When you are travelling via cruise ship and your ship docks on the picturesque island of Nassau Bahamas you need to maximise your time in port with only one day to see it all.
When looking for things to do at Nassau cruise port, you can just walk around the nearby downtown area shops or spend the day at the beach in Nassau Bahamas but, many first-timers plan a trip to Paradise Island and the very popular Atlantis Resort.
Paradise Island / Atlantis Resort
There are public beach areas on Paradise Island, but the problem I’ve found with the beachfront is that it can be very windy; the surf is high, and the under toll is strong. Also, since there are a lot of all-inclusive hotels in that area the beaches can be very crowded especially when you include passengers from the cruise ships.
As a result, lounging in the sand on the beach is a bit uncomfortable, and you can’t swim in the water. So, unless you plan a visit to Atlantis Resort to hang out in the casino or plan on paying the day rate to enjoy the facilities, beach bar and pool, there isn’t anything to do there.
Here are your Paradise Island transit options from Port Nassau.
- Ships tour to Atlantis – full access includes shuttle approx $160US
- Local Cab for $4 / person / way + bridge toll
- Nassau Water taxi for $4 / person / way
There are various day passes available at Atlantis Resort. Costs range based on what facilities you wish access to at the resort, and many attractions are limited based on occupancy.
My preference is to take the “budget option” and skip Paradise Island altogether and go in search of a free beach / public beaches in Nassau Bahamas.
Beaches Near the Nassau Bahamas Cruise Ship Terminal
When looking for beaches in Nassau near the cruise port, there are 2 beaches to choose from within walking distance to the ship. Refer to this map as a guide:
To get to both public beaches, walk through downtown Nassau towards the Straw Market along Bay Street and keep going past the British Colonial Hilton.
Junkanoo Beach, Nassau
Junkanoo Beach is where Fat Tuesdays bar is located. Fat Tuesdays have a DJ, food, drink, restrooms and free wi-fi.
Check out this article: Fish Fry Bahamas – a Unique Caribbean Culinary Experience
On the beach itself, you’ll find restrooms, food, drinks, music, water sport and chair rentals.
With all these facilities, and the beach’s proximity to the cruise port you can well imagine that it can get very crowded especially when there are lots of ships in port.
The further you walk along the beach the quieter it gets….
If you keep walking further along the beach and palm tree-lined sidewalk, you’ll come to our preferred beach place — Saunders Beach.
A Day at the Beach in Nassau Bahamas – Saunders Beach
From the cruise terminal, it’s about a 20-minute walk. It’s pleasant, there are shaded benches along the way should you need to rest or you could take the #10 bus for $1.25 US each.
There are fewer people here due to the distance. Regarding facilities, there is food and drink available but no chair rentals. We didn’t look for restrooms but I suspect that there is one available to accommodate the food vendors.
The water is very shallow on Saunders Beach, and as you can see, there are five ships in port yet our beach is pretty quiet… which to me, is Paradise!
Heading to the Caribbean for a Cruise?
Check out these other articles:
– One Day in San Juan Puerto Rico
– An Itinerary for Curaçao in One Day
– One Day in Philipsburg St Maarten
– Avoid the Cruise Ship Crowds at Sapphire Beach, St Thomas USVI
