Part 2: New Providence & Palm Cay Resort & Marina

Landing gear up as we climb into the blue aboard our Western Air flight out of Bimini. Destination, New Providence, Bahamas.

You can read Part 1: Bimini here, and hopefully you’ll be inspired to visit this magnetic little island in the stream.

New Providence

New Providence, or as most people call it, Nassau, is actually the name of the island that the city of Nassau resides. It is the most populous island in the Bahamas and is the second island of our three island trip to explore popular marinas.

The Bahamas are a boater’s dream and we wanted to see what marina life would be like. We teamed up with the Association of Bahamas Marinas to see just how good boating through the Bahamas would be. Of course we had to fly to make our marinas trip happen in a reasonable amount of time, but let’s dive into what we saw on New Providence.

Nassau Marinas

After a quick stop at Frankie Gone Bananas on Arawak Cay for some Conch Salad, we head into town to see all the great facilities and amenities that a boater coming into Nassau would experience.

First Stop Bay Street Marina

Located in the heart of Nassau, Bay Street Marina is The Bahamas’ 1st marina conveniently located within walking distance of Paradise Island to the east & downtown to the west. The amenities-rich marina could easily be your home away from home.

Here is the info for you boaters.

Bay Street Marina Facts

• 89 slips for transient or permanent docking
• Vessels from 40′ to 500′
• 12′ draft, low tide
• Electrical supply 30 amp to direct feeds of 480v
• Free Wi-Fi at every slip
• Finest Brazilian ipe wood docks
• 24-hour dockmaster services
• Ice
• Full CCTV 24-hour security
• High quality reverse osmosis, fresh water at every slip
• Wastewater disposal facility
• Pumpout
• Pets Welcome
• Yacht wash down & polishing available

We were able to stop and take photos of this great marina. The location is amazing and after talking to the staff, it was easy to see that they go above and beyond for their slip tenants.

Atlantis Marina

Wow.

It’s the only word I can think of to describe the amenities at the Atlantis Marina.

This well protected marina is completely surrounded by a shopping and dining area called The Marina Village. As a boater staying in a slip, you will be completely spoiled. There are over 20 designer and retail shops spread over 65,000 square feet. Big! Hungry? Dining options range from casual and fine dining restaurants to grab-and-go meals and Starbucks—you’ll love strolling around this vibrant outdoor marketplace as you soak in the views of all the large yachts in the marina. It really is quite the place.

Atlantis Marina Facts:

• Tie-up assistance provided for arrivals and departures
• Dock assistance (via golf cart) for transfer of luggage and provisions
• Transportation between Marina and resort
• Single-and three phase power
• 24-hour staffed security
• Private catering services for special events
• Laundry and dry cleaning services
• Daily trash pick-up
• Monitor VHF Channel 16
• Crew lounge with TV

Rates
$4.50  |  $5.00  |  $7.00 per foot per day, 50 foot minimum
$.70 Cents per KW/Hour for electricity
$.30 Cents per gallon for water
The dockage rates depend on where the vessel is placed in the Marina.

Palm Cay Marina & Club

As we finish our Nassau marina tour it was time to head out of town. This was the part I was looking forward to. The next stop was where we would be staying for the night, and from my research it looked like one hell of a place. Palm Cay Marina and Club here we come.

Located on the south eastern side of New Providence, Palm Cay is the closest marina to the Exuma Islands. The northern Exuma islands like Ship Channel Cay and Highborne Cay are only about 31 miles away. Those swimming pigs, the Thunderball Grotto and the Land and Sea Park are just a bit further south, and easy reach for Palm Cay boaters.

Palm Cay provides a fantastic environment for boaters, families, and salty castaways like us. Here are the marina facts for all you boaters.

Palm Cay Marina Facts

• 194 slips, full service, deep-water marina
• 24 hour security with sea gate
• Fuel dock facility (Gas and Diesel)
• Fish cleaning station
• Vessels from 18′ to 70′
• 8ft at low tide
• Monitor VHF-16
• Marina store
• Power, water, Wi-Fi
• Boat cleaning

Believe it or not, touring all the Nassau marinas is hard work. So Castaway Crystal and I were really looking forward to relaxing at the beach/pool bar and sitting down for a delicious meal at the Beach Club restaurant. I b-lined it straight to the beach bar for a cold Kalik, as any good pirate should, as Crystal got ready for dinner. The staff was fantastic. They were singing and engaging with the guests which made me feel completely at ease. It had that out-island feel to it, but in an upscale setting. It was heaven.

The Beach Club features Mediterranean and Bahamian flavors. The special that night was baked Snapper with plantains and yellow rice. It sounded so good, each person in our party of four ordered it. Waves were lapping the white sand beach, then sun was fading from the sky, boats were finding their way into slips and the tender Snapper meat fell from the bone with delicious ease. It was the perfect way to end they day in the Bahamas.

If you’re a boater looking for great facilities, an amazing restaurant and an upscale feel away from the Nassau buzz, then I highly recommend you explore Palm Cay. I didn’t want to leave.

Next

We had an early 6am BahamasAir flight to catch the next morning, destination, Treasure Cay Resort & Marina. You can read all about that story in Part 3 of our Grand Marina Tour: Island Hopping The Bahamas