Public Beaches?

[awatt]

Will be spending a day in Nassau on a cruise. Are there public beaches in Nassau or Paradise Island? If so,are there restaurants or snak bars,restrooms and chair/umbrella rental available at public beaches?

If you use a hotel beach,can you eat at their restaurants?

[tamara]

All beaches in the bahamas are public, but only those in front of hotels have lounges, bars, restaurants etc. Others are not maintained.
You can use the beach next to Atlantis by taking the ferry for $3 , to Paradise Island and then walk past the Atlantis to the public pathway next to the Sheraton. Lounges are for guests only. Some cruises have a deal with Atlantis to allow you to use the loungers, which is included in the tour fee.

The British Colonial Hilton, just a few steps from the cruisedocks, allows you to use their beach for a fee, they have kayaks, view boards and a great pool bar and grill.
The Radisson at Cable Beach allows non-guest to use the pools, lounges etc, (not towel service) if they have lunch, drinks etc. Take the #10 jitney from downtown (just a block from the docks) to Cable Beach, tell the drive to take you to the Radisson or Nassau Beach Hotel. The jitney cost $1 pp and run every 10 mins. or so.