Rose Island Beach & Snorkeling Experience

[ColoradoMom!!]

Jan - You are an angel!! Thank you soooo much for posting this! This was the great news I was hoping for. Lucky us - I can't wait. Did you try the snorkeling?? Was the lunch ok?? Do they have lockers for your camera, etc.?
OHHHHH I am sooooo thrilled! You made my day, week, month!!

 

[JLSE50]

Jan - You are an angel!! Thank you soooo much for posting this! This was the great news I was hoping for. Lucky us - I can't wait. Did you try the snorkeling?? Was the lunch ok?? Do they have lockers for your camera, etc.?
OHHHHH I am sooooo thrilled! You made my day, week, month!!

Yes we did snorkel. We all have our own equipment but I am sure some was available and included in the excursion cost for DCL guests. Great reef and lots to see. I was so far out when the boat was going back that I could not hear DH call me so he had to swim out and was TIRED because he was swimming fast due to worry that they would leave us. (Then we learned, whole on the boat back to the ship, that we could have stayed longer--fudge....)

I wonder if they would allow a baby on that boat if the family took the kid's car seat and strapped it down inside the boat, not on the open top deck. My concern with a tiny one would be the bouncing of the boat as you travel. It was not very rough water but we did bounce a lot and walking took concentration. But, as our commedian said, that is why we drink on board a ship, then we can walk straight. It is the sober people who stagger. Hmm--as a casual drinker I don't know if he is right.
Jan

 

[tam012864]

Stupid question here...is there a dock for the boat? Or does it go right up on the beach and you get off by ladder?

 

[LeslieG]

Okay, I'm a little confused. Thru Disney's website it states $45 pp adult and $35pp kids and from 10 to 2 p.m., even though in the description it states 5 to 5 1/2 hours.

Then I went to Sea Island Adventure's website, and it's $40 pp and says food for purchase. I didn't see anything noting times. That's for the snorkeling escape. They also had something 10 to 4 p.m. for $70 pp that included lunch and was like 10 to 4 p.m.

I'm trying to decide which way is the best way to book. Any suggestions?

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Okay, I'm a little confused. Thru Disney's website it states $45 pp adult and $35pp kids and from 10 to 2 p.m., even though in the description it states 5 to 5 1/2 hours.

Then I went to Sea Island Adventure's website, and it's $40 pp and says food for purchase. I didn't see anything noting times. That's for the snorkeling escape. They also had something 10 to 4 p.m. for $70 pp that included lunch and was like 10 to 4 p.m.

I'm trying to decide which way is the best way to book. Any suggestions?

I looked into this as well, and can't figure out why Disney would be cheaper. Not the usual case as in the Dolphin Enounter. I would definately say go with Disney! You don't have to worry about "how to get there" and as Jan said above, lunch is included. I don't see the "catch" with Disney, but we're going soon, as is JerseyBelle, so we'll keep everyone posted. We may have finally found a reason to get off the boat in Nassau -- Rose Island!!
JAN -- lockers?? How was lunch?

 

[LeslieG]

I read on I think the cruisecritic boards that the Ritz Carlton will soon be taking over the island and beginning construction and that this excurision will not be available when that starts. I don't know if all that's true, but just passing along what I read.

Also, does anyone know if there are freshwater showers? It seems from what I've read the ammenities are pretty primitive. How about lounge chairs?

 

[JLSE50]

I looked into this as well, and can't figure out why Disney would be cheaper. Not the usual case as in the Dolphin Enounter. I would definately say go with Disney! You don't have to worry about "how to get there" and as Jan said above, lunch is included. I don't see the "catch" with Disney, but we're going soon, as is JerseyBelle, so we'll keep everyone posted. We may have finally found a reason to get off the boat in Nassau -- Rose Island!!
JAN -- lockers?? How was lunch?

This is definitely a rustic excursion--like being an islander--not a "tourist". We loved the timeless feel of it!

I had such a good time snorkeling, I don't really remember the food. Seems like it was hamburger patty or chicken breast, bun, lettuce, tomatoe slices, mayo, mustard, ketchup etc. And a soda pop. Someone mentioned coconut, but I was not looking for that, I wanted to see fish.

There was a bar so drinks could be purchased. I think there were chairs and hammocks--but cannot vouch for that. The postcard they gave us on the way back shows beach chairs and umbrellas.

I expect that the time will be on the papers or tickets in your stateroom. It might change due to weather or tide.

We usually book our excursions with Disney. We figure that if there is any problem we have someone to fall back on. If the ship does not dock for reason of weather or emergency we get our money back. We just don't know what would happen otherwise. The only time we did our own thing was in Cozumel when we took a taxi to Chaukanaub State Park, snorkeled with our own equipment, bought our own lunch and got a taxi back. Well, we did walk around downtown Nassau, St. Martin, St. Thomas, Grand Cayman and Cozumel on our own--I wanted to find post offices and mail cards to myself for our scrapbooks. I also wanted to see how people really live, not just the parts of the island that they want us to see.

My kids used showers and I assume they were fresh water or why would anyone bother.

Lockers??? I do not remember, but did not see any need for one. There were so few of us there and everyone was so kind and thoughtful. We did not take anything of value though--ourselves, KTWC, photo ID, a little change but did not need it and the DCL towels they handed out as we disembarked at Nassau. If we had wanted alcoholic drinks we would have needed money.

The boat came up to a pier and we walked off the boat. To get on we needed a stool--tide must have changed. Nice fellows are there to steady you as you get on and off.
Anything I forgot?
Jan

 

[JerseyBelle]

Thank you so much for all the information. I am really excited. The picture posted is beautiful. Just my speed "Tranquility".

 

[mishoe01]

Reading all this, and seeing the pic REALLY makes me happy that I chose this shore excursion too! Now, I just have to wait until December (ugh!)

Thanks for all the info - and if any one does it soon - post your thought too, please.

 

[tam012864]

Oh I can't wait either!!! I had emailed my TA several weeks ago and told him to reserve this for me...We go in June...I am so excited about this!!!

 

[JLSE50]

More pictures and info at their website. The boat pictured is not the one we went on. We docked at a pier and walked across the island--a short jaunt--to the beach. These pictures look like a catamaran motorboat with stairs that let you down into shallow water. We did not see a boat like that.
http://www.seaislandadventures.com/daytrip.lasso

This sounds like our excursion, but the food description does not sound the same. http://www.seaisl.com/index.htm

More pictures here: http://www.seaisl.com/pics.htm
Jan

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Thanks Jan!!! Was the snorkeling equipment ok? Do you go on your own, or do they take groups? I have bought each of my sons an underwater camera (2 for $14.99 at Costco ) and am just so thrilled to see colorful fish! Thank you soooo much for posting the pic's and everything!

 

[JLSE50]

We used the snorkeling equipment provided on excursions and at CC on our first couple cruises. Then we bought our own--K-mart--not expensive. My fins were not wide enough to fit my wide feet so I got a new pair at a sporting goods store this past summer so all totaled we probably paid less than $60 to outfit two of us. Our kids bought fancier equipment and I could not tell the difference. But, they are happy with their purchases, so I would not fault them for it.

When we used what was provided it was fine and if it was not, they traded you another set. One time my mask leaked so they gave me a new one, no problem.

I think the underwater cameras are so much FUN!! I bought one for each of our kids but they forgot them on the ship each time we went snorkeling.......
Oh well......
Jan

 

[JerseyBelle]

We took the Rose Island excursion on our 11/9/06 Wonder 3 day. Here is my general opinion.

1. Beautiful beach and water
2. Uneventful ferry ride (45 minutes)
3. We are not snorkelers but my opinion for being our first time is that this is not a great snorkeling trip. All I saw was some white fish.
4. Their equipment was not very good. I don't mean the snorkels or masks as we had our own. I mean the vests. The type at Castaway Cay are much better.
5. The food was basic and limited. We were given two coins: 1 for food and 1 for a drink. (no seconds)
6. The trip was also an ad campaign. They had a treasurer hunt in the water to find little white bags containing coins. These coins were to taken to shops in Nassau as a promotion so they were aimed at getting people to come to specific shops. Our daughter found one and we decided that it was more valuable as a souvenier trinket then to use it towards shopping. When we got back to Nassau, we just wanted to get on the ship.

It is a nice beach (not very good chairs) but I am sure there are other nice beaches.

 

[LeslieG]

Thanks for posting. We decided in favor of going to Atlantis.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

We just got off the boat hours ago! I am sooooo sad that it is over!
We had a wonderful time! I have so much to say, but I saw JerseyBelle's reply and just had to add my own! We were there on Monday Nov. 13th, and we are "experienced Snorkel'ers I, too, was worried when I first went out and all I saw were white fish -- but I knew that you had to swim just a little further our to get to the reef! That's where all the fish are!! I am talking an extra 10 feet or so, and I have never seen more color and clear water. It was amazing! The reef was incredible with little canyons -- a whole new world!
I will write more later -- and agree with JerseyBelle on the rest! I just wish I was there to take her out a bit further. My 8 and 12 year old who had never been loved it and saw TONS of fish!
Hey -- my computer screen is rocking back and forth -- I need to get back on the boat!

 

[JerseyBelle]

We just got off the boat hours ago! I am sooooo sad that it is over!
We had a wonderful time! I have so much to say, but I saw JerseyBelle's reply and just had to add my own! We were there on Monday Nov. 13th, and we are "experienced Snorkel'ers I, too, was worried when I first went out and all I saw were white fish -- but I knew that you had to swim just a little further our to get to the reef! That's where all the fish are!! I am talking an extra 10 feet or so, and I have never seen more color and clear water. It was amazing! The reef was incredible with little canyons -- a whole new world!
I will write more later -- and agree with JerseyBelle on the rest! I just wish I was there to take her out a bit further. My 8 and 12 year old who had never been loved it and saw TONS of fish!
Hey -- my computer screen is rocking back and forth -- I need to get back on the boat!

I really wish I had. We were having problems with the vests and our dd was making issues with the deepness how it dropped off. The saving grace was when we got to Castaway Cay and did the Stingray Encounter. We had a blast. We fed them with a just awesome trainer. We can't remember his name but he is also the sandcastle builder. We swam around with them, followed them to watched them dig their way into the sand. It was awesome. Can't wait for the water camera pictures to be developed.