What cruises go to the Bahamas? Passports, hurricane season and more

What cruises go to the Bahamas?

5,583 sailings on sale today stop in the Bahamas, on 15 cruise lines from 26 departure ports. The lines with the most are Royal Caribbean (1,350), Carnival (1,238), MSC (874), Norwegian (677) and Disney (576). The most visited stops are Nassau (2,757), Celebration Key (1,339), CocoCay (1,167) and Half Moon Cay (922). Counts are from Cruisebound's listings, updated Nov 8, 2026, 10:28 a.m. ET.

Do you need a passport for a cruise to the Bahamas?

Not always, if you are a US citizen on a closed-loop cruise. A passport book is what the State Department recommends. CBP defines a closed-loop cruise as one that boards at a U.S. port, visits only places in the Western Hemisphere, and returns to the same U.S. port on the same ship. Proof of citizenship can be a birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or a Certificate of Naturalization, together with a government-issued photo ID (cbp.gov). U.S. citizens on a cruise that begins and ends at the same U.S. port can re-enter the U.S. with a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID. CBP warns that the foreign countries on the itinerary may still require a passport, and says to check with the cruise line (cbp.gov). The State Department says people traveling to The Bahamas on a cruise may use another WHTI-compliant document such as a U.S. passport card, but strongly recommends getting a passport in case an emergency forces them to leave the ship and fly home (travel.state.gov). The Bahamas Immigration Department says everyone entering The Bahamas must present a passport valid for at least six months, and that passport cards are not accepted (immigration.gov.bs). That page does not mention cruise passengers, so ask your cruise line which document it will accept. A one-way sailing that ends at a different port is not closed-loop, so check its documents with the line.

If you need a passport in time for your cruise

• Routine passport processing takes 4 to 6 weeks (travel.state.gov).
• Expedited processing takes 2 to 3 weeks and costs an extra $60 (travel.state.gov).
• Mailing is not included in processing time: allow up to 2 weeks for the application to arrive and up to 2 weeks for the passport to come back (faster return delivery can be paid for) (travel.state.gov).
• Urgent travel needs an in-person appointment at a passport agency or center and proof of international travel within 14 calendar days (travel.state.gov).
• For cruises, the State Department advises a passport valid at least 6 months beyond your travel dates with 2 or more blank pages (travel.state.gov).

How much are cruises to the Bahamas?

On today's fares, the cheapest is $139 per person (4 nights on Norwegian Dawn). The typical (median) fare by length: 2 to 3 nights, $468 (lowest $178); 4 to 5 nights, $548 (lowest $139); 6 to 8 nights, $944 (lowest $249); 9 nights or more, $1,589 (lowest $648). Fares are per person for two sharing a cabin, taxes and fees included, across 5,530 priced sailings. Recomputed every day. See the cheapest.

Where do cruises to the Bahamas leave from?

From 15 US ports and 11 ports abroad, mostly on longer one-way sailings. The busiest are Miami with 1,947, Port Canaveral (Orlando) with 1,817, Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) with 1,038, Jacksonville with 211 and Galveston with 104. Every departure port has the counts and the lowest fare from each.

Which cruise lines have a private island in the Bahamas?

Perfect Day at CocoCay (Royal Caribbean), Celebration Key (Carnival), RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay (Holland America and Carnival), Princess Cays (Princess), Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian), Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (MSC), Castaway Cay (Disney), Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point (Disney) and The Beach Club at Bimini (Virgin Voyages). The private islands page lists the sailings that call at each.

What is the best time to cruise to the Bahamas?

The Bahamas Department of Meteorology says the wet season runs from late May to October, with August the wettest month at an average of 9.28 inches of rain. The dry season is November to April, and January is the driest month on New Providence with an average of 1.86 inches of rain. On New Providence winter afternoons usually reach about 75°F and seldom fall much below 60°F, while summer days seldom go above 90°F and nights usually fall to 78°F or less (met.gov.bs). The National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 (nhc.noaa.gov). Ships sail there all year. Among the sailings on sale today, the busiest months are December, January and March.

When is hurricane season for cruises to the Bahamas?

The National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October (nhc.noaa.gov). The Bahamas Department of Meteorology says the official tropical cyclone season is June through November, but for effects on The Bahamas it is taken as mid-July through October, with August, September and October the months when cyclones most often affect or come within 100 miles of the islands (met.gov.bs). Ships sail to the Bahamas through the season. 2,111 sailings on sale today leave between June and November.

Are cruises to the Bahamas still sailing, or cancelled?

Yes. 5,583 sailings that stop in the Bahamas are on sale today. Royal Caribbean says it tries to avoid operating ships near a tropical system and that, if a storm threatens guests or ships, the itinerary may be altered to avoid the storm or affected areas (royalcaribbean.com). Royal Caribbean says that for weather or any other reason it may cancel, advance, postpone or deviate from any sailing or port of call without notice, and that it is not required to refund any part of the fare or pay compensation in these circumstances (royalcaribbean.com). Carnival's ticket contract lets it omit or change any or all port calls, with or without notice, for reasons that include adverse weather and hurricanes, and says such deviations are part of the voyage (carnival.com). This site does not track storms or cancellations. For a cruise you have booked, the line's own notices are the source.

Are cruises to the Bahamas safe?

The State Department's current travel advisory for The Bahamas is "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution", due to crime. The State Department last updated the Bahamas travel advisory on July 28, 2026. The country regularly experiences hurricanes (travel.state.gov). Read the advisory itself before you go, because it changes.