Disney cruise and Nassau

[Curtis McCrea]

Hello,

I'm going on my first Disney cruise next year on the Dream.
I have not a clue of what to do in Nassau, should I even just stay on the ship?

Curtis

 

[tweidner]

I'm going on the Dream next summer and I plan on staying on the ship. I don't think I will have enough time on the ship so as it is with only a 5 day trip.

 

[kcashner]

Nassau is certainly not my favorite port. If you've never been there, I guess it's worth getting off the ship and walking around for a brief time. However, my choice would be to stay on board and enjoy the ship.

 

[Curtis McCrea]

I think I'll do that! Thanks.

 

[Otimon]

If you've never been to Nassau before by all means get off the ship and take a look around! If nothing more than to say, "Been there, done that".

A taxi ride over to the beautiful Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island is certainly worth seeing. While the famous Straw Market there today, across the street from the cruise docks, is only a ghost of its former self (burned down several years ago) it's interesting to see and experience a bit of the Bahama culture.

Whether you decide to play or stay, enjoy your cruise.

 

[Silverfox97]

Nassau is certainly not my favorite port. If you've never been there, I guess it's worth getting off the ship and walking around for a brief time. However, my choice would be to stay on board and enjoy the ship.

Definitely another vote for kcashner's idea - we'll be doing that on our 5 day this August. We did get off the ship at Nassau on our 1st cruise, which was a 3 night, and for us (not speaking for anyone else or trying to be offensive), it was a total waste of time and we regretted not staying on the ship to enjoy it. We did the glass bottom boat cruise, which was OK, but not great. Walking around town was not great, and I love shopping & sightseeing.

 

[pluto1979]

Congrats on doing your first cruise! You will absolutely love it especially it being Disney and the new Dream the Disney Dream!

As for what to do in Nassau, there are many different things to do and see. Of course you can go to Atlantis and do the tour of the aquarium which is nice. I would not do the water park. You can also do the casino or shopping there if you want. I like going to the rum cake factory to watch them make them, sample them and shop. I might walk through some of the side streets to see the shops as well as to see the Queens staircase and the gardens. Other than that I really do not get of the ship that often anymore. I might just to stretch and to get a shell or rum cake but that's it. Just get off for an hour or so.

If you stay on the ship, which is mostly what I do, I like to go to the movies, the spa (prices for spa services are cheaper due to being in a port), the cove cafe for coffee or just walk the ship. You can also do the art auction or other things that are planned on the Navigator.

This might sound funny but I like to go to the shopping presentation on the very first day prior to the ship leaving port. I get all the coupons with whatever freebies come along with them. then when I get into Nassau I get off the ship and go Left (something you will hear a lot of) and shop in the stores spending the littlest that I can while getting all the free stuff. It is just something that I can do on land to stretch and I love getting free stuff which I can give as gifts!

Whatever you do enjoy every minute of the cruise and the Disney Dream!
Have a DREAMfilled cruise!

 

[Stitchnut]

There is nothing better than your first Disney cruise! You are going to have a wonderful time. Nassau is ok, but I don't care for it. We are taking another cruise next and my family has already voted to stay on board and enjoy the aquaduck. Once again, congrats and have a fantastic time.

 

[lg3]

Congrats on doing your first cruise! You will absolutely love it especially it being Disney and the new Dream the Disney Dream!

As for what to do in Nassau, there are many different things to do and see. Of course you can go to Atlantis and do the tour of the aquarium which is nice. I would not do the water park. You can also do the casino or shopping there if you want. I like going to the rum cake factory to watch them make them, sample them and shop. I might walk through some of the side streets to see the shops as well as to see the Queens staircase and the gardens. Other than that I really do not get of the ship that often anymore. I might just to stretch and to get a shell or rum cake but that's it. Just get off for an hour or so.

If you stay on the ship, which is mostly what I do, I like to go to the movies, the spa (prices for spa services are cheaper due to being in a port), the cove cafe for coffee or just walk the ship. You can also do the art auction or other things that are planned on the Navigator.

This might sound funny but I like to go to the shopping presentation on the very first day prior to the ship leaving port. I get all the coupons with whatever freebies come along with them. then when I get into Nassau I get off the ship and go Left (something you will hear a lot of) and shop in the stores spending the littlest that I can while getting all the free stuff. It is just something that I can do on land to stretch and I love getting free stuff which I can give as gifts!

Whatever you do enjoy every minute of the cruise and the Disney Dream!
Have a DREAMfilled cruise!

Just curious - is it because of the cost, or time involved or something else? Have you done it in the past? We are in the same situation as the OP and were wondering what to do at Nassau. We don't really enjoy spending much time shopping on vacation.

 

[CADisneyMom]

Our first time on the cruise we did get off the ship and did an excursion to do the dolphin encounter. The 2nd time we went we were going to do the stringray encounter but because the water was really rough we ended up not doing it and got our money back. We went into the market area (mind you this was like 8 years ago) and they all seemed to be really pushy on you buying stuff, they really got into your face so we really didn't like that. We also went to go to Hard Rock Cafe to get souveniers there but we didn't really feel safe since it was down an alley and there were people hanging around. We just went, got our souveniers and left quickly. Personally, I would just stay on the ship and relax.

 

[Jusacuz]

I like Nassau and enjoy just walking around, looking in shops. We usually start with a quick stop in Starbucks. When I have gone with my daughter, we've done what a previous poster said and collected the free trinkets the jewelry stores give out. Last time, we did the dolphin encounter and loved it. When I was with my husband, we walked to the Queen's Staircase and the Fort, then back down to see the Pirate Museum and had lunch at Conch Fritters.
Next time I go, I'll be alone, so I'm looking at finding a new place to eat and things to see.

 

[remlap]

We did the Comfort Suite for access to the Atlantis water park and had a fantastic time. In the late afternoon, we did walk around the town by the port, and wasn't all that impressed, but did purchase some rum cakes to give out as gifts.

 

[Disney Vegas]

I just got back from my 4 day cruise and we stopped in Nassau...stay on the ship. I mean, the Atlantis hotel was nice, it's just a casino with a very pretty backyard. We did the "atlantis tour"...what a waste of our time, all it was, was, she took us down stairs, and pretty much showed us a bunch of fish and the back of the hotel. AND let me tell you, we were on that ship for 4 nights..5 days, and the first day is just unpacking, the emergency drill and going to dinner pretty much, the 2nd day is Nassau the 3rd is Castaway Cay and the 4th is packing because your bags have to be outside of your room that night. I didn't even get to lay by the pool or even go into the pool, I missed so many things on the ship and I really wish I had stayed onboard (except Castaway Cay was awesome) and took more advantage of the TONS of things going on on the ship instead of running around a casino.

 

[lvloopingbag]

At Atlantis, the water park is the best part. When we went last summer, we got a room directly with Atlantis and it was cheaper than the Disney Excursion. A lot of folks will get the room at the Comfort Suites because it is cheaper. That is an option as well, although we opted for the Atlantis room since we'd be doing enough walking as it was and wanted to be as close as possible. When we were done, it was great to be able to go right up to the room and get showers and clean up before heading back to the Wonder.

 

[princssdisnygina]

I have never stayed on board while at port so I don't know the answer to this question but are the pools open while at port?
We may stay on board while in Nassau this time too.

 

[anna08]

We had a great time doing the Dolphin swim at the blue lagoon excursion and would highly recommend that. You can get back to the ship by 1:30-2pm and enjoy ship time too. We thought it was entirely worth the expense.

 

[Brancaneve]

We are debating what to do in Nassau as well. My DH had the idea of going on travelocity and getting a room at a nice hotel. We don't really care for Atlantis, as our kids are too small and scared to do the water slides. I'm sure there are plenty of nice hotels, with nice beaches for an affordable price.

The last time we went in Nassau we went to the Wyndham and used the hotel. The beach was great, and the pool was nice too but they charged a lot. I think we can get a room for a lot less. Has anyone booked a room anywhere besides Atlantis and Comfort Inn?

 

[minniemoms]

Love reading this advice, never been either

 

[princssdisnygina]

Still looking for the answer:

Are the pools open on the ship while in port?

 

[Otimon]

Yes they are.