Nassau Cruise Port's sixth anniversary brings big upgrades

Published on Oct 17, 2025, 1:37 pm CDT

3 min read

Key points

New pool and marina expansion enhance Nassau waterfront access.
Upgraded ferry terminal supports Royal Beach Club transfers.
Port projects more than six million cruise visitors in 2025.
Nassau Cruise Port cites three hundred million dollar redevelopment.
Largest transit cruise port continues to grow visitor spending.

Nassau Cruise Port is celebrating six years in operation with a slate of visitor focused improvements that reshape the waterfront and streamline movement across Paradise Island. A new swimming pool, an expanded marina, and a state of the art ferry terminal are the headline additions. The terminal is designed to handle transfers to Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island, which is tracking toward a late December 2025 debut. Together, these projects add capacity, improve wayfinding, and support a smoother experience for travelers and the Bahamian community.

Nassau Cruise Port, upgrades that link ship, shore, and beach

Since a three hundred million dollar redevelopment, Nassau Cruise Port has grown into the world's largest transit cruise port, welcoming millions of travelers each year. The operator reports a record five point six million cruise passengers in 2024 and projects more than six million cruise visitors in 2025 as the waterfront continues to mature. The sixth anniversary upgrades extend that momentum by pairing comfort amenities with better marine access and dedicated ferry flow to the new Royal Caribbean day venue on Paradise Island.

Latest developments

Port officials detailed three near term additions. First, a landscaped pool will give day visitors a place to cool off between shore excursions and shopping on Bay Street. Second, the marina expansion adds berths for more and larger yachts, which supports high yield visitors and new charter options near the terminal village. Third, a purpose built ferry terminal will stage frequent departures for Paradise Island with wider gangways, improved queuing, and more shade, which should cut wait times and crowding during peak calls.

Royal Caribbean's Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island is slated to open in late December 2025. The dedicated ferries, operated by a Bahamian partner, will use the upgraded terminal at Nassau Cruise Port to move cruise guests efficiently across the harbor for day access.

Analysis

The upgrades address three long running pinch points in Nassau. Heat and congestion near the pier can sap a short port day, so the on site pool offers a quick reset that keeps spending and satisfaction close to the terminal village. The marina expansion should pull more yacht traffic to downtown, which diversifies visitor mix and supports local provisioning, restaurants, and crafts. Most importantly, the new ferry terminal should separate beach club flows from general harbor traffic, which reduces crosswalk backups at the gates and helps ships keep all aboard times. Travelers should plan a cushion for ferry boarding, confirm ticket windows for Royal Beach Club day passes, and use the terminal's shade and seating to avoid midday queues.

Final thoughts

Nassau Cruise Port's sixth anniversary ties together comfort, capacity, and connectivity. With a pool, a larger marina, and a dedicated ferry terminal to Royal Beach Club, the largest transit cruise port is positioning for another year of growth while keeping the guest experience at the center. For cruise visitors and locals alike, the upgrades signal a more seamless Nassau Cruise Port experience.