Bay Street at the gangway, Exuma pigs an hour away
Restaurants, hidden gems and local detail — all on an interactive map.
Nassau Cruise Port sits at Prince George Wharf right in downtown Nassau. Six berths take three Oasis-class ships at once and can handle Icon-class vessels; the three-storey Arrivals Terminal holds Customs, Immigration, a pharmacy, a first-aid centre, shops and cafés, and opens straight onto Bay Street and Parliament Square. There is no shuttle because there is nothing to shuttle to.
💡 Pro Tip
Walk straight out of the Arrivals Terminal onto Woodes Rodgers Walk and turn left for Bay Street — Rawson Square and Parliament Square are 3 minutes away. Staffed Guest Information Centre booths sit on the arrivals side of the wharf, and free tram assistance runs from the outer berths NAS 4/5 back to the terminal.
Typical Stop
8–11 hours
Best For
Beaches, Junkanoo culture, colonial history
Shuttle
Not needed — walk!
Payment
Bahamian dollar (BSD), pegged 1:1 to the US dollar — the Central Bank of The Bahamas quotes USD at 1.0000 buy and 1.0000 sell, and both currencies circulate interchangeably. Cards work in most shops; carry cash for taxis, jitneys and market stalls.
Skip the overpriced ship excursions. Explore Nassau independently with a local-level guide designed for the hours you have in port.
Every place pinned on a map. Tap to see details, directions, and tips.
Where the locals eat — not the tourist traps by the pier.
The spots most cruise passengers never find.
No roaming needed. Save the guide before you dock.
The whole guide is built around a 4–8 hour port day.
From $3 — cheaper than a coffee on board
Bahamian dollar (BSD) at 1:1 with the US dollar — Central Bank spot rate 1.0000 buy / 1.0000 sell. No need to change money. Bank ATMs on Bay Street opposite Rawson Square, 2–3 minutes from the terminal. Tipping is customary at about 15%, often already added to the bill.
Free WiFi throughout the port — join the network 'Nassau Cruise Port WiFi'. Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has roaming deals with 128 operators, so most phones connect automatically; check your own tariff at btcbahamas.com first.
Festival Place inside the port runs about 09:00–18:30. Bay Street banks open 09:00 and the Straw Market from 07:30. Most local businesses close on public holidays — in 2026 that means 1 & 12 Jan, 3 & 6 Apr, 25 May, 5 Jun, 10 Jul, 3 Aug, 12 Oct, 25 & 28 Dec.
Free restrooms inside the Arrivals Terminal and at Festival Place in the port — both surveyed as fee-free. They are the last reliable free toilets before Bay Street, so use them on the way out and on the way back.
Warm all year: winter lows average 21°C (70°F), summer highs 26–32°C (80–90°F). It rains year-round with the most in May and June, but squalls pass fast. Hurricane season runs June–November, so the November–April cruise season is the calm end.
English is the official language of The Bahamas and is spoken everywhere. No phrasebook needed. Traffic drives on the LEFT under UK rules — look right first when you cross Bay Street.
For Paradise Island beaches, decide early: the port's own ferry leaves the Ferry Terminal every 30 minutes from 09:00 to 12:00 only. Taxis are zone-priced, never metered — meters were abolished in 2017 — so agree the fare before you get in and expect about USD 4 per extra passenger beyond two.
Dial 911 or 919 free from any phone for police, fire or ambulance. Princess Margaret Hospital's Accident & Emergency is +1 242-326-7014, about 900 m from the terminal; Doctors Hospital on Shirley Street is about 1 km. The port has a staffed first-aid centre and AEDs.
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Nassau Cruise Port Arrivals Terminal, #1 Prince George Wharf. Nassau Cruise Port sits at Prince George Wharf right in downtown Nassau. Six berths take three Oasis-class ships at once and can handle Icon-class vessels; the three-storey Arrivals Terminal holds Customs, Immigration, a pharmacy, a first-aid centre, shops and cafés, and opens straight onto Bay Street and Parliament Square. There is no shuttle because there is nothing to shuttle to.
5–10 minutes
Bay Street at the gangway, Exuma pigs an hour away
Not needed — walk!
Get restaurants, hidden gems and local detail — all on an interactive map that works offline. Made for cruise passengers, by people who've been in port.
🗺️ Open Nassau GuideFrom $3 — cheaper than a coffee on board
Last updated March 2026