The Other Side Of Nassau: Stopping In Palm Cay Resort and Marina In New Providence Island
It has been an amazing time sailing so far - it was the second leg of our sailing journey and this time around, I didn’t get seasick.
Even Captain Ahab was in his best spirits. Our trip was smooth sailing, we had 3 buddy boats, a whole bunch of new friends, and we couldn’t ask for anything better.
Anyway, we are heading towards the south of Bahamas with a few stops in between. This time, we docked at the Naussau at the north of New Providence Island where we would be waiting for a weather window to cross to the Exuma Islands.
We got here greeted by friendly locals and light atmosphere. People are always smiling and very helpful! One of the locals even gave me a Bahamian Calendar as a souvenir.
We stayed at Nassau Yacht Haven for the first 3 days while fixing some boat issues and re-provisioning but the bad news was that it was fully booked for the next few days so there was available slip left for us.
We had to move but we didn't want to anchor just anywhere because of the strong winds in the upcoming days and lack of protected anchorages at our destination.
Well, bad news often comes with a silver lining: there is another marina which is only 15 minutes away from the capital of the Bahamas called Palm Cay Resort & Marina. The even better news is that it has its own white sand beach, swimming pool, and a beach bar where a live band plays good music. What a time to be yayamanin again! :)
Palm Cay Resort & Marina: A Luxurious Marina In New Providence Island
After all the crazy boat work that my husband did for the last 8 months and 2 successful sailing on our own, I think that our little family deserves a treat!
A luxurious stay at Palm Cay was just what we needed and was actually no more expensive than our previous marina. Palm Cay Resort, located on the southeastern shore of New Providence is a private oceanfront community comprising of luxury real estate where you’ll find over 300 exquisite town homes, condominiums, and marina cottages.
We have had an amazing time here! It’s a very good way to relax and refresh before and after long sailing days. They have a very fast internet connection so I was finally able to catch up with work! The restaurant has an awesome food menu and drinks choices. There's even a brand new lap pool with free use of towels and a white-sand beach coupled with turquoise blue water and a beautiful view of the Caribbean (the pool and beach use requires an additional fee of $15 for marina guests), hot shower, and cheap laundry services (just $1.5 per wash).
The grocery store is just a few minutes away and a courtesy car can be used for 2 hours for free to go to the town proper.
The Food At Palm Cay Resort
Our little celebration wouldn't be complete without some awesome cuisine (don’t we all love that?) so we spent lunch at their in-house beachfront restaurant.
I had T-bone steak paired with a mojito while Jonathan had a salmon dish and a couple of beers. We also had conch fritters, sweet potato fries, and spicy pizza. The food is really good and they use the finest ingredients. The steak melts in the mouth and I absolutely love it! Everything else tastes fresh and exquisite :)
Was it worth it? Well yes if you have something to celebrate like us after successfully crossing the Gulf Stream and the Great Bahama Banks!
Rates At Palm Cay Resort
The daily rate for a sailboat is $2.5 x foot-length of the boat + VAT. Catamarans pay a minimum of $3/ft depending on the season + VAT after the total bill. The electricity is only 25 cents/Kwh (although we have our solar panels!) and the water is 35 cents/gallon (not bad, actually). They have monthly and yearly dockage fees too.
While the rate per foot is slightly higher that some other marinas, you really do get what you pay for. Then again, when you consider that they don't charge the mandatory $12 water fee that our previous marina did, they actually work out a little cheaper! With your fees, you’ll get: 1 of the 194 slips, full service at a deep-water marina (8 ft. at low tide), 24 hour security with sea gate, Fuel dock facility (Gas and Diesel), Fish cleaning station, Monitor VHF-16, Marina store, Power and water (for an additional fee), Free Wi-Fi access, Boat cleaning services, and lap pool & beach access (also for an additional fee). Now, these are things you wouldn’t get in any other marina!
What To Do In The Southeast Of Providence Island
1) Go around the city
There’s no better way to explore Nassau than by going around various historical places and shopping districts. Go to Fort Fincastle and the Queen’s Staircase and you’ll get a rewarding panoramic view of the city.
2) Snorkel
The best way to spend your time in the Bahamas is taking a plunge on to its crystal clear water and explore its underwater beauty! Swim with hundreds of fishes and take a look at the breathtaking corals-- you’ll definitely have the time of your life!
3) Spend your time at the beach
Whether you want total seclusion, parties, water sports, pink sand, white sand, turquoise water, deep blue, etc., Bahamas has it all. There are more than 700 islands to choose from so you’ll never get bored. Check out your perfect beach getaway here. :)
4) Enjoy the Bahamian cuisine
The Bahamas is famous for its mouth-watering seafood be it fried fish, huge lobsters, crabs, and shrimps. It is also popular for its johnnycakes and peas and rice. Their Bahamian dessert is to die for!! Try the rum cake and guava duff; you’ll never go wrong!
5) Visit the museums
Learning its history is one of the most beautiful ways of exploring a foreign land. Visit museums in the Southeast of Bahamas-- not only will you enjoy, but you’ll also learn a lot. For sailors, I recommend you to visit the Pirates of Nassau Museum which depicts piracy in the Caribbean. For a better understanding of the Bahamian culture, the Junkanoo World Museum & Arts Centre is ideal. If you have more time, there are plenty of museums around the city which would surely catch your interest.
Will I recommend getting a marina slip at Palm Cay Resort & Marina to the sailing community?
Definitely! It is only 28 miles away from the Exumas which makes it an ideal jump-off point to explore the Islands of The Bahamas.
Palm Cay is also 15 minutes away from Paradise Island and 35 Minutes from the Sir Lynden Pindling International Airport so it’s very accessible. We had a lovely time talking to the locals and catamaran/yacht owners (it’s a good place to meet new friends and buddy boats!) and I was really inspired hearing all their beautiful stories (can’t wait to have our own Catamaran one day!). That being said and all the facilities that I mentioned above, I really recommend spending your time here when you’re in the Bahamas :)
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