PortTrip · plain edition of Nassau cruise port guide · checked October 2026 against 16 sources

Nassau cruise port guide

Ships dock at Prince George Wharf in the middle of downtown Nassau; the Straw Market is about 5 minutes on foot and Junkanoo Beach 10–15 minutes. For Cable Beach, take jitney #10 from Bay Street (about B$1.50 each way, exact cash, 2026); for Paradise Island, the ferry from the port's own ferry terminal (about US$7 each way, 2026) or a taxi. Be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard, and start back from Paradise Island or Cable Beach at least 2 hours before.

Nassau is a docking port in the literal centre of town: you walk off the ship, through the redeveloped Nassau Cruise Port, and onto Bay Street. The port was rebuilt in a US$300 million project that opened fully in May 2023, adding six berths, an arrivals plaza, the Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo and a 3,000-seat amphitheatre. Up to around 33,000 passengers can arrive on a single day, so the real decision is how to get away from the crowds: a town walk up to the Queen's Staircase, a short walk to Junkanoo Beach, a cheap jitney to Cable Beach, or the ferry to Paradise Island and Atlantis.

When to head back to the ship

For a 17:30 all-aboard. Times count back from all-aboard using the travel times and buffers in this guide. Your ship's daily programme always wins. Re-time this to your own all-aboard.

Leave from	Leave by	How
Bay Street and the Straw Market	16:25 (1 h 5 min before all-aboard)	Walk about 5 min
Junkanoo Beach	16:15 (1 h 15 min before all-aboard)	Walk 10–15 min along Bay Street
Paradise Island	15:30 (2 h before all-aboard)	Ferry about 10 min, or taxi 10–20 min
Cable Beach	15:30 (2 h before all-aboard)	Jitney #10 or taxi, about 20 min
Queen's Staircase	16:15 (1 h 15 min before all-aboard)	Walk about 12 min
Arawak Cay (Fish Fry)	16:20 (1 h 10 min before all-aboard)	Taxi about 10 min

Where people get Nassau wrong: Relying on the ferry for a late return from Paradise Island, when the port publishes morning departures only.

Docking and getting to town

Nassau Cruise Port, Prince George Wharf, 0.3 km to the centre. All cruise ships berth here, at six berths. The arrivals plaza holds the taxi stand, the Ground Transportation Area (scooter and ATV rental), the Paradise Island ferry terminal, the Junkanoo museum, shops and a police outpost. Bay Street starts at the port gate.

Walkable? Yes, about 5 min. Downtown is flat and starts at the port gate. The Straw Market is about 5 minutes on foot, Junkanoo Beach 10–15 minutes west along Bay Street (about 0.5–0.6 miles), and the Queen's Staircase about 12 minutes inland up Elizabeth Avenue. The Fish Fry at Arawak Cay is about 30 minutes on foot, so most people take a taxi. Pavements on Bay Street are narrow and busy; traffic drives on the left.

Transport

Walk: Free; 5–15 min to the Straw Market, Junkanoo Beach and the Queen's Staircase. The simplest option. Bay Street runs west from the port to the Straw Market and Junkanoo Beach; turn inland on Elizabeth Avenue for the Queen's Staircase.
Jitney #10 (public bus) to Cable Beach: About B$1.50 one way (2026); About 20 min by road to Cable Beach. Catch the #10 (or #10A / #10B, which take slightly different routes) on Bay Street or Frederick Street, about 5 minutes' walk from the port. Cash only and exact change; US and Bahamian dollars are both accepted at par. You usually pay as you get off. Buses run roughly 06:00 to 18:30, every 10–15 minutes on the main routes at busy times, with thinner service on Sundays. There are no day passes.
Ferry to Paradise Island: About US$7 per person each way (2026); About 10 min crossing. Board at the Ferry Terminal inside the cruise port. The port lists departures every 30 minutes from 09:00 to 12:00; confirm the last return boat with the operator when you board, because the afternoon return schedule is not published by the port.
Taxi: Zone-based fare for the first two passengers, plus B$3 for each extra passenger; 10–20 min to Paradise Island; about 20 min to Cable Beach. Licensed taxis wait at the stand in the arrivals plaza. New Providence taxi fares are set by zone under the Road Traffic regulations (the port is its own zone, downtown, Cable Beach and Paradise Island are others); ask for the fare before you get in. Not every taxi takes cards, so carry cash. A tip of about 15% is customary. Uber and Lyft do not operate.
Scooter, ATV or rental car: Varies by operator; —. Scooters and ATVs are rented in the port's Ground Transportation Area. Traffic drives on the left, roads are busy and the US State Department warns that injuries on water and road rentals are common; most cruise visitors are better off on foot, jitney or taxi.

Return timing

Be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard. Leave Paradise Island or Cable Beach at least 2 hours before all-aboard (15:30 for a 17:30 all-aboard). The port, Bay Street and Junkanoo Beach are all within 15 minutes' walk, so a town day is low-risk. Cable Beach is about 20 minutes by road, and jitneys need exact change and can be slow to fill. The port publishes only morning ferry departures, so the return boat needs checking on the day.

If you are running late: Take a licensed taxi from any resort and agree the fare first; it is 10–20 minutes back to the port. If you will be late, call the port agent number in your daily programme. The port's own line is +1 242 603 1870.

A day in Nassau (all-aboard 17:30)

Assumes docking at 08:00 and a town-and-beach day.

08:30 Walk through the port to the Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo (opens 08:00) before the crowds build.
09:30 Bay Street east, then inland up Elizabeth Avenue to the Queen's Staircase and Fort Fincastle (about 12 minutes from the port).
10:45 Back down through Parliament Square to the Straw Market.
11:45 Taxi to the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay (about 10 minutes) for conch salad and cracked conch.
13:15 Walk east to Junkanoo Beach for a swim; keep valuables with you.
15:15 Walk 10–15 minutes back along Bay Street.
16:30 Back on board, 60 minutes before all-aboard.

What to see

Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo: Award-winning costumes, drums and headpieces from the Boxing Day and New Year's Day street parade, inside the cruise port. Time: 45–60 minutes. Cost: Admission charged; check at the entrance (2026). Open daily 08:00–16:00, last entry 30 minutes before closing. Go first thing or late, when most passengers are in town.
Queen's Staircase and Fort Fincastle: A staircase cut into limestone in the late 1700s, leading up to a small 18th-century fort. Time: 45 minutes. Cost: Staircase free (2026). About 12 minutes' walk from the port via Elizabeth Avenue. It is a steep climb; go before midday heat.
Nassau Straw Market: Covered market for straw bags, wood carvings and jewellery, 5 minutes from the ship. Time: 30 minutes. Cost: Free to enter. Prices are negotiable; check whether an item is locally made or imported.
Junkanoo Beach: The nearest beach to the ship, with bars and chair rental, 10–15 minutes' walk west. Time: 2 hours. Cost: Free; chairs and drinks charged. Busy and loud on big ship days. Do not leave bags unattended.
Atlantis and Aquaventure, Paradise Island: The large resort with a water park, aquariums and beaches, across the harbour. Time: 5–6 hours. Cost: Day pass price varies by date; book direct with Atlantis (2026). Day passes must be bought in advance, numbers are capped, and passes are non-refundable within 3 days. Bring the confirmation, photo ID and the card used to pay; the resort is cash-free.
John Watling's Distillery: Rum distillery in the restored Buena Vista Estate on the edge of downtown. Time: 45 minutes. Cost: Estate and distillery tours free (2026). Rum Academy tastings and bottling sessions are bookable separately. Phone +1 242 322 2811 to check hours.
Arawak Cay (the Fish Fry): A row of open-air Bahamian restaurants on the waterfront west of downtown. Time: 1–1.5 hours. Cost: Free to visit. About 10 minutes by taxi or 30 minutes on foot. Busiest with locals at weekends.
Cable Beach: A long, calmer stretch of sand in front of the resort strip, about 20 minutes west by road. Time: Half a day. Cost: Jitney about B$1.50 each way (2026). Public access points run between the hotels; resort pools and loungers are for guests or day-pass holders.

Beaches

Junkanoo Beach: Walk west along Bay Street from the port. 10–15 min on foot Closest and most crowded. The US State Department reports sexual assaults on and near downtown beaches; stay with your group.
Cable Beach: Jitney #10 from Bay Street or Frederick Street, or taxi. About 20 min by road Longer and quieter than downtown beaches.
Cabbage Beach, Paradise Island: Ferry from the port's ferry terminal, or taxi over the bridge. About 15 min by taxi Public beach next to Atlantis. Strong currents and rip tides occur; swim near others.

Common mistakes

Turning up at Atlantis without a day pass. Atlantis sells day passes in advance only, in limited numbers. Book direct or take the ship's package.
Paying for a jitney with a large note. Carry coins and small bills; drivers do not give change and do not take cards.
Getting in a taxi without agreeing the fare. Fares are zone-based plus B$3 per passenger over two. Ask the fare first and carry cash.
Renting a jet ski from a beach operator. The US State Department reports deaths, injuries and assaults involving jet-ski operators. Use a licensed, insured company or skip it.
Packing CBD products or a stray bullet in your day bag. All cannabis products, including CBD, and any ammunition are illegal. Check your bags before you leave the ship.
Relying on the ferry for a late return from Paradise Island. The port publishes morning departures only. Confirm the return schedule when you board, or budget for a taxi.

Safety and scams

The US State Department rates The Bahamas Level 2, 'exercise increased caution', due to crime (advisory of 28 July 2026). Most violent crime is in Nassau and Freeport. The 'Over the Hill' area south of Shirley Street has gang violence; cruise visitors have no reason to go there. Downtown, the port and Bay Street are busy and policed in daytime, and the port has its own police outpost. The advisory also reports sexual assaults on and near downtown Nassau beaches, weak oversight of jet-ski and boat operators, and drownings among snorkellers and swimmers who overestimate their fitness. Cannabis, including CBD, and any firearms or ammunition are illegal and strictly enforced. Hurricane season runs June to November.

Unlicensed jet-ski operators on downtown and Paradise Island beaches. The US State Department links them to injuries, deaths and sexual assaults; book only licensed, insured operators.
Unlicensed boat and fishing charters touting near the waterfront. Check the operator holds a Port Department licence before paying.
Taxi drivers quoting a per-person fare well above the zone rate. Ask the fare before getting in; the zone fare covers two passengers, with B$3 for each extra.
Atlantis access sold by touts. Day passes are sold only by Atlantis and authorised partners and need a confirmation, ID and the paying card at check-in.

Accessibility

The redeveloped cruise port is level, with a new arrivals terminal and plaza, and Bay Street is flat, so the Junkanoo museum, the Straw Market and Junkanoo Beach are reachable without steps. Pavements downtown are narrow, kerbs are high and some crossings are busy. The Queen's Staircase is a steep flight of steps and not accessible. The Paradise Island ferry and jitneys have steps; a taxi is the practical choice for limited mobility. Ambulances can be slow and hospitals may ask for payment upfront.

If it rains

The Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo is inside the port and open daily. John Watling's Distillery is largely indoors. The Straw Market is covered. Atlantis has its aquariums (The Dig and the Predator Tunnel) and a casino, but the water park and beach are the main value of a day pass, so check the forecast before booking. Summer showers tend to pass quickly; tropical storms are a different matter between June and November.

Crowds

Nassau can take more than 30,000 cruise passengers in a day; the port recorded 33,254 on one day in 2026. Bay Street, the Straw Market and Junkanoo Beach fill between about 10:00 and 15:00 on multi-ship days. Visit the Junkanoo museum early, go up to the Queen's Staircase before midday, and head to Cable Beach rather than Junkanoo Beach for space. Atlantis day passes are capped and sell out on busy days.

Questions cruise passengers ask

Is Nassau cruise port walkable to downtown?

Yes. Ships dock at Prince George Wharf and Bay Street starts at the port gate. The Straw Market is about 5 minutes away and Junkanoo Beach 10–15 minutes.

Is Nassau a tender port?

No. All cruise ships dock at the six berths of Nassau Cruise Port.

How do I get from Nassau cruise port to Cable Beach?

Take jitney #10 from Bay Street or Frederick Street, about 5 minutes' walk from the port. It costs about B$1.50 each way in exact cash (2026) and takes around 20 minutes. A taxi also works; agree the fare first.

How do I get to Atlantis from the cruise port?

Take the ferry from the port's ferry terminal (about US$7 each way, 2026; departures every 30 minutes from 09:00 to 12:00) or a taxi, 10–20 minutes. Buy your Atlantis day pass in advance.

Can I use US dollars in Nassau?

Yes. The Bahamian dollar is pegged at par with the US dollar and US cash is accepted everywhere. Change may come in Bahamian money.

What is the closest beach to Nassau cruise port?

Junkanoo Beach, 10–15 minutes' walk west along Bay Street. Cable Beach and Cabbage Beach on Paradise Island are quieter but need transport.

Is Nassau safe for cruise passengers?

Downtown and the port are busy and generally fine in daytime. The US State Department rates The Bahamas Level 2 for crime and advises avoiding Over the Hill, south of Shirley Street, and using only licensed water-sports operators.

What can I do in Nassau in one day from a cruise ship?

Walk the Junkanoo museum, the Queen's Staircase and the Straw Market in the morning, lunch at the Arawak Cay Fish Fry, then a beach: Junkanoo Beach on foot or Cable Beach by jitney. Or spend the day at Atlantis with a pre-booked pass.

Sources

Emergency number: 911 or 919. Checked October 2026. Full interactive guide, map and planner.