to Nassau or not to Nassau?

[Marcelyry]

I went on a cruise 15 years ago to Nassau, and I don't remember it being bad, but I have read a lot of posts where people avoid getting off at that stop and just stay on the ship. I saw lots of warnings about crime and assaults. Any advice from seasoned cruisers? We are traveling with our 3 daughters, ages 13, 10, and 8.

 

[bbel]

Nassau is fine.

Amazing? No.

Safe to get off and be a normal person about it (watch out for each other, be aware of what's around you, don't go down dark backstreets - you know, how you should treat every major tourist spot or new place)? Yes.

Be your own person.
Don't let the Internet dictate your vacation.
Go with what your heart desires.
What makes your family happy.
The way the wind takes you...

 

[Shanti]

I went on a cruise 15 years ago to Nassau, and I don't remember it being bad, but I have read a lot of posts where people avoid getting off at that stop and just stay on the ship. I saw lots of warnings about crime and assaults. Any advice from seasoned cruisers? We are traveling with our 3 daughters, ages 13, 10, and 8.

Given the rising crime in Nassau, I personally would only go with set transportation to a specific destination (such as an excursion or a taxi to a place you want to go), and not just stroll around taking it all in. That is from my perspective as a single mother with a child. Next year we'll go to Nassau with the Dream, and plan to do the Atlantis Aquaventure. But that's all we plan to do at Nassau.

 

[lizabu]

Nassau is not anymore dangerous than any other city. Just do what you're supposed to do as a tourist anywhere else and be aware of your surroundings.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

We're just going to walk down to the public beach, we also have three daughters similar ages. If we don't like it, we'll walk back and shop a little. But we always do our own independent excursions anyhow. We go in 2 weeks, so I'll report back.

 

[Marcelyry]

Nassau is fine.

Amazing? No.

Safe to get off and be a normal person about it (watch out for each other, be aware of what's around you, don't go down dark backstreets - you know, how you should treat every major tourist spot or new place)? Yes.

Be your own person.
Don't let the Internet dictate your vacation.
Go with what your heart desires.
What makes your family happy.
The way the wind takes you...

Thank you!

 

[IBLarsen]

I was worried about this also for our cruise a couple weeks ago. I wasn't excited about any of the excursions anyways, but decided to at least walk to the Junkanoo Beach just to say we've been in the Bahamas and see for ourselves a bit. I was NOT impressed. I will say on the beach there was a security guard provided by the Bahamas, he was very friendly, and I started speaking to him (he looked miserable in his full uniform and HOT). He said he was only there as long as the ship tourists were on the beach, they have someone stationed walking around the beach area while cruises are in port he said 'for your protection'. I asked if they generally have issues against tourists...he said for the most part locals behave themselves as long as there's a security guard on site. I can say we saw several security guards near the port, so I figured just be smart like anywhere. I likely wouldn't venture out too far from port areas without being on a ship provided excursion.

 

[Jess_S]

I personally enjoy Nassau, but I agree that I would do an organized tour there as a precaution. The crime rate in the Bahamas in on par with the worst American cities and even though most crime is local on local, I personally feel it warrants caution. (In fairness, the state department website says crime there is down 26% this year, so it seems like their government is doing something to address the problem).

That said, we have always gotten off the boat there for every cruise I've done that stops in Nassau, always had a nice time and never experienced a crime or had any reason to feel unsafe.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

I was worried about this also for our cruise a couple weeks ago. I wasn't excited about any of the excursions anyways, but decided to at least walk to the Junkanoo Beach just to say we've been in the Bahamas and see for ourselves a bit. I was NOT impressed. I will say on the beach there was a security guard provided by the Bahamas, he was very friendly, and I started speaking to him (he looked miserable in his full uniform and HOT). He said he was only there as long as the ship tourists were on the beach, they have someone stationed walking around the beach area while cruises are in port he said 'for your protection'. I asked if they generally have issues against tourists...he said for the most part locals behave themselves as long as there's a security guard on site. I can say we saw several security guards near the port, so I figured just be smart like anywhere. I likely wouldn't venture out too far from port areas without being on a ship provided excursion.

This might sound like an off-beat question, but can you remember what time you left the ship and what time you arrived to Junkanoo? I'm wondering how hot it will be walking down there, but again, I am wondering how hot it will be on the pool deck when in port in Nassau with the ship just sitting there.

 

[jeepnjudy]

Every time we go there we rent a vehicle and cruise around the island. Have not yet had a problem. We are used to traveling with the military so are accustomed to making ourselves aware of our surroundings but I have not felt any less safe there as compared to any other big city. And yes, we take DS13 and DS4 with us. They love it!

 

[ChicosWife]

We did Nassau and spent the day at Atlantis. It seemed safe enough for us. No issues and never felt unsafe during our travel to the resort.

 

[IBLarsen]

This might sound like an off-beat question, but can you remember what time you left the ship and what time you arrived to Junkanoo? I'm wondering how hot it will be walking down there, but again, I am wondering how hot it will be on the pool deck when in port in Nassau with the ship just sitting there.

We were off the ship about 10am and we were melting walking down to the beach. It's a bit further than I had believed. We got down there about 10:30 (there was a small line to get off the ship, and my family seemed to be walking slowly) and only stayed an hour and decided we were done. It was getting very crowded and just not the best beach experience, but at least we could say we've been to the Bahamas. Then back to the ship by noon. Walking back was really HOT! The pool deck was crowded and one pool was closed for 3 hours due to kid poop, so we didn't swim. So didn't really notice if it was too miserable heat wise at pool.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

We were off the ship about 10am and we were melting walking down to the beach. It's a bit further than I had believed. We got down there about 10:30 (there was a small line to get off the ship, and my family seemed to be walking slowly) and only stayed an hour and decided we were done. It was getting very crowded and just not the best beach experience, but at least we could say we've been to the Bahamas. Then back to the ship by noon. Walking back was really HOT! The pool deck was crowded and one pool was closed for 3 hours due to kid poop, so we didn't swim. So didn't really notice if it was too miserable heat wise at pool.

This is what I was wondering. THANK YOU!

 

[cmph]

I didn't want to spend the money or exert any effort on a beach excursion earlier this year, b/c my kids aren't big into beaches. We (8yo boy and 11yo girl, DH, me) did the fairly short semi-sub excursion that departed on the pier about a 2-3min walk away from the ship. I'm glad we got off the ship and showed the kids something of the Bahamas, and we didn't feel unsafe walking back through the straw market where they dropped us off - it's a pretty short walk. But I doubt we bother getting off the next time. My kids just prefer the ship to the other options there, and it's not worth the cost when they're that disinterested. If it were just DH and me, I'd definitely get off and do something. I wouldn't worry about the safety part, just whether there are things your family actually wants to do that would make it worth getting off.

 

[dcassetta]

I think because so many Disney cruisers have been to an Nassau multiple times, many people stand the ship just because they have been there. But if it's your first time in Nassau, or if you haven't been there in quite a while, I actually recommend getting off the ship and looking around a bit. Use the same precautions that you would in any unfamiliar city, and you'll be fine. If you'd like something non-beachy to do, I really recommend the chocolate tour at the Graycliff hotel. Lots of fun, you get to make your own chocolates, and the hotel itself is both historic and beautiful.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I went on a cruise 15 years ago to Nassau, and I don't remember it being bad, but I have read a lot of posts where people avoid getting off at that stop and just stay on the ship. I saw lots of warnings about crime and assaults. Any advice from seasoned cruisers? We are traveling with our 3 daughters, ages 13, 10, and 8.

We're going to do an excursion at Atlantis.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I have: been to Nassau with DH (stayed at Atlantis) in December 2012, been to Nassau with DH, DMIL, DSIL, DS6(4 at the time) and DS8(6 at the time) staying at Comfort Suites in February 2014 and lastly with the last party minus DSIL in January of this year stopping there while on the Dream. Never once did we feel unsafe at any point in the 12 days or so visiting. Not at the resort. Not walking around the Straw Market or to the Queen's Staircase. Not while taking taxis (although their driving can be unsafe ). Not while walking from our hotel to where we met to go to Blue Lagoon Island or AT Blue Lagoon Island. I'm a pretty sceptical, cautious person and I have always felt safe on the entire island.

 

[Lovewinnie]

We are planning on Atlantis that day, my kids are very excited. Interestingly, our upcoming dream cruise has the Royal Court Tea being offered on Nassau day instead of our sea day. This surprised me as I was planning on booking that for my daughter but can't make it work on Nassau day. To me this seems like confirmation that they are planning on a lot of people staying on board to offer this that day.

 

[bakerworld]

If you've never been there then do the excursion(s).

Our first cruise I had excursions booked and read all the stuff about Nassau so I cancelled and stayed on the boat. The second cruise we did an Atlantis tour, which was really good, plus on the way the driver told us about every thing we passed plus some of the Nassau life for the residents - very interesting and enjoyable but we hadn't much in cash so we were only able to give him our drink $ for a tip. He was so nice that I felt bad plus a storm rolled in 3 days later that put them under water. Our third cruise we decided to walk to the straw market and along the main part of town. The police presence is PRESENT - not sure if that means anything. If you're a shopper (main thoroughfare) or never been in to flea market (straw market) its cool. My husband is not a shopper and doesn't like flea markets so unless I go on that cruise with my sisters I feel like I've 'done' Nassau. The hawkers bothered my husband but I read on one of these threads to no make eye contact and ignore them - this works.

 

[KashasMom]

We've never felt unsafe in Nassau, nor have we been harassed. A simple "no, thank you" usually works. We've done the Frommer's walk on our own (with young daughter), been to Blue Lagoon (booked on our own), and have gotten the British Colonial Hilton day pass twice (walking distance from the ship). There are plenty of excursions to do if you want to get off the ship or you can just walk around town for a bit and get back on the ship. I would certainly make up my own mind about any port...