Key Aspects:
- The US Department of State has updated the travel advisory for the Bahamas, noting crime and hurricane risks.
- The overall advisory level remains at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.
- No cruise lines are adjusting Bahamian itineraries at this time and visits to the port continue to grow.
It is always a good idea for cruise travelers to be aware of safety risks at the ports of call they plan to visit. For travelers sailing from US homeports on the East Coast, particularly from Florida, the Bahamas is one of the most popular destinations and the US Department of State has recently updated its advisory for the island nation.
While there is no change to the overall Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory level, the summary of concerns has been updated with some key information cruise travelers will want to know.
The update was issued on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, and notes that crime is the foremost concern for guests visiting the Bahamas.
“Violent crime, including armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults, can occur anywhere in The Bahamas,” the advisory notes.
Most crime is noted in the country’s two largest cities, Nassau and Freeport. Both destinations are popular ports for just about every major cruise line in the region: Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Margaritaville at Sea, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and more.
Specifically, visitors are advised to remain alert in the “Over the Hill” region of Nassau, south of Shirley Street. That area has more gang violence and residents have been killed. Shirley Street is just two blocks south of the cruise terminal.
In mid-June, Cruise Hive reported on another Bahamas travel advisory update that issued stronger warnings about jet skis and watercraft rentals as well as the prevalence of sexual assaults associated with those rentals.
Those warnings are still part of the most recent update, as are notes about beach safety and the illegality of weapons and ammunition even in small quantities.
Hurricane Note Added
A brief note about hurricanes has been added to the advisory, just stating that “the Bahamas regularly experiences hurricanes.”
Cruise guests are well aware of that fact, but it is worth noting because such storms, whether they are Category 1 or Category 5, can dramatically impact itineraries with port cancellations or adjustments, route changes, and delays.
Thus far in 2026 the Atlantic Hurricane Season has been remarkably quiet, but the peak of hurricane season is generally around September 10. Of course, there is always the possibility of storms that impact cruises at any time, and the Bahamas has occasionally been disrupted by severe weather that isn’t strong enough for tropical storm or hurricane classification.
No Itinerary Changes Noted
At this time, no cruise lines are adjusting itineraries or removing Bahamian ports of call from upcoming sailings based on the travel advisory update. All cruise lines do stay updated on government warnings and advisories and will make adjustments as necessary to safeguard their guests and crew members.
A Level 2 advisory is certainly something for guests to be mindful of, but does not necessarily require any dramatic change in plans.
Cruise ports will sometimes dispute the travel advisories and how severe they may make a destination seem. For example, Turks and Caicos issued an official response following an updated advisory in mid-July. Like the Bahamas, that advisory also lists Turks and Caicos as “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.”
With Nassau setting a single-day record with more than 33,000 guests visiting on Monday, June 8, 2026, it’s clear that the Bahamas is and will remain a very popular cruise destination.
