Nassau, Bahamas has set another cruise passenger record, marking the third straight year of growth for what’s now the world’s busiest transit cruise port.
The port welcomed approximately 6.1 million cruise passengers in 2024 across nearly 1,600 ship calls. That’s a 9.5% increase over 2023’s total of 5.6 million guests, which was itself a record at the time.
“This milestone year for tourism underscores the critical role Nassau Cruise Port continues to play as the primary gateway for visitors to The Bahamas,” said Mike Maura, Jr., CEO and Director of Nassau Cruise Port.
The growth follows a pattern of steady increases. In 2022, Nassau welcomed 4.4 million passengers, up from 3.2 million in 2021.
$300 Million Investment Pays Off
Port authorities invested $300 million in revitalizing Nassau Cruise Port, which reopened in its upgraded form in May 2023.
The project added six new and expanded berths capable of handling the largest cruise ships afloat, including Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class vessels that can bring up to 7,600 passengers per call.
Additional improvements to downtown Nassau included expanded shopping and dining options and the rollout of free Wi-Fi for visitors in 2024.
The upgrades have delivered results. Nassau broke its single-day passenger record twice in 2024. On March 11, six ships brought 30,538 passengers to port. That record fell again on April 8 when five ships delivered 31,011 cruise guests in one day.
Bahamas Tourism Hits All-Time High
Nassau’s success reflects broader growth across the Bahamas. The country welcomed an unprecedented 12.5 million visitors in 2024, with cruise tourism accounting for 86.5% of total arrivals, or more than 10.6 million passengers.
“Visitor arrivals grew 11.4 percent year-over-year, surpassing 2023’s record and exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 levels by more than 72 percent,” Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper told Parliament.
Beyond Nassau, other Bahamian ports showed growth, including destinations with private cruise line islands across the region.
