Shopping in Nassau

[4KsLUVDisney]

Where are some of the best places to shop in Nassau?

 

[Otimon]

Lots of shops along Bay Street, which is just a short walk from the ship.

If you like to haggle be sure to visit the Straw Market, also just a short walk from the ship.

 

[jwo1976]

Will they take US currency or do we need to exchange?

 

[bumbershoot]

See, I would start with the question "what do you want to buy?". I saw nothing I wanted to buy during our hour out in Nassau. Well except for chocolates but that requires a cab to Greycliff Chocolates.

 

[Otimon]

US currency is accepted everywhere in Nassau. Enjoy your shopping trip.

 

[Anonny]

Graycliff Chocolates - is it so far away that it needs a cab? I thought we'd be near it when we take our walking tour.

 

[Pegasus928]

We got given a leaflet the morning we docked with a list and locations of some of the shops in Nassau. We wanted a place to buy bottles of rum and found it easy enough. Most of the other shops seems to sell the same things - shot glasses/t shirts/fridge magnets, that sort of thing plus there seemed to be a lot of jewellers and bars.

 

[4KsLUVDisney]

Are there any good places to get high end purses like Coach or Michael Kors

 

[stitchlovestink]

Are there any good places to get high end purses like Coach or Michael Kors

There is an actual Coach store but you won't do any better there than here in the states and be careful that you don't go over your allowance or you risk having to pay duty taxes when you reenter the U.S.

 

[over50visits]

We got given a leaflet the morning we docked with a list and locations of some of the shops in Nassau. We wanted a place to buy bottles of rum and found it easy enough. Most of the other shops seems to sell the same things - shot glasses/t shirts/fridge magnets, that sort of thing plus there seemed to be a lot of jewellers and bars.

Nassau near the dock is an interesting place to walk around and visit, and we love the Bahama Mamas in the straw market, but it all seems so.....

Many of the items in the straw market I've seen on Korean websites for sale. I've heard too many bad stories about the quality and customer service on high end jewelry (diamonds, etc). I've been told for 20 years that tanzanite is about to run out so I'd better buy it now while the price is good. The shopping map is simply a paid ad for the listed shops, it doesn't resemble any quality consideration. The shopping "talk" reminds me of the old "art auctions." It saddens me to pull into a port in a new land to explore, and I'm greeted by Diamonds International, Señor Frogs, and Hard Rock. Oh well, I guess that's what the tourists want.

We LOVE ports, including Nassau. Seek out and find wonderful people to learn about their island. Talk to the sellers in the straw market. Visit the pirate museum. Find a beautiful beach. Savor some native cuisine. But color changing fingernail polish? Free gifts at jewelry shops because the onboard salesman sent me there? Sheesh.

If you have to shop, enjoy visiting the shops near the port. Plenty to choose from, nice safe area, close to the ship, they all take dollars. Just recognize your souvenir of Nassau is almost certainly made somewhere else.

 

[hoffman1]

I've been told for 20 years that tanzanite is about to run out so I'd better buy it now while the price is good.

"It is a generational stone"
(After having been on a couple of cruises, this is mine and my husband's inside joke anytime we hear someone talking about jewelry)

 

[bumbershoot]

Graycliff Chocolates - is it so far away that it needs a cab? I thought we'd be near it when we take our walking tour.

Well, I just looked at a map, and by the map it seems walkable.

But we once tried the oft-mentioned walking tour (with the steps and fort, etc), and ended at, I assume, Elizabeth Street because the street signs disappeared. Being tourists I wasn't comfy having the map out, and DH (who has traveled the world since his childhood and is comfy almost anywhere) felt strongly that we needed to go back to the ship. Oh and the sidewalk ran out at that point, too.

Second time we were in Nassau we did the Greycliff chocolate factory tour, and the driver drove us around quite a bit before we got there. So I thought it was further away.

Suppose it depends on your comfort level. I know I could not convince DH (who is about to go to Mexico City then Buenos Aires where he will walk around the area for his job) to walk there if we were to get off the ship in Nassau again.

I've been told for 20 years that tanzanite is about to run out so I'd better buy it now while the price is good.

Bwa ha ha.

I'm greeted by Diamonds International, Señor Frogs, and Hard Rock. Oh well, I guess that's what the tourists want.

We LOVE ports, including Nassau. Seek out and find wonderful people to learn about their island.

Now, I do have to say that those places DO hire local people. And you can talk to them. We had a lovely conversation at Tanzanite Int'l with employees who lived there. A schoolgirl in uniform came in the door to say hi to her mom, who was the employee helping us, so there are locals working even there. Same at Hard Rock (these situations were in Sint Maarten). (note: I had different places for SM that day but DS and I had spent the 3 weeks prior to the cruise sick sick sick, and the day before walking around San Juan just wiped us out, so we went with TI and lunch at HRH instead of my plans) You don't have to talk to the people selling cheap stuff from China in order to talk to locals. (you can talk to the people selling expensive stuff, too)