Nassau Local Customs

1 more image

Depending on the cruise ship and the duration of the cruise; there is a dress code for the Main dining room. On this particular cruise there was only one formal night. Formal Night means suits for gentlemen and dressy attire for ladies. No jeans, shorts or sneakers are permitted in the main dining room.

Most passengers comply with these rules but we did see a person wearing jeans.......unbelievable.

1 more image

The cruise ship has a "Drink of the Day". The Drink of the Day is posted in tghe Cruise Compass (which is the daily guide to events and happenings aboard the ship). The drink of the day is normally served in a souvenier glass and is about $7.95 a drink. Some drinks are even served in a careved out pineapple with blinking lighted ice cubes.

The Bahamas Islands use, as their currency, the Bahamian dollars - which have the same exchange rate as the US dollar - making it quite indifferent which one you're using. The strange fact is that these banknotes are not printed in the Bahams - and neither in the USA. They come all the way from England.

Likewise coins are in the same size as US coins - except that they have the Bahamian Coat of Arms and either a pineapple, a hibiscus or a native sloop on the other side. Do they come from England as well? Nope... USA? Niet! Coins are minted in Canada. My advice is: save a few as a souvenir: they're really nice.

When travelling on a Royal Caribean Cruise ship you are issued a Sea PAss. Your Sea Pass acts as your room key, identification card and is used to charge items onto your room account. When you check in at the Port you are iasked for a credit card to link to your Sea Pass charges. Then a photo is taken for your Sea Pass. When entering or leaving the boat you must have you Sea Pass with you. The pass is swipped into the computer and your image is viewed ont he screen.

Lanyards are available at the ships gifts shops that hold your Sea Pass around your neck. It's an easy way to keep your Sea Pass handy.

We've been to the Dec 25th Junkanoo twice now, in 2006 and 2007. The place we got the tickets from in 2008 was from Kendal Isaac's Gym. You might want to ask how to get there. It is loctaed in the center of the island. A cab drive if you don't have your own rental car would probably cost around $20.00 round trip. I believe the place opens at 10:00 and you have to get there early. Check on this before you go though. The best place to see the parade is on Fredrick street section A or B (we think). It is easily accessable and the price is $20 each. I hope this helps you out.

If you shop at any of the local markets (i.e. the straw markets), or buy merchandise from street or beach vendors, be sure to bargain with them. Never pay full price for these kinds of things in Nassau.

Conch is a shellfish type of animal that tastes like a clam when fresh, but has the consistency and texture of calamari. Most often, you come across 'conch fritters' which are a poor imitation of conch. The fritters are ground conch mixed with bread dough and deep fried with onions. I had the fritters a few times and didn't really think they tasted like conch.

Shown here, is 'cracked conch' which is strips of whole conch, lightly breaded and deep fried. This is what I recommend you eat. I'd already eaten half this $9 plate when I got the idea to take a picture. Its quite good and I got it at Haven Seafood restaurant on a pier off of Bay St.

Conch shells, polished or raw are also sold. Off a boat, the price should be $2 for a raw one.

local life, good shopping, the Bazaar in Nassau a must see. be there and enjoy local hospitality, buy gifts and have lunch, do as the locals do
an other place to see and being seen is the Straw Market