U.S. Embassy Nassau Warns Cruise Passengers: Avoid Jet Ski Rentals in The Bahamas

A new U.S. Embassy Nassau Security Alert is raising serious safety concerns for Americans traveling to The Bahamas, especially cruise passengers stopping in Nassau.

On June 15, 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau issued a public warning urging American tourists and residents to avoid renting jet skis in The Bahamas entirely, highlighting ongoing dangers tied to unlicensed and uninsured jet ski operators, unsafe watercraft, serious injuries, deaths, and reports of sexual assault involving tourists.

Nassau is one of the busiest cruise destinations in the Caribbean, and many travelers have only a few hours in port to explore beaches, book excursions, shop, or take part in water activities. That limited time can make passengers more vulnerable to high-pressure solicitation, poorly vetted rentals, and dangerous operators who may be waiting near areas heavily trafficked by tourists.

According to the Embassy alert, high-risk areas include locations commonly visited by cruise passengers, such as the Cruise Port, Junkanoo Beach, Saunders Beach, Cabbage Beach, and small islands east of Paradise Island. 

These are places where travelers may expect a safe, tourist-friendly environment, but the Embassy’s warning makes clear that not every person offering an excursion or rental is licensed, insured, trained, or operating safe equipment.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a jet ski rental accident, contact Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal options—you may be entitled to compensation.

Why the U.S. Embassy Is Warning Americans About Jet Skis in The Bahamas

The Embassy’s message is direct: U.S. citizens should avoid renting jet skis in The Bahamas.

The warning points to “rogue operators” who solicit tourists near popular beaches and cruise passenger areas. These operators may not be licensed or insured, and they may be using unsafe or poorly maintained watercraft. In some cases, travelers may not know who they are renting from, whether the operator has permission to conduct business, whether the jet ski has been properly maintained, or whether any meaningful safety oversight exists.

That creates obvious injury risks. Jet skis are powerful personal watercraft that can cause severe harm when operated improperly or maintained carelessly. A crash can lead to traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, deep lacerations, near-drownings, internal injuries, and fatal accidents. Even swimmers and beachgoers who are not riding jet skis can be placed at risk when watercraft operate too close to shore or in shallow, crowded areas.

The Embassy alert also raises serious security concerns. Reports of sexual assault involving jet ski operators are especially alarming because they suggest that the danger is not limited to negligent operation or unsafe equipment. In some cases, the risk may involve operators isolating tourists, taking them away from crowded areas, or using the appearance of a recreational excursion to place visitors in vulnerable situations.

Why Cruise Passengers May Face Heightened Risk

Cruise passengers are often uniquely exposed to these dangers because of how port days work.

Many passengers arrive in Nassau with a short window of time to experience the destination before returning to the ship. They may walk off the vessel looking for beaches, food, shopping, or a quick adventure. That creates an environment where aggressive vendors and unlicensed operators can approach travelers directly, sometimes before passengers have had a chance to research the activity, compare operators, read reviews, or understand local safety concerns.

The Embassy alert specifically warns travelers to beware of solicitors near the Cruise Port and popular beaches. That matters because cruise passengers may assume that an operator soliciting near a major tourist area is legitimate simply because of where they are located. Unfortunately, proximity to a cruise port does not mean a vendor is licensed, insured, supervised, or safe.

Cruise passengers may also face practical barriers after an incident. If someone is injured or assaulted during a short stop in port, they may be rushed back to the ship, transferred to a local hospital, or forced to make decisions quickly in an unfamiliar country. Evidence can disappear fast. Operators may leave the area. Witnesses may return to their own ships. Receipts, rental agreements, waiver forms, photos, videos, and identifying information may be lost if passengers do not know what to preserve.

That is one reason these incidents can become legally complex. A cruise-related injury in The Bahamas may involve foreign law, maritime law, cruise ticket contract terms, excursion companies, local operators, third-party vendors, property owners, or the cruise line itself, depending on how the activity was booked and what warnings or safety measures were in place.

Jet Ski Injuries Can Be Serious and Life-Changing

A jet ski rental may seem like a quick vacation thrill, but the injuries can be devastating.

Common jet ski-related injuries may include:

• Traumatic brain injuries caused by collisions, falls, or impacts with another vessel.
• Spinal cord injuries or back and neck trauma from being thrown from the watercraft.
• Broken bones, crushed limbs, and joint injuries caused by crashes or rollovers.
• Severe cuts, propeller injuries, and soft tissue trauma.
• Near-drowning injuries, especially when a rider is thrown into the water, knocked unconscious, or unable to swim safely after impact.
• Fatal injuries caused by collisions with boats, swimmers, docks, rocks, or other jet skis.

These risks may be even greater when operators fail to provide basic safety instructions, ignore weather or water conditions, rent unsafe watercraft, overload jet skis, allow reckless operation, or operate too close to swimmers and beachgoers.

For cruise passengers, medical complications can be especially difficult. A serious injury in port may require treatment at a local medical facility, emergency evacuation, follow-up care in the United States, or long-term rehabilitation after the vacation ends. Medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, travel disruption, and emotional trauma can follow victims home long after the cruise is over.

Safety Tips for Cruise Passengers Visiting Nassau

The Embassy’s strongest recommendation is simple: avoid renting jet skis in The Bahamas.

For cruise passengers visiting Nassau, that means being cautious even when an activity appears convenient, affordable, or popular. A person soliciting tourists near the port or beach may not be part of a legitimate excursion company. A jet ski that looks available for rent may not be safe. A short ride offered by a local operator may create far more risk than it appears to.

Travelers should consider the following precautions:

• Avoid renting jet skis or accepting rides from beach or port solicitors.
• Do not assume an operator is safe, licensed, or insured because they are near the Cruise Port, a major beach, or a resort area.
• Do not agree to be taken to isolated islands or remote locations by an operator you do not know.
• Stay with your group, especially when approached by vendors offering water activities.
• Avoid alcohol or drug use before swimming, boating, or participating in any water activity.
• Watch carefully for jet skis operating close to shore, especially when swimming at busy beaches.
• Follow all local marine and weather alerts.
• Report suspicious or aggressive solicitation to cruise staff, local authorities, or the U.S. Embassy.

If an excursion is booked through a cruise line, passengers should still pay close attention to safety warnings, ask questions about the operator, and consider whether the activity is worth the risk. The Embassy’s warning is not limited to one company or one beach; it reflects broader concerns about jet ski rentals in The Bahamas.

What to Do if You Are Injured or Assaulted During a Bahamas Cruise Stop

If you or a loved one is injured, assaulted, or placed in danger during a port stop in Nassau, your safety comes first. Get away from the operator or location as quickly as possible and seek immediate help.

After an incident, cruise passengers should try to:

• Notify cruise ship security and medical staff immediately.
• Seek medical care, even if symptoms seem minor at first.
• Report the incident to local police and request a copy of any report.
• Contact the U.S. Embassy if you need emergency assistance abroad.
• Write down the name, description, location, and identifying details of the operator.
• Photograph the jet ski, beach area, rental stand, injuries, receipts, wristbands, tickets, or warning signs.
• Save videos, text messages, booking confirmations, excursion materials, and cruise communications.
• Get names and contact information for witnesses, including other passengers.
• Avoid signing broad releases, settlement documents, or unclear forms without legal guidance.
• Contact Morgan & Morgan as soon as possible after returning home.

Speaking to a jet ski rental attorney is especially important for cruise passengers because legal deadlines may be shorter than expected. Cruise ticket contracts often include strict notice requirements and shortened deadlines for filing claims. Waiting too long can make it harder to investigate what happened, identify responsible parties, obtain records, and preserve evidence.

Could a Cruise Line, Tour Company, or Operator Be Responsible?

Every case depends on the facts.

A cruise line is not automatically responsible for every injury that occurs in port, but cruise-related injury cases can involve several potential parties. Depending on the circumstances, claims may involve a jet ski operator, excursion company, vendor, beach business, property owner, resort, or cruise line.

Important questions may include:

• Was the jet ski rental promoted, recommended, sold, or arranged by the cruise line?
• Was the excursion marketed as safe or approved?
• Did the cruise line or tour company know, or should it have known, about safety concerns involving the operator or location?
• Were passengers warned about the risks identified by the U.S. Embassy?
• Was the watercraft unsafe, unregistered, poorly maintained, or improperly operated?
• Was the operator licensed, insured, trained, or supervised?
• Were passengers taken to isolated areas or placed in dangerous situations?
• Were there prior complaints, injuries, assaults, or safety incidents involving the same operator or location?

Because these cases can involve maritime law, foreign incidents, third-party vendors, and cruise contract deadlines, it is important to speak with a lawyer who understands the complexities of cruise ship injury claims.

Morgan & Morgan Is Here to Help Injured Cruise Passengers

A cruise vacation should not end in a hospital, a medical evacuation, or a traumatic incident abroad. 

When cruise passengers are injured or assaulted because of unsafe excursions, unlicensed operators, inadequate warnings, or negligent conduct, they deserve answers.

Morgan & Morgan’s cruise ship injury attorneys understand how complex these cases can be. We can investigate what happened, review how the activity was booked, determine whether warnings were provided, identify potentially responsible parties, and help victims understand their legal options.

If you or a loved one was injured during a cruise stop in Nassau or elsewhere in The Bahamas, Morgan & Morgan may be able to help. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. The Fee Is Free™, and you pay nothing unless we win.