NASSAU — The newly reimagined Nassau Cruise Port has opened its doors to cruise passengers.

The project was three years in the works and includes a sixth berth and new terminal building, a Junkanoo museum, event and entertainment spaces, a 3,500-seat amphitheatre, a living coral exhibit, local stores and new food and beverage facilities.

Cruise visitors are now welcomed with a taste of authentic Bahamian flair steps from the dock, says  I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation.

“The new Nassau Cruise Port offers a whole new experience for cruise visitors,” he said. “Not only will Bahamian culture shine through all aspects of the port but the completion of the project marks a great milestone in ushering a new era for tourism in downtown Nassau, as well as a beautiful welcome for the millions of cruisers who disembark here each year.”

“We anticipate our traffic numbers for 2023 to exceed pre-pandemic levels with about 4.2 million visitors,” says Mike Maura, Port Director for Nassau. “Our growth trajectory is quite promising. In 2019, which was the busiest year for us to date, we had 3.85 million visitors. For 2024, we already have 4.5 million confirmations.”

Earlier this year, the Nassau cruise port set a record-breaking passenger arrival, welcoming 28,554 cruise visitors in one day.

In celebration of the grand opening, the port hosted a handful of private events on site and a ‘Cruise Passenger Day Party’ on May 27. More details about the new terminal can be found at nassaucruiseport.com.