Part 4. Our first Port in Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau was our first port we came to during our cruise. It also came our first full day of the cruise lol. To add on top of that it would also be the earliest we arrived in port and we would be there the shortest amount of time. About 5 hours max is all we had to spend in the Bahamas.






Our original plans for the short time we had in Nassau was to take the water taxi over to paradise island where the Atlantis resort is located and do the aquarium walk thru there called "The Dig". However as you can see by some of the pictures it was stormy when we got into Nassau. So we didn't want to attempt to take the water taxi with it stormy. As we walked thru the port area there were people everywhere trying to get us to take a taxi tour or get your hair braded or buy cuban cigars. We had not idea what we were looking for since the water taxi was out of the question. A nice local soon found us offering a tour of the town as well as take us to Atlantis to view the public areas of the resort. The tour was just over 2 hours and would cost us $25 a person. We didn't have anything else planned so we decided to do this tour. We decided afterwards that it was well worth it and we were happy we did this instead of spend the whole time at Atlantis.





Our first stop of the tour was at one of the Historical sites of the Islane. Fort Fincastle. The fort was built in the late 1700's and was really cool from a historical perspective. I love learning about history and that is probably the oldest structure i've ever visited. The fort also stands at the tallest point of the island so there were some decent views. There is another historical site right next to the fort as well called the Queens Staircase. I knew it was there. The tour guide told us it was there. However I completely forgot about it until it was too late. However after returning home I heard some other tourists got robbed there at gunpoint the same morning. I don't know what time this happened but I like to think that maybe Heavenly Father was watching out for us and thats why we forgot it was there.










After the fort our tour guide took us thru some of the town and then over to a local beach where we could get out and take pictures. Wow this beach was the complete opposite of what you think beaches would look like in the Bahamas. There was seaweed everywhere and it was gross looking. Even the water looked really gross because of the storm that was passing thru. I'm guessing that because its a local's beach and not a tourist beach they don't up keep it as well. Oh well we still got out and took some pictures. The tour guide was even kind enough to dust all the womens feet off for them.










After the beach the tour guide took us on a drive thru some neighborhoods so we could see what life is like for the natives of the Island. The classes here are so diverse. From Multi Million Dollar homes to shacks that look like they would blow over if you sneeze wrong with now running water or electricity. This is the part of these tours that I really enjoy. You really get to see the cultures of other countrys. It really makes you feel greatful and blessed for all the things we have here that we take for granteet. The tour guide also mentioned that those who live in the run down shacks and ghettos really have there priorties backwards and are very set on worldly things. They would rather live in there shacks and have to walk to get water each day but have there brand new Lexus or other cars (yes i said Lexus we saw a couple) then to use that money to buy a bigger nicer home. Also cars and other goods like that are about twice the cost there as they are here in the states.






We were soon crossing the bridge over to Paradise Island where we would be visiting the Atlantis resort. As I said earlier because we took this tour we decided to not do the Dig at the resort. That was ok though cause our guide showed us all around the public areas of the resort. Atlantis is amazing. The resort is so huge that you would have to stay there for a few days to see it all. However it is very expensive to stay there and the classyness of it shows. For example just to visit the waterpark there and be able to visit there private beaches was $125 a person. Of course this is all free if you are willing to fork out the near $250 a night price to stay there. With multipule night commitments required. Also the bridge connecting the 2 main buildings is one large suite costing $25,000 a night with a 4 night requirement to stay in it. Cheap isn't a word in the Atlantis dictunary. I'm suprised they didn't charge us for breathing there air let alone have free areas to view. But It ranks up there with the best of the best you would find in Vegas.









Although we didn't do the Dig which took you thru many of Atlantis's aquariums they did have a large one located in there lobby that was free to view. We spent alot of time here looking at all the fish, tiger sharks, manta and sting rays. Guests can even pay to go snorkling in this tank.









To conclude our tour of the free areas of the Atlantis the tour guide took us thru the casino and shops to the back of the resort for some views and photo opps. In the casino they had these blown glass statues of the earth and sun that were really cool.














After Atlantis the tour was over so the tour guide took us back to the pier where our cruise ship is. We still had some time to kill so we decided to go browse thru the local straw market. Before our cruise everyone told us the best place to do our shopping would be in St. Maarten. And this is true if your looking at high end Diamonds or Electronics, ect..... If your looking for bargin knock off brand stuff I recommend doing it in Nassau. The prices are similar on these type items as they were in St. Thomas and St. Maarten. However there was a much larger and better variety of these items in Nassau.







After looking at the shops we found ourselves at the waterfront where the storm had finally fully cleared up and we caught our first glimps of what Bahama/Caribbean water should really look like. It was gorgous. I've never seen water so pretty in my entire life. We also found Senior Frogs wich suprised me cause I thought they were only in Mexico. I couldn't help but laugh that they have a drinking height in the Bahamas instead of a drinking age. We ended up walking the water front all the way back to our ship.














Once back onboard the ship we went by the pool to layout in the sun. They soon announced that we were leaving port and since we would miss the debarkation at our other ports due to our dinner time I wanted to go watch. So I went to the back of the ship to snap a few goodbye pictures of the Bahamas.









Overall Nassau was alright and had its pretty spots but it was our least favorite port of the cruise. The main island of Nassau is pretty dirty and run down. You can tell that they really are pushing tourism on Paradise Island where Atlantis is loacted because that island was in perfect condition and everything there is catered to the Tourists. I do however really appreciated Nassau for its historical value and if we ever go back there again I would like to see more of the historical sites that we missed. However we don't really feel a desire to go back there again. Really the only way I would is if we were actually staying at the Atlantis resort. If you book a cruise that visits Nassau then its worth getting off the ship and checking out the culture and Atlantis. And if we ever go on a cruise that visits Nassau again we will still get off the ship and check out new things. Maybe even do the Atlantis Dig that time around. But I won't go out of my way to book a cruise that visits Nassau again.