Rose Island Beach & Snorkeling Experience

[JerseyBelle]

Does anyone have any comments about the Rose Island Beach and Snorkeling Experience at Nassau? It is not in my Passporter Field Guide (4th Addition) but it is listed as an optional excursion at Nassau. I would like to hear comments about the quality of the snorkeling, included lunch, the beach and anything else of importance.

 

[JerseyBelle]

Any one?

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Please inform -- I'd like to know also!

 

[JerseyBelle]

Please inform -- I'd like to know also!

I think this must be new. It wasn't in the passporter and no one is responding. We booked it at our 75 day mark because it sounds like fun.

 

[JerseyBelle]

I bumped to see if anyone new reviewing the board has done this excursion.

 

[tam012864]

I was looking into this too...anyone heard anything?

 

[dflst]

I have not done the actual Rose Island excursion through DCL, but in October 2005, we were staying at Atlantis (me, wife, three daughters under 10, and three teen-age nieces) and we opted for a visit to Rose Island for a day.

The island is every bit as beautiful as CC, but is is far less developed and not at all crowded. They had snorkeling and you could buy a $1 bag of dog food and have the fish eat out of your hand. They had kayaks and hammocks. Everyone in our group loved it and we would go back again if given the chance.

Lunch was fine and included fresh coconut and a BBQ.

Here is one photo (I have more) of the main beach. You can see a photo of this at darren.net/roseisland.jpg

 

[tam012864]

Oh!!! How Awesome!!! Thanks for the pic!!! I cant wait to go--it looks so beautiful!!! Thanks again!!!

 

[JerseyBelle]

Thank you for your comments. We think we picked the right excursion. Can't wait.

 

[dflst]

You are welcome. I hope you enjoy it. Just one word of caution though...if you get the bag of food, be aware that the fish will quickly know it and before you know it you will be surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands, of hungry fish.

The three teenage nieces and I thought this was awesome, but the 7, 8, and 9 year olds were a bit startled by this. If you have small children, you might want to proceed cautiously.

 

[JerseyBelle]

You are welcome. I hope you enjoy it. Just one word of caution though...if you get the bag of food, be aware that the fish will quickly know it and before you know it you will be surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands, of hungry fish.

The three teenage nieces and I thought this was awesome, but the 7, 8, and 9 year olds were a bit startled by this. If you have small children, you might want to proceed cautiously.

Thanks for the warning. I will let my DD(9) know; however I think she will be ok. She is a nut for science and will probably love it.

 

[Jamie Curci]

Just wondering with this excursion (and really all others for that matter) where Disney posts prices based on children's ages, if those younger than the minimum go for free or are not permitted?

This excursion (maybe from the snorkeling aspect) prices children starting at age 5. When we go in November, my children will be 5 and 1. If my wife and 1-year-old are planning to simply spend time on the beach while me and my older son do the snorkeling thing, is that acceptable, or will I have a hard time with this approach?

Thanks!

 

[JerseyBelle]

Just wondering with this excursion (and really all others for that matter) where Disney posts prices based on children's ages, if those younger than the minimum go for free or are not permitted?

This excursion (maybe from the snorkeling aspect) prices children starting at age 5. When we go in November, my children will be 5 and 1. If my wife and 1-year-old are planning to simply spend time on the beach while me and my older son do the snorkeling thing, is that acceptable, or will I have a hard time with this approach?

Thanks!

You may want to contact Disney and ask; however in my opinion you would be ok. We picked this snorkeling trip because of two main reasons:

1. It is not in open water, which works best for my dd(9) who swims but not at the level of an adult.
2. It has a beach portion. If the snorkeling doesn't work out for any or all of us 3, we have the beach.

 

[Jamie Curci]

I took your advice and called the cruise line this afternoon. Unfortunately, my 1-year-old is NOT permitted based on catermaran safety concerns. So the pricing showing minimum ages doesn't indicate those younger can come along for free; rather, they can't come at all. I also asked about the Blackbeard Cay Stingray Adventure and my little one is too young for that as well.

Boy, 2 days at CC are looking a lot more interesting to us at this point. Skipping Nassau wouldn't bother me too much! Sorry to vent . . .

 

[JerseyBelle]

I took your advice and called the cruise line this afternoon. Unfortunately, my 1-year-old is NOT permitted based on catermaran safety concerns. So the pricing showing minimum ages doesn't indicate those younger can come along for free; rather, they can't come at all. I also asked about the Blackbeard Cay Stingray Adventure and my little one is too young for that as well.

Boy, 2 days at CC are looking a lot more interesting to us at this point. Skipping Nassau wouldn't bother me too much! Sorry to vent . . .

No problem. I wasn't thrill when I read the available excursions for Nassau either. I was actually thinking about suggesting that we stay on the ship until the Rose Island Trip was added (not in my passporter). Hope you find something.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

I have been researching to death all the alternatives in Nassau, including staying on the boat! The Dolphin Encounter is sold out, and although I know we could try to book it once we're on the ship, the $$ and not having anything set bothered me.

In TripAdvisor, a gal from the area suggested an excursion to Rose Island through Sea Island Adventures (look them up - just add .com) I think this one from Disney is it!! I am sooo thrilled. And it includes lunch -- even if not great, we don't have to tote along some of our own food -- and for a great price. On the web site noted above, it looks like the lunch choice was $70. I know Disney uses companies withour disclosing their names (many people book directly) and I hope this is it! When I called Disney for more info., they said there is a treasure coin hunt on the beach -- that sounds like it to me.
Whoppeeeeee I can't wait.

JerseyBelle--you must be going right before me!

 

[JerseyBelle]

JerseyBelle--you must be going right before me![/QUOTE]


Yes we are not doing land and sea. You will be on you land portion while we are on the wonder. In NJ there is a teachers convention the same Thursday and Friday annually. We are taking advantage of the schools being closed for our first cruise. I definitely think we made the right choice with Rose Island. Enjoy your trip.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Still hoping to hear from someone who has acutally done this through Disney.

 

[nixieh]

We haven't done the excursion but we visited Rose Island last year in a motorboat with some friends who live in Nassau and the island itself is lovely. A really beautiful desert island with white sand and gorgeous clear sea, when we were there it was completely empty. In fact I thought it was so lovely that Castaway Cay seemed really crowded and not that pleasant in comparison.

Here is one of our photos, the sea was so clear you can see loads of fishes so I can imagine that it would be a great place for snorkelling.

Nicola

[/IMG]

 

[JLSE50]

We did this through Disney Sept 4, 2006. We had a very nice time. The boat is not a catamaran so I do not know why anyone was told it was. We went on a large motorboat. You could contact the company--the guess was right, it is Sea Island Adventures.

Through Disney, lunch is included. They gave us a pirate coin for a beverage and one for our lunch. I do not remember the coconut though but since I don't like fresh coconut I would not have taken one if it was there.

The treasure hunt is a short event, be sure you ask when it is to be done. They throw little fabric bags in the water in a specific area near the shore. The coins inside are good for treats at certain realtors back on the main land. We opted to keep our coins as they were too neat and who wants free shampoo or whatever.

We tried to book it on line with DCL but it did not come up as an option so we figured it was booked up. At the entertainment the first night the Cruise Director said there were openings on it so I RAN, did not WALK, but RAN to the Excursion desk to change from the Catamaran to Rose Island.

There were only 14 of us who went from the WONDER. We had the place to OURSELVES!! The lady in charge said that on some weekends they have over 200. Disney could send a lot more people on this one.

A few people who went to the island from the WONDER were not on the boat back so I asked the lady in charge and she said they asked to come on the second boat. We wish we had known. The Disney Excursion list said the excursion was 5-5-1/2 hours but we were back in a bit over 4 hours. The lady said Disney told them to bring us back on the first boat but if anyone asked the Sea Island people if they could stay for the second one, they let them.

We told Disney that if they want people back on the first boat, they need to state that the excursion is a 4-4 1/2 hour trip. That was our only complaint--we would have liked to stay longer.

Water is CLEAR. Nice REEF. Lots of FISH. Sand is SOFT. Island is RUSTIC. All very nice.
Jan