Atlantis Nassau Info/pricing Inside!

[MarkRG]

Ok, I'm cleaning up my notes some, and I know someone was waiting for me to return and post this info.

We did Atlantis on our cruise and I have covered most of it numerous times in a prewritten note. Time for a handwritten new one.

This note is for people who want to just go visit Atlantis and tour the Dig, a huge grouping of aquariums. If you want to use the water facilities, you need to get a room at Atlantis or Comfort Suites at Atlantis.

To just visit is very easy to do on your own. All you have to do is walk to the end of the dock, where there are numerous cabs(minivans) with a current rate of $4 per person to shuttle you over. Where they drop you off at Atlantis is where they will pick you up to return to the dock. At this point you have access to the casino, the shops, the main building and limited access to the resort. You get access to the Dig and all the resort, simply go to the center of the Casino to a kiosk with a blue globe over it.

Wristbands for access to the rest are $25 for adults, $19 for kids 4-12, Under 4 free. This is not for access to the water amenities, as I said above you have to get a room for that.

They will give you maps of the Dig/resort and such at that point. You're now on your own to explore the resort at your own pace. The Dig is in sections spread over the resort and it is a great deal of walking. But definitely worth it. Enjoy!

 

[rykdad]

MarkRG,
I'm the person you owed the answer. Your post had exactly the info I was looking for. Thanks a bunch!

 

[MarkRG]

You're welcome! I rememberd to look, just didn't note your board name, oops!

I've been wanting to re-write that anyhow. The list verson was too dry.

 

[tlens]

Thanks so much for posting this! I asked this question a while ago and no one answered! I was concerned about paying $25.00 for my 3.5 yo thinking that she probably won't get a whole lot out of it. Since she is free, we'll definately go now. If she doesn't like it, we're only out $50.00 rather than $75.00!

 

[Lilly's Dad]

Ding it your way, the atlantis excursion would cost for 2 kids/2 adults $120 (2-way cab $32 + $88 admission) doesn't DCL charge less for the same excursion?

 

[rykdad]

Here is the price comparison for "On your own" vs Disney Excursion with my family (2 adults, DS 10 and DD6):

"On your own":
Admission: $88
Taxi: $32
Total: $120

Disney:
Admission/Transportation: $122 ($33 for Adults & DS, $23 for DD)
Total: $122

If you factor in a tip for the taxi driver, doing it "On your own" may be more expensive? Since there are ferries heading back to the dock every 30 minutes, tell me again way doing it on your own is better?

 

[EMT-319]

Disney vs. Do It Yourself

I read somewhere (exactly where, I can't remember) that via Disney it is a guided tour thru the Dig at quite a fast pace. Also, it is a 15(?) minute uphill walk to Atlantis from the ferry dock.

On your own, I believe you can do the Dig at your leisure plus the taxi drops you off/picks you up at the front entrance of Atlantis.

I think that somebody else wrote that they felt the ferry was a bit overloaded with passengers.

Can anybody confirm this?

 

[MarkRG]

EMT, you just explained all the reasons why it is better to do it yourself. It isn't totally about price, in dollar amount they are, honestly, just about equal.

When we went this time(last week), the really overloaded water taxi had just pulled away. That thing just looks plain scary. Wewalked over to the taxis, got one, drive over, and drove right past them walking their way up from the dropoff point, nowhere near the actual resort. The taxi drops you off right at the door to the casino.

The tours are just that - tours. You are at their schedule. And they tend to set a rushed pace. When walking the Dig, we had not one, not two, but three tours go breezing by. And we were not walking that slow.

Now yes, you are on your own as to when to go back to the ship on the tour, but I would imagine after being hustled thru the whole place, and it is huge(think - miles, plural), most are not going to be willing to walk around it again.


And something to think on - why do you think they are doing the tours? This is a resort where the cheapest overnight rooms are over $200 a night.

This is my personal opinion -
No, the tours are not just for your enjoyment of the resort. I think it's as much or moreso to promote the resort. If they even get 1 out of 10 to come back and some point and stay there for a vacation, they've done their job.

It would explain why they rush thru the tours, they want to show the resort to as many people as possible, but just give them a teaser so they'll want to come back and experience it more.

One thing to keep in mind - it was created as an attraction by someone not native to the Bahamas. I believe he is an American, keep an eye on the Travel Channel, they have had in the past specials on Atlantis. Does not in any way detract from the impressiveness of the resort, but their main goal is to get people to stay at the resort and pay those incredible prices for rooms, meals, blow heavy amounts of cash in the casino, etc..

 

[joyv]

thanks for all the info MarkRG. My family and I are going in May and are thinking about the going on the tour on our own. How long would you say the whole tour of the Dig will take? Someone told me that there was a deck party with Princesses (cinderella, etc) on the boat on Nassau day so I was thinking of going to the party and then touring the Dig (or vice versa depending upon the time of the party) if i have enough time. From your last trip, do you think this is possible or is it too hectic of a schedule. I am travelling with DD5 and DS10. thanks for your help.

 

[MarkRG]

You should have plenty of time for both. We went over about a half hour after they cleared the ship to depart, bought wristbands, toured the dig and resort with friends, went back to town to do a bit of shopping and still got back to the ship in time for lunch. And we didn't hurry anywhere along the way either.

I'd figure for the whole trip to-from the ship, somewhere around 3-4 hours, and that'd be a high figure.