Paradise Island & Atlantis Shore Excursion

Experience the best of Nassau on this interesting and exciting tour of the island, highlighted by a visit to the world-famous Atlantis Resort.

Your Nassau excursion starts when you meet your guide/driver at the pier and get into your air-conditioned vehicle. One of your stops will be at the historic Fort Fincastle, a small fort shaped like a paddle-wheel steamer. The fort was built to protect Nassau from invaders; luckily it never saw warfare. At the fort, you'll have time to explore, climb the Queen Victoria Staircase, do some light shopping on your own, and take all the photos you want. If time permits, guests may choose to enter Fort Fincastle (not included, approximately $3 US per person).

After marveling at Fincastle, travel along Bay Street, the heart of Nassau's shopping district, and home to the native Straw Market. Some highlights of this excursion include views of the Government House (official residence of the Governor-General of the Bahamas since 1801), the Governor's Mansion, and Gregory's Arch. This stone arch was named after Governor John Gregory, who served around 1850. When you pass through the arch on Market Street, you'll also cross the line that divides downtown Nassau from the rest of the country.

On the way to Paradise Island, enjoy a sweet stop at the Rum Cake Factory-a newer addition that guests love. Sample complimentary slices of rich, flavorful rum cake and shop for original small or large cakes, ideal for gifts or personal indulgence. Restrooms are available at this stop. Following this, you will travel to Paradise Island, connected to New Providence by two scenic bridges spanning Nassau Harbour. Keep an eye out for Hog Island Lighthouse, built in 1817, which stands proudly at the island's western tip and is visible from the cruise port.

The highlight of Paradise Island is without a doubt, the world-famous Atlantis, a magnificent resort with over 3,000 hotel rooms, 20 restaurants, a wide variety of stores, a 123-acre water park, beautiful beaches and the largest casino in the Bahamas. The total cost to construct Atlantis was over $2 billion. Your tour will make a short stop at Atlantis, where you'll have free time to explore the amazing lobby, casino, or the shops. After your free time, you will be taken back to your ship.

Guests wishing to end their tour at Atlantis will need to arrange a taxi back to the ship pier at their own expense. There are many taxis available at Atlantis and the approximate cost of the ride to the ship pier is $5 US/person. It is up to the guest to make sure they are back to their ship before sailing time.

Please Note: Fort Fincastle is currently undergoing necessary renovations and will therefore be closed through July 2025. This will also prevent guests from accessing the nearby Queen's Staircase. During this time, a stop will be made to view the staircase from a distance, and then the tour will be rerouted to Fort Charlotte, where guests will receive the same amount of free time to explore and shop. If time permits, guests may choose to enter Fort Charlotte (not included, approximately $5 US per person).

Skyline Drive & Island Overview Shore Trip

This is a two-hour orientation tour of St. Thomas, with stops at some of the island's highlights and exciting views of the island itself.

St. Thomas is a mountainous island with one long ridge of hills running east and west through the center of the island, with smaller ridges branching off. The island is thirteen miles long by four miles wide, encompassing a little over 31 square miles. The highest point is Crown Mountain at 1,556 feet.

St. Thomas has a history that dates back to 1500 B.C. and the Ciboney people. They were replaced by the Arawaks and then the Caribes, long before Christopher Columbus first saw the island in 1493 on his second voyage to the "New World." Unfortunately, almost all signs of the pre-Columbus days have been lost to time.

Most of the structures and ruins that remain date from the 16th and 17th century and include Blackbeard's Castle (Skytsborg), Fort Christian and Bluebeard's Castle (Tower Fort). During your scenic orientation drive, you will be able to see them on nearby hilltops.

Riding along the crest of St. Thomas on "Skyline Drive," visitors are treated to vistas of Charlotte Amalie town, harbor as well as Hassel and Water Islands to the south; the Atlantic Ocean, Magens Bay, and Inner and Outer Brass and Hans Lollick islands to the north; and the chain of cays leading to St. John and the British Virgins to the east.

On this St. Thomas excursion, your driver/guide will make stops at various scenic overlooks as traffic/safety allows. You will pass by Drake's Seat, believed to be the spot where Sir Francis Drake himself watched for enemy vessels. A stop will be made at Mountain Top, where you will take in the most amazing views from the balcony of the shopping arcade, and if you choose, purchase a "world-famous" banana daiquiri.

At the end of the two-hour driving orientation, you will have the option of being dropped off in downtown Charlotte Amalie to experience its world-famous shopping or be taken back to the cruise ship dock.

Please Note: Guests departing from downtown will be responsible for their transportation back to their destination. Depending on the number of guests participating, tour will be conducted in vans or open-air safari buses.