Visiting Atlantis for the day?

[sbgold10]

Hello, I'm taking my daughter on the Majesty of the Seas 11/13, it's our first cruise. How do I go about arranging to go to Atlantis for the day. And what is the cost.

[Merion_Mom]

First of all, sbgold, welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

You will find this message board to be a treasury of information about cruising.

 

The Majesty will offer a ship's excursion to Atlantis: DO NOT DO THIS.

 

When you disembark in Nassau, you will pass through a building and into Nassau. As you exit the building, there will be a line of cabs, mostly vans. Go up to a van (actually, the drivers will approach YOU) and tell the driver that you want to go to Atlantis. He will drive you to the front door.

 

Go through the lobby and out the back (there will be signs, "To The Dig"). You will reach a place to buy tickets. Each adult pays $29 - I don't know the kids' price, but it's probably on Atlantis' website.

 

I forget how much the cab is, but someone else will chime in. $5 per person, maybe? You should tip your driver, too.

 

When you have finished everything you want to do at Atlantis, just go back to the main entrance and there will be many cabs/vans waiting to take you back to the ship.

 

Just be clear about which is your ship. :)

[Host Karen]

sbgold10, welcome to CruiseCritic.com. Mom is correct -- you'll find plenty of terrific information on these boards.

 

I just wanted to let you know I changed the title of your thread to reflect your question. Using your member name as the title of your thread may result in less answers to your question. Just a hint for next time!

 

Have a great cruise!

[RArnold7769]

I also agree with MerionMom, there's plenty of transportation avail to get to Atlantis, no need to wait around for everyone else, just hop in a cab and go on your way. Make sure you visit the aquarium with your daughter, there's so much to see. Last year we were in Nassau and we utilized the beach next to Atlantis which is open to the public, the water was so rough and choppy my daughter who was 6 at the time had a hard time standing up in the water, so we went back to the ship and enjoyed all the access to everything while lots of other folks were out and about.

[xyson]

It's actually not that far to walk to Atlantis. Just grab a city map, readily available as you exit the ship, and head out. If I remember correctly, the walk is only about 1.5 miles.

 

For swimming, we headed over to Cable Beach in the afternoon. For this we grabbed a cab.

 

Then we walked around the city streets, located by the terminal. That was probably the best part of the day.

 

bill

[sherlynn]

I'm wondering about Atantis too. Why not the cruise excursion? Is it not the same as touring on your own? Is the Dig the aquarium? Do you know if there were watersports ie jetski's at the public beach beside Atlantis?

[mhnh1309]

There is more to the Atlantis than the dig. It depends on what you want to do. We booked a room at The Comfort Inn and Suites. Took a cab from the port over, and the hotel has a relationship with The Atlantis. You would get wrist bands for the number of guests you booked the room for. These wrist bands would entitle you to complete use of the Atlantis facilities, including use of the pools, water slides, and free entrance into the dig. We did this last year and had a blast!!!

[dachshunddoglover]

Do not walk to Atlantis, especially with children. It is more than 1.5 miles. As others stated - you can go to the aquarium (The Dig) and walk around the shops and go to the casino. It is cheaper to get a cab and do this on your own than through the ship. But- you can not use Atlantis beach, water slides, pools etc. unless you are a guest of Atlantis or Comfort Suites. We will be in Nassau on October 18th. aboard Sov. of the Seas. We booked a "fall terrace" special rate of 179.00 at Atlantis for the day. If you have 4 people, it's not a bad deal. If you have 2 people it is more exspensive for just 2. The rate at Comfort Suites was more for that day. Check both. Atlantis is spectacular! We love it! Hope that answers some questions. Just let me know if you have any others. We have done this trip several times. ebethdunlap@bellsouth.net

[Glaciers]

If you can, get a room at the hotel or at the Comfort as doglover indicated. The Dig is very neat but if you want access to the slides and pools you'll need to fork over some bucks for a room that you'll not be using much. We did it last year and will do it again, just for the slides if nothing else.

[Stacylee]

My DS (14)and I did the 4 night Majesty and were in Nassau until 11 or 12 midnight I think.

We did Ardastra Gardens (and zoo during the day) and took a cab over to Atlantis after dinner. We walked around and got into the Digs for free...shhhhhhh. We just walked in - this was around 7:30 or 8 pm. I spent 1.00 there - .75 for a postcard and .25 for the slots!!

 

The only way to use the facilities is to get the room (rather expensive for the pool). We really enjoyed our free tour!

[momtwice1120]

Hello, I'm taking my daughter on the Majesty of the Seas 11/13, it's our first cruise. How do I go about arranging to go to Atlantis for the day. And what is the cost.

 

Just came back from there July 28th. We found a wonderful tour guide, named Felton Cox. He approached us when coming through the dock. He had an air conditioned brand new Toyota Van. TOok us around the island, and over to Atlantis. Very knowledgeable. Charged $25 p/ person. I believe round-trip cab ride is $8 per person, plus $29 charge to get into the underwater aquarium of Atlantis. Not worth taking the shore excursion from RCCL. Have fun.

[Pumbaamd]

We stayed at the Atlantis on our honeymoon when it was Merv Griffin's Resorts International. It's been a while since we've been back to Nassau. The last few times we were there you could take a water taxi or small boat to Atlantis from the cruise ship dock for only a few dollars. Much more fun than a taxi ride.

[dak_friendly]

We stayed at the Atlantis on our honeymoon when it was Merv Griffin's Resorts International. It's been a while since we've been back to Nassau. The last few times we were there you could take a water taxi or small boat to Atlantis from the cruise ship dock for only a few dollars. Much more fun than a taxi ride.

 

I've gone this route. It's only a few dollars and you get the fun of going via boat versus possible traffic. Makes things a little unique. There's still a walk from where the ferry drops you off.

 

I spent the time walking the grounds and going through "The Digg". The numerous swimming facilities did look great though. As far as being able to swim, I'd research getting the wristbands by "staying" at a nearby hotel like others have stated.

[tcgary]

We took a taxi to the beach next to the Atlantis and we just did our own tour. We walked up from the beach and walked all through the Atlantis We walked right into the under ground Aquarium. Is there another that is bigger because we did not know you had to pay and nobody said anything. We did see signs that you needed wrist bands for the pools but not until my DD and DS was allready in them. The cab was $4 each.

[trixie54]

If the ship can't make the port (which has happened to us several times) or we hit bad weather (last time we stayed at Atlantis in March it was too windy & chilly to swim) does anyone know whether Comfort Suites or Atlantis would give us a refund if we had reserved a room for the day?

[Tra4]

 

The only way to use the facilities is to get the room (rather expensive for the pool). We really enjoyed our free tour!

 

 

While it may be expensive for 2, we had a family of 4 and our room at comfort suites was 200. That made it 50pp for the digs, pools, slides and all day excursion. This was our most reasonable price the entire cruise.

[mommabean]

If the ship can't make the port (which has happened to us several times) or we hit bad weather (last time we stayed at Atlantis in March it was too windy & chilly to swim) does anyone know whether Comfort Suites or Atlantis would give us a refund if we had reserved a room for the day?

We did the comfort suites for $168 once when cruising the Majesty. I checked the weather report on the day of departure. If the weather had appeared to be an issue in the next 2 days there was time to cancel for a refund. It's unlikely that the weather would be bad all of a sudden. Usually the weather is somewhat predictable a couple of days out.

[KelJ]

This past December we had booked a room at Atlantis for our port stop in Nassau. Atlantis was running a special for either $100 or $150 for one room for a family of four, which included access to everything (swimming, etc.). We never did see our room! The aquariums are spread out all over the property, but there is one larger one called The Dig, and there is a nice gift shop there as well.

As a note, we were not permitted to use cash to purchase any food or drinks anywhere at Atlantis. Our choices were to have it billed to our room or to use a credit card.

[sbgold10]

Thanks everyone for the Atlantis tips. Have to change my plans a bit, won't be able to take baby on cruise. Ladies and gents, need your help again, what is a good cruise to do for myself and 18 yr. old. Does anyone know, which is the better ship majesty or sovereign of the seas. What is the different between the two. thanx again.

[andnickali]

It's actually not that far to walk to Atlantis. Just grab a city map, readily available as you exit the ship, and head out. If I remember correctly, the walk is only about 1.5 miles.bill

 

I know someone already said not to walk to Atlantis- but I want to second that this is NOT the stop to walk on!!!! I too had read that the walk was only about a mile- which it may be- but you are walking though a part of town that did not appear to be safe.

 

My group of 4 adults (DH, and another couple- my DH and the other DH are both police officers- so I felt we would be safe) headed out from the pier and proceeded to walk for about 20 minutes. After the third cab stopped for us we took him up on his offer and we were glad we did. We stood out like sore thumbs- locals knew we were cruise passengers and had money on us- it would have been very easy for a group of people to approach us for our money and we would have not had a chance. All 4 of us felt we were being watched from the moment we stepped out of the pier region.

 

Once over to Paradise Island we continued to walk to the public beach access- once again not safe- you walk through a secluded treed area (about 50-75 yards) where many locals (at least 25-30 men) were just hanging around. Once on the beach we were fine. Our friends bailed and went back to the ship almost as soon as we reached the beach, but we stayed and had a nice time.

 

To get back to the cabs (my DH said he was absolutely not going to walk back through the public access because he did not feel safe) we found an unguarded entrance to Atlantis and walked through the property (which is beautiful). I would get yourself a hotel room as others suggested in order to gain full access to the resort. Had I know I would have done the same on my trip.

 

I don't want to scare you about the Bahamas, but as with any foreign country, you have to be cautious. This is not the island to save money on by walking- you can plan your trip without using the ship's excursions but, stay within a larger group of tourisits.

[herb]

Hello, I'm taking my daughter on the Majesty of the Seas 11/13, it's our first cruise. How do I go about arranging to go to Atlantis for the day. And what is the cost.

 

Not quite sure now whether or not you're still going on the Majesty on 11/13, but in case your plans have not changed you can go over to the Roll Calls Forums for Royal Caribbean/ Majesty of the Seas and join us as we make our plans for the cruise. Just look for a thread "Majesty of the Seas 11/13" :)

[Lightsluvr]

Atlantis is much further than 1.5 miles from the port...unless you can walk on water. Then there is that bridge over to Paradise Island which would be quite a climb. Best to catch a cab as a previous poster recommended. There are plenty of taxis at both the port and Atlanits. After touring the Dig, we caught a taxi at the Atlantis front door and asked our driver to give us the "$20 tour" of Nassau before returning us to the ship. She was very informative, and we stopped several times to take pictures. We gave her a nice tip - and we felt it was a bargain.

Just a thought.

 

LL

[sdear]

I want to second the above poster, do NOT walk to Atlantis. Downtown Naussau is fine during the day in the shopping areas, but it is not recommended to walk anywhere after dark.

 

I would never walk to Atlantis even in the day, but don't miss it, it's beautiful.

[alphakitty]

Do they still do the Atlantis Beach Break excursion? DH and I did this about 5 years ago in Nassau and we had an awesome day! It included access to all of Atlantis, except the pools and slides. You have access to the aquarium, a very beautiful clean beach with a chair and towel and all other areas of Atlantis.

 

It included a water taxi ride over to Paradise Island and back.(the prettiest way to get there, IMO).

 

It wasn't cheap, but for only 2 people was still less than the Comfort Inn route.

 

kitty

[Fiesty_Lass]

I just checked comfort suites paradise island's website. Right now through september rooms are 157.00 What a deal if you want to use the free access to Atlantis. Sovereign docks in Nassau til 1 am. so thats a nice full day!