Nassau Plans...Questions

[Drcell01]

Even though this will be our first cruise we (DW, DD (13), and myself) are a bit of explorers. Wife is dissapointed that there is not a casino on board (I told her that afterall this is a Disney Cruise) so I promised that I would make sure that she got to Pleasure Island and Atlantis casino. DD is already making her teen plans and from all of your great info she has aloready told us that she will see us when we disembark...LOL!

I am the major explorer and like to see things from my own point of view and want to take in as much of Nassau as possible. Many of you have said that you stay on board when docked in Nassau and have even equated the experience of being there with that of Tijauna, Mexico. We have been to Tijuana and wife did not like the experience of seeing small children begging in the street.

With that being said here are my questions:

1. Our plans are to take a taxi from port to Atlantis. Next would be lunch at Hard Rock Cafe (just have to pick up something to go with my other Hard Rock items from around the world) and a little history tour in the city. Last maybe the Straw Market.
a.) Is it possible to get all of that done before the required return to the ship?
b.) What should I be aware of when obtaining a taxi at the dock? I've read a few horror stories.
c.) Any suggestions for "DO NOT MISS" places and things along the way?
d.) IS Nassau as similar a place as Tijuana?

 

[ToyStory]

Hi.. I was just in Nassau last week on a different cruise line. You can always take the water taxi to Pleasure Island. I think I saw it was $5.00 per person.

The Hardrock Cafe is near where the water taxi is and the straw market is right by too. I heard the Pirate Museum was nice.


I have never been Tijuana so I can't comment on that, but Nassau was better then Ocho Rios.

This trip I didn't go into the straw market since we did the Dolphin Encounter and got back to the pier around 12:30. We had to be on the ship by 1:30. Plus it was very hot and my son just wanted to have lunch and go swimming.

I am looking into booking our first Disney Cruise.

 

[donmil723]

We were in Nassau last month, DH, DD, and her friend, both 19 and myself. We got off the ship as soon as they began disembarking and walked to the Queen's Staircase, Fort Fincastle and the Water Tower and then back to the shopping area near the port. We went to Hard Rock to get souveniers, walked through the straw market, and to Senor Frogs for a mixed drink. Then back to the ship for lunch. After lunch we got a taxi to Paradise Island and the Atlantis Casino. We were back on the ship by 3 p.m. We had a great time but were glad to have time to relax by the pool (DH had a nap in the room) before getting ready for the 6:30 p.m. show.

Donna

 

[ragdoll]

In my opinion Nassau is definitely worth exploring and you will have plenty of time. Atlantis is beautiful and just a short taxi ride away. The vendors on the island are pushy but a firm "no thank you" will do the trick.

Have fun!

 

[Deweysgirl]

We also explored Nassau on our own. We took the kids and walked over to the Pirate's museum. We came back through the straw market so the kids could buy some jewelry and t-shirts. We then went back to the ship for lunch, dropped the kids in the club and went back out and got a taxi to Atlantis (4.00 pp each way). I've heard as fas as getting a taxi to just inquire of the fare price before you accept. There were lots of taxi's to take you to Atlantis as soon as you arrive. We took the first one we came to as the fare seemed reasonable enough to us. We played the slot machines and looked around a bit and took a taxi back to the ship.

I didn't find Nassau to be too dirty or run down and we didn't encounter any begging. The only small annoyance to me was the women wanting to braid our hair. A smile and a polite no is all that was required.

The kids really enjoyed the Pirate museum!
We really enjoyed the casino!

 

[cristit14]

Originally posted by Deweysgirl




The kids really enjoyed the Pirate museum!
We really enjoyed the casino!

Deweysgirl,
How old are your kids? I have a DS6 and DD8 and DH(kid at heart). I was thinking that we would probably go to the Pirate Museum and maybe a little shopping on Nassau. I wouldn't mind stopping at Senor Frogs for a nice tropical drink myself.

 

[webray]

Nassau is definately worth exploring. We started right away in the morning with the 2 hour historic tour by taxi...then we went to senor frogs for tshirts, and then over to Conch Fritters for lunch..great place, upstairs...large open windows..nice breeze. Great food/drinks. Very relaxing. We then went to the straw market, what a blast...we loved it. Then on to walking the streets to find the pharmacy to purchase stamps and postcards..mailbox is close, so very easy to mail back to everyone.
We went to hard rock cafe, checked out the liquor stores of course, had too many packages..needed to make a trip back to the ship to drop things off..lol. Came back out again..daughter needed another quick stop at straw market for something she had seen earlier and decided to purchase..walked around a bit more..then we noticed a Philipino restaurant right by straw market..we had to stop for lumpia and it did not disappoint..wish we would have seen it earlier in the day so we could have ordered more. We had Palo reservations for dinner that night..so we had to head back to the ship.

We loved Nassau..and hope to make another trip, so we can spend some time at Atlantis and a few other places.

Go and enjoy! Our family loves to explore as well, and that is exactly what we do on a new island/city/whatever...why stay on the ship when you can have great food and meet the people!

 

[Deweysgirl]

cristit14 - The pirate museum was fun. It mostly had history of the pirates, pirate artifacts and dioramas. We enjoyed it and the kids really loved it. Here is a website to give you lots of information: www.takdesign.net/pirates/v9/history.htm It is an easy walk, maybe 10 minutes at the most from the ship.

My DD's are 6 and 9.

 

[shmora]

I want to know if we do the dolphin encounter in the morning, can we explore the blue lagoon for an hour, then hop on a taxi and go see Atlantis, and go to the Straw Market and explore the streets awhile all in the same day? How do you get to the dolphin encounter on Blue Lagoon if you book the excursion by yourself, I'm not clear on this? I have 6 in my family. Can you take a taxi to Atlantis from the Dolphin excursion and back to the Straw market or will it cost a fortune? I'm sorry about all t he questions, it is our first trip to anywhere like this before.

shmora

 

[cristit14]

Originally posted by Deweysgirl
cristit14 - The pirate museum was fun. It mostly had history of the pirates, pirate artifacts and dioramas. We enjoyed it and the kids really loved it. Here is a website to give you lots of information: www.takdesign.net/pirates/v9/history.htm It is an easy walk, maybe 10 minutes at the most from the ship.

My DD's are 6 and 9.

Thanks for the information. I think we will do that. We don't really have any interest in going to Atlantis.