When thinking of the Bahamas, many people automatically think of the country’s clear blue waters and soft sandy beaches. Rightfully so, as they’re one of the best parts of visiting this part of the world. If you have an upcoming cruise to this region, you might be looking for the best beaches in Nassau, Bahamas.

Here, we’re going over some of New Providence Island’s best beaches, plus touching on excursions that visit them, which resorts offer day passes, and tips for visiting the beach during a cruise.

When’s the best time to visit the beaches in Nassau for weather?

Before we get to our top picks for beaches to visit during your cruise, we should first go over the best time to visit the beaches in Nassau. If you’re looking for hot weather and warm waters that won’t give you a chill as you venture in, pretty much any time besides winter is a safe bet.

In the spring, the average temperatures for the Bahamas are in the mid-70s. Summer temperatures average in the mid to high-80s, while fall is generally in the high 70s to low 80s. In the winter, the temperature averages in the low 70s and the water averages at 74 degrees. It’s certainly not cold water by any means, but it’s a bit too cool for lots of visitors to fully enjoy. However, if you want cooler weather, winter is an excellent time to head to the beach in the Bahamas.

Overview of the Best Beaches in Nassau, Bahamas

Here’s a quick overview of some of the best beaches you can visit in Nassau, Bahamas during a cruise visit, listed in alphabetical order. We’ve also included the driving distance between the cruise port and the beach, as well as the best way to get there.

Adelaide Beach

Adelaide Beach is located on the opposite side of New Providence Island from the cruise port in the southwestern corner. This long beach is one of the quieter and more secluded options on the list, where you’re likely to find more locals than tourists. Because of its less-touristy and hidden-away nature, you won’t find bars and restaurants lining Adelaide Beach, so be sure to pack some snacks.

• Driving distance from cruise port: 14.5 miles
• How to get to Adelaide Beach: Taxi

Cabbage Beach

Cabbage Beach is known as one of the best and most popular beaches in the Bahamas. It’s located on Paradise Island just east of Atlantis. In addition to enjoying the calm waves and a mile of soft sandy beachfront, visitors can rent jet skis, go parasailing, or go water skiing. Nearby restaurants ensure you won’t go hungry during your day in the sand and surf at Cabbage Beach.

• Driving distance from cruise port: 2.2 miles
• How to get to Cabbage Beach: Water shuttle or taxi

Cable Beach

Another one of Nassau’s most popular beaches, the two-mile Cable Beach is lined with resorts and condos. It’s known for its calm waters and soft sand. Visitors have lots of watersports options while there including jet skiing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. This is one of the beaches that has vendors walking around selling everything from umbrella and chair rentals to souvenirs and sunscreen, so keep that in mind.

• Driving distance from cruise port: 6 miles
• How to get to Cable Beach: Jitney bus or taxi

Caves Beach

Caves Beach is located just a bit further west from the cruise port past Cable Beach. Named for the limestone caves that run along the edge of the water, this small sandy beach is much less crowded than Cable Beach. What you lose in beachside amenities (there aren’t any), you make up for in seclusion at Caves Beach.

• Driving distance from cruise port: 8.6 miles
• How to get to Caves Beach: Jitney bus or taxi

Goodman’s Bay Park

Located on the eastern end of Cable Beach, Goodman’s Bay Park has a less-crowded beach that offers an escape from the hubbub of all of the people staying at the resorts. The park does have bathrooms, but you’ll need to walk down towards the busier part of Cable Beach to get amenities like food or chair rentals.

• Driving distance from cruise port: 3.6 miles
• How to get to Goodman’s Bay: Jitney bus or taxi

Jaw’s Beach

Located far off the beaten path on the northwestern side of New Providence Island, Jaw’s Beach is located within Clifton Heritage National Park. The protected beach has warm, clear, and shallow waters, perfect for enjoying a laid-back day of lazing around or going snorkeling.

It also features the largest single figurative underwater sculpture, reaching over 16 feet up from the sea floor. It depicts a local Bahamian girl carrying the weight of the ocean above her in reference to the Greek myth of Atlas, the Titan who held up the heavens.

• Driving distance from cruise port: 16.3 miles
• How to get to Jaws Beach: Taxi or rent a car

Junkanoo Beach

Junkanoo Beach is another popular Bahamian beach for cruisers, as it’s the closest beach to the cruise port and is within walking distance. If you want a convenient and busy beach with nearby food and beverage options, watersport rentals, and restrooms, this may be a good option.

The waters are shallow and crystal clear. It’s picture-perfect for what guests want when thinking about a beach in the Bahamas. Be aware that you will find lots of locals selling their wares here.

• Driving distance from cruise port: .8 miles
• How to get to Junkanoo Beach: Walk or Jitney bus

Love Beach

Located past Cable Beach and near the airport, Love Beach is known for its prime snorkeling waters. There are 40 acres of coral reefs about a mile off the shore here. These reefs and rocks keep the beach from getting high waves, and rock pools make it a great place for exploring and enjoying calm, crystal clear waters. When you get hungry, grab a bite to eat at the nearby Nirvana restaurant, which also rents out beach chairs.

• Driving distance from cruise port: 11.9 miles
• How to get to Love Beach: Jitney bus or taxi

Montagu Beach

Montagu Beach is located adjacent to Fort Montague, which is a mid-1700s fort located east of the cruise port area. The beach offers soft sands and shallow waters, and there’s a playground and park nearby. The beach area is a popular spot for locals to enjoy some lunch, so you’ll be able to find some local dishes from food vendors during your time there.

• Driving distance from cruise port: 2.3 miles
• How to get to Montagu Beach: Jitney bus or taxi

Saunders Beach

Saunders Beach is a popular destination for families visiting Nassau, as it features calm, shallow waters partly thanks to manmade coves. Amenities include a playground, restrooms, and outdoor showers. There aren’t many food and beverage options nearby, but there are some fast food restaurants across the street from the beach and a nearby gas station for snacks.

• Driving distance from cruise port: 2.2 miles
• How to get to Saunders Beach: Jitney bus or taxi

Beach Excursions in Nassau

If you want to take an organized excursion to one or more of the beaches in Nassau, look for animal encounters (such as dolphin or stingray encounters or swim with pigs), ‘beach escape’ or ‘beach break’ excursions, or general overview island tours that include a stop at a beach or two. You can find these types of excursions through your cruise line or through independent tour operators.

Cruise lines also sell excursions that essentially are day passes to local resorts. You can certainly book them through the cruise line, but it’ll almost always be cheaper to book a day pass through the resort on your own.

Here are some examples of beach-focused shore excursions in Nassau from different cruise lines:

• Dolphin Swim & Blue Lagoon Beach Fun with Lunch (Carnival)
• Snorkel Sunken Sculptures, Iguanas & Sun Cay Beach (Carnival)
• Adventure Jeep, Beach & Local Lunch (Carnival)
• Nassau Beach Break and Sightseeing (Royal Caribbean)
• Swimming Pigs & Pearl Island Beach Escape (Royal Caribbean)
• Adventure Jeep and Beach (Norwegian Cruise Line)
• Express Beach Break (Norwegian Cruise Line)
• Sea Lion Encounter & Beach at Blue Lagoon Island (Princess)
• Backstage Nassau With Beach Break (Holland America)
• Jet Ski Adventure & Sun Cay Beach Club (Holland America)
• Explore Nassau Sightseeing and Beach Tour (Disney)
• Nassau Backstage Local Flavors with Beach Break (Disney)
• Snorkel and Beach Adventure (Disney)

Nassau Beach Resort Day Passes

If you want to enjoy the perks of a beach resort in Nassau while you’re in port, consider booking a day pass. Many resorts offer day passes for visitors that allow them to enjoy many of the same amenities that their overnight guests have access to.

What the day pass includes depends on the resort, but many include things like access to the pools and fitness center, use of loungers and umbrellas on the beach, and use of bathrooms and showers. Some day passes may even include food and beverage credits.

Some popular resorts offering day passes for cruisers visiting Nassau, Bahamas include:

• Margaritaville Beach Resort & Waterpark
• Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas
• RIU Palace
• Breezes Resort Nassau
• Atlantis Paradise Island
• Baha Bay Waterpark at Baha Mar
• British Colonial

Tips For Visiting the Beaches in Nassau, Bahamas

If you’re planning to visit the beach during your port day in Nassau, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Don’t bring valuables ashore. Of course, you will need to bring things like your ID and money/a credit card, and most people bring their phone along too. Otherwise, leave valuable items behind. Don’t bring your entire wallet’s contents, for example. Leave everything but the essentials in your safe back on the ship.
• Keep an eye on your belongings. If your whole party wants to go in the water at the same time, make sure at least one person is keeping an eye on everyone’s belongings back on the shore. Better yet, invest in something like a beach chair lock bag so you don’t have to worry as much about valuables being stolen.
• Bring beach towels from the ship. Even if you have a day pass through a resort, many day passes don’t include the use of beach towels.
• Unless there are garbage cans nearby, practice the carry-in/carry-out policy at the beaches in Nassau, Bahamas. This means that any trash you create during your time at the beach needs to leave the beach with you. There should be trash cans in the port area if you can’t find them elsewhere.
• Bring a lightweight long-sleeve shirt with you. Even if it’s a hot day, the sun may get to you faster than you think and you’ll want a quick and easy way to cover up for some relief.
• Alongside the previous point, don’t forget your sunscreen and don’t be afraid to use it. The same goes for your sunglasses.
• Bring plenty of water when you head ashore. Even if you’re sure there will be places to get a drink at or near the beach you’re visiting, it’s always best to have too much water rather than not enough, especially in the hot Bahamian sun.
• Pay heed to water condition warnings. If you get to a beach and there’s a warning that there are strong waves or rip currents, listen to the warnings. These safeguards are in place for a reason.

Comments

Do you agree with our picks for the best beaches in Nassau, Bahamas for cruisers? Do you have any other beaches to add to the list? Drop us an anchor below to share where you like dipping your toes in the sand when visiting this popular cruise port.