Nassau - Walking around?

[KJF]

Going on the Dream soon & my DD13 wants to get off this time in Nassau, just for a bit & walk around. I want to avoid the straw market. Which way should we go/what should we see then when we get off the ship? We want to be back to the ship in time for lunch & some relaxation in the afternoon. It looks like there's a total of 5 ships in port when we go, so I expect walking to be crowded! I'm also assuming it's safe near the ship on the main path?

 

[tobikaye]

You can easily avoid the Straw Market by just not turning in there. If you look on Google Maps, you can do a search for Nassau Bahamas Cruise Terminal and you will basically see the area. The place I hated the most was the Festival Place since you are forced to go through there. There will be all kinds of people trying to get you to take a carriage ride or see if you need a ride to Atlantis. I just said "No thank you" and continued on. We basically walked Woodes Rodgers Walk and Bay Street with no problems checking out the shops, even checked into some of the small side stores. You can easily take this walk and be back for lunch. I actually walked it twice, once with my mom and once with my dad.

There were many ships in port the day we were there, but it did not feel busy walking around, but I felt perfectly safe. If I find myself in Nassau again and I do not want to do an excursion, I would probably try the zoo or pirate museum if I did not want to be off the ship all day.

 

[bumbershoot]

The place I hated the most was the Festival Place since you are forced to go through there.

What's funny is that I thought that place WAS the straw market. Couldn't figure out why people want to go there!

 

[EliseDani]

The best place to go is the main street which when you get to it if you turn right you will get to the straw market - but its set back from the road so walking past is easy. Once you get out of festival place (which is horrible yes but if you 'walk with purpose' ppl tend to leave u alone) if you go straight across the road, you will past hard rock, starbucks and subway, then the next street is the main road. Has all the main shops, jewlery and department store. Allow 10 mins to get back to the boat from there as the Dream usually parks in the 3rd spot which is a few mins walk.

 

[bumbershoot]

which is horrible yes but if you 'walk with purpose' ppl tend to leave u alone

And whatever you do, if you have no intention of taking a tour, etc, don't stop and take up the person's time thinking you're being polite. It drives you nutty (personal experience) and wastes both of your time. Just say "no thanks" and keep moving.

 

[beckysko]

It looks like there's a total of 5 ships in port when we go, so I expect walking to be crowded!

How do you know what ships are in port when you go? Is there a website you found this on? I'm curious to know what it will be like for our cruise.

 

[Quellman]

How do you know what ships are in port when you go? Is there a website you found this on? I'm curious to know what it will be like for our cruise.

Yes. This website is pretty reliable.

 

[CesD]

We did the pirate museum... A short walk and we got to enjoy the semi empty ship for the afternoon

 

[KJF]

Thanks for the info!! Very helpful!!

And whatever you do, if you have no intention of taking a tour, etc, don't stop and take up the person's time thinking you're being polite. It drives you nutty (personal experience) and wastes both of your time. Just say "no thanks" and keep moving.

Thanks for the warning - I will make sure to reinforce this with DH! He has a habit of stopping to talk after I already said no thanks!!

How do you know what ships are in port when you go? Is there a website you found this on? I'm curious to know what it will be like for our cruise.

I was looking at this site: http://portnassauwebcam.com/ At the bottom they have a Cruise Calendar link that I was looking at for when we're there.