address safety concerns at the end here).
On the flip side, the ship shore excursions for Nassau are loaded with cool looking tours, like wine tasting, rum tasting, cooking classes, and more. So if the ship offers them, I figured they have to exist for regular foot passengers to discover, too.
So with careful planning and research I found an amazing round up of things to do in Nassau for the day, from cultural to culinary and even got some history peppered in.
Mostly free to visit, many of these great properties that I am about to tell you about are part of the Graycliff Hotel Experiences.
Below I share some of the top destinations to visit on foot in Nassau, based on my personal experience, and some helpful advice for getting around.
I've even included some optional tours to do the same things, but within the safety and confines of an organized group outing.
Let's get to it.
Why should I get off the ship in Nassau?
Get off the ship in Nassau for the colonial era vibes and coffee, for the art museums, the wine and rum tastings, watching people roll cigars (or roll your own), and eat authentic Bahamaian cuisine from the docks.
See scenic crystal clear waters with sea life below, stretch your legs and see the town, and literally do it all on foot.
It's so easy, so enjoyable, and a wonderful way to spend your port day in Nassau.
Start at the Graycliff Hotel
Just 10 minutes walk from the ship, find the Graycliff Hotel (click the link to browse photos).
This charming and historic property is perfect for setting the tone of the day, where you can have a nice coffee and enjoy jazz music on vinyl and consider how this place must have been during the British Colonial days.
Someone will greet you at the front door upon arrival, instantly making you feel like a "somebody", so then simply ask to sit down for a drink. If you want to make sure you get the proper British Colonial experience, you can also sign up for an afternoon tea.
Some perks of visiting the Graycliff include:
Enjoy jovial service from a tuxedoed butler while sipping cappuccino or espresso.
Soak in the cool air wafting in the windows and vibes spinning off the vintage vinyl records.
Set your eyes around the colonial era parlor including a piano and wraparound dining deck and transport yourself to times past, when they were under British rule
Nice clean bathrooms here too!
Pro Tip: Prepare to pay for very expensive coffee and a large tip. They work hard for it!
Duck Into the Graycliff Shops, Boutiques and Tasting Rooms Next Door
Conveniently, there are many places just steps from the Graycliff hotel to fill more of your morning or afternoon, including:
Chocolate Tours at Graycliff Chocolatier
Chocolate tasting (samples are free!)
Create your own chocolate box mix (I recommend the spicy chocolates!)
Make your own chocolate!
Cigar Tours at the Graycliff Cigar Company
Visit the 'viewing room' (free to enter)
Browse and purchase cigars in the shop
Have a cocktail and smoke one in the lounge
Note that it's a smoky place, so we decided to move on without staying longer. Cool to see the handiwork in motion though!
Wine Tasting at Bahama Barrels by Graycliff
You bought your box of chocolates, maybe grabbed a cigar for later, and you had your morning coffee, so now it is time to get drinking.
About 30 minutes will buy you plenty of time to sample locally made Bahamian wine, which honestly is fun and not as fruit-forward as you might assume.
For a small fee you can have a tasting flight, or sample a couple for free. Surprisingly, the wines were fun and flavorful ranging from fruit flavored Bahamian wines to dry Italian grape wines. Bottles are cheap souvenirs to bring back on the ship!
Tour options: Become a wine maker for a day with this cool tour.
Pro Tip: Save the chocolates you bought across the street - great for pairing with your red tastings!
Gear Alert!
If you are a fan of traveling with wine, or even rum (below), you may want to consider browsing the offerings at VinGardeValise.com. This company creates really cool bags for traveling with alcohol securely.
I have the 12-bottle suitcase like the one below, which is customizable to leave space for regular packing items like clothes and shoes, too.
I like bringing this on cruise ships especially, because you can often carry on a couple of bottles of wine per person when you first board the ship. For me, this bag has been an amazing partner in crime.
Check it out at VinGardeValise.com and use ALWAYS20 at checkout for 20% off if you decide to purchase. My gift to you!
Continue Your Walking Tour for Free Rum Tastings!
Up Next: Free Rum Tasting at John Watlings Distillery
Another 5 minute walk from the Graycliff area and you'll see a huge complex with the John Watlings sign (and plenty of tour vans).
Greeted with a free rum cocktail sample, expect a quick introduction to the distillery history before a visit to the onsite distillation facility.
The tour is also free and only takes about 10 minutes, but you will be tempted to join the long line of other tourists buying up the goods - this is the only place you can purchase their rum!
While your friends wait in line, you can purchase a rum sample flight at the bar in the gift shop, or if you fancy a cocktail you can wash that down alongside a food truck offering up grub in the front lawn of the estate.
You can get more rum action in with this tour, too:
Next Enjoy the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas
Literally another two minutes walk, find the most unassuming building for an art gallery, and pop in for a self-led tour.
Spend up to an hour here to fully enjoy the exhibitions and wraparound deck views.
Admission is $5-10.
This air conditioned spot also has a nice gift shop and beautiful local artistry.
Worth a pause from the drinking!
Take a Taxi to Sample Fresh Seafood at Potter's Cay Docks
This last stop before heading back to your ship will be one of the most memorable lunches of your trip. If you are up for a little off road adventure, this place is worth a stop.
Here's what you can expect to do there:
Eat conch. Conch fritters, conch salad (a must), and if you see "lobster snack" on the menu? You want that. Any of the vendors are good and all sell the same stuff. Only a few vendors were open when I went, so just pick one. If you like conch, you might want to consider this conch focused beverages and bites tour.
Enjoy crystal clear water views from your table of the sea life including sting rays and other fish.
Bring home a conch shell, from a local vendor (I paid $7 for mine and got to strike up a good conversation with a local while he cleaned it). Just keep in mind it will stink up your stateroom!
Try the local beer - Kalik!
Pro Tip: There are good clean bathrooms here, but they are at the far end of the docks. They are free but some coins for the cleaning lady never hurts.
How to Get There: I do not recommend walking. A bunch of taxis drive past the Bay Street area down the hill towards the port. Keep walking til you find a taxi! Ask to go to Potter's KEY (cay is pronounced key!)
A 10 minute taxi will run you $20 USD CASH (there is no meter, they will just give you a price) and there are no return taxis once you get there.
Pro Tip: Ask the same driver to pick you up (set a time) - he will be there and expect to pay the same amount in return to the ship.
Time spent: 1-2 hours, expect slow service. You are on island time. Don't miss your ship!
The Best Things to Do Near Nassau Cruise Port on a Tour
Nassau shore excursions hosted by the ship are often expensive and don't provide a lot of value for the price tag.
The walking tour I provided above is fantastic if you like to go out on your own, but even still, most folks like the comfort and organization (read: no thinking required) of a tour, so I figured I'd provide a handful of options that may be of interest if that is what you are into.
Dying to swim with pigs? With this tour, you can swim with pigs and enjoy a private tiki boat complete with drinks and lunch!
This tour offers up rum cakes, fish frys and ATV rides. Can't beat that for a port day.
Pirates and a private jeep tour for three hours? Yes, please.
Get some rum and food in your belly on this popular tour.
With nearly 2500 reviewers, this likely to sell out tour hits all the top food tasting spots. Check it out!
OR, most of the things in this post are on this great tour, which also includes a beach stop and reggae throughout to get the party vibes pumping. Learn more at the button below:
Security Update: Bahamas Travel Advisory Thoughts and Safety Concerns
Don't be dissuaded by the run down looking 'main drag' or Bahamas travel advisory warnings. Rest assured that if the safety of the passengers were ever in question, the ship would not dock there.
I was once in port in Egypt at the beginning of the Arab spring and we were able to safely get off and tour Cairo, but we were meant to do two days in the port. After just the one day the cruise captain told us we all had to stay on board for our safety and that we were not allowed into port for the second day. They will not put you in danger.
That said, please respect the notions that in poorer areas of the island you may encounter begging or even petty theft like pickpocketing. In my experience, this was not present at all and we felt safe the whole time. Go back to the ship before dark and don't stray beyond the tourist centers.
This walking itinerary is a wonderful way to see the island in a safe and comfortable way. If you ever feel uncomfortable, take a taxi or talk to the folks in these establishments to arrange something for you.
The Verdict: Is it worth getting off the ship in Nassau Bahamas' Cruise Port?
I think so!
Imagine, just a few minutes walk from the port you'll find plenty of great and fun options off the beaten path. This is an enjoyable itinerary for old and young and doesn't involve too much walking. Just use your google maps to get you around on foot.
I got onboard the ship with a bottle of wine, rum and a stinky fresh conch shell, so I think you'll be fine whatever you buy on shore. Bring plenty of US cash, but I believe most options take credit cards.
Happy cruising!
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