The Vacation Take

We’ve taken two Disney cruises that stopped in Nassau.

We’ve gotten off the ship in Nassau exactly zero times.

The first was a three-night cruise on the Disney Dream. With only three nights onboard, the trip already felt short. We’d spent a lot of money to experience a Disney cruise, and I didn’t really want to give up one of our few days on the ship.

So instead of getting off in Nassau, we stayed onboard.

We liked that decision enough that when we sailed on the Disney Wish for four nights the following year, we did it again.

And I’d absolutely do it a third time.

Why We Stayed Onboard the Disney Dream

On a three-night cruise, there just isn’t much time.

We wanted to experience the Dream itself, and Nassau gave us a chance to do that without feeling like we needed to rush off to the next thing.

We explored the ship and played the Midship Detective Agency, which sent us around the Dream searching for clues.

We ate, wandered around and enjoyed having nowhere else we needed to be.

By the end of that day, I didn’t feel like we’d missed a port.

I felt like we’d gotten more out of our cruise.

So We Did It Again on the Disney Wish

Our Wish cruise was four nights, so we had an extra day this time.

But the Wish also had a LOT we wanted to experience.

Once again, staying onboard in Nassau sounded better to us than giving up most of a day on the ship.

Our agenda was basically: pool, AquaMouse, food and whatever else we stumbled across.

The kids didn’t even blink at the idea of staying onboard.

We got good pool time, rode the AquaMouse and ate our way around the ship. We especially liked Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue and Donald’s Cantina.

Plus ice cream.

Obviously. 😂

I honestly can’t remember us eating lunch at the buffet once during the entire cruise. There were too many other things we wanted to try.

My Favorite Part Wasn’t an Activity

t was having time.

We wandered around the Wish and actually noticed things.

We looked at the artwork and Disney details we’d normally walk right past.

We checked out some seriously impressive stateroom-door decorations, played games and spotted Pluto out on deck.

There was no schedule. No trying to squeeze everything in.

For a few hours, the ship was the destination.

And considering how much a Disney cruise costs, I really liked that.

What If You Want to Get Off in Nassau?

Then you absolutely should.

We’ve never really explored Nassau, so I’m not going to tell you Nassau isn’t worth visiting. I genuinely don’t know.

There are plenty of excursions and activities available, and what worked for our family may not be what you’d choose for yours.

That decision really comes down to what sounds more valuable to you: another destination or more time enjoying the ship you’ve already paid for.

For us, on two relatively short Disney cruises, the ship won.

Would I Stay Onboard in Nassau Again?

Yep.

We did it on a three-night Disney Dream cruise.

Then we deliberately did it again on a four-night Disney Wish cruise.

We got more time to swim, ride, eat, explore and—probably my favorite part—not rush.

If we booked another short Disney cruise stopping in Nassau tomorrow, I’d make the same choice.

THE VACATION TAKE

For us, staying onboard in Nassau was worth it.

On a three- or four-night Disney cruise, there are only so many hours to experience the ship.

We’d already paid a lot of money to be there.

I wanted time to actually enjoy it.