Nassau, the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port, Is Booming

It’s the premier cruise port in the Caribbean: the Nassau Cruise Port, which recently completed the first phase of a $300 million redevelopment project. 

Now, the Bahamian port has hit another milestone: Nassau has already topped last year’s cruise passenger volume, and there are three months to spare in 2023. 

The port has already welcomed 3,224,210 cruise passengers through Sept. 24 — 11,000 passengers higher than the gross passenger count for all of 2022. 

By comparison, 3.21 million passengers visited Nassau in 2022. 

Executives for the port are forecasting a total of 4.2 million passengers for the calendar year 2023, which would be a new record for Nassau — and the region at large. 

“We are thrilled to have reached this milestone and to do so just in time to celebrate our fourth anniversary makes the achievement extraordinarily special,” said chief executive officer, Mike Maura Jr. “Our success reflects the resilience and commitment of the cruise industry and is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire Nassau Cruise Port team, the Bahamian government, our community, and our industry partners.”

The port overhaul included six new and expanded berths, a 700-foot megayacht berth, a new marina, new dining concepts, the first-ever Bahamas Museum of Junkanoo; a wine bar and art gallery and a 3,000-person amphitheater, among other upgrades. 

It’s a testament to the growth of the port and the broad renaissance of the Bahamian capital, which has seen a dramatic transformation in recent years, from Graycliff’s reimagining of West Hill Street into the Graycliff Heritage Village to the massive impact of The Pointe, the harborfront development that includes a pair of Margaritaville resorts. 

“We have transformed the Bahamian cruise tourism product and brand, quickly turning Nassau into a premier destination for cruisers around the world,” Maura Jr said. “The best is yet to come.”