Nassau- what to do when in port

[KPookey]

I’ve been to Nassau a few times, it’s been a few years. We are coming soon on a Carnival ship. I know I’m not staying in port!!!!
Any day pass close to the ship (even Paradise Island) worth it? 
Has anyone done the excursion with the pigs? I swear I’ve been to that beach area 20 years ago on a booze cruise.

 Has anyone done the Blue lagoon sea lion excursion.  One more question…anyone know the difference blue lagoon family day vs adults only?  I assuming different parts of same beach. 
 

thanks 😊
 

 

[mjkacmom]

 We loved our day pass at RIU, we’ve also done Atlantis a couple of times. The pig thing is weird to me, trying to mimic exuma by bringing farm pigs to a beach.

[wildcats40]

Our daughter is doing the swimming with the pigs excursion this weekend.  I'll let you know how it goes. 

[KPookey]

Thanks

[Bobstam]

It has been a long time since we were in Nassau, looks like they have improved the port area from a you tubes that I came across.  Thought about staying on the ship but might get off to check it out, looking forward to more info on here. 

[wildcats40]

Just returned from 3 night cruise to Nassau.  There were 5 or 6 ships in port so a lot of people.  The port area was pretty nice with restrooms, lots of vendors, food and drinks, hair braiders, etc. We just walked around the area close to the port, had lunch and drinks, and returned to the ship.  It was very crowded and hot so preferred to relax on the ship.  Our daughter did the ship excursion that included swimming with the pigs.  She really enjoyed it.  They had a short boat ride to the beach which was pretty and then were assigned a half hour time with the pigs.  She got some good pictures.  They fed apples on skewers to the pigs and she even got to hold a piglet.  The excursion included a lunch of beans and rice, fish, chicken.  She'd recommend it.

[blue_water]

On 4/29/2024 at 2:06 PM, mjkacmom said:

 The pig thing is weird to me, trying to mimic exuma by bringing farm pigs to a beach.

Not to mention the “poop in the water” factor 🙊🙈🙉

[KPookey]

On 5/7/2024 at 9:39 AM, wildcats40 said:

Just returned from 3 night cruise to Nassau.  There were 5 or 6 ships in port so a lot of people.  The port area was pretty nice with restrooms, lots of vendors, food and drinks, hair braiders, etc. We just walked around the area close to the port, had lunch and drinks, and returned to the ship.  It was very crowded and hot so preferred to relax on the ship.  Our daughter did the ship excursion that included swimming with the pigs.  She really enjoyed it.  They had a short boat ride to the beach which was pretty and then were assigned a half hour time with the pigs.  She got some good pictures.  They fed apples on skewers to the pigs and she even got to hold a piglet.  The excursion included a lunch of beans and rice, fish, chicken.  She'd recommend it.

 

[quiltsnh]

On 4/28/2024 at 8:24 AM, KPookey said:

I’ve been to Nassau a few times, it’s been a few years. We are coming soon on a Carnival ship. I know I’m not staying in port!!!!
Any day pass close to the ship (even Paradise Island) worth it? 
Has anyone done the excursion with the pigs? I swear I’ve been to that beach area 20 years ago on a booze cruise.

 Has anyone done the Blue lagoon sea lion excursion.  One more question…anyone know the difference blue lagoon family day vs adults only?  I assuming different parts of same beach. 
 

thanks 😊
 

 

We did Margaritaville day pass thru Resort for a Day.  Walked there. Resort was great, clean easy process getting in. Pool and lazy river, water slide.  Also chairside everage and food service.  Would definitely do again.  

[Cherful59]

On 5/7/2024 at 9:57 AM, blue_water said:

Not to mention the “poop in the water” factor 🙊🙈🙉

That's what I keep thinking, when doing this comes up. 

[philpcruiser]

On 5/7/2024 at 9:39 AM, wildcats40 said:

Just returned from 3 night cruise to Nassau.  There were 5 or 6 ships in port so a lot of people.  The port area was pretty nice with restrooms, lots of vendors, food and drinks, hair braiders, etc. We just walked around the area close to the port, had lunch and drinks, and returned to the ship.  It was very crowded and hot so preferred to relax on the ship.  

Regarding the port area: it appears a lot of $$$ was spent on upgrades/improvements recently.   However,  from looking at the area on the Nassau web cam, it appears that a large area is still not opened.  Reason?

[jcc1025]

On 5/27/2024 at 10:24 AM, philpcruiser said:

Regarding the port area: it appears a lot of $$$ was spent on upgrades/improvements recently.   However,  from looking at the area on the Nassau web cam, it appears that a large area is still not opened.  Reason?

Probably the lease cost to rent a spot there. I watched it being built was amazing given that it was an old dock. I think the building on the end looks to be designed as a resturant but my guess the cost to get those propertys is high and that would be why its not full yet. 

[philpcruiser]

4 hours ago, jcc1025 said:

Probably the lease cost to rent a spot there. I watched it being built was amazing given that it was an old dock. I think the building on the end looks to be designed as a resturant but my guess the cost to get those propertys is high and that would be why its not full yet. 

Yup, possibly.  So who anteed up the cash to pay for this.  Private investors?  Government? What were they thinking?

[mconthehighseas]

On 4/28/2024 at 7:24 AM, KPookey said:

Has anyone done the excursion with the pigs? I swear I’ve been to that beach area 20 years ago on a booze cruise.

 Has anyone done the Blue lagoon sea lion excursion.  One more question…anyone know the difference blue lagoon family day vs adults only?  I assuming different parts of same beach. 
 

thanks 😊
 

 

We did an excursion to swim with pigs, and we had a blast.  Royal Caribbean contracts with Pearl Island  to do this, and it was well organized,  and most important, they had a poop collector!
They made sure it was safe for all of us, and for the pigs.

There is a video on YouTube about the Blue Lagoon sea lion excursion.  I don't know if they did it through their ship, or if ships contract with them, but it looks well run from what I say

[jcc1025]

20 hours ago, philpcruiser said:

Yup, possibly.  So who anteed up the cash to pay for this.  Private investors?  Government? What were they thinking?I 

As I understood at the time it was a goverment project since the old pier was not really used and in poor shape and every cruise guest had to walk by it on the way to the city. I visited there and can atest to that. There is also a concert venue they can use for music or festivals. It is still pretty new, hasn't even been open a year so I think they are still filling in property's.  I watched them build it on that site, backfilled much of the ground. A way better improvement from what was there before. I believe RCCL is planing on building a private (cruise ship pasangers only) area on the island across from the docks. 

[cruiseaholic777]

My son and his wife just swam with the pigs. They said it wasn't worth the money. They said that is was really bad. We always go to Breeze's Resort in Nassau. 100$ a person for unlimited food and drinks. They have a nice pool, beach and hot tub all included.

[philpcruiser]

On 7/5/2024 at 12:17 PM, cruiseaholic777 said:

My son and his wife just swam with the pigs. They said it wasn't worth the money. They said that is was really bad. We always go to Breeze's Resort in Nassau. 100$ a person for unlimited food and drinks. They have a nice pool, beach and hot tub all included.

Can you elaborate as to why the pig swim was really bad?  Also, can we assume it was a ship excursion?

[cruiseaholic777]

I know it was a ship excursion because my son told me. I can't elaborate on it since it is second hand information but my daughter in-law wanted to go on this excursion really bad. She said it was a waste of money as did my son. 

[mjkacmom]

On 7/6/2024 at 1:41 PM, philpcruiser said:

Can you elaborate as to why the pig swim was really bad?  Also, can we assume it was a ship excursion?

These excursions are to mimic exuma island, where feral pigs have lived for decades. They bring farm pigs to an island, and people swim and feed them.