Atlantis on your own or with DCL

cressmab

Mouseketeer
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Feb 26, 2013
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looking for thoughts on Atlantis. Did you book it yourself or as an excursion. Also my kids are 8 ( 2 of them) and 10.


Just trying to decide if it's worth the $ with them.
 
We booked a room at Comfort Inn at Atlantis, which includes Atlantis wristbands. We shared a cab from the pier with other folks doing the same, but I can't remember how much - $10?? I know the rooms come with 4 wristbands, but I think you can pay a fee for others.
 
We did Atlantis through DCL 2 weeks ago from the Dream. It was me DH and DS 16. It was for us very disappointing and expensive. My DH and I had stayed there before without the kid and our DH loves the water and wanted the water park and slides. Unfortunately the day we were in Nassau three other ships were also. Atlantis was crowded with long lines for the waterpark. After about 3 hours and a blah lunch included in the price we headed back to the ship. There are other options to go there we chose DCL for the convenience but most likely could have spent less another way, but that would not have changed the crowd level.
 
We were there last week via the Dream. Booked via DCL for convenience as we can barely get our act together to book flights, pre cruise hotel etc. it was about a 20 min (small) bus ride away and very organized. The
Guides did give us a little history of the area and pointed out various sites of interest along the way. They walked us all thru the resort which did take at least 20 minutes. We finally got on a slide around 10:30ish? There was one other cruise ship in port that day so while the resort was crowded, there was never a terrible wait for slides or rapid river. The only thing was lighting was spotted in the distance around 2:00 so they shut down the tower of power slides. We left around 3:30. It was pricey for family of 5 (kids ages 5-10) but less expensive than the dolphin swim/encounter we did at blue lagoon 4 yrs ago. They had buses going back to port every 30 minutes until 4:30. We enjoyed our time there.
 

We did Atlantis on our own. I used points to book a room at the Comfort Suites which included passes for Atlantis. So, we essentially went for free instead of paying $650ish for our family of four. We took a cab there and back which was pretty easy. We had a fun day at Atlantis, it wasn't crowded when we were there.

You could check the port schedule to determine how many ships will be there on your day if crowds are a consideration for you.

I will say that Atlantis did not live up to my expectations. It was not as bright, clean and wonderful as it looks on TV. I did not find the employees to be very friendly. We still had a fun day and I am glad we were able to experience it because it was someplace I had wanted to visit for a long while.

PS Slides were also closed for a while on our day due to lightening.
 
We've done Atlantis both ways - through Disney and on our own! Both went well with no problem.

The only difference I would say was that it was more convenient through Disney.
 
Is there a way to tell how many other ships will be there the day we dock? We will be on the Dream Nov 25-28. Is that a crazy busy time? Right now I have Atlantis and the family cabana booked, but we have discussed Blue Lagoon and a day pass at the Hilton. I can see my kiddos (ages 12 & 15) being annoyed in the lines are long.
 
our first cruise we did atlantis (by booking a room at the comfort inn so that we could use the slides)..
it was ok....but not at all worth the crazy amount it cost...
by the way, i booked it on our own because back then the swim slides weren't offered via disney...so the only way was on your own....had i had the choice, i would have used disney for sure...going on your own is a hassle....but again...we thought the atlantis 'water park' was only so so....

much more fun was our more recent excursion to blue lagoon island for the dolphin swim.....i don't know if that's an option on your cruise, but if so, it's a nice alternative to atlantis...
i believe there are usually 3 blue lagoon options - the dolphin swim, the dolphin encounter (no need to swim), or just the beach...keep in mind the boat ride to blue lagoon island is something like 30 minutes....
 
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We booked a room at Comfort Inn at Atlantis, which includes Atlantis wristbands. We shared a cab from the pier with other folks doing the same, but I can't remember how much - $10?? I know the rooms come with 4 wristbands, but I think you can pay a fee for others.

If I ever wanted to hit Atlantis that is exactly how I would do it.

Is there a way to tell how many other ships will be there the day we dock?

cruisett.com has the port schedules.
 
It's expensive for what you get, we've done several Atlantis bookings through DCL and that will probably be it. Lately we've been staying on the ship but this time around we plan on hitting up the brewery, straw market and possibly the beach for a bit.
 
So, how does the comfort suites thing work? Do you just check in, get the wrist bands and then not stay at the hotel? We are going in October and I want to find the best way to try to experience Atlantis without paying through the nose through Disney for it. Thanks!
 
Do you just check in, get the wrist bands and then not stay at the hotel?

Yep! If you want way more info, go to the Ports of Call forum on Cruisecritic's message boards and look for Nassau and Atlantis threads. All the info in the world. It's not necessarily cheap, but it's cheapER than going through the cruiseline (and I believe you get more) or booking at Atlantis.

And the hotel people know what you're doing and they make it simple.
 
Yep! If you want way more info, go to the Ports of Call forum on Cruisecritic's message boards and look for Nassau and Atlantis threads. All the info in the world. It's not necessarily cheap, but it's cheapER than going through the cruiseline (and I believe you get more) or booking at Atlantis.

And the hotel people know what you're doing and they make it simple.

Thank you!
 
I've done it both ways. Just got back from 4 day Dream with a stop at Nassau this past week.

Personally our family of 4 just did the beach excursion (no water slide). Considering how much time you have that day - we preferred just the beach/lunch package.

If we did it again we'd do it through the cruise/Disney - why? Can't be bothered to try and save what might end up being $100 for the amount of grief.

FYI - if you get lunch pkg - go to Pisces just off the beach (part of Atlantas) - compared to the other options - much nicer food - fried chicken / fish and chips options vs. Hotdog/Hamburger.
 

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