Dear NEXT TRAVELER to the Bahamas – Nassau & Princess Cays!
Highlights/Recommendations:
1. Nassau – Love Beach
2. Nassau – Blue Lagoon Islands – Swim with Dolphins
3. Nassau – Straw Market
4. Princess Cays – Ziplining & Sunning
We have taken a couple cruises to the Bahamas and visited both Nassau & Princess Cays. We explored different beaches and cays each time we were there. Our first visit we took the local bus from the cruise port to Love Beach toward the other end of Nassau. It was a short ride and it was memorable to visit with locals and learn more about the island.
We had heard that Love Beach was a local beach area that was more private and had a huge conch shell wall and beautiful water. It was all true! We loved it! For a small fee you could rent beach chairs for a couple hours. The water was gorgeous, the sand was soft and we loved the couple of hours we spent there. When we were ready to leave, we caught the local bus just outside the entrance to the beach. Just make sure to plan enough time to get back. We learned that the local bus doesn’t always arrive at the exact time and there are multiple stops on the way back to the cruise port. We have found that “Island Time” is a real thing. It’s a nice break from a fast and intense pace, but just make sure to have the extra time!
We took an excursion to Blue Lagoon Island to swim with the dolphins. We caught the ferry from the cruise ship pier and had quite an adventurous ride to the Cay. The waters were a little rough and at times we were all splashed. It was fine with us and part of the adventures of the day. When we were pulling into the Cay, we noticed how beautiful the waters were – the clearest shades of green and blue. Once we left the ferry we found a spot on the beach. There were plenty of chairs and a water playground. Brad & I had played on a water playground several years before when we visited Costa Maya, Mexico and the kids were so excited to play on the one at this excursion. It did not disappoint. They tried so many times to get to the top and several times were even successful. They had a great time.
After the playground and resting on the beach, we made our way to the Swimming with Dolphins area. It was a bit of a walk from the beach to where the dolphins were but most of the way was paved with wooden docks or concrete. The dolphin encounter was incredible. We were in the water with the dolphin but didn’t truly swim the dolphin, he swam around us. We had our picture made with the dolphin and it was actually an amazing opportunity.
Nassau – Straw Market. In the middle of Nassau is a large mixture of open-air and indoor shops. It’s full of souvenirs and items. It’s worth a walk-through to see handmade local items and even to take the time to talk to the locals and have them tell you about their town.
Princess Cays. This cay is a private island exclusively for guests of Carnival & Princess cruises. It is absolutely stunning. The water is a perfectly clear mix of blues & greens. The sand is sparkling white. There are multiple areas of lounge chairs and beautiful cabana buildings for rent. Then even offer ziplining.
Next Traveler 