JUNKANOO BEACH*Your PERSONAL experiences only please

[mammacaryn]

Hi there! I am looking for personal experiences from anyone that has actually been to Junkanoo Beach. Please don't post if you are regurgitating what you read someplace else or what uncle Fred thought of it on his last cruise. (that is a lot of what I am finding)

So, have you been to Junkanoo Beach? How long ago did you go? Did you go with kids? What did you think of it? How was the food? How long did it take you to walk there? Anything else?

We have been to Nassau a few times. We have always either walked around or took a cab to Cabbage Beach, rather than booking excursions.

I am in agreement with most that Nassau isn't the greatest port, but I do enjoy interacting with the locals to some extent and experiencing a little bit of local culture and food, so we always get off for a little bit.

We thought this might be a nice option to get off the ship for a little bit without spending a bunch of money on cab fare or excursion fees.

 

[MUN]

Hi there! I am looking for personal experiences from anyone that has actually been to Junkanoo Beach. Please don't post if you are regurgitating what you read someplace else or what uncle Fred thought of it on his last cruise. (that is a lot of what I am finding)

So, have you been to Junkanoo Beach? How long ago did you go? Did you go with kids? What did you think of it? How was the food? How long did it take you to walk there? Anything else?

We have been to Nassau a few times. We have always either walked around or took a cab to Cabbage Beach, rather than booking excursions.

I am in agreement with most that Nassau isn't the greatest port, but I do enjoy interacting with the locals to some extent and experiencing a little bit of local culture and food, so we always get off for a little bit.

We thought this might be a nice option to get off the ship for a little bit without spending a bunch of money on cab fare or excursion fees.

I visited Junkanoo Beach on New Year's Day 2016 with my 17 year old son. We walked over there to check it out. It probably took about 10-15 minutes to get there and plenty of people doing the same thing. It would be hard to get lost; it's easy to find. The beach is no Magen's Bay, but it's not bad. We each had a drink at "Marshall's World Famous Bahama Mama" stand which is right on the beach. Marshall and the mother & daughter from Canada we met there were very friendly. The mom said Junkanoo was her favorite beach on the island. We didn't eat anything at the beach, but, there are plenty of food stands to choose from. Other than the vendors, most of the people at the beach were tourists. I think it's worth doing and when we go back to Nassau next January, I would consider going again.

MUN

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

We went to Junkanoo in September of 2015. I went with my parents, husband, and our three girls (6, 5, & 3 at the time). It took us about 20 odd minutes to get there walking. Some of the sidewalks were blocked and we had to walk in the street. They were blocked by construction and various vans that they were unloading. The beach itself was dirty when we went. There were large shards of broken glass and used condoms. We didn't stay long enough to eat.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Wondering how crowded it might be in August with 5 ships in port at the same time?

 

[MUN]

We went to Junkanoo in September of 2015. I went with my parents, husband, and our three girls (6, 5, & 3 at the time). It took us about 20 odd minutes to get there walking. Some of the sidewalks were blocked and we had to walk in the street. They were blocked by construction and various vans that they were unloading. The beach itself was dirty when we went. There were large shards of broken glass and used condoms. We didn't stay long enough to eat.

Otherwise, how did you like the beach?
To answer the PP's question, the beach is very large and there is a lot of room.

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

Otherwise, how did you like the beach?
To answer the PP's question, the beach is very large and there is a lot of room.

If it would have been clean, it wouldn't have been too bad. It wasn't crowded when we went and there was shade along the back wall. The surf was a bit deep. The girls couldn't keep their water shoes on with the deep sand. We didn't get to check out much else while we were there. My mom was really uncomfortable in Nassua, so we didn't linger.

 

[mammacaryn]

We went to Junkanoo in September of 2015. I went with my parents, husband, and our three girls (6, 5, & 3 at the time). It took us about 20 odd minutes to get there walking. Some of the sidewalks were blocked and we had to walk in the street. They were blocked by construction and various vans that they were unloading. The beach itself was dirty when we went. There were large shards of broken glass and used condoms. We didn't stay long enough to eat.

Well hopefully the condoms and glass where just a fluke. I mean that stuff wasn't scattered ALL AROUND was it? Was it just in a certain area? I can't imagine if it was like that all the time tourists would continue to go there if you know what I mean. There has been construction every time we have been to Nassau, and it usually smells pretty bad too on the main streets, but hey, New Orleans is in the states and is the same way in certain areas (PS, I LOVE NEW ORLEANS!)

 

[MUN]

Well hopefully the condoms and glass where just a fluke. I mean that stuff wasn't scattered ALL AROUND was it? Was it just in a certain area? I can't imagine if it was like that all the time tourists would continue to go there if you know what I mean. There has been construction every time we have been to Nassau, and it usually smells pretty bad too on the main streets, but hey, New Orleans is in the states and is the same way in certain areas (PS, I LOVE NEW ORLEANS!)

Nassau kind of reminds me of New Orleans a bit. That's a good comparison. In fact when we were in Nassau on New Year's Day in 2016, we watched the Junkanoo parade in the morning. It was fabulous!

 

[snoopy5386]

We went there 4 years ago. It was fine, about a 15 min walk, nice clean beach, no one bothered us. I made my husband come with us (he hates the beach) and it was me and my two daughters plus him. He sat nowhere near us in the shade of a building reading his book and my kids and I played in the sand and the water. We had a lovely time. Didn't buy any food or drink.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Wondering if anyone's been in August? I see that there are to be 5 ships in port our Nassau day. I'd like to do Junkanoo but wondering if we should book another beach day instead if it will be too crowded?

 

[mammacaryn]

Wondering if anyone's been in August? I see that there are to be 5 ships in port our Nassau day. I'd like to do Junkanoo but wondering if we should book another beach day instead if it will be too crowded?

If that is a concern, look at Cabbage beach. It is also a local beach that doesn't do beach breaks etc. with cruise lines. You have to take a cab there though. We've enjoyed it in the past, just don't want to deal with a cab this time around.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

If that is a concern, look at Cabbage beach. It is also a local beach that doesn't do beach breaks etc. with cruise lines. You have to take a cab there though. We've enjoyed it in the past, just don't want to deal with a cab this time around.

I would rather not deal with a cab either. Do you recall how long of a ride it was? How did you like Cabbage Beach? Were there chairs /umbrellas for rent? Food?

 

[MUN]

Wondering if anyone's been in August? I see that there are to be 5 ships in port our Nassau day. I'd like to do Junkanoo but wondering if we should book another beach day instead if it will be too crowded?

Well you won't have to worry about Junkanoo Beach being overrun by organized excursions. I can't imagine any cruise ship having an excursion to that beach. I'm sure there will be people that head there because they're looking for something to do. The beach is very large, so even with 5 ships, there should be plenty of room. And, it doesn't have to be an all-day deal. The barrier for entry for Junkanoo Beach is pretty low, it's only a 10-15 minute walk.

 

[mammacaryn]

Its over the bridge, they let you out near atlantis. There are always cabs coming and going from that area. Yes there are people that have umbrellas and chairs (we never used them though). Locals do sell trinkets, jewelry and hair braiding. We never had issues with that though. After we politely said no a couple times they stopped coming by. There are very cheap and very strong rum drinks sold by locals as well. Also, every price, on every thing is negotiable if you want to go that route Beautiful beach though.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Well you won't have to worry about Junkanoo Beach being overrun by organized excursions. I can't imagine any cruise ship having an excursion to that beach. I'm sure there will be people that head there because they're looking for something to do. The beach is very large, so even with 5 ships, there should be plenty of room. And, it doesn't have to be an all-day deal. The barrier for entry for Junkanoo Beach is pretty low, it's only a 10-15 minute walk.

Thanks, no, I meant 5 ships worth of people in port just like us looking to do a free beach day. Figured August is high time and with 5 ships, it may be more crowded than usual. Good to know, thanks. I think we'd just go early and stay for a few hours.

 

[Pooh2]

Are there signs to get to Junkanoo Beach?
We are planning to just do a morning walk around town and maybe to the beach to check things out, then have lunch and pool on board in the afternoon.

 

[Pooh2]

Also, is there a fee to enter the Junkanoo beach area? Not planning on carry much in the way of cash on our walk about.

 

[MUN]

Are there signs to get to Junkanoo Beach?
We are planning to just do a morning walk around town and maybe to the beach to check things out, then have lunch and pool on board in the afternoon.

Yes, there are few signs. However, I recommend looking a map b/4 you go. You walk by the British Colonial Hilton Hotel and once you get by their complex you should see a "Fat Tuesday's" bar which is right on the water adjacent to the beach, and there is the beach. No fee to enter the beach.

I think the Fat Tuesday's bar has moved closer to the port. It was there last year, and I'm not sure if anything has taken it's place.

 

[mammacaryn]

Also, is there a fee to enter the Junkanoo beach area? Not planning on carry much in the way of cash on our walk about.

no fees for public beaches.
(in my experience anyway)

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

We walked about a quarter of a mile along the beach. Not too far. So all the trash was in that area and I don't know if it continued further along. I thought we probably hit a bad day and I was more worried about the huge pieces of glass we found. I had read several reviews about the beach before we went and I was aware that there could be trash from those reviews. I was hoping we would hit a good day, but unfortunately we seemed to have missed beach clean up day! lol