The Bahamas Without the Beach

So many Caribbean cruise itineraries include Nassau, Bahamas as a port of call.  It’s not surprising, considering its beautiful beaches and great shopping! However, if you’re looking for something a bit different to do on your stop in the Bahamas let me make a few suggestions.

Chocolate Factory:  Graycliff Chocolatier is a tasty destination located on the Graycliff Hotel’s historic property (dates back to the 18th century) in downtown Nassau. From fully interactive experiences to delicious tasting tours to a fun and playful children’s tour with Captain Choco, Graycliff Chocolatier offers a number of ways to experience chocolate like never before! Learn how cacao beans are processed to create the final chocolate product and the importance of fair trade and organic farming. After the short tour, you are assigned a station at the worktable with a cup of liquid chocolate straight from the small vat, and a plate of goodies to choose from to make your own yummy concoctions.

Bahamas Birding Tours:  Bahamas Outdoors Limited, has been offering birding and nature tours in the Bahamas since 1997. Owner Carolyn Wardle has been seriously birding for many years and is one of the first Bahamas Ministry of Tourism certified Birding Tour Guides. Full or half day tours depart from near the cruise ship. Included are use of binoculars, spotting scope, field guides and refreshments. Local bird species present include the Bahama Woodstar Hummingbird, Loggerhead Kingbird, Cuban Pewee, Greater Antillean Bullfinch, Red-legged Thrush and so many more. This is a great tour for birders, nature loves and nature photographers.

Nassau Pirate Museum:  The Golden Age of Piracy lasted from 1690 to 1720, and Nassau, Bahamas was at its heart, attracting the greatest concentration of pirates ever seen in the New World. This fun and interactive museum located in the heart of downtown Nassau. Board the pirate ship Revenge for an entertaining and educational history of pirates. It's quite small and takes less than 30 mins to finish. My son loved this museum when he was a little boy!

 

Bahamas Brews Tour: Drink your way through downtown Nassau while learning a bit about the island’s history on this beer and food walking tour. There are 3 stops including a pirate-themed pub, an art gallery and the first craft brewery in the Bahamas. At each stop you will sample three local beers from each of the major brands: Sands, Kalik and Pirate Republic Brewing Co. paired with delicious snacks such as local favorite, conch fritters, chicken wings and authentic German pretzels with homemade mustard.

Have fun cruising to the Bahamas!