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The Nassau Cruise Port, Bahamas has announced that the first phase of its Redevelopment Project is all set to open on May 26, 2023. The project which began in October 2019 is transforming Nassau and making the port of call bigger and better which translates to more tourist arrivals for the popular Caribbean destination.
Nassau Cruise Port
According to the Nassau Cruise Port, Nassau’s international cruise gateway is being transformed into one of the great waterfronts of the world through a $300 million redevelopment project. This extensive undertaking includes the repair and expansion of Prince George Wharf and the addition of a sixth berth that gives the port the capacity to accommodate three Oasis-Class vessels simultaneously.
The Nassau Cruise Port project is being developed by a consortium which includes Global Ports Holding Plc, the Bahamas Investment Fund (“BIF”) and the Yes Foundation. Completed works will feature the redevelopment and running of the Prince George Wharf and related areas at the Nassau cruise port in the Bahamas.
This transformation project also includes the construction of a new terminal building, a Junkanoo museum, event & entertainment spaces, a 3,500-person Amphitheatre, a living coral exhibit, unique local stores and new food and beverage facilities.
Cruising To The Bahamas
The Bahamas consists of 16 major islands and several cays (700 islands in all).
Located just 50 miles southeast of the coast of Florida, The Bahamas is in a prime position for cruise ships to visit.
Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, is located on New Providence island and one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world.The islands are in fact currently served by three of the largest and busiest cruise ports in the world – Port Miami, Port Everglades, and Port Canaver al.
According to Travel Weekly, with the redevelopment works, the Nassau Cruise Port will now be capable of accommodating six ships per day thanks to the addition of a new berth, bringing total arrival capacity to 20,000-30,000 passengers per day.
This is great news for Bahamas and of course cruise enthusiasts. The Bahamas is an ideal Caribbean destination and a featured port of call for many cruise lines.
In fact, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) 2023 State of the Cruise Industry Report published earlier this month, in 2022 the Caribbean/Bahamas/ Bermuda remained the number #1 destinations for cruise travelers worldwide.
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Getting to The Bahamas
There are several ways to get to The Bahamas whether by sea or air. These include cruises, private yachts, chartered flights and commercial airlines.
By Sea
One of the best ways to visit The Bahamas is course via cruise ship. There are several cruise lines which serve The Bahamas which will of course benefit from the redeveloped Nassau Cruise Port including:
- Royal Caribbean International
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- MSC Cruises
- Disney Cruise Line
- Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line
These among others bring approximately 3.7 million passengers per year to experience the islands of The Bahamas. The cruise industry has skyrocketed since the end of the pandemic as persons as bookings have returned to and surpassed pre-COVID numbers. Bahamas is no different as the number of visitors for 2022 exceeded pre-COVID statistics.
Cruising is not the only way to enter The Bahamas by sea. You can arrive via yacht or, due to the close proximity to the United States, you can also travel via international ferry. Ferries sail regularly from Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach to The Bahamas. You can actually take a ferry from Florida and be basking on a beach in The Bahamas in as little as two hours!
By Air
Of course visiting by cruise ship is not the only option for visiting the Bahamas. According to Cyprus Shipping News 2023 Post-Pandemic Cruise Industry Study 6 out of 10 persons return to the destinations they visited during a cruise. Once you make your stop in The Bahamas as part of your cruise you will undoubtedly be smitten by the warm and friendly people and the beautiful picturesque islands and will instantly start planning your return for a longer stay.
For an exclusive experience persons can organize chartered flights which fly out of southern Florida.
If you prefer to fly via commercial airlines, no problem – The Bahamas has 20 international airports welcoming regularly scheduled flights from around the world. Be sure to check out available summer flights out of Miami on CheapOair for the best airline deals. Here’s an available return flight from June 21 – 28, 2023 to get you started.
Things to Do in Bahamas
There are so many things to do when visiting the islands, whether it be experiencing Junkanoo, sampling their amazing local cuisine, checking out landmarks, fishing, diving,swimming with nurse sharks or even swimming with pigs in Exuma.
There is never a dull moment in The Bahamas. Popular sites to visit include:
- Elbow Reef Lighthouse
- Ardastra Gardens
- Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park
- Dunmore Town
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Be sure to check out one of our latest podcast episode to Learn More and Explore Bahamas with our guest Alexandria Johnson.
