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Things to do in the Bahamas....

bguppies

By bguppies,
in Bahamas

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bguppies

bguppies

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Just got back from Nassau. (were there on Tuesday)

 

We took the advice from many in here and booked with Blue Lagoon for an 8:30AM Dolphin Encounter and a 1:30PM (2PM really) Sea Lion Encounter, with 4 hours of beach time in between.

 

We arrived at the Paradise island ferry terminal at a few minutes before 8AM to check in.

It was the 2 of us and 4 going over for a Sea Lion excursion.

 

Turned out that we were the only two doing the Dolphin encounter that morning, so we had the entire platform to ourselves, with Andy the Dolphin and it was wonderful. (15 minutes of education before and 45-60 minutes in the water with Andy)

 

Walked the entire facility for a bit and saw all the various enclosures and the entire beach facility. (ther had to be at least 100 hammocks strung between the palm trees there.)

Adirondack chairs lined the beach shore.

 

The staff there was incredibly nice and kept offering us tips of when to go to a certain area to see a Dolphin swim or other event or where to take the best pictures from.

 

Our 2PM Sea Lion encounter was 4 couples with Murray the oldest male and PJ, one of the 4 females there. (again, 15 minutes of education before and 45 minutes in the water with Murray and PJ)

The guide was their handler, who moved to Nassau with the Sea Lions, from Mississippi, after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their old home.

It was alot of fun, just watching them all interact in their enclosure before the encounter. (espcially the 1 year old, Milo, who was playfully irritating the older sea lions.)

 

We had an hour after our Sea Lion encounter until the last ferry back at 4PM, with all staff, just as Scubagirl had stated.

 

I just wanted to thank Scubagirl and everyone else who recommended this little slice of heaven.

We will definitely book at least a $40 beach day, the next time we visit Nassau. (you truly can see and do everything, except actually touch the animals with just the beach pass)

 

Needless to say, I highly recommened this place and their wonderful excursions.

 

Bill

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Christisrisen

Christisrisen

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Hi there-sounds like you had fun-not sure if we can do the dolphin encounter, but did you mean that you can get close to the animals-just not touching-with just a beach pass? Is it one price no matter the age for the beach pass? We may be going in Feb. would love to go this island.

thanks Debbie

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bguppies

bguppies

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Hi there-sounds like you had fun-not sure if we can do the dolphin encounter, but did you mean that you can get close to the animals-just not touching-with just a beach pass? Is it one price no matter the age for the beach pass? We may be going in Feb. would love to go this island.

thanks Debbie

 

They let you right up next to the pens they keep the dolphins and sea lions in, just not into the water to touch the animals like the encounters or swims.

 

In fact, the helpful staff kept coming up to us and asking if we might like to watch a dolphin swim that was just starting or the sea lions encounter starting in a few minutes.

 

I stood next to the large pen, where they keep the dolphins between encounters and those not being used at the time, for over an hour, taking pictures of the 3-5 dolphins swimming in there. (one with a scar over his left eye, my Wife started calling Ham and Cheese, because he literally did a different slow motion pose, every time he swam by. Was quite the ham.)

Luckily my SD card holds over 10,000 shots at 12MP, because I shot off well over 100 in that hour.

When the dolphins swam past my spot in the corner of the walkway, I was about 6 to 8 feet above the dolphins swimming below.

 

They also let you onto the observer platforms, which gives you an up close view of other people's encounters or swims. (about 10 feet from the encounter)

 

Here is the link to the beach pass. $45 adult, $35 kids with grilled lunch.

http://www.dolphinencounters.com/island-all.php

 

Hope that helps answer your questions.

 

Bill

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scubagirrl

scubagirrl

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Just got back from Nassau. (were there on Tuesday)

 

We took the advice from many in here and booked with Blue Lagoon for an 8:30AM Dolphin Encounter and a 1:30PM (2PM really) Sea Lion Encounter, with 4 hours of beach time in between.

 

We arrived at the Paradise island ferry terminal at a few minutes before 8AM to check in.

It was the 2 of us and 4 going over for a Sea Lion excursion.

 

Turned out that we were the only two doing the Dolphin encounter that morning, so we had the entire platform to ourselves, with Andy the Dolphin and it was wonderful. (15 minutes of education before and 45-60 minutes in the water with Andy)

 

Walked the entire facility for a bit and saw all the various enclosures and the entire beach facility. (ther had to be at least 100 hammocks strung between the palm trees there.)

Adirondack chairs lined the beach shore.

 

The staff there was incredibly nice and kept offering us tips of when to go to a certain area to see a Dolphin swim or other event or where to take the best pictures from.

 

Our 2PM Sea Lion encounter was 4 couples with Murray the oldest male and PJ, one of the 4 females there. (again, 15 minutes of education before and 45 minutes in the water with Murray and PJ)

The guide was their handler, who moved to Nassau with the Sea Lions, from Mississippi, after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their old home.

It was alot of fun, just watching them all interact in their enclosure before the encounter. (espcially the 1 year old, Milo, who was playfully irritating the older sea lions.)

 

We had an hour after our Sea Lion encounter until the last ferry back at 4PM, with all staff, just as Scubagirl had stated.

 

I just wanted to thank Scubagirl and everyone else who recommended this little slice of heaven.

We will definitely book at least a $40 beach day, the next time we visit Nassau. (you truly can see and do everything, except actually touch the animals with just the beach pass)

 

Needless to say, I highly recommened this place and their wonderful excursions.

 

Bill

 

Glad you had a wonderful adventure. This is my favorite place to spend my downtime. Simply paradise.

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bguppies

bguppies

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thank you for the info. sounds great and I'm sure we will go there. Is the water there calm, we have a 4 yrold and a 2 yr old. I'm sure they will love to see the dolphins.

thanks again, Debbie

 

The beach is in the center of the island.

Imagine a circle of rocks, with a small cut in the side, big enough to fit a boat through.

In the center of the circle is a lagoon, completely surrounded by rock walls.

 

Perfectly calm inside the lagoon.

 

Bill

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scubagirrl

scubagirrl

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The beach is in the center of the island.

Imagine a circle of rocks, with a small cut in the side, big enough to fit a boat through.

In the center of the circle is a lagoon, completely surrounded by rock walls.

 

Perfectly calm inside the lagoon.

 

Bill

 

Here's an aerial view. Simply gorgeous.

You can zoom in on these images as well.

 

http://marinas.com/view/overview/406_Salt_Cay_NP

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Crabberwoman

Crabberwoman

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I was all excited about going to Blue Lagoon, then noticed we would be there on a Thursday. I sent them an email, and they told me we could book the dolphin experience, but we would not be able to use the beach. Atlantis just sounds like such a crowded, expensive place. I think we're going to skip dolphins on this cruise, and look for another day of the week in Nassau on our next.;)

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Bengalkatzmom

Bengalkatzmom

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Just got back from Nassau. (were there on Tuesday)

 

We took the advice from many in here and booked with Blue Lagoon for an 8:30AM Dolphin Encounter and a 1:30PM (2PM really) Sea Lion Encounter, with 4 hours of beach time in between.

 

Did you book this thru the cruise line or on your own? And what time did you arrive in Nassau (what ship actually)? We're going to be on Carnival Conquest and I'm trying to figure out if we book an 8:30 if we can make it on time.

 

Thanks for the tip - this sounds like the perfect excursion!

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bguppies

bguppies

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Did you book this thru the cruise line or on your own? And what time did you arrive in Nassau (what ship actually)? We're going to be on Carnival Conquest and I'm trying to figure out if we book an 8:30 if we can make it on time.

 

Thanks for the tip - this sounds like the perfect excursion!

 

We booked it through their website....

 

Carnival used to offer this excursion, but has since switched all of their excursions almost exclusively to Atlantis based excursions. :(

 

We were on the Fascination and supposed to dock at 7Am and were on time.

We got off the boat at 7:15 and luckily 4 others getting off with us were also going to Blue Lagoon, so them and the two of us were able to fill a cab pretty quick. (the cabbies don't like to leave with just 2 or 3 people, which with what they pay for gas, I can't blame them either)

 

We got over to the Ferry terminal at 7:50-55 or so and waited a couple of minutes for their window to open.

Then after checking in, sat and waited for the ferry to leave at 8:30AM.

(there is a little coffee shop in the terminal there.)

 

The cab ride over was $5 per person each way.

Took about 10-15 minutes over and 15-20 minutes coming back.

 

Bill

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geenafeena

geenafeena

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We booked it through their website....

 

Carnival used to offer this excursion, but has since switched all of their excursions almost exclusively to Atlantis based excursions. :(

 

We were on the Fascination and supposed to dock at 7Am and were on time.

We got off the boat at 7:15 and luckily 4 others getting off with us were also going to Blue Lagoon, so them and the two of us were able to fill a cab pretty quick. (the cabbies don't like to leave with just 2 or 3 people, which with what they pay for gas, I can't blame them either)

 

We got over to the Ferry terminal at 7:50-55 or so and waited a couple of minutes for their window to open.

Then after checking in, sat and waited for the ferry to leave at 8:30AM.

(there is a little coffee shop in the terminal there.)

 

The cab ride over was $5 per person each way.

Took about 10-15 minutes over and 15-20 minutes coming back.

 

Bill

 

so, you have to take a cab to the ferry? how much is the ferry? we will be in nassau on 10/17 and this sounds like something fun do to. we were thinking of getting a day pass for the sheraton, but this sounds better. we will arrive in nassau at 12 and leave at 7.

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bguppies

bguppies

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so, you have to take a cab to the ferry? how much is the ferry? we will be in nassau on 10/17 and this sounds like something fun do to. we were thinking of getting a day pass for the sheraton, but this sounds better. we will arrive in nassau at 12 and leave at 7.

The Ferry to Blue Lagoon is free.

Part of the cost of your chosen excursion.

 

Arriving at 12 might be too late though.

You have to be at the Ferry terminal 30 minutes early.

Ferrys leave at 12:30PM and 2:30PM and the last ferry returns to mainland from island at 4PM.....

 

Bill

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BIG_Steve

BIG_Steve

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I am taking the 4 night cruise on NCL Sky to the Bahamas. Can you give me some suggestions of things to do without taking the paid tours at the following ports?

 

1. - Grand Bahama Island

2. - Nassau

 

Thanks!

 

We took the SKY a few months ago and loved it.

 

1) The Port is an industrial port. When you get off the ship, all thats there is a very small straw market, a bar and a gift shop. I only read this morning that there is a restaurant nearby where they feed sharks. But have no informatin about that. The big straw markets, shops, casino, and beach are at Lucaya. That's about a $5.00 shuttle ride, about 15 minutes.

 

2) Only there once for the day, hopefully others will chime in. We went to Atlantis to gamble. You don't need to buy any kind of pass or tour to get in and poke around. There is a pretty good sized area of the aquarium that you can view for free. Plenty of UP-Scale shopping too. Bay street is about 2 blocks from where the ship docks, and is loaded with all kinds of shops. The Straw market is near-by. It was closed for renovation in April, hopefully someone will chime in with current info about that.

 

My review can be found through the link in my signature. At the bottom of my review, you'll see some links to Port reviews.

 

I loved the SKY, hope you do too!

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NWCruisers2009

NWCruisers2009

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We took the SKY a few months ago and loved it.

 

1) The Port is an industrial port. When you get off the ship, all thats there is a very small straw market, a bar and a gift shop. I only read this morning that there is a restaurant nearby where they feed sharks. But have no informatin about that. The big straw markets, shops, casino, and beach are at Lucaya. That's about a $5.00 shuttle ride, about 15 minutes.

 

2) Only there once for the day, hopefully others will chime in. We went to Atlantis to gamble. You don't need to buy any kind of pass or tour to get in and poke around. There is a pretty good sized area of the aquarium that you can view for free. Plenty of UP-Scale shopping too. Bay street is about 2 blocks from where the ship docks, and is loaded with all kinds of shops. The Straw market is near-by. It was closed for renovation in April, hopefully someone will chime in with current info about that.

 

My review can be found through the link in my signature. At the bottom of my review, you'll see some links to Port reviews.

 

I loved the SKY, hope you do too!

 

Did you snorkel through NCL or did you find it on your own? We're a group of 12 and we're thinking of heading to Sheraton Beach for snorkeling and jet skiing, but not sure if we need to pre-arrange.

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