Caribbean
Caribbean
Cat Island Cruise Port Guide: Beaches, Things to Do & Getting Around
Bahamas
Ships anchor offshore; tender boats required to reach shore.
Choose the Right Port Day
Best Overall
Day pass at a resort offering beach, pool, and food included (typically $40–70 USD); simplest, safest, no planning needed.
Best Beach
Pigeon Cay (small, nearby, good snorkeling) or resort beach access via day pass if you want amenities and shade.
With Kids
Resort day pass with pool and beach access (shallow water, fewer currents); easier than exploring; staff on-site.
Only 3-4 Hours
Head straight to Pigeon Cay or nearby resort beach, snorkel or swim for 2 hours, eat lunch at a beachfront shack or resort café, return to tender.
Cheapest Option
Skip resort passes; walk or water taxi to public beach near settlement; pack snacks; cost roughly $0–20 USD for transport, free beach.
What To Avoid
Expecting nightlife or varied dining—Cat Island is quiet and limited. Don't rely on car rentals unless you're staying overnight; taxis are the norm.
Quick Take
- Port Type
- Beach & Resort Port
- Best For
- Beach relaxation, snorkeling, resort day passes, families wanting an easy port day without logistics.
- Avoid If
- You want cultural exploration, dining beyond resort chains, or serious shopping.
- Walkability
- Port area is compact; beyond resort grounds you'll need taxi or water taxi.
- Budget Fit
- Mid-range. Beach access is free; activities and meals run standard Caribbean prices.
- Good For Short Calls?
- Excellent. Arrive at beach, swim/snorkel, grab lunch, return to ship.
Port Overview
Cat Island is a quiet, sparsely populated island in the central Bahamas. Ships anchor offshore and tender passengers to a small dock in Arthur's Town or nearby resort. There are no cruise terminals, no downtown to explore, and no significant walking routes—this is a pure beach-and-resort port.
Unless you book a shore excursion or have a plan for a resort day pass, your options shrink quickly. The island has a few small settlements and historical sites (like the Hermitage), but they're spread out and require transport. Most cruisers either spend the day at a beach or pass the call entirely.
Good for: families wanting a guaranteed beach day with minimal logistics, snorkelers, anyone happy to dock and relax. Not good for: explorers, foodies, or those wanting cultural immersion. Accept upfront that Cat Island is a stop to swim and rest, not to discover.
Top Things To Do
1
Resort Day Pass (Beach & Pool)
Local resorts sell daily passes covering beach access, pool use, loungers, umbrellas, and sometimes food/drinks. Eliminates planning and guarantees amenities.
⚡ Popular — books out early. Reserve before you sail.
2
Snorkeling (Pigeon Cay or Reef)
Shallow reefs near Pigeon Cay offer colorful fish and coral. Accessible via taxi to a beach launch point or organized snorkel tour.
3
The Hermitage & Port Howe Settlement
Historic monastery ruins and a small island settlement. Requires organized tour or private taxi; limited crowds, quiet island culture.
Book with the ship, or on your own?
Booking independently
- Often noticeably cheaper than the ship’s version of the same tour.
- Smaller groups and local operators, with traveler reviews you can read before you pay.
- Free cancellation on most tours, usually up to 24 hours before.
When the ship’s excursion makes sense
- Short port calls or long transfers where the timing is tight.
- Tender-only stops where getting ashore can run late.
- The ship waits for its own delayed excursions — it won’t wait for independent ones, so leave a buffer before all-aboard.
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you — it’s how we keep these guides free.
Is It Safe?
Cat Island is generally safe for tourists. Crime targeting cruise passengers is rare. The main risks are sun exposure, heat exhaustion, and rough water during certain seasons. Avoid walking alone at night or wandering into unfamiliar settlements; stick to beach areas and established resorts. Petty theft from unattended belongings on beaches does happen—don't leave valuables visible. Tap water is drinkable at resorts but stick to bottled water elsewhere.
Accessibility & Walkability
The tender dock is basic; there may be gaps or steps getting on/off depending on sea state. Resorts with day passes often have accessible facilities (flat terrain, shade structures, bathrooms). Beyond the dock and resorts, the island lacks paved sidewalks and has uneven terrain; wheelchair users will find a resort day pass far easier than independent exploration. Discuss accessibility needs with the cruise line before tendering.
Outside the Terminal
You'll disembark onto a small dock with a few beach shacks or resort umbrellas visible. Taxis cluster nearby, and crew distribute tender tickets. The immediate area is quiet—no crowds, no shops, no bustle. Within 100 meters you're either on a resort property or looking at water and vegetation. It's very low-key, which is the point.
Beaches Near the Port
Pigeon Cay Beach
Small, sandy cay offshore with good snorkeling and calm water. Less crowded than resort beaches; popular with organized tours.
Resort Day-Pass Beaches (Various)
Resorts lining the island's east coast offer groomed beaches with shade, amenities, and food service. Easiest option for families.
Public Beach near Arthur's Town
Small public beach near the settlement; quieter, fewer facilities, authentic island feel. Bring your own snacks and shade.
Local Food & Drink
Cat Island has no fine dining or diverse restaurant scene. Resort day passes usually include buffet lunch and snacks. Outside resorts, a handful of small beach shacks serve conch salad, fried fish, and basic Bahamian fare at $10–18 USD per plate. Quality varies. Grocery stores in Arthur's Town are limited; don't expect fresh ingredients beyond typical tourist fare. Pack snacks or eat on-ship if you're picky.
Shopping
Cat Island has virtually no shopping worth your time. A few small shops and gift stands near the dock sell basic souvenirs (straw hats, postcards, reef-safe sunscreen at inflated prices). No malls, no designer outlets, no browsing. Buy Bahamas gifts before arriving or skip Cat Island shopping entirely.
Money & Currency
- Currency
- Bahamian Dollar (BSD)
- USD Accepted?
- Yes
- Card Payments
- Cards accepted at resorts and larger operators; cash preferred at small vendors and beach shacks.
- ATMs
- ATM at resort areas; don't rely on it. Bring cash.
- Tipping
- 15–18% at restaurants and resorts; $2–5 per ride for taxi drivers (informal, not obligatory).
- Notes
- USD and BSD are interchangeable at 1:1. Carry small bills for taxis and beach vendors.
Weather & Best Time
- Best months
- November–April (calm, dry, 75–85°F)
- Avoid
- June–November (hurricane season; August–October highest risk)
- Temperature
- November–April: 75–85°F daytime, calm seas. May–October: 80–90°F, higher humidity, rougher seas.
- Notes
- Tender operations may be suspended in heavy seas. Winter is peak and most reliable for port calls.
Airport Information
- Airport
- Cat Island Airport (CIW)
- Distance
- ~10 km (~6 miles) from Arthur's Town
- Getting there
- Taxi from port to airport ~$30–50 USD. Most cruisers don't visit the airport.
- Notes
- Relevant only if you're flying in pre-cruise or staying overnight; not useful for same-day cruise port calls.
Getting Around from the Port
Water Taxi (Tender)
Ships anchor and tender to the dock. Tender boats run continuously during port call.
Book ferry ticketsTaxi
Taxis line up near the tender dock. Drivers offer ad-hoc rates for beach runs and island tours.
Book a transfer 5% off with code TPO5 at checkoutWalking
The dock area itself is tiny. Nearby resorts are sometimes walkable (10–15 min), but unshaded and unreliable.
Details last checked April 2026
Check The Port Traffic
Cruise Ships in Port
Once you have your shore plan, use the schedule to see how busy the harbour will be on your date, plus the ships, lines, and published call windows.
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Quiet (1–2)
Busy (3–4)
Packed (5+)
0 scheduled calls
August 25, 2026
No scheduled cruise ship calls were found for this date selection. Pick a highlighted day on the calendar above, widen the range, or search for a different ship or line.
Planning a cruise here?
P&O Cruises sail to Cat Island.
Practical Tips for Cruise Passengers
- Book a resort day pass before tendering if you want guaranteed beach access and amenities; they fill up and you may not have a choice on the dock.
- Tender operations can close suddenly in rough weather; bring seasickness medication if you're prone, and accept that a cancelled tender means you stay on-ship.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen (local vendors overcharge); Cat Island sun is intense and reefs are fragile.
- Don't rent a car for a 4-hour port call; taxi flat-rates are simpler and taxis know all the good stops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only if you're a dedicated beach-and-relax person or want to snorkel. There's no downtown, no culture to explore, and limited food options. Most cruisers do a beach day and that's it.
Not really. The port is tiny and everything is spread out. You'll need taxis or organized tours to get anywhere; don't expect the walkable downtown feel of other ports.
You can do it solo if you're comfortable with informal taxis and have a plan (beach or resort day pass). Organized excursions are easier if you prefer structure and guidance.
Find cruises to Cat Island, Bahamas
Compare sailings and book with no fees — best price guaranteed.
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you — it’s how we keep these guides free.
✉ Sailing to Cat Island? Get your port-day plan
Tell us your sail date and we’ll email you a short Cat Island plan about 60 days out — when the good excursions start selling out — plus a final checklist 2 weeks before. Two emails, then done. We’ll send one note to confirm it’s really you — unsubscribe anytime.
Caribbean
View All
More Caribbean Ports
Caribbean
Caribbean
Caribbean
