8/17/2008 Double Dip 4-day Wonder

[Coach Rick]

Hi! We're new to the DCL Forum, our Disneymoon following our Disney Wedding is this one ~ we're really excited. It will be my first cruise ever! We're both from the UK and are frantically reading as much as we can about excursions and so on.

Any advice would be very gratefully received!

Welcome aboard, first of all. Looks like you picked an great one to go on. First, it depends on what you like doing. Nassau, IMO is nothing to write home about, but is still worth seeing. The Atlantis Resort is a great place to check out. It's also very good to take a tour of the island. There are tours offered by DCL, but I personally have found them to be overpriced, and "scripted". IMO, you are much better off to take a local taxi tour. I can't vouch for all of the tour guides, but the one we took last May (Perry) was fantastic. He took us to the normal historic places, but also took us to the real Nassau. The one the islanders see. His family has been on Nassau for generations. He explained the islands economy, and class structure (which I found interesting), then we ended at the Atlantis Resort, and he took us in and by the aquarium (gotta see), took lots of pictures of DW and I with our camera, and was just fun to be with.

On CC, there is lots to do if you like relaxing! Of course CC is not that big, so you won't get lost! DW and I had done the couples spa treatment, which last about 2.5 hours on the ship, and we absolutely loved it, but at $475, it better be great! We have opted to do the couples hot stone massage on CC in a beach cabana this time. The personal water craft tour is lots of fun, again, pricey, but hey, when will you have a chance to do this again? (I said that last year, and I am doing it again this year - ) I will add you to our growing list of "DIS'ers" on this trip! I am sure some of our shipmates will be along shortly to chime in too. Luckily you picked a cruise with lots of experience aboard!

So again, welcome aboard!

PS...would you mind giving your soon hubby to be a name for our "official roster"...

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

Welcome aboard, first of all. Looks like you picked an great one to go on. First, it depends on what you like doing. Nassau, IMO is nothing to write home about, but is still worth seeing. The Atlantis Resort is a great place to check out. It's also very good to take a tour of the island. There are tours offered by DCL, but I personally have found them to be overpriced, and "scripted". IMO, you are much better off to take a local taxi tour. I can't vouch for all of the tour guides, but the one we took last May (Perry) was fantastic. He took us to the normal historic places, but also took us to the real Nassau. The one the islanders see. His family has been on Nassau for generations. He explained the islands economy, and class structure (which I found interesting), then we ended at the Atlantis Resort, and he took us in and by the aquarium (gotta see), took lots of pictures of DW and I with our camera, and was just fun to be with.

On CC, there is lots to do if you like relaxing! Of course CC is not that big, so you won't get lost! DW and I had done the couples spa treatment, which last about 2.5 hours on the ship, and we absolutely loved it, but at $475, it better be great! We have opted to do the couples hot stone massage on CC in a beach cabana this time. The personal water craft tour is lots of fun, again, pricey, but hey, when will you have a chance to do this again? (I said that last year, and I am doing it again this year - ) I will add you to our growing list of "DIS'ers" on this trip! I am sure some of our shipmates will be along shortly to chime in too. Luckily you picked a cruise with lots of experience aboard!

So again, welcome aboard!

PS...would you mind giving your soon hubby to be a name for our "official roster"...

Hi CoachRick,

I'm Sara-Jayne and H2B is Gavin I have yet to read this thread, I was just so happy to find it! Is there any other information I need to provide to be on "the roster?"

Thanks for the advice ~ is there anything we should do to prepare? H2B has booked his tuxedo for formal night but we're not sure which night we are supposed to book Palo for, it all seems so complicated.

We thought about the CC Ray's Stingray Adventure, the Parasailing and the Couples Cabana thing so far, and at Nassau we were so unsure. To be honest I am just looking forward to seeing blue sea and white sand! At Nassau, I know this will probably sound really naive, but how can we tell which tour guides are legitimate? Is there an identification system?

 

[cyndisun]

Boy, it's quiet here, so quiet.....

Everyone out planting their gardens?

We're just knee deep in baseball out here in CA! DS is playing on a city team and we will be traveling to a Memorial Day weekend tournament (also DS's bday weekend). Then it is All-Stars for the summer. It's a good thing I love baseball so much! But even with sunscreen I am adding to my freckle collection by going to all these games.

We booked Palo and a couple's massage on the boat. Glad to hear from Coach Rick that it is awesome! We thought about one of the eco tours for CC but haven't booked yet.

Happy (belated) Mother's Day to all of you moms out there!

Cyndi

 

[Coach Rick]

Hi CoachRick,

I'm Sara-Jayne and H2B is Gavin I have yet to read this thread, I was just so happy to find it! Is there any other information I need to provide to be on "the roster?"

Thanks for the advice ~ is there anything we should do to prepare? H2B has booked his tuxedo for formal night but we're not sure which night we are supposed to book Palo for, it all seems so complicated.

We thought about the CC Ray's Stingray Adventure, the Parasailing and the Couples Cabana thing so far, and at Nassau we were so unsure. To be honest I am just looking forward to seeing blue sea and white sand! At Nassau, I know this will probably sound really naive, but how can we tell which tour guides are legitimate? Is there an identification system?

Great, I will add you both to the list.

As far as the tux, the 3 and 4 night cruises don't really have a "formal night". So Gavin is off the hook. When I went to Palo last May, which btw was for our 25th anniversary, I just wore a sport coat button down shirt and slacks. Palo is very nice indeed. We are doing the brunch this time, did the dinner last time. More importantly, you need to get your Pirate outfits for Pirate night.. Argh...

As far as the taxi's, they are all regulated by the Bahamian government, so there is no worry about that, but I particularly liked our guide. In fact I have kept in touch with him via email from last year.

Now, at the Atlantis: http://www.atlantis.com/ You can rent a room for a day so you can have full access to the facilities there. It's kind of pricey, but you can also book a room at the Comfort Inn and gain access to the Atlantis too. The resort is beautiful, and the beaches are awesome. Keep in mind you will be encountering the same type beaches at CC for no extra charge.

Hope this helps a little....

 

[disneymama]

We plan on going to Atlantis this time for some swimming. We're going to go through Disney since we haven't been to the Bahamas before and with both a kid and FIL in a wheelchair in tow, I don't want the hassle of finding a cab, going to the Comfort Suites, then next door to Atlantis, then getting back.....

DH and I are also plannig on a couples massage at CC. Does anyone know off the top of their head when the "peasants" can make reservations?

 

[Coach Rick]

We plan on going to Atlantis this time for some swimming. We're going to go through Disney since we haven't been to the Bahamas before and with both a kid and FIL in a wheelchair in tow, I don't want the hassle of finding a cab, going to the Comfort Suites, then next door to Atlantis, then getting back.....

DH and I are also plannig on a couples massage at CC. Does anyone know off the top of their head when the "peasants" can make reservations?

May 19th for you repeat cruisers, and June 3rd for your first timer. That's if us concierge people haven't taken all the good stuff from you mortals.

 

[Lynda Silk]

Thanks for the info on the dates, Coach Rick; I'm another peasant but at least I'm not a first timer! Just kidding!

Coach Rick, did you have any trouble making your reservations? As you might recall, there's another Disney Cruise leaving the same day as ours and Andrew from the UK gave us a headsup that the reservations number might be jammed with everyone making calls.

I can't believe we're finally in the double digits! This is going to be such a great vacation!

 

[Coach Rick]

Thanks for the info on the dates, Coach Rick; I'm another peasant but at least I'm not a first timer! Just kidding!

Coach Rick, did you have any trouble making your reservations? As you might recall, there's another Disney Cruise leaving the same day as ours and Andrew from the UK gave us a headsup that the reservations number might be jammed with everyone making calls.

I can't believe we're finally in the double digits! This is going to be such a great vacation!

First timers have an initiation?

Well, I did mine online. Biggest problem I had was keeping myself from booking more...

I know, and in my minds eye, I am already there.

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

Coach Rick, there is no way Gavin is "off the hook" with that tuxedo. He works in jeans and t shirt every day. He IS wearing that tuxedo..... This might be the only time I see him in one..........

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

.....and as a peasant, I am counting the days until I can book excursions....and looking for a fish hanger, it seems..... I had no idea about these things ~ cruising is like a different life!

 

[Coach Rick]

Coach Rick, there is no way Gavin is "off the hook" with that tuxedo. He works in jeans and t shirt every day. He IS wearing that tuxedo..... This might be the only time I see him in one..........

Poor guy...not even married and already being dressed...

That's ok, I'll let him know what to expect after 26 years.

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

Poor guy...not even married and already being dressed...

That's ok, I'll let him know what to expect after 26 years.

Look, he has no idea what to expect ~ he thinks you'll all be wearing them! Watch for me, I'll be the one grinning from ear to ear whilst my new husband fumes, hehehehe...

26 years ~ that's a lot of tuxedos!

 

[Coach Rick]

26 years ~ that's a lot of tuxedos!

yeah, and they get larger with each passing year.

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

 

[Lynda Silk]

Raspberry bubbles, glad to see you're starting on the right foot when it comes to training your new husband!

Just tell him that he'll be the one all the ladies will be looking at and you'll be the one they will all envy for having such a handsome and well-dressed better half!

 

[Coach Rick]

Raspberry bubbles, glad to see you're starting on the right foot when it comes to training your new husband!

Just tell him that he'll be the one all the ladies will be looking at and you'll be the one they will all envy for having such a handsome and well-dressed better half!

Training...Correct term to use since they call it a "monkey suit"

Yeah, and all the guys will be wondering why such a beautiful lady is with a dork

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

Raspberry bubbles, glad to see you're starting on the right foot when it comes to training your new husband!

Just tell him that he'll be the one all the ladies will be looking at and you'll be the one they will all envy for having such a handsome and well-dressed better half!

Aw, Lynda ~ he will be seeking you out for some compliments onboard!

I think I have this training thing down pretty well now.... Training my huskies was harder

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

Training...Correct term to use since they call it a "monkey suit"

Yeah, and all the guys will be wondering why such a beautiful lady is with a dork

Now, now, the correct term is "geek" since he's a Software Engineer

 

[Lynda Silk]

Coach Rick, you are too funny (I laughed right out loud at your comments in the middle of the office) and I guess this means we won't be seeing you in a tux on dress-up night!

Raspberry Bubbles, I'll compliment any man in a tux! And he must be a real sweetheart if he's willing to do that for you (Coach Rick, don't say anything!!!)

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

Lynda, he really is. He's going through so much ~ a Disney wedding, Disney Family-Moon and Honeymoon, and then a Disney Cruise to boot! He's the sweetest and kindest man in the World (even without the tux.... but it does help ).