Nassau

[hydster]

I guess we are the minority here but we loved Nassau! Of course we have been to Jamaica (a real scumhole for drugs and pushy people) and also Costa Rica and Panama so this was nice compared to some of the areas in Costa Rica we visited. We didnt find the people rude or pushy at all. We figured that is how they make their money. Sure they want to braid your hair and they do push but a firm NO thank you and they get the idea. We thought it was a GREAT experience for our kids to see that not everyone lives in a nice comfortable home with nice cars and things and they were amazed to see some of the poverty around. We did the glass bottom boat tour and it was disappointing to us and the kids so when we got done we just wandered around and looked at stores, bought Carribean shirts and a dress for the kids, let the kids spend a few dollars in the straw market where they could get what they wanted (mostly junk but they liked it) and then we went back to the ship. We got back off at Sunset and let the kids take some pictures of the ship at night with disposable cameras and hubby took some with the digital and the still camera. Our kids still talk about how sad it is that all kids dont get to live in America..it was a GREAT lesson we thought anyway.

Heidi

 

[poopie]

I loved Nassau, I can't imagine staying on the ship while in port, but that's jsut me I like to see new things and new places.

I sat outside the straw market and people watched while my friend shopped. Several locals came up to me to just chit chat, I find that kind of stuff fun, I got to ask them questions about living in the Bahamas, the government, economy about the stuff no one sees, it was great.

I didn't hear about the straw market burning down, when did that happen? come to thing of it did seem to me they were in a tent?

Is there reall a store you have to pass thru before geting out of the port? That must be new since I was there this time last year.

btw-I'm not knocking anyone who would rather stay on the ship, so please don't take it that way I just love adventure, which would explain why I went to Kenya, East Africa after the war started. Looking back at it, maybe not the smartest time to go, but it was great ,now there I would be VERY afraid to walk the streets at night, in Nassau, no problem.

 

[awatt]

Did this in August. Was a 5 minute walk from the ship. Day passes were I think $10/adult and $5/child. Hilton was lovely,beach was clean and water very warm. There was a pool too. Had lunch at their outdoor restaurant. It was a GREAT day. Not crowded,very relaxing. No hawkers or hair braiders.

 

[MNTigger]

Someone mentioned that they didn't feel safe in Nassau, I would have to disagree while the vendors are rather pushy I find that a smile and eye contact with them when you decline what they have to offer seems to work well, as far a safety it was fine an dI had to walk out of the casino with 2k in my pocket, I can't say I worried in more for my safety than I do in Vegas.

I would agree with Poopie. We just returned from the 10/9 cruise. We didn't fear for our safety and we really didn't think that the vendors were pushy. A polite "No thank you" worked every time.

I've read comments in other threads about Nassau being dirty. My husband and I didn't think it was overly dirty. If you want to see dirty and pushy vendors just go over the Arizona border to Nogales. You will quickly discover the meaning of a dirty environment and pushy vendors. The vendors will actually grab you by the arm and attempt to pull you into their store.

The one thing my husband and I could see is that there was a real need for a cool place to sit and sip a refreshing drink when you needed to escape the heat and humity. We could find none so we had to return to the ship.

IMHO, I do think the length of the Port of Call was a bit too long. Most of the other ships left port at sundown...