Top 8 Bahamas Shore Excursions You Have to Try

When you set sail on a cruise trip to The Bahamas, sparkling blue waters teeming with tropical marine life, picture-perfect white-sand beaches, intriguing historic landmarks and so much more await. The best way to discover it all while having heaps of fun is to take a Bahamas cruise excursion. Whether you want an active adventure, an informative guided tour or get into nature, these Bahamian tours are sure to be memorable highlights of your cruise.

The ports of call featured on the best Bahamas cruises offer their own charms, from Nassau’s swashbuckling pirate heritage to Freeport’s nature-rich national parks. Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay both promise the VIP vibe of a private island, and both offer a huge variety of fun activities. Browse Bahamas shore excursions before you set sail, and consider the following 8 great options.

1. VIP Dolphin Swim and Beach Day From Nassau

If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming with dolphins, book the VIP Dolphin Swim and Beach Day with Lunch excursion from Nassau and make that dream come true. The interactive experience with your favorite marine mammals takes place on Blue Lagoon Island, which you reach via ferry. In shallow water, you’ll hug, kiss, pose for pictures and swim hand-to-flipper with a dolphin, as well as get a dolphin-powered push on a boogey board. The remainder of the time on the island is yours to spend snorkeling, relaxing on the beach, playing at the aqua park and enjoying an included buffet lunch.

2. Atlantis Aquaventure Full Day With Lunch in Nassau

Enjoy a whole day of fun for all ages at the world-famous Atlantis resort’s 141-acre water park. If you’re taking a cruise to Nassau with your family, the Atlantis Aquaventure Full Day With Lunch is an experience you will ever forget. There are 20 different swimming areas, a mile-long lazy river, a kids’ play fort and several high-speed water slides, including one that takes you soaring through a shark habitat (safely inside a clear acrylic tube). You’ll also have access to the resort’s private beaches and its amazing aquariums and marine habitats.

3. Snorkeling at Princess Cays

Explore the colorful underwater world of The Bahamas by taking the Snorkeling at Princess Cays excursion. Take to the water off the coast of Eleuthera on a 42-foot boat, and spend an hour floating over a pristine, shallow reef teeming with tropical fish, corals, sponges and sea fans. Paddle your feet and float as you spot such creatures as lobster, barracuda and sea urchins, and if you’re lucky, sea turtles and stingrays.

4. Dune Buggy Tour of Princess Cays

If rumbling along rugged back-country roads to remote beaches and crumbling old ruins sounds appealing, opt for the Dune Buggy Heritage Adventure Tour from Princess Cays. Drive a dune buggy away from the island’s tourist areas, getting dusty and muddy as you follow your guide to a secluded beach where you have time to enjoy the sand and sea. Your guides will show you a historic church, an abandoned lighthouse and the ruins of a packing house, while telling you all about life in the Out Islands.

5. Horseback Riding By Land and Sea in Half Moon Cay

If you’ve ever dreamed of riding horseback into the surf, then the Horseback Riding by Land and Sea excursion in Half Moon Cay is for you. Matched with a horse suited to your riding experience, you’ll ride up a winding trail to the highest point on the island, a spot affording unmatched panoramic views across the ocean. Return to the corral to exchange your saddle for a special pad, then ride right into the ocean for a refreshing and exciting horseback swim.

6. Stingray Adventure in Half Moon Cay

At Stingray Cove in Half Moon Cay, gentle, mesmerizing stingrays congregate in crystal-clear, shallow waters. Choose the Stingray Adventure and you can encounter stingrays in the water, touching and feeding them with the assistance of a guide. You’ll learn all about the species before wading in to meet them.

7. VIP Luxury Sail From Freeport

Departing Freeport on the VIP Luxury Sail excursion, you’ll cross the sparkling Caribbean Sea, take in views of the beach-lined coast of Grand Bahama and feel the warm sun on your skin as you sail. The luxury 50-foot sailing yacht is manned by a friendly crew who’ll provide cool drinks and a freshly prepared lunch. There’s also a stop for swimming and snorkeling over a beautiful reef, and you’re welcome to help sail the yacht on the return leg of the voyage.

8. Freeport Kayak and Nature Experience

The Freeport Kayak and Nature Experience is six hours of serenity amid the natural side of The Bahamas. You’ll explore Lucayan National Park, an unspoiled land of creeks and mangrove forests, ancient trails and shady beaches. After an orientation, paddle over calm waters, taking in tropical birds, fish and plants, and seeing spots only accessible by kayak. An easy hike with a guide who focuses on natural history and geology is also featured, along with lunch in a beachfront picnic spot.

On a cruise to The Bahamas, you have countless options for excursions and activities. You might want to do little more than lounge on a sunny beach, or you might want a day packed full of high-adrenaline adventures. Whatever your preference, there are plenty of Bahamian cruise excursions available to make it all possible.

Note: Onboard activities, shore excursions, and dining options may vary by ship and destination.