Cruise ships call at the lively port city of Nassau and at several private islands and exclusive resorts owned or managed by the cruise lines.
The Carnival Glory and Disney Dream, docked at Nassau, the Bahamas
The Bahamas, an archipelago of 700 islands with turquoise blue waters, light ocean breezes, and a laid-back atmosphere, finds itself on the Caribbean itineraries of hundreds of cruise ships every year. It’s a must-visit port call for short cruises from the eastern US and a gateway for longer cruises that head to islands farther south in the Caribbean Sea.
Most cruise ships call at Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, and some will visit Grand Bahama Island as well, another idyllic island getaway. Here are 10 of the best options for visiting the lively Bahamas port of Nassau, as well as the exclusive private islands and resort areas that several cruise lines have established in the Bahamas.
10/10 Holland America
Holland America takes cruisers on a five-day trip aboard the Rotterdam, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on an Eastern Caribbean cruise. It offers a one-day port call in Nassau. The per-person cruise rate for a 2023 sailing starts at $399.
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Recommended excursion
: Sea Lion Encounter & Beach at Blue Lagoon Island, $129. Cruise to Blue Lagoon Island and interact with a playful sea lion while standing in waist-deep water. Sea lion trainers provide an interactive orientation.
9/10 Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line features a three-night Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida, aboard Independence of the Seas. Call at Nassau for one day, and spend another at the cruise line’s private island Coco Cay. Cruise rates are from $216.
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Recommended excursion
: Full-day pass to Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark, $219 per adult. Enjoy 20 swimming experiences plus thrilling water slides in the 141-acre waterpark and visit the Atlantis Marine Habitat.
8/10 Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line features a four-day Bahamas cruise aboard Carnival Liberty from Port Canaveral with one day in Nassau, $129 per person.
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Recommended excursion
: Pearl Island Snorkeling & Beach Escape with Lunch, $113 per adult, includes four hours on Pearl Island , located three miles from Nassau. Relax and/or snorkel.
7/10 Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises features Key West and the Bahamas on a four-night cruise aboard Celebrity Silhouette, $349, including one day in Nassau.
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Recommended excursion
: Blue Lagoon’s Island Treasures includes a harbor cruise, swimming at a private beach, and time for souvenir shopping. Cost not provided.
6/10 Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line has a four-day cruise on Norwegian Pearl visiting Grand Bahama Island and Nassau roundtrip from Miami. The ship also calls at Norwegian’s private island Great Stirrup Cay. Rates are from $249.
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Recommended excursion
: Adventure Jeep and Beach in Nassau, a 3.5-hour adventure that includes a drive through downtown Nassau and surrounding neighborhoods, then heads farther afield to view ancient caves where indigenous Lucayans lived. The road tour leaves plenty of time to relax at a beach on the island. The adult fee is $169.
5/10 Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises features a seven-day Eastern Caribbean with Bahamas sailing aboard Sky Princess, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, with the Bahamas port call at the line’s private resort Princess Cays at the tip of Eleuthera. Rates are from $538.
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Recommended excursion
: The one-hour Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise in the waters off Princess Cays, where you’ll see colorful fish and coral. The boat cruise also features views of mangroves, lagoons, and beaches. Adult costs $45.95.
4/10 MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises offers cruisers a seven-night Caribbean and Bahamas trip aboard MSC Seascape, visiting Nassau and the line’s private Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Rates are from $428.
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Recommended excursion
: Seahorse Sailing Adventure, a 3.5-hour adventure that combines a catamaran sailing trip across Nassau Harbor and a snorkeling activity at a lush natural reef. Price not available.
3/10 Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line sails from Port Canaveral on its four-night Bahamian Cruise to Nassau and Disney’s private island Castaway Cay, which has family and adult-only beaches. Rates for this cruise aboard Disney Wish start at $1,600.
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Recommended excursion
: Learn about the pirates of the Caribbean on the Pirate Museum and Fort Charlotte tour. See cannons and ocean views from the historic fort, and explore the legends of pirates like Blackbeard at the museum. The adult fee is $189.
2/10 Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises, an upmarket cruise line, offers a 10-day voyage called Pink Sand Soiree aboard the Oceania Riviera sailing roundtrip from Miami with a one-day port call at Nassau. Rates from $2,499 per person include six shore excursions, a drinks package, and an onboard credit.
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Recommended excursion
: Blue Lagoon Island Dolphin Encounter, a five-hour adventure costing $189. Sail by catamaran across sparkling waters to Blue Lagoon Island and interact with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in shallow water. View other marine life, too, such as sea lions, nearby.
1/10 Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises, a leading luxury line, offers a 10-night cruise roundtrip from Miami with one day in Nassau. The cruise aboard Seven Seas Mariner is all-inclusive, meaning there are no expenses (even for excursions) beyond the cruise fare, which starts at $5,599.
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Recommended excursion
: First Strike Deep-Sea Fishing is a four-hour fishing boat trip in the waters off Nassau, where sailfish, tuna, and wahoo are abundant . The captain and crew offer fishing tips, provide bait and tackle, and will haul in the fish.