Nassau Forts and Junkanoo Discovery

[MSPeeler]

Any insight on what to expect with this excursion?

 

[Simba One]

First a visit to the fort, tour of historical sights there. Time to look in the tunnels and such. Junkanoo is quite interesting. They pass out instruments and everyone plays something. Light refreshment served. It's actually in a garage at a house in a neighborhood if I remember correctly. Trip back into town, walk the queens steps. Back on to ship. It was the one and only time I got off in Nassau. After that I stay on board and enjoy the quiet ship!

 

[MSPeeler]

First a visit to the fort, tour of historical sights there. Time to look in the tunnels and such. Junkanoo is quite interesting. They pass out instruments and everyone plays something. Light refreshment served. It's actually in a garage at a house in a neighborhood if I remember correctly. Trip back into town, walk the queens steps. Back on to ship. It was the one and only time I got off in Nassau. After that I stay on board and enjoy the quiet ship!

We are only choosing this excursion because it is short and something my FIL wants to do. He and my DH are history buffs and get a kick out of visiting Forts.

Is there any "beach time" ? About how large of a group were you with? A visit to someone's home for refreshments and music doesn't not sound appealing to me at all, but my kids might like it.

We will be bringing a stroller for my toddler (lightweight), what are the queens steps? My left knee has no cartilage and I can not walk up stairs on it. Imagine 1 step at a time, leading with the right leg, it takes a while to say the least. Any insight would be helpful!

Thanks in advance

 

[Agent P]

Just did this excursion in February. Started off poor, not well organized to get the buses and poor communication from the excursion operators, supposed to be 2 buses, but traffic caused a delay and we all had to squeeze into one for the first leg of the trip.

The Junkaroo is silly fun, kids had a blast with the noise makers and the costumes. When we scheduled the excursion we thought this part sounded boring, but was the highlight of the day. Plus, because it was my birthday, free beer!

The rest of the day was a waste, the fort "tours" is a misnomer, no time to really look around. The tour guides are pointless, brief 2 minute blurb with the same lines at each place, then a request for a tip. No self guided options, minimal signage to read. If you want to visit a Caribbean fort: I just went to San Juan and saw Del Moro and San Christobal, those are impressive with lots of historical learning.

The staircase is all downstairs, very narrow and steep. Again, crappy "tour guide" will stop you half way down to give you a "lesson" and hit you up for a tip. Before the staircase there is a small fort that again charges you to visit and the driver encourages you to shop at the small vendors set up at the top of the stairs.

I cannot recommend this excursion. Then again I cannot recommend anything on Nassau, I view that day as a day to spend on the ship.

 

[MSPeeler]

Yikes! That doesn't sound too promising!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are only choosing this excursion because it is short and something my FIL wants to do. He and my DH are history buffs and get a kick out of visiting Forts.

Is there any "beach time" ? About how large of a group were you with? A visit to someone's home for refreshments and music doesn't not sound appealing to me at all, but my kids might like it.

We will be bringing a stroller for my toddler (lightweight), what are the queens steps? My left knee has no cartilage and I can not walk up stairs on it. Imagine 1 step at a time, leading with the right leg, it takes a while to say the least. Any insight would be helpful!

Thanks in advance

There's no beach time.

We were on a smallish bus, maybe about 20-30 people.


I don't recall that the Junkanee museum was someone's home. Maybe it is, but the whole first floor is the museum. We got the history of Junkanoo and were given the opportunity to try on some of the headdresses.


Then we went into the "workshop" sort of area where we had tastings of the local "brew",

and learned about how the costumes are constructed. Then they passed out the instruments (kazoo-type whistles, drums, cow bells) and it was really loud. But fun. You can see the bells and drums on the table here:


Then we went to the fort.


I found it pretty interesting, but not really anything special. And the views down to the town/harbor were nice.



The Queen's staircase - our guide walked us to the top of the stairs and gave us free time to make our way down and to the bus. I don't recall a "shop here" talk.


The problem with the drivers/guides "suggesting" tips frequently, well, that's what they do. I let it roll off my back, and tip as I see fit. If the guide or driver did something that made the trip really special/fun/whatever we tip. If they basically just sit back and give the spiel with not much enthusiasm = no tip.

 

[MSPeeler]

Thanks @PrincessShmoo !

The pictures help out a lot. That staircase doesn't look too fun for the stroller, but then again, it's light weight and can fold with a nice "handle" and I can always put the kid in our sling to walk down one step at a time

Thanks for the insight everyone.