New Providence Island in the Bahamas is the most populated of any of the country's hundreds of islands. Also home to the capital of the country, Nassau Bahamas, New Providence Island attracts thousands of travelers every year thanks to its beautiful beaches, luxury resorts, and top-quality Bahamas tours and activities. Out of any of the Bahamas islands, it is New Providence Island that boasts the richest history, most beautiful architecture, and most diverse options for dining, shopping, and nightlife.
History
New Providence Island in the Bahamas was quickly one of the most attractive islands in the area due to its natural sheltered harbors. Due to its location near the Florida Strait, the island of New Providence became a hot spot for pirates who used the island as both a place of rest and a place from which to attack Spanish ships. Stealing gold, silver, and other treasures from Spanish trips heading back to Spain from the New World, the pirates in the Bahamas had their peak years from 1715 to 1725. Pirate activity declined once the British formed an official colony on New Providence on what was then the small city of Nassau. The colony included a military base that helped ward off pirate ships. During the American Revolutionary War, American forces (sometimes with the aid of Spanish forces via Havana) were able to capture New Providence Island, which would be able to serve as a useful in attacking British ships heading into the Florida Strait. Slaves were brought in to New Providence and the other Bahamas islands by the British colonists. Today, the majority of New Providence's residents are the descendants of these slaves.
Where to Stay
If you are coming to New Providence Island and Nassau Bahamas for an extended stay, there are plenty of great hotels and resorts in which to stay located mostly located in Nassau and neighboring Paradise Island. If you want to truly have an upscale vacation, the most famous, luxurious, and beautiful resort in all of the Bahamas is the Atlantis Paradise Island Royal Towers. Atlantis on Paradise Island, just a short drive or ferry ride from Nassau, is a world onto its own. Featuring a variety of restaurants, the largest casino in all of the Bahamas, fun things for kids to do, clubs and lounges, beautiful pools and waterfalls, and all kinds of accommodation options, Atlantis provides you with an all-inclusive and unforgettable Bahamas stay. The city of Nassau offers plenty of places to stay, ranging from smaller boutique-type hotels in historic buildings and districts to comfortable chain hotels such as the Best Western. It's pretty easy to get around Nassau on foot or via taxi.
Coming to New Providence on a Cruise
One of the most common ways that people get to see the Bahamas and New Providence is as part of a cruise ship itinerary. Many different cruise lines make it to Nassau or Freeport Bahamas, coming from Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Norfolk, and even New York. If you are coming to Nassau Bahamas in New Providence Island on a cruise ship, chances are you get to spend an entire day on the island. This is plenty of time to get a feel for the laid-back Bahamian lifestyle by trying the tasty Caribbean cuisine and walking the historic streets of Nassau. You will also have enough time to fit in one of the many Bahamas tours and activities. Try a Bahamas snorkeling tour if you want to see the marine life found among the coral reef system. Or try the dolphin tours where you get to actually swim in the water with a bottlenose dolphin. The options for Bahamas tours from Nassau are endless, so call one of the Bahamas agents to figure out the best thing to do in the Bahamas for your group.
