Too much to do in Nassau

[TAYLORCPA]

My family of 5 (DH, MIL, DD6, DS7, me) will be in Nassau from 8 am to 11 pm in early November. There are lots of things I want to do and I need your help deciding what we would enjoy best. The day before we will be in Freeport and plan to get a Grand Lucayan day pass. Here's what I am thinking for Nassau:

 

A - see forts, go to Ardastra zoo and Pirate museum, Junkaroo beach - I think everyone would like the zoo, DS and DH would enjoy the forts and pirate museum

B - Blue Lagoon beach day - DD and DS would enjoy seeing the animals (don't think they would want to do dolphin or sea lion swim) and the kids and I would enjoy the beach.

 

I don't think we could get it all done in one day. I am sure the kids would be content just to go to the beach but we can do that anytime.

 

If we pick option A - what would be the best option for getting around?

 

Thanks so much for your help!

[cruisecritiquer]

I'm just tagging along. I always here people say Nassau is a boring port but I don't think so. Of course, my family won't ever do anything other than Atlantis so I'm interested in the replies here.

[pr8hd]

Had the same hours as you in Nassau. Plenty of time to see and enjoy much of the history of the island.

 

Enjoy a nice breakfast on the ship. Dining room will be pleasant and uncrowded. No sense in starting the day annoyed at the buffet crowds. :)

 

The walking tour is a great way to spend part of your day. This can be done in a few hours or take up the day, depending on activities in the area and what stops you may make.

 

Pirate museum - Absolutely! ($12.00) Fun and educational, don't take it too seriously. Takes an hour or two, depending on your interests.

 

Ardastra Gardens - I wouldn't miss this. ($16.00) Not the biggest or best zoo, but very nice. Take the bus ($2.00 US per boarding) to the zoo. That in itself can be an adventure.

 

You can do all of this in one day and still get back to the ship in time for dinner. Have lunch out in town somewhere, may be a bit expensive though.

 

For the most part, the sidewalks roll up at sunset in Nassau. Exceptions are the major hotels, clubs and casino.

 

After dinner, the grown ups can go to Senor Frogs and drink overpriced (less expensive than shipboard) margaritas and get the requisite t-shirts. :p

 

Be prepared to tip for any services rendered.

 

The plus side to all the above, is going at your own pace and not being led around by someone else's schedule. Also, it will likely be less money out of your pocket.

[Anita Latte]

We just returned from our first cruise to the Bahamas. Nassau was our first port. We didn't have quite as long in port as you...our back on board was 4:30 pm.

 

For our circumstances, we also weren't in a rush to get on shore...

 

That said...we went to Fort Charlotte. I'd be happy to answer any questions regarding this fort.

 

We walked. It wasn't far by most standards, but then, we are all good walkers. DH, myself, and DS13. You walk down the main drag...and continue on...and on a bit. You will pass the Hilton resort...the Junkanoo Beach.

 

And get there.

 

Now we encountered a impromptu tour guide around Junkanoo Beach. He wasn't pushy...was inquiring...as these things go...and knowing what I had read previously, we were prepared for how the locals try to "earn a buck" from the cruisers.

 

Anyway...we were guided to the fort. We parted ways there.

 

The fort was interesting to us. You have to be somewhat interested in history. You have to appreciate things for what they are. It's a simple example of "the way things were." I'm glad we did it.

 

It cost $1 per person admission. Also, the was a "volunteer tour guide" that will walk you around and recite a history to you. He left us in the dungeons and we were able to explore on our own from that point. We tipped him $1 a head.

 

As I said. We walked to the fort. But we saw the buses go by.

 

Then we ate at the Fish Fry and were done.

 

It was nice. Nassau is beautiful.

 

Here's the best tip I've read on the boards. Don't begrudge the locals for trying to make a buck. Respond with yes or no...and move on.

 

We found that most responded to a simple no thank you. If they didn't, they asked if they could give you more info to consider later? Say no again. Move on. Let it go.

 

Very few were more pushy but there were a few.

[NOLAbebe]

It was nice. Nassau is beautiful.

 

I am very curious...I have read some REALLY negative things about Nassau. What did you find beautiful about it? I've heard so many disparaging comments (dirty, dangerous, etc.) that I am feeling very unexcited about this port on our upcoming cruise! I'd love to know what you liked about it.

[Anita Latte]

Extreme delay in response! Sorry...

 

Why was Nassau beautiful?

 

Nassau was not terribly different from other ports IMO. When you know what to expect, you can get your mind set and not be too negative in your thoughts regarding what you see.

 

Where our travels went...pretty much a direct line from the port, through the downtown shopping, along the shore, to the Fort, across to the Fish Fry, and then back along the shore to the ship.

 

We passed through a complete and total tourist destination. Some of the shopping was very upscale looking. Art galleries. Eateries. Steel drum band playing on the street. We realized we probably should have gone to the bathroom again before leaving the ship...and in the midst of trying to figure out what to do about that...we saw a sign for Starbucks. OMG. So we went there and used the facilities. It was STARBUCKS. We could have been anywhere.

 

Maybe this is what helped lend us a sense of ease. IDK. Fellow passengers were everywhere and within the Starbucks, the obvious locals were going about their business. I say this because there were local ladies dressed very obviously for business in skirt suits, nylons, and pumps.

 

Moving along...I was concerned about the ability to walk in Nassau. I had read that the sidewalks weren't too friendly. But our path had decent sidewalks...heads up...there wasn't much breathing room between the curb and the cars whizzing by...but there were police men EVERYWHERE. They would yell at the cars. A standing police man got a car to pull over! He was speeding...

 

Downtown felt a lot like Key West to me? Same deal. Made over buildings into a shopping district aimed at tourists?

 

Moving on, we passed the British Colonial Hilton. Wow. What a beautiful building. Several buildings were stand out buildings...if only for their obvious age (as plaques or other signs were there to identify them)...just like in Key West (which was a port on our previous cruise, so somewhat fresh in my mind.)

 

We passed Junkanoo Beach, which was obviously a mix of cruise passengers looking for an inexpensive beach day and locals. Not too many passengers...but they were there. I saw families at the beach. They were having a good time. I found the businesses on the beach...little more than huts offering food and drinks mostly...maybe a few venders with wares for sale...or beach equipment for rent...to be rustic and somewhat charming...They contributed to the atmosphere of the beach in a positive way. Some of them had labored to create deck areas to make outside rooms that were very attractive.

 

It's a tropical island! It was lush...

 

The coloring of this picture is off (it had the wrong lighting setting)...but this was at Fort Charlotte and I share so you can see the view. Note the ships in the far back:

 

 

That's a cricket field in the shadow of the fort. It was a part of what looked like a private cricket club, which was little more than a rather run down building with the field facilities. When we walked across the field to shorten our walk to the Fish Fry...there was a woman exercising, walking around the field. She was friendly...just living her life on the island.

 

At the Fish Fry, which I didn't understand beforehand was actually a BUNCH of different restaurants all together...we ended up in D'Waters...which was EXCELLENT. And the people there were great to talk to. We had a very real conversation with our server about what it was like to live in Nassau, on an island, raise a son there, etc. It was a highlight actually. And the atmosphere and food were excellent. (Air conditioning was VERY welcome...because it was at least warm and HUMID.) Here I am in D'Waters...which I share again, only so you can see how nice the restaurant was:

 

 

I took these on our walk back to the ship. If you look at a Google Earth map of Nassau, there is an unidentified bit of beach (very small) directly to the right of what is labeled "Fish Fry" and left of what is labeled "Western Esplanade Beach". That is this beach in the foreground where some local teens were swimming:

 

 

The seaweed was just like what you deal with on Texas' coast (I lived in Houston area for 6 years prior to moving to Georgia), but the sand was lovely fine white and not otherwise "dirty."

 

Looking at the same Google Earth map of Nassau, this is that area without any beach between the beach above and the one labeled "Western Esplanade Beach":

 

 

I keep saying labeled "Western Esplanade Beach" because I'm pretty sure that is the Junkanoo Beach. If you've zoomed in on that Google Earth map...zoom out a bit so that you can see the section of what I think is Paradise Island that is labeled "Colonial Beach". There is a lighthouse at the end of that peninsula...it's hard to identify except for the shadow in that lighthouse shape:

 

 

We did wander a bit from the downtown. I didn't remember the location of the store I was trying to find...nor did I remember the name well...so we wandered down Parliament Street, saw the square...turned around when it was obvious we weren't finding that store...went further down Bay St on the other side of the terminal...there wasn't anything scary. It wasn't any more dirty than any other downtown. Again...police are everywhere...and after talking with our server at D'Waters, I learned that there are undercover police everywhere too.

 

Anyway...we didn't make a big deal out of Nassau. I, too, had read some very disturbing things about Nassau, but we are just the kind of people that have to get off the ship in port and take advantage of the opportunity to experience the port. So we didn't wake up too early. We had a leisurely breakfast. We went back to the room to gather our bags. I had that blue purse thing (a small cross body bag with tons of compartments where we had some money, cards, etc. The things we didn't really want to lose. And I guarded it and was always conscious of it, but not any more so than in any other place). DH carried a string bag backpack with bottled waters, sunscreen, and similar items.

 

Now. We were hounded by sellers. Immediately in the port area. Walking downtown. Passing Junkanoo Beach. Many stalls in the parking lot area of the fort. Walking down the main frontage of the Fish Fry. OMG. Some were very aggressive. Not frightening...

 

An aggressive example is that we were trying to figure out where we wanted to eat at Fish Fry. A "Mr. Happy" was the first to greet us in the parking lot area (which we walked across because we walked all over) and he was very pleasant. Surprisingly so. But we wanted to explore...after which, we decided that Mr Happy was our best bet...we liked him and decided to give him our business. So we crossed the main frontage to walk back on the non-building side of the street...and one woman RAN across that street to us to try to convince us to come to her establishment while another woman was yelling "Free Shots!" at us from across the street. Here we are with our DS13. Yikes. Didn't need free shots. LOL.

 

You sing to yourself...Just keep walking...Just keep walking. Stand firm and continue about your business. Say "No Thank You" clearly. Move on.

 

You just can't let all the locals trying to earn a buck bother you. And that was what I had read in someone else's review...it was the best advice.

 

So yes, I could have done without that. BUT...overall, we met some interesting people...got to see a bit of history (fort)...ate some incredible conch (our goal for eating off ship)...and saw a bit of the beautiful island coast. In a nutshell, that's why I think Nassau was beautiful.

 

It wouldn't be my first pick of ports in the future, BUT...we will venture in a different direction on our next visit...check out one or both of the other two forts...the nearby Queen's Staircase...and find that fabric store that I didn't quite remember how to get to. At least...that's my plan at this point because many ships seem to stop in Nassau...no reason to push through seeing too much on any one stop, but definitely worth picking SOMETHING that interests you and seeing it.

 

Oh. Again...referring back to the Google Earth map. There is an area marked "Rawson Square." One of those buildings there around that square (I think the smaller square red roof) is like a tourist info place where you can go in a pick up some brochures and tourist friendly maps.

[LiveLAUGHLove21]

Anita- this information is so very helpful to me- thank you for taking the time to write it!!

 

My husband and I have been several times to Nassau all going to Atlantis- this time we sort of want to wing it and walk around and this information was just what I was looking for!! We are a younger couple so knowing we can walk to the Port is excellent news & i'll look into the others you mentioned as well as the Queens Staircase which I've read about before.

 

I'll make note of the restaurant you mentioned too since you say the conch was great!! Thanks again!

[marshhawk]

I will make comment regarding your other choice-Blue Lagoon. Very pretty, you take a boat over, and you have beach, if you are not wanting to do the dolphin experience orthe sea lion experience, then you just have beach. When we went the beaches facing the east, where the surf was, were closed and only the lagoon side was available, it is a lagoon. Water comes in, and during low tide water goes out, and I mean out!

OK so the day we went it was not warm, at all, but when the tide went out, we walked knee deep across the lagoon, and around the island. The staff kept all the beach loungers in a row, so that if we moved them,and came back to them, they were back where they started from.:confused:

If you decide to do a beach (and trust me, the water in the Bahamas puts our east coast water to shame) I recommend taking the jitney out to Melia (formally the Sheritan) and enjoy the pool, the hot tubs, and the beach there.

Be careful when walking in Nassau, the sidewalks are uneven, my DH fell and twisted his ankle, and not two minutes later another woman fell in the same place and went off to hospital. Yes, the street sales people are aggressive, but if it looks like you know where you are going, and not looking like a deer in the headlights, you are usually not hit on. I studied maps before we left, so walking through town near the port was a breeze.

[bm6pm5]

Google Earth is a great way to see where everything is at and how to get there. As Anita said there are plenty of things to do and see there. Don;t let all of the negativity get you down. You are on a cruise enjoy all that each place has to offer.

Edited September 28, 2014 by bm6pm5