Is Nassau safe for 3 yo and 5 yo?

[cedricandsophie]

We have been to Nassau several times. Always walk around on our own and never have a problem. One of our fav memories is coming across a cemetery during a funeral and listening to the people attending the funeral sing. It was truly a wonderful memory and the people were and welcoming. But we don't tend to be intimidated and have traveled in a lot of Muslim and third world countries without concern. But if you are nervous and worried Yu will exhibit worry and concern and that's what predators are looking for. We never get off at Nassau any more because there is nothing we want to see. It's a great way to get an extra sea day.

 

[Hundredacre]

I would leave the kids in the kids club and go walk around nassau for an hour.

 

[Jennifer777]

Can you still say you've been to the Bahamas if you've only been to Castaway Cay?

Yes, because Castaway Cay is just as much a part of the Bahamas as Nassau is.

I have been there a couple times now. The first time we tried the Atlantis beach day excursion and it was ok. We felt safe the whole time, especially at the resort. The ride over and back was a little uncomfortable with the driver cat-calling women out the window but we still felt safe. The second time I just got off the ship and walked around for an hour or so with my 12yo to do a little shopping in stores within a couple blocks from the port. Again, I felt pretty safe. There were a couple streets we didn't walk down because they looked less safe and we stayed away from the straw market.

 

[Tashamu2004]

Thanks guys! I'm probably going to take a look at the Atlantis excursions and see if they're motivating enough to leave the ship

 

[hubbard53]

Nassau is safe, I've spent weeks there (yes, outside of Atlantis) with my 5 year old and have had a great time! However, your fear and timidity will be palpable and you'll become a target. If you fear foreign ports, why cruise? Why not just stay at the Boardwalk or Grand Floridian for a week?

 

[anna08]

Do a Disney excursion. Have done several there and have never felt unsafe. Blue Lagoon is great with small kids - even just to do the beach day. At those ages, I would recommend it over Atlantis.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We've vacationed in Nassau twice (Atlantis) and docked there twice (NCL and DCL). On both the NCL and DCL cruises, we booked excursions. DS was 4 on the NCL cruise and MIL and I took him to the dolphin encounter at Atlantis (which I don't recommend, actually. It's very expensive and really wasn't worth it. If you do Atlantis, I would do an excursion where you get to walk around and experience the resort a little bit). On the DCL cruise (which I did alone with DS6) we did the Blue Lagoon beach day, which we really enjoyed. It's a lovely boat ride to Blue Lagoon and just a relaxing day at a small, lovely beach. (just know, the food there is quite bad. If you do this, have a good breakfast, bring some packaged snacks and have a late lunch back on the ship). When you do an excursion, you are met at the dock and escorted to your transportation. I, honestly, have no interest in walking around the town of Nassau. Especially with young children. My DS would be bored to tears just walking around shopping and eating. Quite honestly, especially if I were on a 3 day cruise, I would not get off the boat in Nassau. There is so much to do on the ship. I would much prefer enjoying the ship over doing anything offered in Nassau. It just isn't a great port.

 

[DizneyNutz]

My guess is if we did disembark it would be for an Atlantis based port adventure of some kind. Can you still say you've been to the Bahamas if you've only been to Castaway Cay?

Castaway Cay is also located in the Bahamas. Your kids would probably love an Atlantis visit. If staying on the ship you can get off and take a family photo in Front of the Nassau sign located on the docks. Have a GREAT trip.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We were in Nassau in April with our 11, 9 and 1 year old. We did the Atlantis excursion and we never felt unsafe at all. The merchants in the market were no more annoying than the people at you local mall kiosk that try to sell you lotions and stuff, lol. A simple no thank you and keep walking takes care of it.

 

[Sweetsarj]

We took a taxi from the port to Atlantis with our twin boys 3yo and our daughter 5yo. Spent the entire day in the beach and pools and Had a blast, it was one of the highlights of the trip.

 

[MUN]

We took a taxi from the port to Atlantis with our twin boys 3yo and our daughter 5yo. Spent the entire day in the beach and pools and Had a blast, it was one of the highlights of the trip.

I'm glad you had a great time at Atlantis and you weren't scared off by internet extremists that try to scare people from avoiding Nassau.

MUN

 

[Anisum]

It seems like there is a lot of feedback on here already but I wanted to add my two cents because it seems like you are still looking. I have been off the ship at Nassau many times and it's personally not my favorite port. I find the sales people in the straw market (and other tourist areas in Nassau proper) to be aggressive and but as someone else said it's nothing more than an overzealous worker at a mall kiosk. They are just people trying to make a living though and I can't fault them for that. I think Disney and Atlantis do a very good job of protecting their guests and I believe you would have a great time or any Disney sponsored excursion. You go from the ships in groups and get right on the shuttles that take you to Atlantis. On your way back (if you don't have a set time) you hop the same shuttle and head right back to the ship. Then it's a minute or two walk back through the gates to the ship. Safe and easy. I will say that I have never felt unsafe in Nassau proper by the tourist areas and further into the city and I think if you're there as a family during the day there wouldn't be any issues so long as you travel smart as you would do in anyplace you don't know well. Really, even if you were alone I wouldn't foresee any problems. I think many people just find Nassau to be a culture shock because there is poverty there and no matter how many cruise ships stop it's very visible and that makes people uncomfortable. If it truly wasn't safe I doubt Disney would travel there but that's just my opinion.

That being said, I don't think it would ruin your cruise if you didn't go to Nassau. There are many people who either aren't comfortable getting off in Nassau or just have done it several times and have no desire to get off. The cast members realize this and there are always lots of activities going on. Should you decide not to get off you'll still have a ton of fun on a emptier ship. You won't lose out on beach time either as you can get plenty of that on Castway Cay. I would say do Nassau once though. It gives you a far better flavor of what the Bahamas are like than Castaway Cay which while beautiful is very much a Disney experience.

 

[The Sasquatch]

Nassau is safe? Just for the record, it has been ranked recently as the "Most Dangerous Cruise Port" in the world so I guess "safe" wouldn't be in its description. With that being said, I think its like anything else, it depends on what you are used to as a family and your exposure to these types of places. I live 45 minutes outside of NYC and I am fairly comfortable visiting anywhere there but I wont bring my 9 year old to certain places. I could drop you in NYC and you will get robbed just as fast as Nassau. We dont get off at all in Nassau because there really isnt that much to see in town that is worth the hassle. I would feel comfortable doing Atlantis or a ship excursion with children although some say the walk back to the ship afterwards was not the best. I will say the warnings that Disney gives you on the cruise doesnt make me feel any better! We had a conversation with our servers and the Concierge hosts and they all laugh and said they never get off in Nassau and they all wished Disney would stop going there.

 

[deanimal]

I just had to add that my husband looked over my shoulder as I was reading the title (Is Nassau safe for a 3 and a 5 year old?) and he said, "Of course not! An adult really should get off the boat with them!"

 

[hanscarlet]

It was safe for us in 2013 but it was just us adults. We're debating bringing our 5 and 8 year old with us to the British Colonial because it's supposedly a short walk. I am hoping it is fine for them to walk with us. We didn't feel unsafe walking around in 2013.

 

[deanimal]

It was safe for us in 2013 but it was just us adults. We're debating bringing our 5 and 8 year old with us to the British Colonial because it's supposedly a short walk. I am hoping it is fine for them to walk with us. We didn't feel unsafe walking around in 2013.

I walked as far as the McDonalds across the street from there in March (needed to answer an email so I used the Mcdonald's Wifi) and I must have passed three or four police officers along the way. It felt perfectly safe crime wise, it was only the crazy drivers that made me feel nervous!

 

[hanscarlet]

I walked as far as the McDonalds across the street from there in March (needed to answer an email so I used the Mcdonald's Wifi) and I must have passed three or four police officers along the way. It felt perfectly safe crime wise, it was only the crazy drivers that made me feel nervous!

Good to know, thank you so much, I have heard the walk to the British Colonial is pretty short, at least that is what it looks like on the map

 

[JW9DVC]

I am new to Disney cruising so I read the unofficial Disney cruise line tour book for 2016. It recommended against disembarking in Nassau because of very high crime levels. What have others experienced. With our young children what would you do?

Crime exists everywhere. In some city populations here in America the crime can be worse than many foreign countries.

JW

 

[Tashamu2004]

thanks for the input everyone! There are definitely places in every city that are dicey. Sounds like Atlantis is something we'd consider. I just didn't want to get off somewhere that was legit dangerous everywhere. I appreciate the accounts of your own experiences.

 

[dmunsil]

If your 3 and 5 year old like animals, the Ardastra Gardens and Zoo might be worth a trip. Just get a cab; it's maybe 5-10 minutes drive from the port. It's a very small but nice zoo and gardens, and they have a fun "marching flamingos" show that doesn't take itself too seriously. The flamingos are trained to start and stop and "about face" on command. Or maybe they're just running from the trainer. Hard to say, but fun nonetheless. They do have some rare and interesting animals like a pair of black swans and some nice macaws. You can feed lorys from your hand as well.