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Nassau, Bahamas
You step off the ship into downtown Nassau. The rebuilt port opened in 2023 and publishes more detail than most.
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| Getting ashore | Ships dock at Prince George Wharf. The port has six berths. |
|---|---|
| Address | #1 Prince George Wharf, Nassau, The Bahamas |
| Wi-Fi | Free throughout the port |
| Medical | A first-aid centre, a pharmacy and an AED at the port |
| Money | Bahamian and US dollars are accepted interchangeably |
At the Nassau Cruise Port (Prince George Wharf) cruise port: what’s there
Port facts checked on 30 October 2026. Shops, prices and opening hours change, so check on the day.
Confession time: in Nassau I have never left the port area. I walk the shops at the port and the ones just outside the gate, and that's my day. The rebuilt port that opened in 2023 makes that easy, with a marketplace, a Junkanoo museum, free Wi-Fi, a pharmacy and a first-aid centre all inside. Here's what you'll pass from the ship to Bay Street, and what's worth your time on the way.
The port side publishes its own map. We link to it rather than copy it, so you always see the current layout. Open it before you sail and save a screenshot to your phone. Map by Nassau Cruise Port Ltd..
Nassau Cruise Port: port terminals and locations (with satellite view)aicruisegranny.com/go/nassau-port-mapFrom the ship: Nassau Cruise Port, Prince George Wharf
Six berths; the port says it can take three Oasis-class ships at once. Lines include MSC, Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Norwegian and Bahamas Paradise. The three-storey Arrivals Terminal holds Customs, Immigration and the pharmacy. The city centre is 500 m (0.3 mi) away.
Our own simple drawing, not the port’s map.
Free things to do inside the port
- Free Wi-Fi Free — Free throughout the terminal on the 'Nassau Cruise Port WiFi' network. No speed or time limit published.Terminal and port
- Walking the Festival Place marketplace Free — Open-air shops, local craft vendors and wide walkways shaded by palm trees. Browsing costs nothing, and it's my favourite part of Nassau.Between the terminal and the exitAccess: The port says it has ample shade and accessibility features.
- Port Amphitheatre — A big open-air amphitheatre for concerts and events (3,000 seats per the port, 3,500 per the tourism ministry). Check the port's events page for what's on during your call.Inside the port
- Living coral exhibit — Listed by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism at the 2023 opening.Inside the port
- Photo exhibit Free — A display of work by Bahamian photographer Theodore Turnquest II (reported by Royal Caribbean Blog, 2023).Marketplace area
- Ship-watching from the wharf Free — Up to six ships line the wharf, with the Paradise Island lighthouse marking the harbour entrance.Along the wharf
Pools and beaches
- No beach or pool inside the port — The port has no beach or pool of its own. Junkanoo Beach, the nearest free beach, is about half a mile away, 10–15 minutes flat along Bay Street from the exit.Outside the port, turn right on Bay StreetAccess: Unshaded; see the mobility notes.
Food and drink
- Pirate Republic Brewing Company — Bahamian craft brewery taproom (reported by Royal Caribbean Blog, 2023).Near the port exit
- Outdoor bars in the marketplace — Several bars in Festival Place; Royal Caribbean Blog saw $8 for three shots and $15 cocktails (2023 prices).Festival Place
- Gelato shop — Gelato counter (reported by Royal Caribbean Blog, 2023).Close to the exit
- Cafés and restaurants — The port lists local and international cafés and restaurants, some air-conditioned. No names or count published.Throughout the port
- Wine bar & art gallery — Listed among the port's attractions.Inside the port
- Ship drink packages — Not valid ashore; port bars charge normally. Check with your own cruise line.
Shopping
- Festival Place Port Marketplace — The port says over 60 retail spaces of luxury and handmade goods by local artisans; the tourism ministry counted about 40 at the 2023 opening. Straw baskets, jewellery and 'authentically Bahamian' items.Between the terminal and the exit
- Bahama Hand Prints and Bamboo Shack — Named by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism among the Bahamian-owned tenants at opening (2023).Marketplace
- The Bahamas Shirt Company — Clothing shop (reported by Royal Caribbean Blog, 2023).Near the exit
- Straw Market (just outside) — The port says it is only a few steps away. Busy and pushy when several ships are in.Just outside the port on Bay Street
Spa and pampering
- Hair braiders' pavilion — A dedicated braiding plaza in the marketplace. Agree the price before they start; no official price list.Festival Place
Worth paying for (and what it costs)
- Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo — Interactive museum of Junkanoo costumes, music and craft. Open daily, holidays included, 8am–4pm, last entry 30 minutes before closing (Nassau Paradise Island tourism board). Admission reported at $15 adults and $10 children under 12 (Hayley on Hiatus, January 2026).By the berth-area exitAccess: No accessibility details published.
Restrooms, Wi-Fi, money and help
- First-Aid Center — Staffed by trained medical professionals.On site
- Pharmacy — Over-the-counter medicines and personal-care items.Arrivals Terminal
- AEDs — Defibrillators at various points around the port.Various
- Guest Information Center Free — Local staff advise on tours, excursions and getting around.In the port
- Baggage services & storage — Bags delivered to or from the terminal; storage just outside the terminal on request. Useful on embark or disembark days.Just outside the terminal
- Tax refund services — Listed among the port's guest services.In the port
- Restrooms Free — Three large restroom areas on the Festival Place directory (reported by Family Travels on a Budget, 2024).Around the marketplace
- Money — Bahamian and US dollars are used interchangeably at par. The port mentions ATMs only in commercial banks in town, not at the port. Carry some cash; not all vendors take cards.
- Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Free — The port takes part in the Sunflower scheme, so you can quietly signal you may need help.Whole port
Getting out of the port
- Taxi station — In the Arrivals Plaza, for tours, airport runs and other destinations. Use licensed taxis only. Bahamian fares are set by law, with surcharges for more than two passengers, but no Nassau fare table is published by the port.Arrivals PlazaAccess: No wheelchair-accessible taxis published.
- Ferry / water taxi to Paradise Island — The port lists a ferry from its marina every 30 minutes, 9:00am–12:00pm. Use licensed operators only.Marina / Arrivals Plaza
- Scooter & ATV rental — In the ground transportation area. Traffic drives on the left.Ground transportation area
- Jitneys (local buses) $1.25–$3.50 per ride — Connect the port area with major sights; the tourism board publishes $1.25–$3.50 depending on destination, about 6:30am–7:00pm.Downtown near the port
- Walk into town Free — The Straw Market is a few steps away; the port publishes Fort Fincastle at 15 minutes on foot, Fort Charlotte and the Fish Fry at about 30 minutes on foot.Out the exit to Bay Street
- No parking at the port — Nearby paid options: The Pointe garage (W Bay St), Elizabeth Avenue public parking and Triple B Parking (East St).Outside
A whole day without leaving the port
A port-only Nassau day is my kind of day. Walk off, take the time to read the Junkanoo costumes in the museum if you like colour and music, then stroll Festival Place slowly: the craft stalls, the braiders, a cold drink or a gelato in the shade. Use the free Wi-Fi to call home. Step out the gate and browse the shops just outside and the Straw Market, then wander back. If you want sand, Junkanoo Beach is about half a mile along Bay Street, but it's unshaded, so I'd take a taxi there if walking is hard. With several ships in, go early or late in the day; the middle of the day is when the marketplace is busiest.
At the port with a cane, walker or wheelchair
- Docked port, no tender, but the walk is long: Royal Caribbean Blog timed about ten minutes from ship to exit without stops (2023), and outer berths are further.
- Wheelchair assistance: the port says to arrange it through your shipboard team, not the port.
- The port says it has ample shaded areas and accessibility features, but publishes no accessible route, ramp or restroom details.
- Sunflower lanyard scheme for hidden disabilities.
- First-Aid Center, pharmacy and AEDs on site.
- No beach mats, beach wheelchairs or pool lifts, because the port has no beach or pool. Junkanoo Beach is about 10–15 minutes flat along an unshaded street from the exit.
More on cruising with mobility & health needs. Rules differ by cruise line, so check with yours.
Questions about the port
Is there Wi-Fi at the Nassau cruise port?
Yes. The port offers free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal on the 'Nassau Cruise Port WiFi' network.
What is there to do at the Nassau cruise port without leaving?
The Festival Place marketplace with Bahamian craft shops, bars and hair braiders, the Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo, the amphitheatre, and the Straw Market a few steps outside. There's no beach or pool inside the port.
Is there a pharmacy at the Nassau cruise port?
Yes. There's a pharmacy in the Arrivals Terminal for over-the-counter medicines, plus a staffed first-aid centre.
Where the port facts come from: Nassau Cruise Port: FAQ (30 October 2026); Nassau Cruise Port: facilities at the port (FAQ) (30 October 2026); Nassau Cruise Port: guest services (30 October 2026); Nassau Cruise Port: port terminals and technical information (30 October 2026); Nassau Paradise Island: Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo (30 October 2026); Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (Tourism Today): revitalised cruise port, 26 May 2023 (30 October 2026); Royal Caribbean Blog: Nassau cruise port revamp (6 Jul 2023) (30 October 2026); Hayley on Hiatus: what to do at Nassau Cruise Port (18 Jan 2026) (30 October 2026); Family Travels on a Budget: Nassau cruise port (24 May 2024) (30 October 2026); The Tribune: cruise port water park approvals (8 Jul 2024) (30 October 2026); Nassau Cruise Port: about (amphitheatre, braiders' pavilion, wine bar, marina; from live page) (24 September 2026); Nassau Cruise Port: transportation (ferry, scooters, taxis; from live page) (24 September 2026); The Islands of The Bahamas: island FAQ (jitney fares; from live page) (24 September 2026)
At the port
More than sixty shops and food outlets, the Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo, a wine bar and art gallery, a 3,000-person amphitheatre, a hair braiders' pavilion, and a marina with a ferry terminal. Guest services include baggage services, an information desk and tax refund services. There is no parking at the port itself; nearby paid lots include The Pointe garage, Elizabeth Avenue public parking and Triple B Parking.
Walking times the port publishes
- Straw Market: "only a few steps away"
- Fort Fincastle: 15 minutes on foot
- Fort Charlotte: an 8-minute drive, or a 30-minute walk
- The Fish Fry: a 10-minute drive, or a 30-minute walk
Book an excursion
Independent tours usually cost less than the ship's, and are often run by the very same local operator. For the most peace of mind, book with Shore Excursions Group. It does nothing but cruise excursions and publishes a Return-to-Ship Guarantee: if a delay on one of its tours ever makes you miss the ship, it gets you to the next port and covers your hotel and meals. Want more choices? Viator lists far more tours. There, pick one tagged Worry-Free Shore Excursion, which carries its "Back to Ship Guarantee."
- Shore Excursions Group: 4,500 excursions in 300+ ports; non-refundable from 14 days before the tour
- Viator: 400,000+ experiences; full refund on most if cancelled 24 hours ahead
- Viator's Back to Ship Guarantee covers Worry-Free tagged tours only
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. How excursion booking works.
Search Nassau excursionsMore Nassau tours on ViatorGetting around
There is a taxi stand in the Arrivals Plaza, and the port asks you to use licensed operators only. Jitneys, the local buses, connect major attractions to the port; the national tourism board publishes jitney fares of $1.25 to $3.50 depending on where you are going, running roughly 6:30am to 7:00pm. The ferry to Paradise Island leaves the port every 30 minutes from 9:00am to 12:00pm. Scooter and ATV rental sits in the ground transportation area. They drive on the left.
Taxi fares across the Bahamas are metered and set by law, with surcharges usual for more than two passengers and extra luggage. Nassau-specific fares are not published.
Accessibility
Nassau Cruise Port takes part in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, which lets a visitor discreetly signal that they may need assistance. For a wheelchair, the port directs passengers to ask their shipboard team rather than the port.
Where these facts come from
- Nassau Cruise Port
- Nassau Cruise Port, about
- Nassau Cruise Port, transportation
- Nassau Cruise Port, FAQs
- The Islands of The Bahamas, island FAQ
Ports change their rules and their prices. Check the official pages above before you sail.
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Mobility & access at this port
From Sails Anyway, the accessible-cruising section of this site. Nothing here is medical advice — it is what the port and the cruise lines publish, so you know what to ask.
The short answer
- Ashore
- Docked
- Free beach
- 10–15 min flat, plus the pier walk
- Hardest part
- Distance twice, with no shade
Getting to Junkanoo Beach
- About half a mile, 10 to 15 minutes, flat along Bay Street. Exit the port, turn right, keep the water on your right, and follow Marlborough Street past the McDonald's and the Hilton.
- Entry is free. You pay only for chairs, food and drinks — chairs and an umbrella usually run about $20 to $25, and reviewers report drinks sometimes bundled in.
- Toilets and showers are on site, which matters more than most people plan for.
- It's well policed, and visitors consistently report feeling safe.
Add the pier walk before you judge the distance
The walk out of the terminal is long before the 10 to 15 minutes even begins, and there is no shade on the route. On a good day it's an easy stroll. On a bad day, in afternoon heat, it's a real ask — and you have to do it again in reverse.
What the day asks of you
- Distance on flat ground, twice, with nowhere much to sit along the way.
- Heat, unshaded. The route is fully exposed.
- Crowds. Junkanoo is the closest free beach and everyone knows it. With several ships in, it gets genuinely packed, and narrow sidewalks fill up.
- Persistent vendors and tour touts from the moment you step out of the terminal.
Work through the Port Fit Check questions on distance and crowds with a mobility aid before you commit to the walk.
Wear something on your feet
Multiple visitors report glass in the sand at Junkanoo. Water shoes are a genuine recommendation here, not fussiness — and that goes double if your balance isn't what it was.
If the walk is out
- Graycliff Heritage Village — a coloured street under hanging umbrellas, with a museum, chocolatier and winery. Close, flat, and mostly seated.
- John Watling's Distillery — free guided tours through the day. Tip your guide.
- The Straw Market, if shopping is the point.
- Skip Atlantis unless you specifically want it. The day pass logistics eat the whole port day.
The low-effort version of this port
A taxi to Junkanoo rather than the walk, a chair in the shade, lunch where you're sitting, and a taxi back. You get the same beach day without spending your legs on the approach.
Check with your cruise line
- Ask which berth you're using and how long the walk to the terminal gate is on your ship.
- Ask whether wheelchair assistance is available at the pier in Nassau, and how to request it in advance.
- Ask how many ships are in port that day — it changes the crowds more than anything else here.
- Ask the shore excursion desk about accessible transport if you'd rather not negotiate a taxi at the gate.
Questions people actually ask
How far is Junkanoo Beach from the cruise port?
About half a mile, roughly 10 to 15 minutes on flat ground along Bay Street — but the walk out of the terminal comes first, and there is no shade on the route.
Is Junkanoo Beach free?
Entry is free. You pay only for chairs and umbrellas, usually around $20 to $25, plus food and drinks.
Is Nassau wheelchair accessible?
The ship docks and the route to Junkanoo Beach is flat, but distances are longer than they look and sidewalks fill up when several ships are in port.
Accessibility details last checked 22 September 2026. How we check this →
If stairs, gangways and tenders are a problem, there is a whole section of this site for you. Sails Anyway covers accessible and limited-mobility cruising properly instead of squeezing it into a paragraph: what each pier actually asks of you, which tender ports are a problem and why, the special-needs forms and the deadlines that catch people out, and how to choose a cabin you can move around in.
About the "I" on this page. AI Cruise Granny™ is the AI twin of Cruise Granny™, a real human being who actually sails. Every experience written here in the first person is hers. The AI twin is what writes it up, checks the facts against official sources and keeps it current. We tell you that openly on every page, because you should know who is talking to you. More about how this works.