Get off or stay on the ship?

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

We will be going to Naussa. DH and I have been to this port a number of times. Yes, it will be fun to show DS some of the sights, but have considered staying on the ship.

Yes? No? Things to do on the ship? Cool things to do at port (outside of excursions)?

 

[squirk]

We will be going to Naussa. DH and I have been to this port a number of times. Yes, it will be fun to show DS some of the sights, but have considered staying on the ship.

Yes? No? Things to do on the ship? Cool things to do at port (outside of excursions)?

If you've been to the port several times, you are probably just as qualified to answer your own question as anyone else here - more so, since you know what your son likes and we don't.

Nassau does not appear to be held in high regard around here. Some frequent Bahamian cruisers have noticed that the ship does no longer "empties out" in Nassau like it does at other ports, suggesting a waning popularity.

The one time we did a DCL Bahamian cruise, we opted to stay on the ship at Nassau. As we pulled into port, I remember thinking "I didn't spend all this money on a DCL cruise to visit Señor Frog's or Margaritaville".

If you're stopping in Nassau, I am guessing your cruise is short-ish. In such a case, I personally would maximize my time on the ship unless Atlantis, Greycliff or the Pirate Museum holds particular appeal for your son.

 

[MUN]

We will be going to Naussa. DH and I have been to this port a number of times. Yes, it will be fun to show DS some of the sights, but have considered staying on the ship.

Yes? No? Things to do on the ship? Cool things to do at port (outside of excursions)?

You can do both. Show DS some of the highlights and then get back on the ship. You can see a lot in a couple of hours in and around downtown Nassau. My oldest loves walking around downtown Nassau. We've been to the Queens Staircase, E. Bay Street, Junkanoo Beach, Parliament building to name a few places.

Nassau is much more than Señor Frog's or Margaritaville.

Enjoy your cruise!

MUN

 

[squirk]

Nassau is much more than Señor Frog's or Margaritaville

Sure. My point was that Señor Frog's and Hard Rock Cafe were the first things I saw front-and-center when we pulled into port. In terms of "first impressions", it didn't make me want to get off the ship and explore.

Perhaps the loss is mine, but we nonetheless had a great time exploring the Dream with a reduced crowd.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Stay on the Ship.

Final Answer.

 

[MUN]

Sure. My point was that Señor Frog's and Hard Rock Cafe were the first things I saw front-and-center when we pulled into port. In terms of "first impressions", it didn't make me want to get off the ship and explore.

Perhaps the loss is mine, but we nonetheless had a great time exploring the Dream with a reduced crowd.

No, I'm not criticizing you, I just wanted to point out that there is much more in Nassau than the 2 chain bars you mentioned. Also, getting off the ship in Nassau is not an all or nothing venture. Much can be done near the port in a relatively short amount of time. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your time on the Dream and you found the time to look at Nassau as the ship was pulling out of port.

MUN

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

If you've been to the port several times, you are probably just as qualified to answer your own question as anyone else here - more so, since you know what your son likes and we don't.

Nassau does not appear to be held in high regard around here. Some frequent Bahamian cruisers have noticed that the ship does no longer "empties out" in Nassau like it does at other ports, suggesting a waning popularity.

The one time we did a DCL Bahamian cruise, we opted to stay on the ship at Nassau. As we pulled into port, I remember thinking "I didn't spend all this money on a DCL cruise to visit Señor Frog's or Margaritaville".

If you're stopping in Nassau, I am guessing your cruise is short-ish. In such a case, I personally would maximize my time on the ship unless Atlantis, Greycliff or the Pirate Museum holds particular appeal for your son.

I get what you're saying...It's been a few years since was have cruised and the first time with the kid. I could totally go with the reduced crowds, but am having a hard time finding Navigators...
I agree with not wanting to see chain restaurants...
And then you said PIRATE MUSEUM! Where is this????

Found it! Anyone been to this?

 

[bumbershoot]

If you've been to the port several times, you are probably just as qualified to answer your own question as anyone else here - more so, since you know what your son likes and we don't.

Exactly.

We also don't know how old the boy is but the OP does.


OP, a quick google (nassau pirate museum) gives me this: http://www.piratesofnassau.com/

Looks really close: http://www.piratesofnassau.com/location---admission.html

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Exactly.

We also don't know how old the boy is but the OP does.


OP, a quick google (nassau pirate museum) gives me this: http://www.piratesofnassau.com/

Looks really close: http://www.piratesofnassau.com/location---admission.html

Thanks.
Have you been?

 

[DisMommyTX]

I haven't been personally, but those who have been say that it is short (less than an hour) and reasonably priced but absolutely worth it for the target audience. Perfect little thing to do when exploring a bit of Nassau, then enjoy the rest of the day on board!

 

[trickiwoo]

We've actually never gotten off the ship in Nassau...

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

I haven't been personally, but those who have been say that it is short (less than an hour) and reasonably priced but absolutely worth it for the target audience. Perfect little thing to do when exploring a bit of Nassau, then enjoy the rest of the day on board!

This is extremely helpful. I don't see the sense in dragging him from shop to shop for things we won't buy. This might be the best of both worlds. Thanks for the info!

We've actually never gotten off the ship in Nassau...

Part of me really doesn't want to get off the ship...but it's DS's first trip to someplace other than the US...

 

[Shanti]

We will be going to Naussa. DH and I have been to this port a number of times. Yes, it will be fun to show DS some of the sights, but have considered staying on the ship.

Yes? No? Things to do on the ship? Cool things to do at port (outside of excursions)?

Are you beach people? Have you tried one of the private beaches in Nassau (which mostly belong to hotels)? Not recommending either way, just asking if you've considered the beach. Also, have you done the waterpark at Atlantis?

 

[squirk]

Part of me really doesn't want to get off the ship...but it's DS's first trip to someplace other than the US...

It sounds like you and your spouse cruise frequently. If so, I am wondering if there are other ports you will visit on a future cruise that are worthier of your time than Nassau.

If this is your son's first time on a DCL cruise, he might find the ship to be a destination unto itself, especially if on one of the shorter Bahamian itineraries. I have never been on one of those 3-day cruises, but it seems like a common complaint about them is that they are too short, and you don't get to experience everything the ship has to offer, especially if you spend a half-day or more in Nassau.

If you really want to say he set foot on foreign soil on this cruise, technically, Castaway Cay is a part of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

 

[tcufrog]

We really like Blue Lagoon at Nassau.

 

[Garyjames220]

Am from Scotland

And I thought the behamas is meant to be stunning. Am I missing something

 

[ALCooper3]

We went to the straw market and walked around town for a couple of hours on our first cruise (just to say we have been there). The next time we got off just long enough to by a conch shell from a guy who sells them off a boat really cheap and then got right back on the ship. Not impressed with Nassau at all. On our next cruise we don't even plan to get off the ship. My sister's family did the day at Atlantis excursion and really enjoyed that, but for us there was just to much to do on the ship to spend that extra money. Maybe someday after we do everything DCL has to offer...

 

[squirk]

Am from Scotland

And I thought the behamas is meant to be stunning. Am I missing something

They are.

The issue is not the Bahamas. It's Nassau.

 

[Garyjames220]

They are.

The issue is not the Bahamas. It's Nassau.

What's up with nassau ?

And if it's that bad why is Disney not going to a better place in the Bahamas ?

 

[squirk]

What's up with nassau ?

And if it's that bad why is Disney not going to a better place in the Bahamas ?

Well, I can't speak for everyone; I can't even speak first-hand. I've never gone into the city myself. Again, what I saw from the Dream's Deck 12 didn't really call to me.

But from what I have read on this board, what I've heard on several podcasts (including The DIS Unplugged), and what I've read in both Passporter's and the Unofficial Guide, the city is primarily either a.) super "tourist-trap"-y; or b.) rather squalid. My impression is that there isn't much in the way of a category "c".

That's not to say there isn't a lot of beauty to be found on the island of New Providence, or the Bahamas as a whole. It just seems like you don't get a lot of it at the port.

As for why Disney keeps going there? I can only guess. It's relatively close to both Castaway Cay and Port Canaveral, so maybe it's a cheap and convenient waypoint? Maybe Nassau is just a traditional "mainstay" port that people expect to be offered on a Bahamian cruise? Maybe the Commonwealth and its tourism industry offers attractive incentives (i.e., easy and cheap ship registry) to cruise lines to stop there?

Or maybe a large majority of passengers find the port to be perfectly fine, and we haters are a very small minority.

I am sure there are others reading this thread who have more informed insight than me.