There are actually over
700 islands in the Bahamian archipelago stretching over 100,000 square miles of sea from the eastern coast of
Florida to the northern coast of Cuba and Haiti. The islands derive their name from the Spanish baja mar, which means shallows.
Of the hundreds of islands in the group, less than 50 are inhabited, and cruise ships usually visit only two ports--either
Nassau or Freeport.
Thousands of cruisers are in Nassau
every weekend. Nassau is a perfect combination of British heritage and colonialism along with modern resorts and picturesque
beaches. Nassau is located on the island of New Providence, which is about 21 miles long and 7 miles wide. The
city is compact and can be explored easily on foot in a few hours. Cruise ships dock at piers on the north side of the
island, a 10 minute walk from the center of the city. The modern pier, known as Prince George Wharf,
is only one block from famous Bay Street, the main shopping street of Nassau. When your cruise ship docks, you will
find plenty of taxis waiting to take you around the island.
When you are in Nassau for the day, you can either take a shore excursion sponsored
by the cruise ship, book an excursion on your own, or use the time to explore the city, the island or a beach. We used
our half day in Nassau to take a boat to Sting Ray City, a small island near Nassau. There we snorkeled with a group
of sting rays, petted them, and even fed them some squid, which they sucked out of a closed fist. Weird sensation!
Other shore excursions including a tour of Nassau or the island, boat trips, snorkeling or diving, golf, swimming with dolphins,
or exploring on a submarine. There is certainly something for everyone!
If you decide to not take an organized shore excursion, stop off at the Bahamas
Ministry of Tourism near Rawson Square. They can help give you a really good sense of what to see and do in Nassau.
You can't miss it--you will see it when you exit the cruise ship pier. They can provide maps, directions, and other
information. If you are exploring the city on foot, it certainly helps to know what you are looking at!
Nassau is a wonderful place to visit for a short getaway cruise or as a port
of call on a longer one. It's close to the U.S., but is "foreign" enough to be very interesting. Because of the
thousands of visitors, there are many opportunities for activities, but the streets are often packed with tourists.
All of the major cruise lines, along with many smaller ones and yacht charters, include Nassau as a port of call. I
think you will enjoy the colonial history, the turquoise waters, and the many options for a wonderful experience that will
last a life-time!
Nassau
or the Bahamas is the introductory destination that many cruisers experience on their first cruise.
Three or four-day cruises leave from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, or Port Canaveral and sail the short distance to Nassau or to Freeport in the Bahamas, giving first-time passengers a taste of cruising.
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Nassau, Bahamas Hotels &
Activities
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~ United
Kingdom Travelers ~
Nassau is the
best-known city in the Bahamas. New Providence
is the island home of Nassau, and it is located in the middle of the Bahamas archipelago of over
700 islands. These islands start within 50 miles of Miami and stretch hundreds of miles
to the northern coasts of Haiti and Cuba. Only about 35 or so are populated, and Nassau, Freeport, and Paradise Island
get most of the tourists. About two thirds of the population of about 260,000 live on New Providence.
Recorded Bahamian history starts with a date familiar to many of us--October 12, 1492. Christopher
Columbus made landfall in the New World on an island in the Bahamas
that he named San Salvador. Neither Columbus nor the explorers who followed him ever found gold
or riches in the islands. European settlers first came to the Bahamas
in 1648, but the late 17th century found the Bahamas full of pirates such as Edward Teach (Blackbeard)
and Henry Morgan. The British managed to bring the islands under control by hanging many
of the pirates, and the Bahamas became a colony of Great Britain in 1728. The islands are still
part of the British Commonwealth of nations.
Since the Bahamas are so close to the United States, they have played an interesting role in the history of this
country. In fact, the American captured Nassau and held it
for two weeks during the Revolutionary War. The Bahamas also
were involved with the United States during two storied eras of our past--gun-running during the War Between the States, and
rum-running during Prohibition.
The relationship
between the Bahamas and the United States
may not be quite as exciting anymore, but Americans invade the islands each week via cruise ship or airplane bringing welcome
tourism dollars into the Bahamian economy.
~ Exploring Nassau ~
Many tourists believe that Nassau is the best of both worlds.
It is modern enough to have the tourism infrastructure work well, the economic conditions are
better than much of the rest of the Caribbean, and nothing in the city is so "unfamiliar" to
make less well-traveled tourists uncomfortable. At the same time, Nassau
has just enough of the exotic side to make you realize you're not at home anymore. When
you step off the ship and see the police, dressed in their "bobbie" uniforms and directing traffic that is driving on the
left, you will immediately realize you've left home! The old colonial sites, the lilt of
the British language influence, and the West Indian people and festivals help make Nassau a fascinating destination.
Nassau is stretched
along the northern coast of New Providence. The
city is compact and easy to leisurely explore on foot. As you stroll the city, absorb
the colonial history and allow time to look for bargains in the shops and straw markets. Try
a shore excursion of Nassau and the famous Ardastra Gardens.
This tour includes a walk down Bay Street
to the Queen's Staircase and a visit to Fort
Fincastle and Fort Charlotte before
concluding at the Ardastra Gardens.
~ Outside of Nassau on New
Providence Island ~
New Providence Island is only 21 miles long and 7 miles wide, so it is easy to see in a few hours via bus, car, or
moped. Shore excursion tours often combine a tour of Nassau,
some sightseeing, and time at the beach. If you have spent time in Nassau
before, you might want to take an excursion outside the city. Such as a glassbottom boat
shore excursion that tours Nassau Harbor and Paradise
Island, allowing you time to see the historical sites from the water. In
addition to the snorkeling with stingrays excursion, there's a "dolphin encounter" shore excursion
that allows swimmers an opportunity to view dolphins doing tricks while standing in the water with them. This
trip is NOT a "swim with the dolphins" program, but might be fun for those who love these wonderful
creatures.
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