Need advice for E.Carib excursions

[Lefty888]

instead of what you would recommend, what would you NOT do again and why? This might help me decide.

 

Is Atlantis worth it? I see it's $49 for a tour. That's a bit pricey for not being able to use the beach or pool!!

[KtBarker]

I wouldn't spend $49 to go to Atlantis. That being said I spent 4 days down there back in November. If you want to see Atlantis, take a Taxi to 'Paradise Island' to go to the beach. Where the taxi driver drops you off is just outside Atlantis beach property. (I think the taxi cost us $5pp) When we were done at the beach, we just walked through the Atlantis property and picked a taxi up outside the Royal Towers (Main hotel that has the castle like look).

 

I believe the one benefit to the tour is going through "The Dig". I wasn't overly impressed with the Dig. Seeing the outside landscape would be enough for me.

 

Another thing to consider (depending on how long you are there) would be to book a room at Atlantis... we used a discount online site when we went and got the room for under $200 a night. You can put a max of 4 people in a room, and rooms are based on total $$$ not PP. I think there may be a resort fee of like $15pp, but that is common down in Nassau.

[Djptcp]

I agree -- I would not pay $49 for an excursion to Atlantis! DH and I have taken a large van taxi at the port (cheap) to go to the Atlantis casino. We have walked around the property before and it's very nice, but not as an excursion. We noticed people being herded around the place. Save your money and do something else, or just go to the Atlantis by yourselves.

 

Carnival - 1995, 1998, 2006, 2006, 2007, 2007

Holland America - 2004, 2006

NCL - 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003

Royal Caribbean - 2002

[crusinmama06]

Excursion to Atlantis...NO...booking a room at Atlantis....YES :D

 

But that is if you are staying in Nassau overnight and I am assuming you aren't.

 

It was kind of funny cause as we were running through the grounds to get to the one water slide we happened upon the "dig"....everyone was lined up from the cruise ship and they did look like herded cattle. So my kids and I went through the dig and they pretty much said "that's nice now where's the next water slide" :)

 

We get off the ship, take the water taxi ($3 per person) to Paradise Island. From there we went to Atlantis for the day (as guests, we pay $199 - $282 for a fam of 4...pending on the time of year). BUT, you can get to Cabbage Beach from there too. I guess it's a short walk to cabbage beach.

 

OR you can get a room at the Comfort Inn Paradise Island. They ALSO allow you to use the facilities at Atlantis.

[ohmslaw]

We took a taxi to the Atlantis, as said previously $5pp. They have a nice aquarium in the hotel. Save the excersion money and use it on that.

[Lefty888]

thanks! I'd love to see Atlantis, but we are only in Nassau from 7-2pm..:(

 

I guess because I've never been, I feel better staying with a group..and I can't picture how to get taxis to where we want to go. If we walked around the Atlantis property--how would they know we aren't staying there and find our way to the beach..

 

dumb question, (b/c i haven't researched it yet) but is Paradise Island actually an island off Nassau? Is the straw market right off the port? I have a friend who said to stay away from that area because of the locals...I know of people who love the local people--but she had a bad experience with some guys trying to sell her 14 year old daughter joints or something.. ??

[ozgirl96]

My sister and I (both skinny, under 30, white girls) got a taxi with no problem and went to Atlantis. We wandered around a little but...but couldn't get into the Dig... it really wasn't that exciting. They did have a nice casino...so we did that a little. I think I remember the Atlantis guests having the plastic hospital bracelets on, so it was obvious we were outsiders. We then took a taxi back to the port and walked around ... sat at Senor Frogs and had 11am foot long pina coladas... walked through the straw market... then walked back to the ship at 1230 ish. Remember you have to be back on ship half hour or an hour before sailing...so it's even less time than you think. Frankly, Nassau was rather blah...the first site off the ship was a Starbucks... how tropical/islandy is that???

[winnifredmae]

My DH and I did the Atlantis Excursion last year. It's not worth the money, not exciting to us....we were bored after a while.:( If you want to see Atlantis, take a cab and do a self guided tour.

[crusinmama06]

thanks! I'd love to see Atlantis, but we are only in Nassau from 7-2pm..

 

I guess because I've never been, I feel better staying with a group..and I can't picture how to get taxis to where we want to go. If we walked around the Atlantis property--how would they know we aren't staying there and find our way to the beach..

 

dumb question, (b/c i haven't researched it yet) but is Paradise Island actually an island off Nassau? Is the straw market right off the port? I have a friend who said to stay away from that area because of the locals...I know of people who love the local people--but she had a bad experience with some guys trying to sell her 14 year old daughter joints or something.. ??

 

I traveled ALONE with my 2 kids (ages 2 and 6 at the time, hubby had to work) so if I can do it, YOU can do it.

 

I thought I would have a VERY hard time getting to the water taxi but it is REALLY easy. You literally get off the ship, walk down the dock and the first building you come to is the market. Inside there is a huge info desk where they sell tickets. One of the tickets ($3 pp) is a water taxi to Paradise Island. You just buy your ticket...wait for the guide to lead you out to the boat and get onboard. We got to hear all about who owned what mansion along the way . And when you dock at Paradise Island, they tell you to just walk one block and cross the street. You can't miss it.

 

And guests get bracelets and they DO check. You can see the bracelet on my oldest's wrist...

 

[Lefty888]

cute kids! so we can use the pool with a self guided tour? where are the waterslides? The bracelet is for the water taxi, right??

[crusinmama06]

cute kids! so we can use the pool with a self guided tour? where are the waterslides? The bracelet is for the water taxi, right??

 

Nooooooo, sorry for the confusion. You can not use the pool, water slides, access the beach if you are not a guest. THAT's what the bracelets are for. They let the hotel know who are guests and who aren't. You get them when you check in. And there is security posted at different points of the grounds who check for the bracelets.

 

So if you did a "self guided tour" the only access you would have is to the shops and casino.

 

That's what I am saying. If you are only staying for the day, then it won't be worth it to pay the money for a room. Just get the water taxi and take it to Cabbage Beach...ALSO on paradise island and it's a short walk past Atlantis.