Nassau/Atlantis Port Procedures

[MiddKid]

Apologies if this is easy to find but I'm a bit confused...hoping for some help! I know things are evolving at all times, but curious what the current situation is.

My family of 5 is booked for a 4-day Bahamas cruise in April. We're all vaccinated. My parents are not cruising fans but enjoy staying at Atlantis so the last time we did this cruise they were staying at Atlantis and we traveled from the ship over to the resort and hung out with them for the day. They were planning on doing the same in April.

Last week they spent Thanksgiving in Atlantis and my father reached out to me explaining the Bahama Visa requirement and testing process they had to go through. So I thought I'd research what that meant for us. Upon researching, I had two specific questions:

• I'm trying to understand if we need the Bahama Visa for the one day visit to Nassau. If you go to the Bahama travel page here you can click on the section that says "Cruise Passengers." When I do that the only information I see is for "Guests on cruises that originate in and return to the Bahamas." That is obviously not us but I can't find any information on that site for day visitors from ships. Do they assume that the already stringent policies on each ship is enough and we don't need the travel visa?
• Last time we took private transport from the ship to Atlantis since my parents were guests there. For simplicity purposes I am considering just doing one of the many Disney Atlantis excursions. They way the descriptions read it sounds like you get transportation but then once you're there you're free to roam/explore (talks about the beaches, the casino, etc). This is what we're looking for as we're not looking to tour Atlantis in a fixed group. I know during COVID the point of official Disney port adventures is to keep a group "together" for tracing reasons. In an excursion like this is it just together for travel to/from and then you're free to explore or are they somehow more structured now (I can't imagine how you structure a group trip to a waterpark)?

Thank you all for any info!

 

[cvjw]

You do not need the Bahamas visa to get off the ship in Nassau. You either leave with your disney excursion, or you get in the virtual que to leave on your own - if everyone is vaccinated.

 

[MomOTwins]

Disney has not been offering Atlantis excursions since the restart, likely because the post-restart excursions are in “bubble” format where you just stay with your cruise group, and at Atlantis, there is no way to isolate the cruise party from hotel guests. Since you are all vaccinated however you are free to leave the ship on your own and go to Atlantis—not sure if they are still selling day passes to the beaches/water parks.

 

[MiddKid]

Thank you @cvjw and @MomOTwins. Both answers were exactly what we needed. No visa needed for the day trip and the excursions aren't even offered at the moment! Since my parents will be guests at Atlantis we should have no issues accessing the beaches/water parks. We'll just book separate transport from the port to the resort. Thanks!

 

[bearette]

You can book day passes currently through Atlantis on their website.

 

[dcassetta]

As previously stated, you do not need the travel visa. But, Atlantis will require proof of vaccination and/or a negative test.

Travel Updates | Atlantis Bahamas

 

[MiddKid]

So I called DCL for another reason and brought up Atlantis. She confirmed that the shore excursions were not running. I told her I'd book a day pass directly through Atlantis' website and she mentioned that they've had passengers turned away as "Atlantis isn't accepting cruise passengers" right now even though those passengers had day passes. This seems to contradict with Atlantis' website. Has anyone recently done the day pass approach and had success (or failure)? Thanks!

 

[HiStitch626]

I would call Atlantis directly and ask.

 

[lanejudy]

I think @Cheburashka was planning to go to Atlantis during the port stop earlier this fall. Maybe she has some info.

 

[RedHead0186]

I think @Cheburashka was planning to go to Atlantis during the port stop earlier this fall. Maybe she has some info.

I think I recall she mentioned being able to get a day pass. Hopefully she can chime in to confirm but I seem to remember her saying something about that.

 

[Cheburashka]

Bahama Visa for the one day visit to Nassau. If you go to the Bahama travel page here you can click on the section that says "Cruise Passengers." When I do that the only information I see is for "Guests on cruises that originate in and return to the Bahamas." That is obviously not us but I can't find any information on that site for day visitors from ships. Do they assume that the already stringent policies on each ship is enough and we don't need the travel visa?

So I called DCL for another reason and brought up Atlantis. She confirmed that the shore excursions were not running. I told her I'd book a day pass directly through Atlantis' website and she mentioned that they've had passengers turned away as "Atlantis isn't accepting cruise passengers" right now even though those passengers had day passes. This seems to contradict with Atlantis' website. Has anyone recently done the day pass approach and had success (or failure)? Thanks!

I went to Atlantis during my Disney Magic cruise in late October. I bought an Aquaventure day pass directly from Atlantis before the trip. I was traveling solo, so didn't have to worry about the rules for kids, so I can't speak to that. Here's the deal:

1. It was super easy. I just got off the ship and walked to the taxi dispatch area, and waited a few minutes until enough people going to Atlantis had arrived for the standard shared taxi to take us there. Upon arrival, we were shown where to go. Same way back to the ship. Easy peasy and bring cash for the taxi.
2. No visa is required. Like I said, it's easy.
3. I called Atlantis pre-cruise and they told me over the phone that both a photo of a vaccine card and a photo of a test result (they said rapid was okay) within 5 days would be required. I had photos of both ready on my phone (no way did I bring the actual vaccine card with me to a water park). When checking in, I was only asked for the photo of the vaccine card, which they quickly glanced at and approved. No hassle. Never was asked for my test result at all, so I suspect that isn't really needed. I wouldn't bother with the rapid test next time.
4. It was the ideal time to be there because it was so uncrowded. It was wonderful. I even won a little (and I mean little- two digits lol) money in the casino.

P.S. DCL phone reps are notoriously clueless, so don't trust them when they state onboard & port rules as facts. Prior to my October cruise, one DCL rep actually told me that I couldn't be independent at Nassau. This contradicted DCL's printed communications, and I called back to get another rep who assured me she was wrong (and of course she was). But that's just one example of false information that they sometimes give out. The only thing the DCL phone reps really know is how to book, change or cancel your cruise. Beyond that, stick with Disboards for your information.

 

[dcassetta]

I called Atlantis pre-cruise and they told me over the phone that both a photo of a vaccine card and a photo of a test result (they said rapid was okay) within either 3 or 5 days (can't remember which) would be required. I had photos of both ready on my phone (no way did I bring the actual vaccine card with me to a water park). When checking in, I was only asked for the photo of the vaccine card, which they quickly glanced at and approved. No hassle. Never was asked for my test result at all, so I suspect that isn't really needed. I wouldn't bother with the rapid test next time.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have to disagree with your advice though. Perhaps the individual you spoke with didn't ask for the test info, but it does not mean it would never happen. Since their website still says it is required, I would have it. If the OP does get someone who asks, and they do not have the test info, they could be turned away.

 

[Cheburashka]

Duplicate

 

[imtallman]

Just to be clear, would the results from the test taken at the port before boarding be sufficient proof? I will have vaccination proof anyway, but on the extremely unlikely chance that they want to see both, is the port test good enough?

 

[Cheburashka]

Just to be clear, would the results from the test taken at the port before boarding be sufficient proof? I will have vaccination proof anyway, but on the extremely unlikely chance that they want to see both, is the port test good enough?

No, because DCL doesn't give you any written documentation. You would need a picture of the test result. But like I said, they were only checking vaccine cards & not asking for test results at all so I really don't think it's necessary.

If you're the nervous type, do what I did and make an appointment to get a rapid test from CVS the day before the cruise. For me that was free (there's a box to check for "recommended testing prior to travel" so maybe that covered it), only took a few minutes & never left my car, got me a copy of negative results to print out or save to my phone, and also made me very confident that I would test negative at DCL embarkation the next day. Win win.

 

[imtallman]

No, because DCL doesn't give you any written documentation. You would need a picture of the test result. But like I said, the website stated that it was either vaccine OR test result, and when I was there, they were only checking vaccine cards & not asking for test results at all so I really don't think it's necessary.

If you're the nervous type, do what I did and make an appointment to get a rapid test from CVS the day before the cruise. For me that was free (there's a box to check for "recommended testing prior to travel" so maybe that covered it), only took a few minutes & never left my car, got me a copy of negative results to print out or save to my phone, and also made me very confident that I would test negative at DCL embarkation the next day. Win win.

Thank you.