Nassau Shore Excursions

What can catch you out in Nassau

Relayed from official sources — not our verdict. We pass on what the authorities say, word for word, and leave the judgement to you.

• Stay in the patrolled area

  There have been violent crimes and armed robberies in residential and tourist areas of New Providence. Stay in Nassau town centre where there are regular police patrols, and don’t go on foot beyond the main tourist areas and beaches, especially alone.

  as reported by UK FCDO — travel advice for the Bahamas · 23 Jun 2026

• Water sports are poorly regulated

  The water sports industry is poorly regulated — many operators are unregistered or use poor-quality equipment, and people have been killed and seriously injured on jet skis. If you’re swimming, beware of jet skis nearby.

  as reported by UK FCDO — travel advice for the Bahamas · 23 Jun 2026

• Swimming & sharks

  Fatal shark attacks can happen without warning. Swimming at dusk or after dark raises the risk even in shallow water close to resorts, and you should never enter water that has been baited.

  as reported by UK FCDO — travel advice for the Bahamas · 23 Jun 2026

• Drugs

  Penalties for possessing or trafficking drugs are severe and can mean a substantial fine, deportation or imprisonment.

  as reported by UK FCDO — travel advice for the Bahamas · 23 Jun 2026

On a cruise? Your ship’s port talk is the authority on the day — check that too.

Across Bahamas — laws, safety & health

National rules and risks that apply anywhere in Bahamas — relayed from official sources, not our verdict. We pass on what the authority says and leave the judgement to you.

Laws that catch visitors out

• Penalties for possessing or trafficking drugs are severe — you could face a substantial fine, deportation or imprisonment; drugs may be encountered in pubs and bars.

Drones

Visitors need a drone permit (Letter of Authorisation) from the Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas (CAA-B) — apply before you travel (a fee and a few business days apply). A drone over 249 g must be registered and you should carry your home-country registration; on arrival Customs takes a refundable cash deposit of 50% of the drone’s appraised value, returned when you leave.

via Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas (CAA-B) — Drone Registration · 25 Jun 2026

Scams to watch

Violent crime and armed robberies, sometimes fatal, have occurred in residential and tourist areas — if confronted, do not resist and comply with demands; avoid going alone outside the main tourist areas. Petty theft and pickpocketing rise during regattas and festivals. The water-sports industry is poorly regulated — jet-ski deaths and serious injuries have occurred, and there are reports of sexual assaults on foreign nationals by jet-ski operators in Nassau; use only reputable, registered operators.

Health hazards

Mosquito-borne Zika virus and dengue are present — use insect-bite precautions.

via UK FCDO travel advice — The Bahamas (health) · 18 Jul 2026

Relayed from UK FCDO travel advice — The Bahamas · checked 18 Jul 2026

Traffic drives on the left. Look right first when you cross the road.

Docking & terminals in Nassau

Ships berth alongside at Prince George Wharf; this is not a tender port.

• Prince George Wharf (Nassau Cruise Port) — Directly on Bay Street, adjacent to historic central Nassau (Short walk; Festival Place to the town centre along Bay Street is roughly 5–8 minutes on foot)

Mobility & step-free access

Getting around between the pier and town:

• Walk — The town centre is less than a 15-minute walk from the pier; historic centre is about twelve blocks by six.
• Taxi — Plentiful at the pier; fixed rates apply.
• Water Taxi — Runs roughly every 30 minutes to Paradise Island; approximately 10-minute crossing.
• Scooter/Bike — Rental available; driving is on the left.

Step-free options vary by pier and by the day — confirm the specifics with your operator and the ship’s guest-services desk before booking.

Your exact pier is assigned per sailing — confirm it on the ship’s daily programme or gangway signage before heading ashore.

Getting around & must-sees in Nassau

Getting around

Ships dock at Prince George Wharf in the centre of Nassau; the town centre is less than a 15-minute walk from the pier.

• Walk — The town centre is less than a 15-minute walk from the pier; historic centre is about twelve blocks by six.
• Taxi — Plentiful at the pier; fixed rates apply.
• Water Taxi — Runs roughly every 30 minutes to Paradise Island; approximately 10-minute crossing.
• Scooter/Bike — Rental available; driving is on the left.

Must-see sights

• Parliament Square — Pink colonial government buildings and the Supreme Court.
• Fort Charlotte — 18th-century hilltop fort with a moat, battlements and dungeons.
• Bay Street — Main town-centre street for duty-free shopping.
• Straw Market — Large craft market for baskets, hats, jewellery and carvings.
• Atlantis, Paradise Island — Vast resort with an aquarium and water features, across the harbour.

Taxis & ride-hailing — No app-based ride-hailing named by official sources; metered taxis available at the cruise-port taxi stand in the Arrivals Plaza.

Getting back to the pier

The Arrivals Terminal at Prince George Wharf is within walking distance of central Nassau; metered taxis wait at the Arrivals Plaza taxi stand, and public jitneys also serve New Providence.

• Walk — Central Nassau, Parliament Square, Bay Street, and the Straw Market are a short walk from the port.
• Taxi — Metered taxi stand located in the Arrivals Plaza at Prince George Wharf.
• Bus (Jitney) — Public jitneys serve New Providence island.

More on getting back ↗

Key facts only — confirm times, fares and seasonal openings locally.

Operator policies we’ve checked in Nassau

Before a tour earns its trust pills, we read the operator’s own site — their terms, cancellation and accessibility pages — and relay what they state. These are the operators’ own terms, not our verdicts; confirm when booking.

• Bowcar Rentals

  • Free cancellation — verified on the operator’s own site
  • Group size — Open-side 6-seater buggy

• Oasis Ocean 7 Charters

  • Free cancellation — verified on the operator’s own site

• Pearl Island Bahamas

  • Free cancellation — verified with conditions: Full refund for cancellations 48 hours or more before the tour (their FAQ).

• Phoenix777 (boat name; operator Sail Tomorrow Corp.)

  • Free cancellation — verified with conditions: Free cancellation up to 8 hours in advance for a full refund (operator's policy).

• Powerboat Adventures Ltd

  • Accessibility — Operator's own words: "not suitable for children under the age of 2 or for people with extreme mobility restrictions" — an eligibility caveat, not accommodation detail

• Tru Bahamian Food Tours

  • Cancellation policy — Tickets are non-refundable; rescheduling or a non-expiring e-certificate is offered instead (their FAQ).
  • Accessibility — Operator's own words: "the walking route includes hills and staircases and is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible or recommended for persons with severe mobility issues" (1.3 miles at a moderate pace)

• Tyrone Wilson's V.I.P Taxi Services LTD

  • Free cancellation — verified with conditions: Full refund cancelling more than 48 hours before (their T&C); their FAQ separately mentions an administration fee on all cancellations — T&C taken as governing.

How we check, and what “not stated” means

Eating & shopping in Nassau

Cafés and restaurants are found within the cruise port itself, in adjacent central Nassau around Bay Street, and at the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay.

Where to eat

• Nassau Cruise Port (Prince George Wharf) — Cafés and restaurants serving local and international dishes.
• Central Nassau (Bay Street) — Adjacent to the port.
• Fish Fry at Arawak Cay — Strip of restaurants and vendors serving made-to-order Bahamian food; approximately 10-minute drive from the port.

Local specialities

• Conch — Prepared as conch salad, cracked conch, or conch fritters.
• Fried fish — Listed as a typical Bahamian dish.

More on eating here ↗

Areas and specialities as described by the source — not our recommendations; confirm openings and prices locally.

Local know-hows in Nassau

Money

Currency

Bahamian dollar; U.S. dollar also accepted interchangeably

Cards

Credit cards are accepted in many places; carry cash when exploring Out Islands as some locations may not accept cards.

ATMs

ATMs on the PLUS and Cirrus networks are available at banks on Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island, and most major Out Islands.

Tipping

Tipping is customary; tip according to the quality of service. A per-bag tip for bellboys and porters is usual, and around 15% for waiters and taxi drivers. Many establishments include the gratuity in the total.

More on money here ↗

Local etiquette

Dress is generally casual during the day, but smarter attire is expected at many hotels, restaurants, and casinos in the evenings.

• Casual summer wear is acceptable during the day year-round.
• A jacket or sweater is advisable for cooler evenings from December to February.
• Many hotels, restaurants, and casinos require jackets for men at night, particularly in Nassau, Paradise Island, and Freeport.
• Only use licensed operators for taxis and watercraft (water taxis, jet skis, banana boats, speedboats).

More on local customs ↗

Practicalities

Language

Bahamian dialect spoken throughout the islands, with each island giving it its own spin; local patois phrases are widely used.

Tap water

Tap water is generally safe to drink. The Water & Sewerage Corporation supplies New Providence mainly from a reverse-osmosis desalination plant, and the water is reported to meet World Health Organization (and UK) guidelines for drinking-water quality. Desalinated water has a flat taste, so some visitors prefer bottled.

Plugs

120V, 60Hz; compatible with American devices. British and European appliances require a two-pin flat adapter and a 220V converter.

More practical info ↗

Key facts to know before you step off — confirm anything time-sensitive locally.

Port busyness in Nassau

Often very busy

A world top-volume port with up to six large ships docking alongside a compact town-centre district, creating intense crowding on busy days despite Nassau being a real city.

Peak pattern: Busiest mid-morning to early afternoon on multi-ship days, which are common during the winter high season.

Quieter: Lower-ship days and outside the winter peak season tend to be noticeably calmer.

• Up to six large ships alongside simultaneously
• Compact cruise-visitor district around Bay Street
• No tendering — all passengers land quickly
• Single honeypot corridor: Bay Street, Straw Market, beaches

This shows a typical day for the time of year — actual crowds vary on your date, and it isn’t a guarantee.

What we’ve checked in Nassau — and when

We last checked the facts on this page between 10 Jun 2026 and 23 Jun 2026. Live travel advisories refresh automatically from the official sources.

Docking & getting ashore

Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 10 Jun 2026

Getting around

Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 23 Jun 2026

How busy it gets

Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 10 Jun 2026

What can catch you out

Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 23 Jun 2026

Operator policies

From each operator’s own site and terms

Travel advisories

FCDO (GOV.UK) & US State Department · refreshed automatically

How we check, and what “not stated” means