Safety tips for Nassau

[mevelandry]

We all hear here and there stories about the dangers of Nassau.

There are warnings from countries...

There is a warning on the Personal Navigator on Nassay day...

But Nassau is a stop in the Bahamian cruise and people keep going there...

So, instead of a thread à la "How dangerous is Nassau" I thought it would be interesting to make a more positive thread and ask: what are your safety tips for Nassau? (And for excursions as well).

Thanks in advance!

(I'll post mine later...)

 

[NHDisneyFan]

We just went through this in a huge thread.

 

[Imahikergirl]

We did the walking tour from the Unofficial Guide. Left my jewelry in the safe and my wallet. Had only small bills for paying for our tour of the fort, tucked in a zipper pocket. Had key to the world and ID in a separate zipper pocket. Hubby did the same. A local let us know to step into the crosswalk and cars are required to stop. Some places seemed a little sketchy but everyone was friendly and the worst was the gauntlet of hawkers getting back to the ship. Made eye contact and said hello to everyone.

 

[mevelandry]

We disembarked at Nassau only once (to buy a rum cake) but what we did was:

-Dressing simple (no brands)
-Nothing Disney, no lanyards, nothing.
-No jewel (kept wedding bands in the safe)
-Passports in one pocket, KTTW in the other.
-Just 10$.
-No purse, just a mini back pack.
-My old cracked screen cellphone.
-I did not take pictures outside the secured area (Welcome Center)

We are thinking about trying Atlantis next time and I would be interested in hearing recommandations about safety tips over there as well.

 

[Hundredacre]

We disembarked at Nassau only once (to buy a rum cake) but what we did was:

-Dressing simple (no brands)
-Nothing Disney, no lanyards, nothing.
-No jewel (kept wedding bands in the safe)
-Passports in one pocket, KTTW in the other.
-Just 10$.
-No purse, just a mini back pack.
-My old cracked screen cellphone.
-I did not take pictures outside the secured area (Welcome Center)

We are thinking about trying Atlantis next time and I would be interested in hearing recommandations about safety tips over there as well.

Don't take your passports. Leave in safe on ship.

 

[hubbard53]

I just spent a week in Nassau, half of it in downtown (Hilton). We ate at McDonald's, dunkin donuts, walked to hard rock, walked to liquor stores and local convenient stores. I never felt unsafe.

Here are the same safety tips I use in any urban area:

Don't look like you think the area and inhabitants are unsafe.
Tell people "no" when they offer you something
Treat locals with respect.

 

[over50visits]

I love interacting with the vendors, the women in the straw market, the guys trying to sell tours right off the ship....just folks making a living, unfortunately if you are shy they can be intimidating. As for safety, we are alert (as we have been everywhere around the world), smile, and politely (that's a key) tell no but thanks. Around the dock area there are thousands of cruisers walking around, and a visible police presence, I have never thought that it was an area I didn't want to visit for safety reasons. I don't want to visit it because it is IMHO the worst port area in any Caribbean island we have visited (about a dozen of them), just dirty and low class.

But in the tourist area safety has never bubbled into our consciousness, we're just aware, act like we know what we're doing, and really enjoy just walking around and seeing the (albeit unrealistic) glimpse into the Bahamian culture.

 

[Tink1010]

We disembarked at Nassau only once (to buy a rum cake) but what we did was:

-Dressing simple (no brands)
-Nothing Disney, no lanyards, nothing.
-No jewel (kept wedding bands in the safe)
-Passports in one pocket, KTTW in the other.
-Just 10$.
-No purse, just a mini back pack.
-My old cracked screen cellphone.
-I did not take pictures outside the secured area (Welcome Center)

We are thinking about trying Atlantis next time and I would be interested in hearing recommandations about safety tips over there as well.

Hello! We did Atlantis this past summer and I made sure I booked the excursion with Disney even though I could of done it cheaper on my own. I felt safer with the large group from the cruise. While at Atlantis I rented a locker for our belongings. I made sure I did not bring valuables. I must say I felt safe each time I went to Nassau but I stuck with organized tours.

 

[My2litteprincesses]

We did the Atlantis excursion thru Disney last cruise & to be honest, it was one of the mega highlights of our cruise. We absolutely LOVED it and felt 100% safe the entire time.
The Disney group walked us to the shuttle buses in a large group, we boarded them & had a great little tour from the very friendly driver on the way to Atlantis. We all had a ball while on the property.
My girls were a little miffed when I told them that they may be approached by people wanting to braid their hair, but to politely say 'no thank you' if they asked. I put their hair into buns, and maybe 1 person asked if they wanted a braid, to which we said 'no thank you' and that was it.
As a previous poster stated, it's just people in a tourist city trying to make a living.
We had an awesome time, and would not hesitate to return!

 

[mevelandry]

Don't take your passports. Leave in safe on ship.

I was told that our other ID's wouldn't work. We are canadians and where we live if you don't have a driver's license you have no other ID than your medical insurance card... So that's all we got. Passports or medical insurance card.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have walked all around Nassau with no problems. Dress simply,leave the jewelry and most money, never take your passport off the ship, smile and be pleasant.

 

[Imahikergirl]

I was told that our other ID's wouldn't work. We are canadians and where we live if you don't have a driver's license you have no other ID than your medical insurance card... So that's all we got. Passports or medical insurance card.

You could apply for NEXUS cards. They work. When I got mine it was $50 CAD for me and DD was free as she was under 18. Plus, you get the quick lines at the airport!

 

[mevelandry]

You could apply for NEXUS cards. They work. When I got mine it was $50 CAD for me and DD was free as she was under 18. Plus, you get the quick lines at the airport!

Oh, I forgot. We have a Nexus card! You can get off and get in with just a Nexus card?

 

[Imahikergirl]

Oh, I forgot. We have a Nexus card! You can get off and get in with just a Nexus card?

Yes. It's WHTI compliant and works perfectly. I used my NEXUS at the terminal as well. I won't be going home until next summer and don't want to chance my passport. It costs an arm and a leg to renew from down here.

 

[cheermom2four]

DH and I came back from our feb 25th cruise to Nassau and actually never felt unsafe. We booked our own tour excursion as the one thru DCL didnt show us the "true" Bahamians way of life. Our taxi/tour guide Wenzle, took us all over the island - literally, even to rough areas but we also got to see the Bahamians sports walk of fame. We met him within the gate area though and he escorted us to his vehicle. We even got to see conk salad being made (kind of gross in my opinion LOL but DH was enthralled lol). We dressed normal and I actually had my good nikon hanging from my neck but our lanyards were tucked into our shirts (only had KTTW and driver's license and 1 cc that we used for international travel to buy souvenours). When we were done with the 4 hour tour, we walked to the ship, dropped off my camera then went back out to get a couple tshirts and rum cakes to take for friends/family back home. We were constantly approached but we would just treat them with respect and politely say "no, we arent interested" and just kept walking. Would we walk off the beaten path alone? heck no but I wouldnt do that in the bad areas of Denver and I'm from here. Just common sense.

If we do go back on this itinerary, we will just walk the straw market/shops again as we really didnt get to see much in regards to shopping.

 

[winterface]

I would say just act like you would if you were going to a big city that you've never been too. Don't go wandering down alleyways you don't know, travel in a group, keep situational awareness up and ready at all times.

Nassau wasn't bad though when we went, We walked around freely, no issues other than being accosted for tours but its an easy "no thanks" or just simply ignore them and walk on.

 

[mevelandry]

I have to say that, there was a lot of sellers in the secured perimeter, our experience inside wasn't "bad"... Nobody touched us, nobody was impolite. Like someone said: people trying to make a living. Not a fan, but I did not feel unsafe there.

We felt ok in the port too.

It's after that perimeter that we felt so so. We did not spend much time there. Bought a rum cake and went back to the ship.

I think we'll all feel more confortable being part of a group (DCL excursions). It doesn't prevent everything from happening 100% but it will still feel a little bit more comfortable.

Thanks again about the Nexus card tip. My in-laws don't have one so they'll make a request.

 

[longboard55]

We went to Atlantis once and got to know a few workers. The Bahamas is not Jamaica, employment is strong with benefits, sounded pretty good if you are a citizen. They were building this huge hotel at the time and they had to bring in the workers form China because no Bahamaian wanted that kind of job

 

[hubbard53]

We went to Atlantis once and got to know a few workers. The Bahamas is not Jamaica, employment is strong with benefits, sounded pretty good if you are a citizen. They were building this huge hotel at the time and they had to bring in the workers form China because no Bahamaian wanted that kind of job

There is a lot of Chinese development in Bahamas now. They built baha mar but went bankrupt and never opened it which is shockimg bc it looks beautiful. It was supposed to employ at least a thousand Bahamians.

The Chinese also bought the Hilton and surrounding property and are developing that area as well. Our driver told us they have to employ 70% Bahamian and can import no more than 30% Chinese workers for construction.

 

[Starwind]

I was told that our other ID's wouldn't work. We are canadians and where we live if you don't have a driver's license you have no other ID than your medical insurance card... So that's all we got. Passports or medical insurance card.

You may be able to get an identification card from the province/territory for a nominal fee. Usually issued by the same place that issues a DL. As far as I know all provinces/territories have them. What I don;t know if is they are WHTI compliant or not.

SW