Nassau’s Cruise Boom Continues With New Single-Day Passenger Record
Key Aspects:
More than 33,000 guests visited Nassau on Monday, June 8, which set a new single-day visitor record for the port.
The previous record was just over 30,000 guests in March 2025 and tourism to the port continues to grow.
Six ships from four different cruise lines were in port to help set the monumental record.
The cruise business is booming in the capital of the Bahamas as Nassau set a new single-day passenger record on Monday, June 8, 2026. On that one day, 33,254 cruise guests visited Nassau Cruise Port.
This surpasses the previous record set more than a year ago on March 11, 2025, with 30,538 guests. The 2,716-guest increase is roughly 8.9% higher than the earlier record. This significant rise in visitors demonstrates how the updated cruise port can efficiently welcome tens of thousands of guests in a single day yet still provide a great guest experience.
“This is a proud and meaningful achievement for Nassau Cruise Port and for The Bahamas,” said Mike Maura, Jr., CEO & Director of Nassau Cruise Port.
“The 33,000-passenger mark was an important benchmark for us, and reaching 33,254 guests in a single day reflects the strength of Nassau as a cruise destination, the confidence of our cruise line partners, and the dedication of the teams and stakeholders who support the visitor experience here.”
Maura goes on to give credit to the many parties involved in the cruise port’s success, including tour operators, retailers, transportation providers, businesses, and more.
Six cruise ships from four different lines were in port on the historic day: Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess, and Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy.
Not Just About a Record
While the new record is certainly impressive, the total impact of cruise ships coming to Nassau is about the economic opportunities they bring with them to local communities.
“High-performing cruise days support retailers, restaurants, tour operators, transportation providers, attractions, artisans, entertainers, and a wide range of other Bahamian businesses that benefit from cruise passenger activity,” Maura said.
Cruise guests to Nassau book tours, visit restaurants, buy souvenirs, enjoy bars, rent snorkeling equipment, take horse carriage rides, get their hair braided, and enjoy a wide range of experiences at the cruise port and beyond.
Each of those experiences helps support the local economy. Even more important, guests who enjoy their time in Nassau recommend the destination to others, helping to continue the growth that makes Nassau one of the most popular cruise ports in the world.
Cruise Hive has regularly reported on the stunning growth of Nassau Cruise Port, including the 6.1 million guests the port welcomed in 2025.
So many visiting guests do want to be cautious, however, as increased crime, sexual assaults, and other safety concerns have led both the US Embassy and the US Department of State to recently issue warnings about activities in Nassau.
World’s Largest Ships Did Not Help Set Single-Day Record
Interestingly, while the six ships that set the new record are impressive, neither of the currently in-service Icon class ships were visiting Nassau that day. Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas are the world’s largest cruise ships with a maximum capacity of 7,600 guests.
Both ships offer 7-night itineraries from Miami and Port Canaveral, respectively, but the vessels do not often visit Nassau. The ships do, however, go to Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, on every sailing.
Of the ships visiting Nassau on June 8, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are the largest with a maximum capacity of 5,484 guests each.
Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration are also the largest ships in Carnival’s fleet, together welcoming as many as 10,656 guests.
Other large ships that regularly visit Nassau include Utopia of the Seas twice a week, Disney Wish, and Norwegian Getaway, among others.
Nassau’s Cruise Boom Continues With New Single-Day Passenger Record