Awaiting Your Return From Shore |
The Bahamas comprise a coral
archipelago consisting of some 700 low-lying islands and over
1,000 cays. Some of the smaller ones are privately owned; many
remain uninhabited. Nassau, the capital, is located on New
Providence Island, which became a British colony in 1666. Its
first settlement was Charles Town, named for King Charles II and
later renamed Nassau after King William of Orange-Nassau. In the
17th and early 18th centuries, the islands became a favored
pirates’ lair and a base for slave traders. During the American
Civil War, Nassau was an ideal port for the new fast ships that
were unable to carry large cargoes and required a safe neutral
port within two or three days’ steaming. The end of the war
provoked a severe and prolonged recession and Bahamians turned
again to wrecking. This trend came to a stop with the introduction
of lighthouses and beacons.
With the advent of Prohibition, Nassau became a center of the
illicit liquor trade. When Prohibition was revoked, the islands
had little to fall back on and the 1930s ended in economic
disaster. A disease in 1939 killed off the sponges which had
provided a livelihood to many. Following World War II, the islands
experienced a tremendous development in tourism. Independence was
granted in 1973, with Nassau the declared capital of the
Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
A number of old forts and charming pastel-colored buildings recall
Nassau’s colonial past. Its old-style grand hotels, luxurious
modern establishments and diverse places of entertainment, from
modern rum shops and calypso spots to the Casino with its
glittering floor shows, all bear witness to the long tradition and
continuing vigor of the tourist trade in this cosmopolitan town.
Please Note: Guests in transit to the following cruise may check
with the Tour Office on board for sightseeing options. Guests on
Silversea's Pre- or Post-Cruise program may check with the
Silversea Hospitality Desk at the hotel for sightseeing
possibilities, dining and shopping information during their stay
in Nassau. |
Awaiting Your Return
From Shore |
Complimentary
Spirits Await |
Return to Your
Suite and Sail Away to The Next Adventure |
Entertainment
and Dancing Await You |