The best things to do in Nassau with kids are the Atlantis Aquaventure waterpark if the budget stretches, Cable Beach if it does not, and a downtown walk to Fort Fincastle for a short call. Nassau is a plan ahead port: Atlantis passes must be bought in advance and sell out, and taxi fares are government set by zone rather than negotiated.
⚡ Nassau with Kids — Quick Overview
- ✓The Atlantis day pass is expensive but genuinely delivers for waterpark-loving kids
- ✓Cable Beach is beautiful — calm, clear, and easy for young kids
- ✓Swimming pigs at Exuma are a once-in-a-lifetime experience (requires a day trip)
- ✓Nassau is safe in tourist areas — standard precautions apply
- ⚠The area around the cruise pier can feel chaotic — have a destination in mind
- ⚠Book Atlantis and major excursions before you sail — they sell out
Nassau is a plan-ahead port
Nassau gets mixed reviews from cruise families, and the difference almost always comes down to whether they had a plan. The cruise pier area is busy, vendors are persistent, and “let’s just wander and see what happens” doesn’t tend to produce great memories here.
The families who love Nassau booked the Atlantis day pass months out, reserved a spot at a beach club, or planned a day trip to Exuma. Pick your anchor activity before you sail. Everything else follows from that.
4–8 hrsTypical Port Time
Prince George WharfMain Cruise Pier
USDWidely Accepted
10–15 minTaxi to Cable Beach
📋 Best Things to Do in Nassau with Kids
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Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark Day Pass
The Atlantis day pass is the single most popular Nassau activity for families with kids. Aquaventure is a massive waterpark with slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, a kids’ splash zone, and a beach. The Atlantis marine habitat aquarium is included and genuinely impressive — sharks, rays, and hundreds of species in open-air lagoons.
It’s expensive. But for families who love waterparks, it eliminates the need to plan anything else and kids genuinely have an all-day experience.
💰 Atlantis Day Pass — How Pricing Works
Adult passAges 13+
Child passAges 4–12
Under 3Free
PriceVaries by date
Atlantis does not publish a flat rate. Its own booking page says only that prices vary by date and season, so the honest answer is to price your specific sailing date rather than trust any figure in a blog post, this one included. Budget well above $100 per adult, and more in spring break and holiday weeks. A day pass is required for every non-resort guest, quantities are limited per day, and tickets must be bought in advance.
💡 Tip: Book directly through Atlantis before you sail. Passes are limited each day and sell out when several ships are in, and you cannot buy one at the gate. Arrive early by taxi to get ahead of the crowds.
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Cable Beach
Cable Beach is Nassau’s most popular family beach — a long stretch of calm, clear, turquoise water backed by resort hotels. The water is shallow and gentle, perfect for young kids. Several beach clubs along the strip offer chair rentals, food, and drinks. It is roughly a 15–20 minute taxi from the pier, traffic depending, and costs a fraction of the Atlantis day pass.
💡 Tip: Nassau taxi fares are government set by zone, and the posted rate covers the first two passengers only. Prince George Wharf to Cable Beach is around $18 for two, plus about $4 for each extra person, so a family of four pays roughly $26 each way rather than the two-person rate. Agree the fare before you get in, and bring cash for chair rentals and smaller vendors.
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Swimming Pigs Day Trip (Exuma)
The swimming pigs of Big Major Cay in the Exuma islands are one of the most genuinely unique wildlife experiences in the Caribbean — wild pigs that swim out to boats in crystal-clear turquoise water. Kids go absolutely wild for them. The catch: Exuma is not in Nassau. Getting there requires a seaplane or boat tour.
Several Nassau-based operators run dedicated day trips combining the swimming pigs with snorkeling stops, nurse sharks, starfish, and iguanas. It’s a long, full day and you’ll need 6+ hours of port time to make it work.
💡 Tip: Book a reputable operator well in advance — this trip sells out fast. Seaplane tours are faster but more expensive. Boat tours are more affordable and still deliver the full experience. Confirm your ship’s all-aboard time before booking.
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Stuart Cove’s Snorkel & Shark Dive
Stuart Cove’s is Nassau’s most reputable water sports operator. Their snorkel trips cover healthy reefs with good fish variety. For adventurous older kids and teens, they also offer shark encounters — supervised dives where Caribbean reef sharks swim past. Book the snorkel trip for mixed ages — the shark dive has age and certification requirements.
💡 Tip: The snorkel tour is the better fit for families with kids under 12. Book in advance as popular time slots fill quickly on busy port days.
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Downtown Nassau & Fort Fincastle
Downtown Nassau is walkable from the pier. The colorful pastel buildings of Bay Street, the straw market for souvenirs, and Fort Fincastle — a small hilltop fort with views over the harbor — make for an easy 2–3 hour explore. The Queen’s Staircase, 66 steps carved into limestone, is a quick and interesting stop that kids find memorable.
💡 Tip: The straw market near the pier has good souvenir shopping and prices are negotiable. Skip the shops immediately at the pier exit which are the most aggressively touristy.
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🧭 Nassau with Kids at a Glance
| Option | Best ages | Getting there | Book ahead? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantis Aquaventure | All ages | Taxi from the pier | Yes, and it sells out | One big all-day anchor activity |
| Cable Beach | All ages | ~15–20 min taxi, $18 for two | No | Calm shallow water without the Atlantis price |
| Downtown & Fort Fincastle | 5+ | Walkable from the pier | No | Short calls and small budgets |
| Swimming pigs day trip | Older kids | Flight or fast boat to Exuma | Yes | Long calls only, it eats the whole day |
| Stuart Cove’s snorkel | 6+ | Taxi, then boat | Yes | Confident swimmers |
Taxi fares in Nassau are set by zone, not negotiated, and the posted rate covers the first two passengers with about $4 for each additional person. Agree the fare before you get in.
⏱️ What Actually Fits in Your Port Day
A 4-hour port day
Short call
Stay close. Downtown, the straw market and Fort Fincastle, or a quick run to Cable Beach. Atlantis is not worth the money on a window this short.
A 6-hour port day
Common length
Cable Beach for most of the day, or Atlantis if you have already bought passes. Pick one and commit rather than trying to sample both.
An 8-hour port day
Long call
Atlantis comfortably fills it, or a snorkel trip in the morning and the beach after. This is the only length where the Exuma pig trip makes sense.
With toddlers
Under 5
Cable Beach. Calm, shallow, shaded, with food nearby and a short taxi home when the day turns. Atlantis works too, but you will pay a lot for slides they cannot ride.
With school-age kids
Roughly 6–12
The age Atlantis is built for. If the budget does not stretch, Cable Beach plus a downtown fort walk lands nearly as well for a fraction of it.
On a tight budget
Nassau can be done cheaply
Cable Beach and the fort cost a taxi fare and an entry fee. Bring your own towels and snacks and the day runs on very little.
📌 Honest Tips for Families in Nassau
Pick one anchor activity and build the day around it.
Atlantis, Cable Beach, or Exuma — pick one. Trying to fit in two major activities with kids in a Nassau port day almost always ends in rushing and not enjoying either. The anchor activity should be booked before you board the ship.
Always agree on taxi prices before you get in.
Nassau taxis don’t use meters. Most are reasonable and fair but agree upfront. From the pier to Mr. Sancho’s should be around $15–20 USD for a family. Ask at the pier taxi stand for the standard rate board.
Vendors near the pier are persistent — it’s okay to say no.
A firm, polite “no thank you” and walking purposefully toward your destination works. Don’t stop to engage if you’re not interested — it’s an invitation to a longer sales pitch.
Build in more return time than you think you need.
Traffic between Cable Beach and the pier can back up, especially when multiple ships are all-aboarding around the same time. Leave at least 45–60 minutes before all-aboard time.
USD works everywhere — Bahamian dollars are equal value.
You may receive change in Bahamian dollars, which are pegged 1:1 to USD. If you want to avoid confusion, just ask for change in USD. Most vendors and taxis are completely fine with this.
💡 What to skip in Nassau
The “dolphin encounter” facilities near the pier have mixed reviews — research the specific operator carefully before booking. The shops immediately at the pier exit are overpriced. And Junkanoo Beach right at the pier, while convenient, is not Nassau’s best beach — worth a quick look but not worth spending the whole port day there when Cable Beach is 15 minutes away.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nassau good for families with kids?
Nassau is good for families who plan ahead. The Atlantis day pass is a genuine highlight, Cable Beach is beautiful, and the swimming pigs trip to Exuma is unforgettable. Without a plan, the pier area can feel chaotic. Research and book your anchor activity before you sail.
Is the Atlantis day pass worth it for families?
Yes, for families with kids who love waterparks. Aquaventure is a full-day experience — slides, lazy river, wave pool, kids’ splash zone, and the marine habitat aquarium. It is expensive, and Atlantis does not publish a flat rate — its booking page says only that prices vary by date and season, so price your own date. Budget well above $100 per adult. A pass is required for every non-resort guest and must be bought in advance, because they sell out when several ships are in.
Can you swim with pigs from Nassau?
Yes, via a day trip to Exuma (the pigs are not in Nassau itself). Seaplane and boat tours depart from Nassau. It’s a long full day and requires 6+ hours of port time. Book well in advance — it sells out fast.
What is the best beach in Nassau for families?
Cable Beach is the best family beach in Nassau — calm, clear, beautiful, and lined with beach clubs. It’s 10–15 minutes by taxi from the cruise pier. Baha Mar beach is another excellent option. Junkanoo Beach at the pier is convenient but not Nassau’s best.
Is Nassau safe for families?
Yes in the main tourist areas. The cruise pier area, Cable Beach, Paradise Island, and organized excursions are all safe for families. Standard precautions apply — don’t wander into unfamiliar residential areas, keep valuables secure, and use vetted transportation.
🔗 Sources & further reading
Prices and fares change. Confirm before you sail.
- Atlantis day pass booking — official page; prices vary by date, advance purchase required
- Nassau zoned taxi fares — posted rates cover two passengers, $4 per additional person
Nassau on your itinerary? 🇧🇸
The Passport Pal Nassau Port Pack gives kids their own Bahamas facts, maps, drawing prompts, and memory pages. Under $4.
Get the Nassau Port Pack 👉Nassau is worth getting off the ship for — but only if you know where you’re going. The families who love it the most are the ones who booked Atlantis months out, or planned the Exuma trip and spent the day swimming with pigs in impossibly clear water. Give it the planning it deserves and it delivers.