Atlantis in November questions

We're traveling on our first RCL cruise in November. According to our cruise planner we're in Nassau from 7-5. We're looking at Atlantis Aquaventure. We're a group of 9-my parents, myself, husband and kids aged 21-6. Has anyone been to Atlantis in November? Should I be aware of anything out of the ordinary weather wise? The day of the week is a Monday. Will everything be open? Also, according to RCL's website our tour starts at 7:30 and is 5 hours. Are those times just approximate?

Just trying to make sure it would be worth the $$.

I've stayed at Atlantis in early November. There was a section (lazy rivers a a pool or two) closed for repairs/cleaning as it was considered the off-season. I don't know if they do this every year.

The main section of the Aquaventure park was open.

Never been to Nassau via cruise so I can't speak for that part.

We went on a Disney cruise during Thanksgiving and did the Atlantis beach day (no pools or waterslides as our son was only two at the time). It was windy that day so they closed the beach :mad: They did; however, take us to a small "lake" where my son was able to go in the water and play in the sand.

We're traveling on our first RCL cruise in November. According to our cruise planner we're in Nassau from 7-5. We're looking at Atlantis Aquaventure. We're a group of 9-my parents, myself, husband and kids aged 21-6. Has anyone been to Atlantis in November? Should I be aware of anything out of the ordinary weather wise? The day of the week is a Monday. Will everything be open? Also, according to RCL's website our tour starts at 7:30 and is 5 hours. Are those times just approximate?

 

Just trying to make sure it would be worth the $$.

Just did Atlantis last month, our ship was noon-7pm in port, the ship rate is outrageous compared to booking the comfort suites next door. What you do is book a room for 4 people on the day you arrive, for that you get 4 full atlantis passes. The Comfort suites also offers discounts such as military, Aaa, Senior etc, just check their website. Then on the day you arrive port take a taxi to the Comfort Suites, I think it was about $12 each, you "checkin" but never use the room and check out at the same time, they do offer a place to change clothes if you want it. I would say go to Atlantis right away so you can get chairs at the pool etc.

We went with 6 of us, 3 adults and 3 kids 9-15yr old. The beach area was bit of a walk, the dig site was interesting, there was a Cartoon network lagoon area that you have to reserve in advance, the next available time was 3 days into the future, our kids wanted to do that but I didnt know to reserve ahead of time. The food wasnt cheap but for a large nachos order, onion rings side order, 2 kids sliders and fries meal, and 2 or 3 sodas it was about $58 with tip.

The regular lagoon area was dirty with litter in the water etc, we didnt stay to swim in that area because it was gross.

The main beach was closed for a private corporate event so we had to walk a distance to use a beach, it dropped fairly quick and was a bit rough so we left and walked around a bunch to find one chair at the pool to leave our stuff. Kids loved the slides but it was a wait for them.

Last year we did the Blue Lagoon beach break and for about half the price of doing atlantis via comfort suites the kids said they would have rather gone back to blue lagoon. I agree, I loved the blue lagoon beach break for the price they offered lots of great spots to hang out, we did that one through RCCL as they wont book you direct if you are coming in on a cruise. But now they can check Atlantis off their bucket list.

We have also done Atlantis through the Comfort Suitesand found the rates far cheaper than booking through RCI or even Atlantis direct. You also can arrive and leave when you want and not when the tour says to go. For a group of 9 they may allow you all passes with 2 rooms depending on the ages of the kids. Taxis were $4 pp each way. Take the land taxi as it is much quicker than the water taxi. Same price.

We've stopped in Nassau in November on a couple of Transatlantic cruises. Weather was great both times. We went to Atlantis both times on our own...just for a real Starbucks and to play in the casino. Atlantis is a huge property...lots of walking there!

RCL tour times are approximate but they should not vary much.

We have also done Atlantis through the Comfort Suitesand found the rates far cheaper than booking through RCI or even Atlantis direct. You also can arrive and leave when you want and not when the tour says to go. For a group of 9 they may allow you all passes with 2 rooms depending on the ages of the kids. Taxis were $4 pp each way. Take the land taxi as it is much quicker than the water taxi. Same price.

We will be in Nassau during the week of Christmas on the Grandeur. We arrive in port at 1:30pm and depart at midnight. There will be myself, my daughter and her 3 kids, 16 14, and 12. Is it worth it for us to go the Comfort Suites route for such a short time? It will get dark early and we would only have 2-3 hours at most to be on the beach. We would like to be able to walk around the Atlantis property as well.

We need some suggestions for Nassau after dark with kids who can't go into the casino.

I would also suggest Comfort Suites (we stayed there for eight nights and had full access to the Atlantis); however, since the OP is only in port from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., then this would not be practical as check-in is usually 3 p.m.

Maybe you can call the Comfort Suites and see if they offer a day pass as opposed to actually "checking in". I do agree that the Atlantis excursion prices the cruises are charging are outrageous! You really have to be there all day to justify the cost.

Comfort Suites does the check in/check out for cruise passengers all the time. You can get there first thing in the morning - not at the usual 3 PM checkin time. I don't think the slide area at Atlantis opens until 10 AM, but it takes awhile to check in, and you can walk around the resort. It is totally worth the cost savings.

Thanks, rstout! I didn't know that was an option. I wish I had because there was a cruise to Nassau that I had my eye on. It would have been great to take our younger son there, as he's never been. I'll definitely keep that in one in mind ;)

We will be in Nassau during the week of Christmas on the Grandeur. We arrive in port at 1:30pm and depart at midnight. There will be myself, my daughter and her 3 kids, 16 14, and 12. Is it worth it for us to go the Comfort Suites route for such a short time? It will get dark early and we would only have 2-3 hours at most to be on the beach. We would like to be able to walk around the Atlantis property as well.

 

We need some suggestions for Nassau after dark with kids who can't go into the casino.

I wouldn't spend the money arriving at 1:30. As you said you will only have 2 1/2 hours and for us it would not be worth it. At Atlantis you can book tickets just for the Aquarium and that will also let you walk around as well.

We were there in Nassau last November on the 30th. It was very windy and chilly. Temps were like 73 degrees. We were on the oasis and there from only 7-2 so we had no intention of going to the beach but wouldn't have anyways with the weather. I think it was just a fluke for the weather. We were in Ft. Lauderdale 2 days before our cruise left and it was cold but warmed up after the ship left.

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Weather in the Bahamas can be variable in November. We were at Atlantis for our anniversary in late October - early November a couple of years ago and temps were in the low 70s. I never went in the water -- pools were too cold -- although my husband went in for a dip a few times. The beach was pleasant enough for walking along, but it was too windy and cold to sit on it for long.

Also, they definitely close things down for cleaning and refurbishing between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. Many of the marine exhibits were cloudy and we'd see people in scuba gear scrubbing and cleaning. Not all of the water rides were open the whole time. I think the lazy river was closed on a couple of days and the slides were not all open all the time (there was always at least one available).

On the plus side, it wasn't crowded at all, so even with not everything open, there didn't seem to be many lines.

We're traveling on our first RCL cruise in November. According to our cruise planner we're in Nassau from 7-5. We're looking at Atlantis Aquaventure. We're a group of 9-my parents, myself, husband and kids aged 21-6. Has anyone been to Atlantis in November? Should I be aware of anything out of the ordinary weather wise? The day of the week is a Monday. Will everything be open? Also, according to RCL's website our tour starts at 7:30 and is 5 hours. Are those times just approximate?

 

Just trying to make sure it would be worth the $$.

It very well could be. I was there once on October 29th on year and the off season rate was great and we had a good time. Your hours stated are long enough to make it worthwhile. I wouldn't pay the higher season rates when arriving on a ship that only stays 4-5 hours.

There is a tour operator in Nassau that offers each of the packages to Altantis at better rates than Royal (but same price as walking up to the window at Atlantis). They can't advertise this, but I've used them twice and they were very easy to deal with. Just google it.

As others have said - it's November - can go either way. But I've been to Nassau more than a few times in November - usually around Thanksgiving - and only once was it not really warm.