Nassau Beach Day- Atlantis vs Blue Lagoon

[Ashlotte]

I am so torn on what to choose! We just want a safe, relaxing day in a tropical locale.

Can anyone offer me their advice or experiences on the Atlantis Beach Day (without the water park access) and Blue Lagoon (without the dolphins or sea lions)? Part of me wants to do the Atlantis route just to check the place out (I'd like to see the place in addition to the beach), but is the beach terrible? Are there pushy peddlers? Is Blue Lagoon worth the effort and time to travel to?

I should mention that the day we are in Nassau will my 40th birthday, and I really want to have a "magical" day with the family and distract myself from leaping up a decade. Where to go? What to do?

Or should I just scrap it all and stay on the boat that day, getting our beach fill the next day at CC?

 

[dc1969]

Hi! I've been to Atlantis twice and to Blue Lagoon island for the dolphin encounter as well

Atlantis' beaches are wonderful, but if it's a particularly warm/sunny day, chairs can be hard to find (unless that's changed since we were there 3 years ago) There were no pushy peddlars at all. There were people selling necklaces, braiding, etc. up near the boardwalk area but not a single one approached us (there could be a rule set in stone as Atlantis guests pay a LOT) Walking around the grounds & through the hotels is quite the sight, you may regret not seeing it at least once, unless you plan on going back

Blue Lagoon Island is much more secluded, quiet. There's a bay with little to no waves that you can relax in. I'm not sure how busy it is, but it's definitely more of a quiet isolated type of day there.

 

[nabi]

I couldn't go to blue lagoon without doing dolphin encounter, as it's so close to the beach, and you can see everyone else getting dolphin hugs!

 

[Ashlotte]

Hi! I've been to Atlantis twice and to Blue Lagoon island for the dolphin encounter as well

Atlantis' beaches are wonderful, but if it's a particularly warm/sunny day, chairs can be hard to find (unless that's changed since we were there 3 years ago) There were no pushy peddlars at all. There were people selling necklaces, braiding, etc. up near the boardwalk area but not a single one approached us (there could be a rule set in stone as Atlantis guests pay a LOT) Walking around the grounds & through the hotels is quite the sight, you may regret not seeing it at least once, unless you plan on going back

Blue Lagoon Island is much more secluded, quiet. There's a bay with little to no waves that you can relax in. I'm not sure how busy it is, but it's definitely more of a quiet isolated type of day there.

Thanks! I was hoping someone had been to both and would chime in. So, out of the two, which did you prefer (taking the dolphins out of the equation and just talking about the beach)?

A few months ago I was convinced of Blue Lagoon, but now I am leaning towards Atlantis. I'd hate to be that close and not check it out.

 

[Ashlotte]

I couldn't go to blue lagoon without doing dolphin encounter, as it's so close to the beach, and you can see everyone else getting dolphin hugs!

A very good point! The only reason we are not considering the dolphin encounter is because we will have just done the dolphin swim at Discovery cove two days earlier. I used the price of the Blue Lagoon dolphin swim to talk my dDH into Discovery Cove since it came with passes to Sea World and Aquatica and didn't cost too much more.

 

[dc1969]

Thanks! I was hoping someone had been to both and would chime in. So, out of the two, which did you prefer (taking the dolphins out of the equation and just talking about the beach)?

A few months ago I was convinced of Blue Lagoon, but now I am leaning towards Atlantis. I'd hate to be that close and not check it out.

I haven't been to Castaway Cay yet but the beach there looks very calm (little to no waves) so I don't think I'd do Blue Lagoon - UNLESS I wanted a more quiet beach. Sounds like CC will be quite busy when the cruise ship pulls in from what I've read. You shouldn't have that at Blue Lagoon. If you're looking to strictly lay on the sand for 8 hours, then that'd probably be your best bet LOL

I liked the accessibility of things at Atlantis - food, entertainment, etc. The water there though, has a pretty good undertow at times, so definitely waves. My kids had a blast being pulled in and out with the waves and searching for shells. It wasn't as shallow of an entry though, I remember there was a fast drop off. I've attached a photo of the main beach, I'm assuming you'd be at.

Sounds like we're doing similar things, we almost did the dolphins at DC too, but they wouldn't allow our 4yr old, so Atlantis it is for us lol

 

[Ashlotte]

I think at this point I have talked myself out of Atlantis. It seems like most of what Atlantis has to offer, we will have recently done or will be about to do:

Casino- we don't gamble
Shopping- DH hates it with a passion and will start complaining the second I step in a store, and will complain even more if I attempt to buy something
Water slides- we will have just been to Aquatica a few days earlier
Aquarium- we will have just been to Sea World and Discovery Cove a few days earlier
Beach- it sounds like the water is kind of choppy, so not the best choice if just going for the beach

So now the question has turned into, "Should I go to Blue Lagoon or stay on the ship?" More decisions!

 

[mc2]

DH and I did Atlantis a few years ago during a cruise (August). Had an amazing day, loved the water park, loved the grounds, etc... He decided that he and DD would go last week - he was SO excited. Ended up being an absolute nightmare. It was PACKED. There were multiple ships in Nassau that day, and the water park was at max (or more) capacity. People were literally fighting over tubes, etc... Was a completely different (not in a good way) experience from what we had when we went. He said he would never go again if there were several ships in port that day. Just some food for thought.

 

[Sur]

While at Blue Lagoon, it was my child and I, and two other couples on the beach (this was after the earliest dolphin encounter). The inflatables were not in operation (and I think they cost extra).

It is a very quiet beach. Another cruise ship brought in more customers as we were leaving at 4 pm.

You can also watch the dolphins play with one another when they are not performing in the enclosed areas. They swim out in an open area that is a very short walking distance from the beach. If my kids were older, I'd opt for just the beach and watching them swim while not performing hugs/fin-shakes/water tossing. At this age, they'd have a melt down watching others in there and not being a part of it all. It was a VERY COLD encounter, though, so maybe they'll remember that and opt to not go (yeah, right)!

 

[Ashlotte]

DH and I did Atlantis a few years ago during a cruise (August). Had an amazing day, loved the water park, loved the grounds, etc... He decided that he and DD would go last week - he was SO excited. Ended up being an absolute nightmare. It was PACKED. There were multiple ships in Nassau that day, and the water park was at max (or more) capacity. People were literally fighting over tubes, etc... Was a completely different (not in a good way) experience from what we had when we went. He said he would never go again if there were several ships in port that day. Just some food for thought.

Wow, that stinks! I would be so upset if I paid that kind of money and had that experience.

 

[lilroo442]

We were at Blue Lagoon two weeks ago. It's beautiful and so relaxing! The water was clear and calm, my little nieces loved and we felt they weren't in any major danger from any kind of waves. My family had to drag me out the water- I had the best time, my whole family did. We saw the dolphins as we were leaving, enjoyed the inner tubes and paid for a kayak. Our Castaway Cay was a littler colder and pretty windy (I was so relieved we got to dock!) so I'm extra grateful out blue lagoon day was so awesome!

 

[chrisrunty]

We've done both. If you want active, busy, lots of eye candy and "wows" do Atlantis. If you want relaxing, drink in hand, swimming, chilling.... then do Blue Lagoon. You will enjoy your time at either place trust me! It is really what you are looking for. Our last trip we did Blue Lagoon because it was the day after CC, and I need a quiet relaxing day. It was perfect.

 

[alagille]

Just out of curiosity, when Lilo went to Blue Lagoon 2 wks ago, how many ships were in port? We go in a little over 2 wks and there are 6 ships in port. I went with just my 5 year old in Feb and LOVED it, even without the dolphins. I know my 7 yo would also enjoy it, but am concerned it would be much more packed than in Feb when only one other ship was in port (and didn't get in until almost noon-the other ship). There MIGHT have been a total of 60 guests on the island. It was an enjoyable very exclusive feeling private island. Downside was that the boat ride took nearly 45 min ea way as we stopped to load on the Atlantis island to pick up add'l passengers.

 

[lilroo442]

Just out of curiosity, when Lilo went to Blue Lagoon 2 wks ago, how many ships were in port? We go in a little over 2 wks and there are 6 ships in port. I went with just my 5 year old in Feb and LOVED it, even without the dolphins. I know my 7 yo would also enjoy it, but am concerned it would be much more packed than in Feb when only one other ship was in port (and didn't get in until almost noon-the other ship). There MIGHT have been a total of 60 guests on the island. It was an enjoyable very exclusive feeling private island. Downside was that the boat ride took nearly 45 min ea way as we stopped to load on the Atlantis island to pick up add'l passengers.

When we arrived there were maybe 20-30 people in a private party area, we were the only large group to arrive. The only other people I noticed coming in on the little boat walked directly to the dolphin encounter. I would say there were less than 100 people on the island. We were not crowded at all. We didn't pick up additional passengers, we did drop off people on the return though. There were three ships in port, the Dream and two carnivals. I really think the Dream were the only people at the lagoon.

 

[Ashlotte]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I think I may have to do Blue Lagoon. If anyone else has an experience to add, I'd love to hear about it.

 

[pyramid2000]

There is also the option of either getting day passes or a day room at one of the hotels along the beach. We did this a few years ago and it was pretty cheap and very relaxing. You have the beach with towels and chairs and access to the pool also. With the room you have a place to get out of the sun if need be. (There was one in our party who had a little one so they went that route.) Most are only a 5 - 10 minute cab ride away. Just another thought.

 

[sarabguerra]

Is Blue Lagoon a DCL excursion? We weren't planning on getting off in Nassau but my parents are & this sounds like what she'd want to do. But I'm afraid they will wait too long to come back & miss the boat. It seems like a long distance to travel for a beach when we would have just been at CC.

 

[hardis5]

Is Blue Lagoon a DCL excursion? We weren't planning on getting off in Nassau but my parents are & this sounds like what she'd want to do. But I'm afraid they will wait too long to come back & miss the boat. It seems like a long distance to travel for a beach when we would have just been at CC.

Yes it is an exclusion that can be booked through DCL. It is a ways out but the boat ride there and back give great views Nassau, the hotels and the pricier water properties along the way and they have several shuttles times back that will all get you back to the ship with plenty of time to spare.

 

[WendyDarling]

Yes it is an exclusion that can be booked through DCL. It is a ways out but the boat ride there and back give great views Nassau, the hotels and the pricier water properties along the way and they have several shuttles times back that will all get you back to the ship with plenty of time to spare.

If you do the sea lion or dolphin encounter, is the 'beach time' or lunch included with it?

 

[hardis5]

If you do the sea lion or dolphin encounter, is the 'beach time' or lunch included with it?

Beach time yes. We were two families with the DW of one doing the dolphin encounter and she just joined us at the hammocks / beach after but I remember her having to pay for food when we ate - the rest of us all had tickets we turned in for our meals.