Equipped with many new amenities

The new-look Nassau Cruise Port has been unveiled with the promise of wooing more cruise business to one of the Caribbean’s top cruise destinations, The Bahamas.

The completely reimagined destination in the heart of the Bahamian capital of Nassau has finally been completed after three years of construction. The new-look $300 million port in Nassau has been outfitted with several new amenities such as a sixth cruise berth, a new terminal building and an array of offerings.

These new offerings include a Junkanoo museum, which is a unique concept in the Caribbean and a major nod to Bahamian culture and history, providing a unique concept in the Caribbean and a major nod to Bahamian culture and history. The Nassau Cruise Port Junkanoo Museum will give visitors an immersive experience that tells the story of the country’s national cultural festival and vibrant art form.

Other amenities on show

There are also event and entertainment spaces, a 3,500-seat amphitheatre, a “living coral” exhibit, local shops and new food and beverage destinations. There is a concerted focus on locally-made products with 40 different retail spaces at the port featuring local outfits like Bahama Hand Prints and Bamboo Shack, among others. 

The new port is being opened as The Bahamas is already seeing sizzling cruise passenger numbers, including a new single-day record for cruise arrivals set earlier this year with 28,554 in one day. The new port represents a significant boost for one of the best-known and heavily-visited cruise destinations anywhere in the world. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister, Chester Cooper commented, “The new Nassau Cruise Port offers a whole new experience for cruise visitors.” According to him, “Not only will Bahamian culture shine through all aspects of the port but the completion of the project marks a great milestone in ushering in a new era for tourism in downtown Nassau, as well as a beautiful welcome for the millions of cruisers who disembark here each year.”

Cultural and entertainment hub 

Bahamas Prime Minister, Philip Davis indicated that “the port will become a cultural and entertainment hub that celebrates our UNESCO recognized heritage and crafts. This is a place where our traditions, customs, and artistic expressions come alive, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the true essence of The Bahamas.”

For his part, Port Director for Nassau, Mike Maura commented, “We anticipate our traffic numbers for 2023 to exceed pre-pandemic levels with about 4.2 million visitors. Our growth trajectory is quite promising. In 2019, which was the busiest year for us to date, we had 3.85 million visitors. For 2024, we already have 4.5 million confirmations.”

Most importantly, the new port underscores the renaissance of downtown Nassau, a city that has become one of the most dynamic downtowns anywhere in the Caribbean from The Pointe development on the water’s edge to the new Margaritaville Beach Resort to the Graycliff Heritage Village. The latter has transformed West Hill Street in downtown into a walkable thoroughfare including everything from The Bahamas’ first winery to a chocolate factory to a fantastic Bahamian history museum.