The Bahamas continues to make waves in the Caribbean cruise season, with its capital city on a seemingly unstoppable trajectory as the most-visited cruise destination in the region.
After breaking its own one-day passenger record on March 11, 2025, when 30,538 guests arrived on six different ships at Nassau Cruise Port, the port did it again in less than a month.
On April 8, 2025, Nassau Cruise Port welcomed a whopping 31,011 passengers.
“We’ve done it again!” the port exalted.
“We are very proud to announce that we welcomed a record-breaking 31,011 passengers in a single day,” Nassau Cruise Port shared on its social media channels.
“This marks the second time this year that we surpassed our daily passenger record, solidifying Nassau’s position as a premier destination in the cruise industry.”
During the port’s Super Tuesday, Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas arrived within an hour of each other in the morning and stayed in port until 5 p.m.
Carnival Cruise Line also had two ships pull in simultaneously for an 8 a.m. call, including Carnival Paradise and Carnival Celebration. The two vessels departed at 4 and 5 p.m., respectively.
Read Also: Nassau Cruise Port: Piers, Getting Around and What’s Near
Rounding out the day was Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream, also enjoying an 8-hour call, meaning port staff was working hard to manage five ships ranging from 70,367 to 236,860 gross tons at the same time.
Mike Maura Jr., CEO and Director at Nassau Cruise Port, said the achievement “underscores Nassau’s growing appeal among travelers and the unwavering efforts of our team to deliver world-class experiences.”
“Breaking our own record twice in one year is a testament to the momentum we are building as we continue to invest in Nassau’s future,” he said.
Setting Pace for More Growth
While the passenger count on April 8 was through the roof, five-ship port days are not that uncommon at Nassau Cruise Port.
In fact, the port often sees the arrival of six cruise vessels at once, as was the case on its previous record day and actually a regular occurrence on April 1, 2, 3, 6, and even the day prior to the new record-setting day.
The port has been able to welcome six ships at once since 2022, following an extensive dredging and expansion project.
Also becoming the new normal? Record-breaking years in terms of visits to the island from both sea and air. In 2024, the port witnessed the arrival of 5.6 million cruisers, dramatically surpassing the 3.2 million who visited in 2023.
The port, which is operated by Global Ports Holding, says it is on track to best itself again in 2025, adding nearly another 1 million guests and topping out at nearly 6.5 million arrivals.
During a press conference held at Seatrade Cruise Global, the industry’s largest trade show, the Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper highlighted a series of upcoming projects that will continue to bolster Nassau’s growth.
These include a revitalization project for the capital’s downtown region and the completion of a $35-million waterpark at Nassau Cruise Port by the year’s end, along with new dining and recreational experiences and upgrades.
Cooper also discussed diversifying to grow cruise tourism beyond the Bahamas’ main tourism islands – out of 700 islands – to combat worries of overtourism. This includes investing $1.8 billion in islands like Abaco, Eleuthera, and Exuma.
Nassau Cruise Port is ranked No. 4 in the world based on passenger movements following PortMiami, Port Canaveral, and Cozumel, Mexico’s cruise port.
