In 2017, I took a Carnival cruise with one of my girlfriends. The last stop on Carnival Sensation’s itinerary was Nassau, Bahamas. We’d both been to the island before and were least excited for this stop. As the trip drew near I started thinking that there had to be more to Nassau than Atlantis and the cruise promoted excursions. I stumbled upon the Royal Caribbean blog where I found a write up about Junkanoo Beach, a short 10 min walk from the cruise terminal. It specifically mentioned a tiki bar and a $10 beer and shot special. We were sold.
The Tiki Bikini Hut at Junkanoo Beach exceeded all expectations. We went with the $30 beach chair + unlimited drinks + lunch option that included “anything on the menu, including the lobster if received by the time we’re ready to eat.” Unfortunately, there was no lobster available that day, but the jerk chicken and bone-in fish left us sucking the meat right off the bones. Nassau went from being the stop we could do without to our favorite day of the trip. A great atmosphere, friendly service, and the most amazing food we had our whole vacation (sorry Carnival, but your dining room had nothing on this little Bahamian gem!).
So when Lindsay came looking for Nassau recommendations for her upcoming weekend getaway with her boyfriend Andrew, my first response was Junkanoo Beach and the Tiki Bikini Hut. However, after more thought, I realized there was way more to this tropical paradise than just the beach, and I was determined to find something a little more unique. Before I knew it I was scrolling through information on the Queen’s Staircase and John Watling’s Distillery, and a plan for Lindsay and Andrew started falling into place.
They kicked off their day by venturing away from their resort and heading to the Queen’s Staircase. The Queen’s Staircase, located inside Fort Fincastle Historic Complex, is a 102-foot stone stairwell that was hand-carved by slaves in the eighteenth century and is named after Queen Victoria who abolished slavery during her rule. This historic site, surrounded by beautiful greenery and large trees, is free to visit.
On the way to their next stop, Lindsay and Andrew stumbled upon a hidden gem that even I hadn’t found: The recently opened Bahama Barrels in Heritage Village, the first and only winery on the island. It’s nestled in a building bursting with vibrant colors and character, originally built in 1937 by the Sisters of Charity covenant. They indulged on free samples of the local wine and snacked on conch ceviche, which they raved was the best dish they had on the island. Ceviche lovers be warned: the conch ceviche is spicy and may require an extra glass of wine to wash it down.
Their last stop of the day was John Watling’s Distillery, a short walk from the winery. John Watling’s offers free tours of their facility that details their distilling process. The tour ends at the bar where you can order rum flights and specialty rum cocktails. The pours are heavy, so two people can share if you’re not a huge fan of rum but still want to have a taste. If you’re in the area stop by, taste some rum, and enjoy the company of the super friendly staff! PRO TIP: John Watling’s rum can only be found on the island, so enjoy it while you can!
Nassau’s pristine beaches and beautiful, clear oceans are more than enough to keep travelers coming back, but the places that reveal the rich history and local delicacies of this island nation make this destination a true gem of the Caribbean.
