After three years of construction and a cost of $300 million, the reimagined Nassau Cruise Port has opened its doors to cruisers, not only offering enhanced service for cruises to the Bahamas’ capital city, but ushering in a regeneration of the city’s downtown core.

Including the repair and the expansion of Prince George Wharf – Phase 1 of the revitalized cruise port features a sixth berth and new terminal building, and host of other amenities.

“The new Nassau Cruise Port offers a whole new experience for cruise visitors,” says Bahamas tourism minister and deputy prime minister I. Chester Cooper. “Not only will Bahamian culture shine through all aspects of the port but the completion of the project marks a great milestone in ushering a new era for tourism in downtown Nassau, as well as a beautiful welcome for the millions of cruisers who disembark here each year.”

“Nassau is a destination that cherishes it’s history, but it also looks to the future,” Joy Jibrilu, CEO of the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board said at the recent Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Barbados. “Over the years, we have become a great destination for cruises to stop due to our variety of activities and beautiful beaches. With so many of our visitors arriving on cruises, we are excited to the see the transformation of our cruise port this year – to make it a destination within itself.”

Jibrilu says the new cruise port has the capacity to accommodate three Oasis-class vessels simultaneously.

Other amenities include a Junkanoo Museum – an immersive experience that shares the story of the destination’s national cultural festival; event and entertainment spaces including an art gallery and 3,500-seat amphitheatre; living coral exhibit; new food and beverage facilities; and 40 retail spaces featuring
authentically Bahamian products.

The redevelopment will be equally enticing to land-based guests, says Jibrilu.

Along with developments at Margaritaville, One Particular Harbour, British Colonial Hotel – accessible via a new promenade from the cruise port – the project will serve as a “catalyst for the renaissance of downtown Nassau,” she adds.

As for cruising, Nassau Port Director Mike Maura says the Bahamas expects traffic numbers for 2023 to exceed pre-pandemic levels with about 4.2 million visitors.

“Our growth trajectory is quite promising,” he states. “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.”

Earlier this year, the Nassau Cruise Port set a record-breaking passenger arrival, welcoming 28,554 cruise visitors in one day – a testament to how the cruise industry is an important component to The Bahamas’ economy. The new and improved port provides entrepreneurial opportunities for Bahamians in addition to benefiting local businesses, shops, and restaurants.

In celebration of the grand opening, the Nassau Cruise hosted a handful of private events on site and a “Cruise Passenger Day Party” on May 27, inviting passengers to explore the new facilities complete with Junkanoo rushouts.