What to do in Nassau w/3 yo & 6 yo?

[mmouse09]

Does anyone have advice on what to do in Nassau? We have thought about Atlantis but it seems like a lot of $ for just a few hours. We have a 3 year old and 6 year old. Are there any good, safe beaches? Other thoughts?

 

[kcashner]

Stay on the ship. Seriously, you can enjoy it while others are traipsing around the island.

That said, Cabbage beach is free, public, and a very short cab ride from the port area (it's only a 15-20 minute adult walk, but too far with little kids). Personally, I do not care for Nassau, and would strongly recommend enjoying the ship.

 

[kristinanderic]

Does anyone have advice on what to do in Nassau? We have thought about Atlantis but it seems like a lot of $ for just a few hours. We have a 3 year old and 6 year old. Are there any good, safe beaches? Other thoughts?

I would like to know too since we will have a 3 and 5 year old. We WANT to get off the ship since we have never been out of the US.

 

[Suz D]

We don't LOVE Nassau, but we always get off the ship for about an hour. We've been cruising since our oldest was 10 and our youngest 3. Now they are 4 and 15. We just walk around in the area close to the port, do a little shopping etc. We visited the straw market twice but it's very crowded, hectic, and lots of pushy salespeople. Really, we had just a nice time visiting with people in the stores etc. Then we got back on the ship for lunch and a relaxing afternoon onboard.

 

[dorkeemn]

In 2009 (last time we were in Nassau) we did a private beach excursion - (3 kids - 12,10,6) and DW + myself. That wasn't too bad - and being a private beach - there aren't any pushy peddlers around -

The beach is about 15-20 minutes from the ship via boat - the walk to the boat dock is about 10 minutes w/kiddos.

Only bad things about it are:
1) it is an excursion - so there is a cost
2) being an excursion - it comes and goes on a set time. not like a public beach where if the kids get tired you can pop right back to the ship.
3) the trip out and back - you go by some scenery that I think the tourism bureau for Nassau would rather you not see - including a dump, a couple of buildings wrecked by a hurricane and an abandoned aquarium.

Dave

 

[ssanders79]

We treat it as a day at sea and enjoy the ship with less people.

 

[RadioFanatic]

we have a two year old and did the atlantis beach day. We weren't very impressed. first, the beach had a TON of peddlers which I didn't expect bc I thought it was a private beach. Also, no one told me that a stroller would be a hindrance and not a help - tons of stairs with no access to ramps/elevators to compensate. I was exhausted at the end of the day from carrying it. The lunch wasn't bad though (try the conch fritters!) and the drinks were as expensive as I was expecting ($9-11).

 

[mousejunkie98]

We're headed there in May with a 4-year-old and a 7-year-old, and we're thinking of going to Blue Lagoon Island instead. You can book excursions there through Disney, or you can book directly with Blue Lagoon Island for a bit less $$. They have a very reasonably priced Beach Day; we're planning on doing the Dolphin Encounter, which kids as young as 3 can do. My boys are thrilled that they'll get to hug and pet a dolphin! It's much cheaper than the Dolphin Swim, which you have to be at least 6 to do.

 

[mom2faith]

Stay on the ship. Seriously.

The marketplace is so aggressive it was scary to take a 6yo.

We went back to the ship and enjoyed a nearly empty ship. It was great!

 

[FreeTime]

I would stay on the ship, but if you must get off here are my suggestions.

Leave the kids on the ship. Let the kids club know that you will be leaving the ship and they will take extra care if your kids want daddy or mommy to distract them. Let them know (the club and your kids) how long you will be gone. Walk around the shops or take a cab to Atlantis and walk around the resort. My kids were terrified of the cab ride (2 cabbies got in a fight over whose rates were the cheapest and tried to steal customers) and I hated it when peddlers ran up and threw necklaces around our kids necks then stuck out their hands for cash.

If you take the kids, walk to the shops, avoid the straw market. Go to a private beach.

 

[mkmommy]

Take a taxi to Ardastra Gardens, it is a small zoo, you can feed the Lory parrots, kids really enjoy the Dancing Flamingo shows.

 

[Mommb]

Take a taxi to Ardastra Gardens, it is a small zoo, you can feed the Lory parrots, kids really enjoy the Dancing Flamingo shows.

I agree that Ardastra Gardens would be fun for kids to visit, especially if you don't get to zoos much. The flamingo show was very cute. We did the Ardastra Gardens and Island Tour excursion, but I doubt young kids would get much out of the tour (my 6 year old fell asleep on the bus). Next time we may just take a cab to Ardastra Gardens.

 

[CherylSue]

We just got back form our first cruise a couple of weeks ago with our DD13. We wanted to get off in Nassau...just for the heck of it. The people there can be pushy but everyone we encountered left us alone after we said "no thank you".

We strolled around the shops close to the pier...but quickly got bored so we returned to the "welcome center" and decided to haggle a taxi. Now, we are NOT seasoned travelers. Our experience overseas has been in Germany where both my husband and I grew up as "army brats" LOL.....so the thought of haggling a taxi made me NERVOUS!

Anyway, we found the GREATEST taxi driver EVER! His name is Charles Hamilton......we got a fair of $15pp that included taking us to Atlantis....Cabbage Beach......The Queen's Staircase......and Fort Fincastle. We rode with another family (it was a van) and this driver paid the bridge toll, opened the doors for us, assisted the other mother with her two small children.....he even gave all the kids Bahamian dollars to take home so they will always remember their trip in "Charlie's Van". This guy was great! He gave us a business card because I wanted to spread the word about this great guy.

At the end of our little tour (about 2 hrs) he took us back to the port and we all loved him so much we exchanged hugs and took pictures with him.....great guy.

My point is....if you decide to get off the ship and want to haggle a taxi...ask around for Charles Hamilton, and no matter what he says he's gonna charge you, you can get him down to $15pp

 

[GoofItUp]

We took a horse and carriage ride around town. It was right outside of where you get off the ship. Then we strolled around and looked at a few of the shops before returning to the ship. We had a 3 yo with us at the time and it worked out fine.

 

[mmouse09]

Well....it is a very hard decision. My husband and I visited Atlantis last year on a cruise and thought our kids would love the waterpark and beach.

I did check out the other excursions (private beach, etc.) but by the time we pay for them, we could afford a room at the Comfort Suites ($220) with full access to Atlantis.

I just can't decide.....Atlantis or stay on the ship.....

 

[5lilfish]

I agree that Ardastra Gardens would be fun for kids to visit, especially if you don't get to zoos much. The flamingo show was very cute. We did the Ardastra Gardens and Island Tour excursion, but I doubt young kids would get much out of the tour (my 6 year old fell asleep on the bus). Next time we may just take a cab to Ardastra Gardens.

I agree too. This is what I would recommend. We went, about 6 yrs ago, when my oldest 3 kids were in this age bracket. We just took a cab over and did it on our own. No problem! We are planning on going again now that our twins are 3.

Jess

 

[grimgrinnin]

We don't LOVE Nassau, but we always get off the ship for about an hour. We've been cruising since our oldest was 10 and our youngest 3. Now they are 4 and 15.

I'm pretty good at math, but this one's got me stumped

 

[mammacaryn]

Our kids were 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 on their first cruise.

We went to Cabbage beach. Free beach-quick (but very packed) cab ride. We went to this beach when we were on our honeymoon too. (This is NOT listed on excursions, find a cab going to Atlantis and tell them you want to go to Cabbage Beach, they will drop you at the top of the hill that goes down to the beach, always cabs waiting there when you are done as well )

Beautiful beach, nice water. There are locals there that sell stuff---not that big of a deal though unless you make it one, they will leave you alone eventually.

Cheap, Strong Rum drinks.



DON"T TAKE YOUR KIDS TO STRAW MARKET. Crowded, Pushy.
You can get some decent deals but leave the kids with someone on the ship. My husband and kids went back to the ship, I went shopping by myself.

 

[5lilfish]

Stay on the ship. Seriously, you can enjoy it while others are traipsing around the island.

That said, Cabbage beach is free, public, and a very short cab ride from the port area (it's only a 15-20 minute adult walk, but too far with little kids). Personally, I do not care for Nassau, and would strongly recommend enjoying the ship.

I do agree with you and about 90% of the time we stay on the ship...BUT, for a family going there for the first time, and/or only time, I do recommend getting off the ship. Even if you only take the 10 minute walk down to the straw market and are only on the island for an hour. Nassau will never be our favorite port, it is still an opportunity to show your family a different country/culture and seek out new experiences.

Jess