Cruise to Nassau
Nassau is the largest city in the Bahamas, and one of the country’s most popular destinations. The city’s sheltered harbour provides the perfect backdrop for cruise-ship activity, complemented by a bustling local market vibe. It’s the epitome of Caribbean paradise.
Only a short walk from the harbour, Bay Street’s sidewalks present an excellent opportunity to experience the region’s produce and mantra. After ducking around between air-conditioned boutiques and absorbing Nassau’s atmosphere, shoppers can relax in the shade of lignum and mahogany trees. Shops are overflowing with Bahamian crafts and foods, while other outlets sell imported goods at duty-free prices.
Downtown Nassau is still undergoing a revitalization and has been successful in recapturing the past glamours of which the city became famous for. Not that the city has shunned the modern world, with suave restaurants, trendy clubs, and svelte coffeehouses peppered throughout the Caribbean heritage.
Although Nassau now caters for incoming cruise passengers and spring breakers, if you wish to leave the luxurious tourist eateries and explore the local culture, you’ll still find ample numbers of rowdy bars, candle-lit dinner venues, and Bahamian art exhibits, serenaded by the city’s trademark soft calypso music.
There’s a great number of locations to take in the island’s well-preserved historic buildings. The iconic pink colonial-style Parliament building is worth a visit, while Fort Charlotte is a must for anyone who enjoys Nassau’s pirate heritage.
Why Cruise Nassau?
The clear blue waters, island calm, and calypso vibe are reason enough to cruise into Nassau. But there is much more to the Bahama’s main settlement than just photogenic surroundings and great weather.
The city boasts of sunset-to-sunrise nightlife, excellent scuba diving opportunities, and a saucy history that will set the pulse racing. Founded in 1670 and a vibrant pirate stronghold, there’s no shortage of hereditament to engage the imagination and feel the living history.
Fort Fincastle, built to protect the city from advancing pirate evils in 1793, and the Queen’s Staircase, a 102ft flight of steps designed for fast access to the fort, should be top of your Nassau bucket list. Then there’s the 007 connection, with both Sean Connery and Daniel Craig’s incarnations of James Bond showcasing the island’s beauty and culture throughout 1965’s Thunderball, and 2006’s Casino Royale.
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The Queens Staircase
This is not just a flight of stairs. This is The Queen’s Staircase, an important place in Bahamian history and celebrated as a cultural symbol. Carved out of solid limestone by 600 slaves between 1793 and 1794, this 31-meter (102-foot) staircase is comprised of 65 steps and was constructed to provide direct access to the fort above. Later named in honour of Queen Victoria’s reign on the throne, and to mark her role in abolishing slavery in the Bahamas, The Queen’s Staircase should be top of your Nassau bucket list.
Government House
Nassau’s Government House is considered one of the best examples of Georgian Colonial architecture still surviving in the West Indies. The original Government House was completed in 1737, before the building was supplanted by the current neoclassical structure – built between 1803 and 1806 and extensively renovated and expanded throughout history. The mansion is painted in vibrant pink with a white edging as a nod to Nassau’s famous conch shells. It’s currently the residence of the Governor-General of the Bahamas.
Fort Fincastle
Looking down upon Nassau from its vantage point on Bennett’s Hill, Fort Fincastle was originally built to provide protection from outside invaders and pirates. The Queen’s Staircase leads straight to the complex, providing access by foot for travellers to enjoy. Unlike so many other famous fortifications, most of Fort Fincastle remains intact today and offers visitors a magnificent journey through history – not to mention a stunning view atop Nassau’s highest point. We’d completely recommend stepping foot into the past and absorbing the culture.
Fort Charlotte
Sitting high on the hillside that overlooks Nassau’s historic harbour, the British-colonial era Fort Charlotte is the city’s largest fortification. Constructed during the late 1700s after the American Revolutionary War for a battle with Spain that never actually took place, this heritage site is soaked with picturesque views of Paradise Island, rather than blood. Explore the underground passages and dungeons, admire the dry moat, and marvel at the weaponry – none of which have been used in battle.
