The Beaches of Nassau
Nassau offers cruisers plenty of options such as shopping, gambling and even historical sites such as Fort Fincastle and the Queen's Staircase but when it comes to the Bahamas its all about the white sand beaches and crystal clear blue water. Whether you are looking to go para-sailing for the first time or just relax under an umbrella with a frozen cocktail, Nassau has a beach for you. Below are a few of the most popular and most convenient beach options for cruise passengers.
Cabbage Beach
This is the most popular and therefor most crowded beach in Nassau mainly due to its location near the resorts on Paradise Island, including Atlantis. Cabbage Beach is also convenient for the masses of daily cruise visitors docked at Prince George Wharf and taxi drivers are quick to recommend this beach since it is the closest and they can load a van full of people paying per person. If crowds, jet skis, and hair braiders are your thing then this is the beach for you.
Cable Beach
Cable Beach is a great alternative to Cabbage Beach if you are looking for all the amenities such as water sports, lounge chairs, food and drinks without as much of a crowd. Cable Beach can still get crowded at times but it is a little more laid back than Cabbage. Look for a day pass at one of the resorts for access to loungers, umbrellas and resort pools. Passes should only run about $25 and a cab ride from the cruise ship is $10 a person.
Love Beach
Love Beach is often touted as the best place to snorkel in Nassau but the reef is actually almost a mile off shore so unless you are a great swimmer and have your own life vest I wouldn't recommend Love Beach for snorkeling. The beach is also a night time party spot for the locals so you may find yourself with a trashy beach on some days. Compass Point Resort is located adjacent to the beach and they sell day passes for $20. This is probably the best way to go if you still want to check out Love Beach on your next cruise.
Junkanoo Beach
If you are looking for the most convenient beach from the cruise ships and you don't want to pay for a taxi then Junkanoo is about a 15 minute walk from the ships. This isn't the best beach by far, but it offers a few places to eat and chairs can be rented for around $5. The money you save on cab fare can be used to buy a couple Bahama Mama drinks.
These are some of the beaches that are the most convenient for cruise passengers who may not have all day in Nassau. If you are on a cruise that has a longer stay in Nassau such as one of the 4 night cruises out of Jacksonville, FL ask your cab driver to take you to one of the more secluded beaches on the Southwestern part of the island. Not only is it possible to have the beach to yourself but this is some of the best seashell hunting on the island.