Nassau Highlights Tour: Rum Cake, Atlantis & Queen's Staircase

Four factory tastings, one staircase climb, and a resort lobby walk in a single afternoon

A 2.5-hour guided bus tour of Nassau departing from the cruise port or hotel, visiting Parliament Square, the Bahamas Rum Cake Factory, Atlantis Resort, the Queen's Staircase, Graycliff Chocolatier and John Watling's Distillery. You climb 65 hand-carved steps to Bennet's Hill, explore Atlantis on your own, and collect free samples at three factory stops, with live commentary from a local guide throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Parliament Square10m
2. Atlantis Paradise Island30m
3. Queen's Staircase30m

Explore Nassau's top landmarks

• Meet at Cruise Port
• Visit Parliament Square
• Tour Bahamas Rum Cake Factory with samples
• Cross bridge to Paradise Island
• Explore Atlantis Resort
• Climb Queen's Staircase
• Visit Graycliff Chocolatier with samples
• Tour John Watling’s Distillery with rum sample

The experience

You start at the cruise port or arrange hotel pickup, then board a 30-seat air-conditioned bus for a 2.5-hour loop through Nassau's core. The guide provides historical and cultural commentary as you drive, and the bus has free WiFi if you want to share photos as you go. The route hits five stops in sequence: Parliament Square first, with its pink colonial buildings and Queen Victoria statue. Then the Bahamas Rum Cake Factory, where you sample flavors like piña colada and chocolate before moving on.

Atlantis Resort comes next. You cross the 65-foot bridge to Paradise Island and get 30 minutes to walk through the hotel lobby and casino area at your own pace, taking photos without a guide narrating. From there it's back to Nassau proper for the Queen's Staircase, where you climb 65 hand-carved steps up to Bennet's Hill and Fort Fincastle, which overlooks the city. Local vendors sell handmade goods at the top. Graycliff Chocolatier follows, a small factory making chocolate from cocoa beans, with free samples again. The tour ends at John Watling's Distillery, where you get a free sample of their aged 3-year rum piña colada (you must be 18 or older to participate).

The bus is comfortable and the pace is leisurely, so families with small children can manage it: infants can stay in a stroller or sit on an adult's lap. If you're arriving by cruise ship with a few hours between port and departure, this tour fits the window. If you're staying at a hotel, pickup and drop-off are available as an add-on option at checkout.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned 30-seat bus with free WiFi onboard.
• live guide commentary in English.
• free samples at the Bahamas Rum Cake Factory, Graycliff Chocolatier and John Watling's Distillery.
• local music played during the drive.
• hotel pickup and drop-off depending on the option you choose at checkout.

Options for this experience

2 options

Sightseeing Tour of Nassau HighlightsGuide in English · 11:00

Option with Pickup and Drop-off at Your HotelGuide in English · 10:00Option with Pickup and Drop-off at Your Hotel

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 11:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (2 and older) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 28

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Island Beach Shuttle

Is this one for you?Book the cruise port departure if you're arriving by ship and want to use your port time efficiently. Choose the hotel pickup option if you're staying in Nassau and prefer not to navigate to the meeting point yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Queen's Staircase and why do people climb it?

The Queen's Staircase is a 65-step stone staircase hand-carved into limestone, leading up to Bennet's Hill where Fort Fincastle stands overlooking Nassau. It's one of the city's most photographed landmarks, and the fort at the top offers views across the city and the harbor.

Do I get to go inside Atlantis Resort or just see the lobby?

You get 30 minutes for a self-guided walk through the hotel lobby and casino area. You're not staying at the resort or accessing the pools and beaches, but you can explore the public spaces and take photos at your own pace without a guide.

What kind of samples are included at the factories?

The Bahamas Rum Cake Factory offers free samples of their cakes in flavors like piña colada, banana and chocolate. Graycliff Chocolatier provides samples of their handcrafted chocolate. At John Watling's Distillery, you get a free sample of their piña colada made with 3-year aged rum (18+ only).

Can I book this tour if I'm staying at a hotel instead of arriving by cruise ship?

Yes. The tour meets at the cruise port by default, but hotel pickup and drop-off is available as an add-on option when you book. You choose that option at checkout.

How much walking is involved on this tour?

The tour is leisurely overall, but the Queen's Staircase involves climbing 65 steps to the top of Bennet's Hill. The rest of the stops are short walks through lobbies, factory floors and outdoor areas. The bus does most of the moving between sites.