Friday, November 8, 2024

We arrived in port around 8am. By 10am, there were six cruise ships in port, with total capacity of 21,000 passengers and 7,500 crew. We are the runt of this litter, with only half of the capacity of the next smallest, and only 13% of that for the largest ship. Holy cow!! Even if they aren’t all full, there will probably be 20,000 people wandering the streets in Nassau, or inhabiting the beaches. Cruise passengers are a big source of revenue for the town, though, so all are welcome here.

Nassau, capital of the Bahamas, is located on the island of New Providence. The town was founded in 1670 as Charles Town, named for King Charles II of England. This original town burned down, and was rebuilt in 1695, and given the name of Nassau in honor of England’s King William III, who belonged to the House of Nassau, once an independent state of the Holy Roman Empire.

During the 1700s, Spanish and French forces briefly occupied Nassau. For a time, the Bahamas was a pirate haven known as New Providence. At one time, it was estimated that pirates outnumbered inhabitants. Edward Teach, “Blackbeard,” was one of the more famous pirates to spend time here.

The Bahamas have played their part in United States wars, having been occupied for a time by American Continental Marines during the American Revolution. During our country’s Civil War, Nassau was used as a port by blockade runners trying to trade with the Confederacy. The British decided to clamp down on piracy, and claimed the Bahamas as a crown colony in 1718. The country gained its independence in 1973.

Nassau has been recognized as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. This UNESCO program, created in 2004, is designed to promote cooperation among cities that have utilized culture and creativity as drivers of urban development.

For movie fans, Nassau has been featured in several James Bond films, as well as the Beatles movie “Help!”

Just across the water from the port is Atlantis Paradise Island, a resort where we spent a few days about twenty years ago. We have fond memories of the pools, slides, and the beaches. It was definitely a family friendly resort. According to their website, they now have Barbie themed rooms. No Ken, though, so I guess I’ll skip it this time.

Today, we’ll stay on the New Providence side. There’s plenty to see and do near the port – I seem to recall there are extensive shopping opportunities, with duty-free goods and restaurants. The Nassau Straw Market is a Bahamian flea market, with plenty of ways to spend your money.

There was a parade in the downtown area this morning, in honor of public service workers. This is National Public Service Week, with several events taking place throughout the week, starting with a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, a career fair, and public recognition. What a nice idea.

We left port at around 5pm. I won’t miss those crowds!