Cabbage Beach lies on the northern shore of Paradise Island in the Bahamas, opposite Nassau’s main harbour, and offers some of the clearest, calmest water in the area — exactly the conditions that make it a reliable jet ski spot regardless of where else you’re staying in Nassau. This half-hour WaveRunner rental requires no prior experience, includes a safety briefing, and can be booked solo or as a two-person ride. Hotel and cruise port pickup is included.
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Why Cabbage Beach
Cabbage Beach stretches along the northern coast of Paradise Island, facing open Atlantic water rather than the more sheltered harbour side. It is consistently rated among the best beaches in the Nassau area for clarity and sand quality, which also makes it well suited to watersports — open enough for genuine speed, shallow and clear enough to see hazards.
The beach sits beside several major resorts, including the Atlantis complex and the Riu hotel, but is also reachable independently by taxi or ferry from downtown Nassau and the cruise port. The jet ski operation runs from a watersports tent near the Riu Hotel entrance.
What the session involves
On arrival, riders receive a comprehensive safety briefing covering WaveRunner operation, hand signals and the designated riding area. No prior jet ski experience is required. Riders can choose to go solo or take a partner on the same machine, and the 30-minute session is genuinely active riding time rather than instruction time padded into the total.
The course allows for jumping wakes, reaching top speed in open stretches, and performing 360-degree turns under supervision. WaveRunners are modern and well maintained, and reviewers consistently note the equipment feels new rather than worn out — a common complaint with budget jet ski operators elsewhere in the Caribbean.
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Practical details
| Duration | 30 minutes of riding time |
| Price | From $120 per group of up to 2 people |
| Rating | Strong ratings across hundreds of combined reviews |
| Meeting point | Cabbage Beach, Paradise Island — watersports tent near the Riu Hotel entrance |
| Minimum age | 16 to ride solo; children as young as 3 can ride as a passenger with an adult |
| What’s included | WaveRunner rental, safety briefing, hotel or cruise port pickup and drop-off |
| Accessibility | Not wheelchair accessible; not recommended for pregnant travellers or those with serious medical conditions |
| Bring | Swimwear, towel, secure footwear, sunscreen — items will get wet |
| Cancellation | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience |
Worth knowing before you book
If you’d rather combine jet skiing with other watersports, operators in the same Cabbage Beach location also run parasailing and banana boat add-ons, and some bundle all three into a longer package. If a half hour of pure jet skiing is exactly what you want, this standalone option is the more cost-effective route — bundled packages run considerably higher per person and dilute the time spent on each individual activity.
Reviewers who booked the longer one-hour version of this same experience consistently rated it as better value relative to the half-hour option, since the briefing and transfer time is fixed regardless of ride length. If budget allows, the extra time is generally considered worth it.
What visitors say
Reviewers consistently highlight the quality and condition of the WaveRunners, the clarity of the water at Cabbage Beach, and the efficiency of the hotel and port pickup. The activity is popular with cruise passengers on a tight schedule, since the entire experience — pickup, briefing, ride and return — fits comfortably within a few hours.
The most common piece of practical advice in reviews: book the earliest available slot if you’re catching a flight or returning to a cruise ship later that day, since afternoon slots occasionally run behind schedule during busy periods.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need jet ski experience to book this?
No. No prior experience is necessary. A full safety briefing covering operation, hand signals and the riding area is provided before you set out. The activity is suitable for first-time riders as well as those with experience, and riding solo or with a partner are both options.
How old do you have to be to ride a jet ski in the Bahamas?
On this tour, riders must be at least 16 years old to operate the WaveRunner solo. Children as young as 3 can ride as a passenger accompanying an adult. The activity is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for pregnant travellers or anyone with serious medical conditions, given the physical nature of riding.
Where exactly is Cabbage Beach?
Cabbage Beach is on the northern coast of Paradise Island, facing the open Atlantic, near the Atlantis resort complex and the Riu Hotel. It is one of the most popular beaches in the Nassau area, known for clear water and fine sand. The jet ski meeting point is at a watersports tent near the Riu Hotel entrance, accessible by taxi, ferry or hotel pickup arranged through the tour.
Is 30 minutes long enough for a jet ski session?
It depends what you’re after. Thirty minutes provides a genuine, satisfying ride with time to reach top speed, jump wakes and try manoeuvres, and suits visitors with limited time or budget. Reviewers who have tried both note the one-hour version offers noticeably better value per dollar, since briefing and transfer time is the same regardless of ride length — worth considering if your schedule allows it.
What should I wear and bring for jet skiing?
Wear swimwear under light clothing, and bring a towel and secure footwear — sandals with a back strap or water shoes work better than flip-flops, which can come off in the water. Apply reef-safe sunscreen before arrival, since there won’t be time once the session starts. Phones and other electronics should be left with your pickup driver or in a secure dry bag, as the ride involves genuine spray and the occasional wave jump.
