Atlantis...pls help me decide..

[rsjj]

Hello disboards family! Getting ready to book our excursions for our upcoming cruise...and I'm trying to see if we should do Atlantis...any thoughts/experiences/suggestions/etc. greatly appreciated!! We are family of 4...w/2 ds's 16 & 13.

Tia!!

 

[starvenger]

We were talking about alternatives to Atlantis on this thread: http://www.disboards.com/threads/going-to-the-sheraton-for-the-day-in-nassau.3402479/

My understanding is that you might be able to book a room for a day at the Comfort Suites Paradise Island and gain access to the Atlantis, but I did not try that myself.

 

[rsjj]

We were talking about alternatives to Atlantis on this thread: http://www.disboards.com/threads/going-to-the-sheraton-for-the-day-in-nassau.3402479/

My understanding is that you might be able to book a room for a day at the Comfort Suites Paradise Island and gain access to the Atlantis, but I did not try that myself.

Thank you for directing me there! Will look into it.

Anyone else have any experiences/thoughts they'd like to share, pls do!!!

 

[icesk8abc]

One thing to consider when making your decision is how crowded the port will be the day you are there. More ship=more people on excursions there. This could mean longer lines. For our cruise in December there are 6 ships scheduled in port. This is not to say you shouldn't go if it is going to be a busy day, just that you might want to be aware.

The site below has been accurate for me on each of my cruises. Just find and click on the date you will be in Nassau.

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises-to-nassau-bahamas.html#calendar

 

[Bill B.]

My wife and I really enjoyed the Atlantis tour which takes you all through the resort and the I think what they call the ruins where you go through the underwater tunnel.

We also did the Ardastra Gardens and City Tour the following year. We both were kind of disappointed in that. Atlantis tour was much better.

 

[rsjj]

One thing to consider when making your decision is how crowded the port will be the day you are there. More ship=more people on excursions there. This could mean longer lines. For our cruise in December there are 6 ships scheduled in port. This is not to say you shouldn't go if it is going to be a busy day, just that you might want to be aware.

The site below has been accurate for me on each of my cruises. Just find and click on the date you will be in Nassau.

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises-to-nassau-bahamas.html#calendar

Thanx!! It says 3 ships on the day we will be there..half of your day. Doesn't seem like much...or is it? We were just going to do the tour, not the aqua park thing (aqua venture?), so I wouldn't think there'd be a line, except maybe the crowds?

My wife and I really enjoyed the Atlantis tour which takes you all through the resort and the I think what they call the ruins where you go through the underwater tunnel.

We also did the Ardastra Gardens and City Tour the following year. We both were kind of disappointed in that. Atlantis tour was much better.

Did you do the guided tour? If I may ask...did you feel stressed about getting back on the ship in time? Was it an all day kinda thing? Or just half day? I'm trying to figure out if I should plan something else on top of that..or not..

Again thank you for helping!!!

 

[MelSpees]

If it's a Disney excursion you don't need to worry about getting back on time. They will get you back in time. If they can't for some reason, they will hold the ship for you.

 

[rsjj]

Oh...can you do Atlantis on your own? I was looking at the dcl excursions...but it says you just ride the bus on your own back after you explore the place on your own. I was wondering if the place was huge that you'd need time to explore. Or pretty small that it just takes maybe 2 hrs max..including their guided tour.

 

[Dug720]

Hello disboards family! Getting ready to book our excursions for our upcoming cruise...and I'm trying to see if we should do Atlantis...any thoughts/experiences/suggestions/etc. greatly appreciated!! We are family of 4...w/2 ds's 16 & 13.

Tia!!

Atlantis holds ZERO appeal for me. I did the Catamaran Sail and Snorkel and LOVED it!

 

[rsjj]

Atlantis holds ZERO appeal for me. I did the Catamaran Sail and Snorkel and LOVED it!

Thanx! Unfortunately, dh isn't fond of water (who doesn't like the water? I know!!)..so snorkeling and water type excursions are out of the questions for us...

If water is contained w/in a wall..like in an aquarium (which is what I envision Atlantis to be like..it's doable...

Maybe I'm envisioning Atlantis to be something else? I was under the impression that it is like a big aquarium w/various sea creatures, along w/some shopping and a casino? Am I wrong? Like a leisure stroll type activity?

 

[Starwind]

Thanx! Unfortunately, dh isn't fond of water (who doesn't like the water? I know!!)..so snorkeling and water type excursions are out of the questions for us...

If water is contained w/in a wall..like in an aquarium (which is what I envision Atlantis to be like..it's doable...

Maybe I'm envisioning Atlantis to be something else? I was under the impression that it is like a big aquarium w/various sea creatures, along w/some shopping and a casino? Am I wrong? Like a leisure stroll type activity?

It is more than that. There is a casino, water park, dolphin cay, beaches, water sports, marine habitat, and more.

Their official website has lots of info about what the resort has, including maps:

http://www.atlantisbahamas.com/

 

[Bill B.]

Did you do the guided tour? If I may ask...did you feel stressed about getting back on the ship in time? Was it an all day kinda thing? Or just half day? I'm trying to figure out if I should plan something else on top of that..or not..

Again thank you for helping!!!

Yes, we did the guided tour. I would recommend it because if you don't know where you are going you can get lost in that place real easily. I don't think you will have time to do more than one adventure.

 

[rsjj]

It is more than that. There is a casino, water park, dolphin cay, beaches, water sports, marine habitat, and more.

Their official website has lots of info about what the resort has, including maps:

http://www.atlantisbahamas.com/

Thanx!! Yes..I understand the resort itself is huge w/many various activities. But the Atlantis excursion thru dcl (the guided tour one is the one we were looking at specifically, not the aqua adventure (water park) or the dolphin one), it's limited to the marine habitat (aquarium?) and roaming thru the resort, correct? I understand (at least from what I've read) that we can't even go on the beach there...?

 

[rsjj]

Yes, we did the guided tour. I would recommend it because if you don't know where you are going you can get lost in that place real easily. I don't think you will have time to do more than one adventure.

Thank you! So you stayed after the tour to check things out on your own for several more hours before heading back to the ship? I know you mentioned it was you and your wife...but do you recall seeing children on your tour? Specifically, teenagers? In your opinion, would teenagers enjoy this? Again, thank you for taking the time..


And thank you to all who took the time to respond to this...it is much appreciated!!!

 

[golfdad]

We are looking to do the tour of the resort as well. Do you get time to do other things by yourself or are you with a tour guide the whole time?

 

[Bill B.]

After the tour you're free to roam the resort or the mall area and shop. I don't know about teens today but back when I was a teen I would have loved to have done this tour.

I hate to sound cheap but I would take a snack with you to hold you over until you get back onboard. We had a Philly cheese steak w/fries each and it came to $47. I was kind of shocked at that.

 

[My2litteprincesses]

Husband & I have been many years ago by ourselves & explored it on our own. Very cool place. We are going back with kids this May and doing Atlantis aquarium & beach day. I think it will be a great day!

 

[Joel0917]

just did this on the wonder. good thing is we were in port at 7am. We checked into comfort suits at 845...taxi was $25 for 4 of us..right off the boat.
over ot ATlatnis for the 9am pool and slides open.

the place is huge. We stayed til 230 and still didn't do anything. Food is expensive as are drinks. so bring or plan to spend. no cash. CC only really.

WE then cabbed it back for like $15 back to piere and onthe boat by 3pm.

my kids were 6 and 10 and had a blast. yours would too!!!
tons of slides...awesome lazy/rapid rivers!!!

 

[Four Swampers]

I strongly recommend getting a room at Comfort Suites, which you will never see, then spending the day at Atlantis. Much, much cheaper than DCL, and very easy to get there and back by cab:

Typically, the least expensive way to visit Atlantis is to book a room that you will never use at the Comfort Suites, across the street from Atlantis. They have full use of the waterparks and charging at Atlantis, and you can often get a room there for around $200 for a family of four.

For example, someone sailing a four night Bahamas cruise on the Dream that departs Port Canaveral 8/3/14 and visits Nassau on 8/4/14 would book a room at TheComfortSuites for 8/4/14. You would tell theComfortSuites that you will arrive on 8/4/14 and depart 8/5/14. Of course, you will actually depart in the afternoon of 8/4/14, but they don't care.

On 8/4/14, wake up, eat breakfast, and take a cab to theComfortSuites. Do NOT take a water taxi. While slightly fun, they wait for the ship to fill, so you get to waste 20 or 30 minutes, all the while breathing in diesel fumes, while they fill the boat. Take a taxi to theComfortSuites.

Check in at Comfort Suites. Your room is not ready, but it does not matter, as you will never use it. Get your wrist bands, and then head over toAtlantis, easy walking distance. (I can't remember if you get your bands at Comfort Suites or take a paper from Comfort Suites to Atlantis and get your bands there, but it doesn't matter, the Comfort Suites receptionist will guide you through it.)

Enjoy Atlantis. Tour the grounds, use all the slides, charge a bunch of food and drink back to your account at The Comfort Suites using your wristband.

When you are sunburnt and tired, grab a cab and go back to the ship. As the ship sails away, look at your family and smile about all the great times you had today. Your food and drink will be added to your account atComfortSuites, which will automatically close out tomorrow morning. You won't be there to get the paper receipt, but that doesn't matter.

We have done this twice. It is a great way to enjoy Atlantis and save a few hundred dollars versus a DCL excursion. Have a great time!

 

[BelleWannabe4]

You also can just go to Atlantis and wander around, which is what we did when we stayed on Paradise Island. I haven't been on the guided tour, so I'm not sure what that provides. If you go to Atlantis, you can walk through the aquarium areas, shops and casino. There are restaurants but, as a PP mentioned, the prices are very high for what you get in my opinion. You can't access the beach. You can't access the dolphin area either, but there is a little cafe where you could sit and see others interact with the dolphins from a distance.

There's also a free public beach located next to Atlantis.