First Cruise! Travel docs overnight in Nassau question

[MrsPawel25]

Hello! First time cruiser here and I already know I’m going to LOVE it! I’m so excited! I am planning one to the Bahamas during my husband’s spring break (he is a full time student.)

 

We are either going to take the Victory out of Port Canaveral or the Fantasy out of Miami, both leaving 3/31/16.

 

The one out of Miami stays overnight in Nassau. We plan on using our birth certificate and ID as our travel documents (I know the importance of a passport but we won’t have them in time). Do we need a passport since it’s staying overnight, or does the birth certificate/ID requirements still work since we will be staying on the ship?

[Clarea]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

As long as you are a US citizen, and the cruise starts and ends int he same US port, then a certified BC is still OK for an overnight stay.

[Keith1010]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

That is fine about the lack of passport.

 

The issue is if you had to fly home due to an emergency you would need a passport.

 

Keith

[MrsPawel25]

It turns out that my husband is still in school on the day that Fantasy leaves, so Victory it is! Too bad since we only have from 12-8 in Nassau on that one, but I still know we will have a blast!

[Sauer-kraut]

Well....that's MORE than enough time to spend in Nassau! Most of your shipmates probably won't even be leaving the ship at that port.

[cb at sea]

You do NOT need a passport as a cruise passenger...no matter how long the ship is there!

[mistycruiser]

Since you mention a "husband" I'm assuming you did a name change with your marriage so the name on your BC will not match your photo ID (driver's license probably). Bring your marriage certificate also as the bridge document for the name change. If you kept your maiden name, no need for the marriage document because the name should be the same as your BC.

[MrsPawel25]

Since you mention a "husband" I'm assuming you did a name change with your marriage so the name on your BC will not match your photo ID (driver's license probably). Bring your marriage certificate also as the bridge document for the name change. If you kept your maiden name, no need for the marriage document because the name should be the same as your BC.

 

Thank you, I will put our marriage certificate in the "important documents" file that we are bringing with us :)

[whataboutport]

Well....that's MORE than enough time to spend in Nassau! Most of your shipmates probably won't even be leaving the ship at that port.

Actually both times I've been there, the majority of the pax got off the ship.

 

If it is their first time in Nassau there is plenty to do! I find that many experienced cruisers do not like the Bahamas as it is "cruising for noobs" and not even part of the Caribbean. I say I have to somewhat agree, but the first two times I was there we had plenty to do, the locals aren't as pushy as many claim (they are much worse in St Maartin and Jamaica IMO), and dock times from noon to 8pm is actually perfect!

 

To OP, look up the Fish Fry if you want to try local cuisine. They usually don't open till after 1pm and they are on island time, so service is slow. I didn't make it there either time as first time I didn't know about it, second time we left too early (got there too early too, most shops were closed, what a waste of time). Or check out a walking food tour. Our times in port didn't allow for this either.

 

Or if you are interested in a self guided walking tour, you can google that as well and see many points of interest.

Edited February 25, 2016 by whataboutport

[MOcruiserman]

Check out the Pirates Museum!

[MrsPawel25]

Actually both times I've been there, the majority of the pax got off the ship.

 

If it is their first time in Nassau there is plenty to do! I find that many experienced cruisers do not like the Bahamas as it is "cruising for noobs" and not even part of the Caribbean. I say I have to somewhat agree, but the first two times I was there we had plenty to do, the locals aren't as pushy as many claim (they are much worse in St Maartin and Jamaica IMO), and dock times from noon to 8pm is actually perfect!

 

To OP, look up the Fish Fry if you want to try local cuisine. They usually don't open till after 1pm and they are on island time, so service is slow. I didn't make it there either time as first time I didn't know about it, second time we left too early (got there too early too, most shops were closed, what a waste of time). Or check out a walking food tour. Our times in port didn't allow for this either.

 

Or if you are interested in a self guided walking tour, you can google that as well and see many points of interest.

 

Ive read that others don't like Nassau but I'm looking forward to it!! Maybe after I get more cruises to other places under my belt I will feel the same way, but right now I'm excited! I'm going to want 2 days there, but that's what more cruises are for, right?!

 

My husband wants to snorkel, and I think that would be cool too. I'm obsessed with Atlantis and would love to see it. I wouldn't mind doing the rum distillery tour and getting some Bahamian rum. It's just a lot for 8 hours. But I will make the most of it!

[whataboutport]

Just know that if you are interested in going to Atlantis, find out what tour or what part of the property you want to see or do. You will need to pay for admission to set foot onto the Atlantis resort unless you want to go in the casino. I have read on here but don't know for sure, if your ship is docked there late or overnight, if you go to Atlantis in the late afternoon or evening there isn't any workers there to stop you from going on their property without an admission ticket.

 

The water may still be a bit cool for snorkeling during late March, but I'm sure much better than when I went in Feb. I don't know if there are good snorkeling spots there, so hopefully others chime in on that.

[whataboutport]

Check out the Pirates Museum!

 

I love pirates and their history but I didn't think the Pirates Museum was worth the price of admission. If there was some discount (perhaps I just didn't know) it would have been better. But for $12 each per adult I think it was a little underwhelming. We were done in about half an hour. The first room was pretty cool, but the rest of the museum was mostly small dioramas and only a small room of actual artifacts which I miss there was more of. I think it's better for kids and not adults who actually are interested in real pirate history.

Edited February 26, 2016 by whataboutport

[MrsPawel25]

I’ve tried taking my husband to museums before and he is bored to tears. And I’ve been to the Pirates Museum in St. Augustine, which was put together by Disney. So that’s probably something we would skip.

 

We are really interested in the catamaran snorkel excursion. We might do that and then take a taxi to Atlantis for a few hours afterwards. Or just leave Atlantis for another time and explore the shops right off the pier.

[Cruisin' Chick]

BTW, whether a passenger intends to stay on the ship or get off in a port has no bearing on whether a passport is required or not.

 

A similar situation has to do with visas for some itineraries. If you're on a cruise going to Brazil, for example, a visa is required. If you fail to have one, you won't be even allowed to board the ship on embarkation day.