Atlantis Tips and ask a question if you like

[Pellaz]

We'll be making a port stop in Nassau in October, BUT I've also booked a surprisingly cheap ($760 including airfare) 3-night getaway at Atlantis' Beach Towers for November. The cruise stop can be my 'advance scouting mission.' :)

We've walked through Atlantis and the casino/lobby area before, but no farther than the Royal Towers (I think). I'm assuming we'd have been stopped anyway at some point without a wristband.

 

Anyway, some questions....

 

1) Do they allow water-shirts (i.e., like surfing rashguards) on the slides at Aquaventure? I've been losing some weight, but I don't think I'll be too svelte by November and I doubt the entire resort wants to see my Buddha-belly. :D Also, would water-shoes be advisable or just a hindrance at Aquaventure?

 

2) Aside from the transit lounge mentioned earlier, is there any place to change over by Aquaventure? Are there lockers? If so, where, and roughly how much to rent one?

 

3) Someone above mentioned that burgers, etc., were $6, but on other travel review sites I've seen prices quoted at Atlantis that were closer to $12. I'd be happier with $6 unless that $12 burger is REALLY good. :)

I've read that food prices in the Marina Village area were cheaper than in Atlantis itself; is this discrepancy related to that?

 

4) Regular taxi or water taxi from the cruise pier? We used the regular road taxi before, but if the water taxi is better/quicker/less expensive for two, a change might be nice for some variety....

[MattInFLL]

Pellaz -

 

I did the water park last Thanksgiving. No issue at all for water shirts/rash guards. I wore one all day. There is a main area with lockers and changing rooms (and showers). You pay based on the size of the locker you want to rent. I cannot remember the exact prices, but want to say I paid $10 for a medium one.

 

I also wore water shoes all day. As long as they are the type that actually stay on - meaning the glove like ones as opposed to sandle type - you should be fine.

 

I definitely recommend the cab over the water taxi. Where you get dropped off for the water taxi means you still have a hike to get into Atlantis.

 

I had a burger and fries by the slides. It was fine.

[SeaWatcher65]

Pellaz -

I did the water park last Thanksgiving.........

 

How were the crowds around Thanksgiving? We will be in Nassau the day after Thanksgiving and worried about crowds and long lines at the aqua park. 5 ships in port and there's a basketball tournament at Atlantis that weekend so occupancy is high. Thanks.

[bubba74]

How were the crowds around Thanksgiving? We will be in Nassau the day after Thanksgiving and worried about crowds and long lines at the aqua park. 5 ships in port and there's a basketball tournament at Atlantis that weekend so occupancy is high. Thanks.

 

I think you've answered your own question.

[MattInFLL]

There were 15-20 minute lines for the "big" slides. Lazy River was no problem (and my favorite thing). It's definitely a crowded weekend, and sounds like yours will be even a little more crowded.

[Pellaz]

Pellaz -

 

I did the water park last Thanksgiving. No issue at all for water shirts/rash guards. I wore one all day. There is a main area with lockers and changing rooms (and showers). You pay based on the size of the locker you want to rent. I cannot remember the exact prices, but want to say I paid $10 for a medium one.

 

$10 is reasonable. Cheaper than Whitewater Park here in Atlanta, in fact.

 

I also wore water shoes all day. As long as they are the type that actually stay on - meaning the glove like ones as opposed to sandle type - you should be fine.

 

Cool, that's what I have.

 

I definitely recommend the cab over the water taxi. Where you get dropped off for the water taxi means you still have a hike to get into Atlantis.

 

This might be a moot point now, since I read in a different thread that Atlantis no longer allows you to wander anywhere past the casino without a wristband. So, we probably won't go there during our port-stop. (So much for my advance scouting mission....)

 

I had a burger and fries by the slides. It was fine.

 

About how much was it?

[SeaWatcher65]

There were 15-20 minute lines for the "big" slides. Lazy River was no problem (and my favorite thing). It's definitely a crowded weekend, and sounds like yours will be even a little more crowded.

 

Thanks. The lazy river (with the rapids) is for us. We are not into the giant slides but that looks like fun.

[MattInFLL]

Pellaz - the meal was included in our pass, and I did not look at prices. I'm not sure what you mean about not being allowed past the casino without a wristband? If you are talking about walking on the "grounds" - that has always been true. If you are talking about the lobby area, I dont think that is the case at all. But at any rate, if you have an aquapark pass, you are basically going to be able to go most anywhere you want to go.

 

SeaWatcher65 - for the lazy river, there is one main pick up/drop off area to get into the river. I have heard that it can be a wait for an inner tube on crowded days. (But I did not have any trouble on Thanksgiving weekend.) However, there are several points around it where you can get in and get out, so if that happens, I recommend taking a walk around to the next entry point - they are less well known.

[Pellaz]

Pellaz - the meal was included in our pass, and I did not look at prices.

 

Aha, got it.

 

I'm not sure what you mean about not being allowed past the casino without a wristband? If you are talking about walking on the "grounds" - that has always been true. If you are talking about the lobby area, I dont think that is the case at all.

 

I read in another thread recently that visitors to Atlantis are no longer allowed past the lobby and the casino. In the past, we were allowed to go further into the Royal Towers, past the windows looking into The Dig (aquarium), look up at the giant pretty dome, etc.

 

But at any rate, if you have an aquapark pass, you are basically going to be able to go most anywhere you want to go.

 

Yes, that will be the case for me in November, but not for our upcoming cruise in about two weeks.

[starfish the second]

we wil be going to nassua nov 28 are the slide and lazy river temp cold? do you know the water temp of the lazy river?

[AJI2596]

Thanks for the advice! I just booked the Comfort Inn for May and saved $220!

 

Can I check in and check out at the same time? Or after Atlantis do we have to go check back out? Thanks:)

[AJI2596]

Ugh... I just realized check in is 3? Do you have to wait until 3 since I'm not even really using the room?

[mjkacmom]

Ugh... I just realized check in is 3? Do you have to wait until 3 since I'm not even really using the room?

 

No - you can even check out when you check in.

[tikib]

Ugh... I just realized check in is 3? Do you have to wait until 3 since I'm not even really using the room?

 

You can check in at any time, you just won't be assigned a room until 3pm.

They will give you are card to take to Atlantis for your wristbands.

Everyone must be present both at CS and Atlantis to get their wristbands.

 

You can check out at the same time, but then you won't be able to use your room to charge things. You'll need a credit card for lunch, snacks etc.

 

You can pick up passes after 8:30am/ Pools open at 9am/ waterpark at 10am

[Nicole_31555]

Can anyone tell me if this RUMOR is true...... After 5pm you can just walk into the Atlantis and see the aquarium for FREE????:confused:

[tikib]

Can anyone tell me if this RUMOR is true...... After 5pm you can just walk into the Atlantis and see the aquarium for FREE????:confused:

 

After 6pm security is gone, and people wander into the DIGS aquarium without a pass.

Technically, it's not open to the public, but there is usually no one there to stop you.

[mattmdv]

Hi!!

Thanks for your thread, and I have 2 questions.

We just got off the Fantasy, and were considering spending some time at Atlantis, mainly to play some casino and just look around.

Wife went a a shore talk and was told 2 things that changed her/our minds:

1. Casino only accepts credit or debit cards to play the games, No Cash.

2. Does bottled water cost $12.00 per bottle.

 

This was a briefing by the CD. We did walk around Nassau and asked several locals, as far as they all knew, (As they are not allowed to use the casino), the casino does except cash.

 

Thank YOU!!!

Matt

[ctrinco]

Can anyone advise what there is to do after 5pm when the pools, etc. close? Our ship is in port until midnight…so if we are going to buy day passes I'd like to stay. What else will we be able to do (we have 2 kids with us…are they allowed in the casino?)

[Pellaz]

Can anyone advise what there is to do after 5pm when the pools, etc. close? Our ship is in port until midnight…so if we are going to buy day passes I'd like to stay. What else will we be able to do

 

After the water park and pools close, just jump up and enjoy the beach instead until sunset if you want. (You WILL be asked if you want to rent a jet-ski. Just Say No.)

 

You can also go to The Dig. As far as I could tell the entrances were not closed until much later (if at all), but a lot of the in-display lighting is turned off after a certain hour...I think around 7 or 8 pm, so best to get there earlier.

 

The grounds themselves, including the rope-swing, the Predators Walk (accessed via stairs inside the round Lagoon Bar), etc., remain open after the waterpark is closed.

 

You can also enjoy one of the varied overpriced restaurants on the Atlantis property (oh, boy, $56/pp for the dinner buffet).......OR go to some less-expensive options:

• the Marina Pizzeria, technically part of Atlantis itself, has very good, quite big slices of pizza for $6 or so. I really liked the chicken-and-vegetable slice!
  
• Quizno's in Marina Village, which charges about the same prices as they charge in the States
  
• Johnny Rocket's, also in Marina Village, which is pricier than Quizno's but a lot cheaper than, say, $56/pp at the buffet.
  

 

The Marina Village itself was a fun place to hang out at night. There were some good island steel-band performers there one night, and some people had brought a bunch of hand-drums for visitors to play with on another night. Plus, you can look at all the nice yachts and wish you could afford one.....

 

(we have 2 kids with us…are they allowed in the casino?)

 

They are allowed to pass through, in fact there's no other indoor route between the Royal Towers and the Beach Tower, but they are not supposed to linger. I think there's signage to that effect.

[Sarah7683]

I've been wanting to go to Atlantis for years and thanks to a very understanding and agreeable fiancee, we're headed on a Bahamas cruise for our honeymoon on July 5th. We have a full day in Nassau on July 8th, and they just posted the Atlantis excursion for our cruise...$350 for both of us!

 

My question is, should I book through the cruise line or just hope for the best day of? Additionally, we've got a honeymoon registry set up (basically we just get cash which transfers into onboard credit), but is it likely this will sell out before we even leave?

 

I'm a first time cruiser too, so I'm totally lost. What do you experts recommend?

 

Thanks,

 

Sarah :confused:

[Pellaz]

$350 for two isn't too bad if you can make a full day of it at Atlantis. (I'd seen prices like $229/pp from Carnival for their full Aquaventure Experience excursion.) Note that if the weather is rainy, AquaVenture will remain open. If it's thundering, the attractions will close and you get no refunds.

 

You might want to check if it's cheaper to visit Atlantis through the Comfort Suites on Paradise Island. They have a deal whereby their hotel guests enjoy full access to Atlantis, and they make a tidy profit by "renting" rooms to cruise-ship passengers so that you can visit the resort. (You can even visit your room, although many of their bookings are check-in/get Atlantis passes/check-out, all in the same visit.)

The Comfort Suites is within walking distance of Atlantis on Paradise Island.