Bahamas · New Providence
The start and the finish: fly in, board, cruise out
Nassau is where every Bahamas charter begins and ends: three hours from New York, under an hour from Florida, direct from London, and the yacht alongside twenty minutes from the terminal. Paradise Island and Atlantis for a night of it if you want one; Rose Island for the first swim if you do not.
Where
New Providence, the centre of the Bahamas
Fly to
Nassau (NAS): New York 3 h, Miami 1 h, London direct
Best months
December to April; good all year except June to November
Give it
The first night and the last, no more
Known for
Atlantis, the Ocean Club, Graycliff, the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay
Board at
Albany, Hurricane Hole or Bay Street marinas, all twenty minutes from the airport
Ellie in Nassau
My Nassau, in pictures
The Fish Fry, the cellar at Graycliff and a day out on the fishing boat. My own photos from the days in and out of Nassau.
Ellie Malouf · Ahoy Club
Why go
Nassau and Paradise Island, honestly
Nassau is the door. It has the airport, the marinas, the provisioning and the flights, and the Exumas start three hours away. Most groups land, board and are swimming off Rose Island by late afternoon, and the capital is something they see from the deck as they leave.
If the group wants a night of it first, Paradise Island across the bridge has Atlantis, with its aquariums and water park for children and its casino for the adults, and the Ocean Club next door with Dune, Jean-Georges’ restaurant on the beach. Nassau itself has Graycliff, the old mansion with the cellar, and the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay for conch and grouper with the locals.
We treat it as the first and last night, nothing more. The Bahamas is the Exumas, and they are three hours south.
Where we anchor
The anchorages, in the order we use them
- Albany MarinaBerthThe superyacht marina on the south-west coast, the quietest place to board and the easiest from the airport. Berths are for members, so we arrange it with the charter; the Ernie Els golf course is there for anyone who wants a round before boarding.
- Nassau HarbourBerthHurricane Hole on Paradise Island or Bay Street, for a night in town and the Atlantis side.
- Rose IslandAnchorage, first nightTwenty minutes east. The first swim and the first sunset, with Nassau’s lights far enough away.
- Clifton BayDay stopThe west end, with the underwater sculpture garden and the cliffs of Clifton Heritage Park.
Ashore
Nassau and Paradise Island off the boat
Not a directory. If it is here, we have sat at the table or stood at the bar.
Eat
One good dinner, then leave.
Dune, the Ocean ClubJean-Georges on the beach at Paradise Island.
GraycliffDinner in a 1740s mansion with one of the world’s great cellars.
- Nobu, AtlantisJapanese at the resort across the bridge, for the group that wants one big night on Paradise Island.
Café MatisseItalian in a colonial courtyard behind Parliament Square.
The Fish Fry, Arawak CayConch salad and fried grouper at the shacks with the locals. Twin Brothers or Goldie’s.
Drink and dance
If the group wants one big night, this is where to have it.
AtlantisThe casino, the bars and the club, across the bridge on Paradise Island.
- Pirate Republic BrewingThe local brewery on the waterfront for the first beer off the plane.
Do
For children, Atlantis. For everyone else, the water.
Atlantis aquariums and water parkThe biggest open-air marine habitat in the world and the slides. A day for children.
Blue Lagoon IslandTender across for the dolphins and the beach.
Paradise Island beachesCabbage Beach for the afternoon if the yacht is in the harbour.
Where it sits
Nassau and Paradise Island on the chart
Nassau sits in the middle of the Bahamas with the Exumas three hours south-east, Eleuthera three hours east and the Abacos a day north. Every week starts and ends here.
Drag to move. Double-click or ctrl-scroll to zoom.Zoom with the buttons, then drag to move.
When
When to be in Nassau and Paradise Island
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- December to April: the season, with every flight full and the marinas busy. Book the berth with the charter.
- Boxing Day and New Year’s Day: Junkanoo, the parade through Nassau from two in the morning. Worth the night if the dates fall.
- May and October to November: quiet and warm.
- June to September: hot, humid, hurricane season.
Itineraries
Itineraries that call at Nassau and Paradise Island
Full plans, day by day, with the boat each one runs on. Send one to the people coming with you; we reshape it around your yacht and dates.
The Exumas in a week
Nassau8 stopsNassau
Nassau to Staniel Cay and back: Norman's Cay, the Land and Sea Park, two nights at Staniel for the pigs, the grotto and the sharks at sunset, Pipe Creek and Shroud Cay. The week we send almost everyone on.
Open
The Exumas and Harbour Island in ten nights
Nassau8 stopsHarbour Island
The milk run, then across Exuma Sound to Eleuthera for Harbour Island's pink sand, Dunmore Town by golf cart, horses on the beach and lunch at the Dunmore.
Open
The whole Exuma chain in ten nights
Nassau9 stopsGeorge Town
One way, Nassau to George Town: two nights in the park, two at Staniel, then Black Point and Little Farmer's where the day boats never go, and a flight home from Great Exuma.
Open
A long weekend to Pig Beach from Nassau
Nassau5 stopsNassau
Fly into Nassau on Friday, three nights around Staniel Cay for the pigs, the grotto, the sharks and a picnic in Pipe Creek, home on Monday. Or fly to the boat and skip the run.
OpenYachts
Yachts in the Bahamas now
Boarding at Albany or in the harbour, twenty minutes from the airport.
CORAL OCEAN
Lürssen · 73m · 1994, refit 2026
12 guests | 6 cabins | 28 crew
€650k – 790k
GAIL FORCE II
Hatteras · 24m · 2011, refit 2023
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$35k – 40k
SEA AXIS
Heesen · 38m · 1988, refit 2026
12 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
US$105k – 135k
KING OF FUN
Northern Marine · 40m · 2005, refit 2022
10 guests | 5 cabins | 8 crew
US$120k – 138k
A SALT WEAPON
Ocean Alexander · 35m · 2024
10 guests | 5 cabins | 6 crew
US$120k – 130k
EMINA
Benetti · 42m · 2014, refit 2021
12 guests | 6 cabins | 9 crew
US$165k – 195k
MIDORI
Sunreef Yachts · 21m · 2016, refit 2026
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$45k – 48k
INSIEME
Azimut · 32m · 2012, refit 2023
8 guests | 5 cabins | 4 crew
US$63k – 69k
EROS
Custom Line · 37m · 2019, refit 2026
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
US$140k – 160k
MARY KATHLENE
Westport · 42m · 1989, refit 2023
8 guests | 4 cabins | 7 crew
US$85k – 95k
STARSHIP 185'
Delta Marine · 56m · 2001, refit 2021
12 guests | 6 cabins | 11 crew
US$275k – 315k
LEXINGTON
Horizon · 26m · 2006, refit 2024
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$45k – 55k
CROSSED SABRE
Burger · 44m · 2006, refit 2021
12 guests | 7 cabins | 11 crew
US$175k – 195k
SOUTH
Heesen · 55m · 2012
12 guests | 6 cabins | 13 crew
US$320k – 350k
KASHMIR
Splendor · 41m · 2008, refit 2021
12 guests | 6 cabins | 7 crew
US$110k – 130k
PLAYTIME
Lagoon · 20m · 2018, refit 2021
6 guests | 3 cabins | 3 crew
US$46k – 49k
NO SHORTCUTS
Westport · 34m · 2006, refit 2022
8 guests | 4 cabins | 6 crew
US$65k – 75k
LADY ELAINE
Christensen · 50m · 2008, refit 2024
12 guests | 6 cabins | 9 crew
US$200k – 225k
NOMADA
Mochi Craft · 24m · 2010, refit 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$50k – 55k
BEACHFRONT II
Princess · 32m · 2012, refit 2023
10 guests | 5 cabins | 5 crew
US$80k – 95k
BG
Feadship · 47m · 1990, refit 2022
12 guests | 6 cabins | 10 crew
US$149k – 170k
RELENTLESS
Trinity Yachts · 44m · 2001, refit 2019
10 guests | 5 cabins | 9 crew
US$150k – 173k
NAMASTE
Benetti · 37m · 2013, refit 2023
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
US$105k – 135k
TCB
Trinity Yachts · 50m · 2008, refit 2022
11 guests | 5 cabins | 9 crew
US$175k – 200k
NEW LIFE
Lazzara · 28m · 2009, refit 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$57k
LADY J
Palmer Johnson · 43m · 1997, refit 2021
12 guests | 5 cabins | 9 crew
€109k – 119k
HANNAH
Westport · 34m · 2003, refit 2020
9 guests | 4 cabins | 5 crew
US$65k – 75k
Lady Joy
Christensen · 48m · 2007, refit 2025
12 guests | 6 cabins | 11 crew
US$199k – 225k
MARGATE
Broward Marine · 34m · 1997, refit 2022
10 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$55k – 60k
INDIGO
Viking Yachts · 28m · 2019, refit 2024
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$58k – 75k
SWEET ESCAPE
Christensen · 40m · 1993, refit 2026
12 guests | 6 cabins | 8 crew
US$115k – 140k
LIMITLESS
Hargrave · 31m · 2010, refit 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$55k – 62k
SeaQuest
Christensen · 38m · 1999, refit 2025
10 guests | 5 cabins | 6 crew
US$85k – 98k
PIER PRESSURE
Azimut · 27m · 2020, refit 2024
10 guests | 5 cabins | 4 crew
US$70k – 80k
NO BAD IDEAS
Trinity Yachts · 49m · 2000, refit 2024
12 guests | 6 cabins | 9 crew
US$225k – 250k
LADY GRACE
Westport · 28m · 1996, refit 2025
6 guests | 3 cabins | 4 crew
US$35k – 40k
ESCAPE
Hatteras · 35m · 1995, refit 2023
9 guests | 4 cabins | 5 crew
US$55k – 65k
Princess Mila
Fountaine Pajot · 20m · 2022
6 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
US$45k – 49k
BEACHFRONT
Hargrave · 33m · 2006, refit 2022
10 guests | 5 cabins | 5 crew
US$65k – 90k
MISS STEPHANIE
Richmond Yachts · 42m · 2004, refit 2023
12 guests | 6 cabins | 8 crew
US$135k – 165k
KEFI
Christensen · 46m · 2005, refit 2026
12 guests | 6 cabins | 9 crew
US$175k – 195k
MEMENTO VIVERE
Westport · 40m · 2005, refit 2021
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
US$120k – 150k
FAVOR
Crescent Yachts · 39m · 2000, refit 2024
10 guests | 5 cabins | 6 crew
US$95k – 110k
NEVER ENOUGH
Feadship · 43m · 1992, refit 2019
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
US$110k – 127k
TOTAL
Mangusta (Overmarine) · 33m · 2006, refit 2020
9 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$60k – 65k
CHANSON
Christensen · 37m · 1995, refit 2020
9 guests | 4 cabins | 6 crew
US$75k – 85k
SEASCAPE V
Benetti · 44m · 2005, refit 2024
10 guests | 5 cabins | 9 crew
US$153k – 180k
NORMAN'S T4
Sirena Yachts · 21m · 2022
6 guests | 3 cabins | 2 crew
US$35k – 40k
48 yachts in rotation. The order changes with every visit so no boat is always last.
Questions we get asked
Nassau and Paradise Island, answered
Common questions
Where do we fly into for a Bahamas yacht charter?
Nassau: three hours from New York, under an hour from Florida, direct from London. The yacht meets you at a marina twenty minutes from the terminal and the Exumas are three hours away.
Should we spend a night in Nassau?
Only if the group wants Atlantis or a big dinner first. Otherwise board and cruise out to Rose Island for the first swim; the Bahamas is the Exumas, not the capital.
Is Atlantis worth it with children?
For a day, yes: the aquariums and the water park are the best in the Caribbean. The yacht berths at Hurricane Hole next door.
Where does the yacht board in Nassau?
Albany on the south-west coast for the quietest start, or Hurricane Hole and Bay Street in the harbour for the Paradise Island side. All are twenty minutes from the airport.
Want Nassau and Paradise Island in your week?
Tell us the dates and who is coming. We will say which nights to give it, which berth to hold, and whether the week you want is still open.