Thoughts on Nassau (Stay on or Get off the Ship)

[Lisa Garcia]

I have booked the Thanksgiving Cruise of out NYC next year. It has a stop at Nassau. I have read that a lot of people prefer to stay on the ship. I was hoping for a beach day (i dont expect Castaway style, but a simple relax at the beach with the kids). What does Nassau have to offer for a relaxing beach day. I prefer to be close to the boat (in case kiddos get tired) and prefer to be part of the Disney Cruise (I dont want to go off on our own). Any suggestions?

 

[ChicosWife]

You have to explore! We did the Atlantis excursion, which included a short bus ride, where we got to see all the bright colors of the Bahamas! You can relax at the Atlantis beach!

 

[mevelandry]

Blue Lagoon is nice and reminded us of Castaway Cay (try to find the beach behind the restaurant, it's awesome). You need to get on a boat in order to get there and the ride is quite nice!

 

[mevelandry]

Taken at Blue Lagoon (no filter, just a normal cellphone picture).

 

[Shamrock927]

I am one to always get off the ship and explore, but my wife is typically more willing to stay on the ship and enjoy the pool. I have done snorkeling or diving trips in Nassau in the past but I think Atlantis would be a good take for you. I don't think the bus ride is that long and the resort is beautiful. You can relax by the water if you choose and there are plenty of other sights and amenities there if you need a break. I would take a look at that and you may even get more info on the resort's site. Enjoy!

 

[4shinystars]

made new post for my comment, sorry.

 

[RedSox68]

We never miss getting off in a port. We have stopped at Nassau three times. The first time we did the island tour which showed us quite a bit and then we went to the straw market. The second time we did the Pirate's museum which is awesome and then the last time we did the excursion to Atlantis -- which included the shuttle round trip and tickets to the aquarium, which we really enjoyed. Then we walked around the grounds and saw the turtle and sting ray pools and then got the last shuttle back. That was our favorite thing we did in Nassau.

 

[SteelersLover]

i enjoy buying daypasses and enjoying a beach day with my son. Ive done the British Colonial Hilton or Melia Resort (used to be Sheraton)

 

[Meredisney]

i enjoy buying daypasses and enjoying a beach day with my son. Ive done the British Colonial Hilton or Melia Resort (used to be Sheraton)

I second the British Colonial Hilton for a beach day. Beautiful property and within walking distance.

 

[hubbard53]

I like Nassau a lot and get off the ship just to explore...even if it's just a trip to the McDonalds for a Fish sandwich with jalepenos (dont judge me)

 

[kaye_ann24]

i enjoy buying daypasses and enjoying a beach day with my son. Ive done the British Colonial Hilton or Melia Resort (used to be Sheraton)

Would you recommend to book day passes online prior to the cruise? Or they have selections to choose from while in cruise?

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I've done Atlantis Beach Day twice (2013 and 2015.) The first time was great! Our guide was great, the beach was clean, the walk was long but it was a nice secluded area (not public beach) for the guests of the resort and other cruise lines. The food was good and near by as was the public restroom. The chairs had nice covers for shade. It was worth it which is why I decided to take my mom in 2015...

It was pretty horrible. The guide left our group when we arrived. People wandered around the lobby of the hotel just waiting. Since I knew the area, mom and I walked to where the beach was in 2013. We come to find out that they changed the beach and now it's a public beach at Atlantis, the food locations changed and were no where near where we were sitting. The beach was dirty...chairs broken. We ended up spending less time on the beach and more time walking around the resort and seeing the aquarium area which I didn't do the first time. We did share our concerns with guest services upon returning to the ship but they simply just said it is not in their control and that was it.

Our table-mates went to Blue Lagoon of the dolphin swim and beach day and LOVED it. They said it was clean and the ride over on the boat was nice. I wish we had done that but at least mom got to check off Atlantis from her bucket list! As of now, were planning on staying on the ship for our cruise in March (maybe just the straw market.)

 

[kaye_ann24]

I've done Atlantis Beach Day twice (2013 and 2015.) The first time was great! Our guide was great, the beach was clean, the walk was long but it was a nice secluded area (not public beach) for the guests of the resort and other cruise lines. The food was good and near by as was the public restroom. The chairs had nice covers for shade. It was worth it which is why I decided to take my mom in 2015...

It was pretty horrible. The guide left our group when we arrived. People wandered around the lobby of the hotel just waiting. Since I knew the area, mom and I walked to where the beach was in 2013. We come to find out that they changed the beach and now it's a public beach at Atlantis, the food locations changed and were no where near where we were sitting. The beach was dirty...chairs broken. We ended up spending less time on the beach and more time walking around the resort and seeing the aquarium area which I didn't do the first time. We did share our concerns with guest services upon returning to the ship but they simply just said it is not in their control and that was it.

Our table-mates went to Blue Lagoon of the dolphin swim and beach day and LOVED it. They said it was clean and the ride over on the boat was nice. I wish we had done that but at least mom got to check off Atlantis from her bucket list! As of now, were planning on staying on the ship for our cruise in March (maybe just the straw market.)

That makes me worry that if the Atlantis beach has changed and I wonder if it is still good and safe especially with kids?

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

That makes me worry that if the Atlantis beach has changed and I wonder if it is still good and safe especially with kids?

We didn't even make it to the beach that they claim it changed to. DCL was the one that told us that the beach had changed when we had got back which is a shame for the price you pay. You could tell as you walk by that the locals were trying to hassle guests to purchase things....but that beach was a shorter walk than the secluded one. At the secluded one, there were people there but very few cruisers (most likely ones that had done it in the past too.) The nice restaurant close to that beach told me that only the aqua adventure guests were allowed to use their meal coupons there. We ended up with mediocre hot dogs at a stand further down the path. Needless to say, I won't be back but the lobby and aquarium are very nice...they got some of my money in the gift shop too haha

 

[Frozen2014]

Blue Lagoon is nice and reminded us of Castaway Cay (try to find the beach behind the restaurant, it's awesome). You need to get on a boat in order to get there and the ride is quite nice!

Agreed. We really enjoyed Blue Lagoon. We just did the beach day but still could watch the dolphin encounter. Water is pretty and calm with use of mats and tubes and an Aqua park for small fee.

 

[PAGA2003]

i enjoy buying daypasses and enjoying a beach day with my son. Ive done the British Colonial Hilton or Melia Resort (used to be Sheraton)

We had booked passes to the Hilton on our last cruise but the pool was being renovated so we cancelled and went to the Melia instead. I have to say we would not do the Melia again. It was fine but I thought the pools had seen better days and it was more expensive for the 3 of us (2 adults, 1 child) once you factored in the taxi ride and the fact that the Melia did not include a food/beverage credit like the Hilton. I would love to try the Hilton though!

 

[hubbard53]

get off the boat!

too many people stay aboard now b/c it's the "thing to do"

Just go be a tourist. if you're scared of nassau - for no reason - take a cab to paradise island and shop there...

 

[mevelandry]

Just go be a tourist. if you're scared of nassau - for no reason - take a cab to paradise island and shop there...

Well... I wouldn't call the travel advisory "no reason"...

We were supposed to go on an excursion with the family for our next cruise but we have just decided to stay on the ship. We don't feel like Atlantis will be worth it (+ 5 ships in town!) and although we love Blue Lagoon, we don't wanna do two beach days in a row. And unfortunately, we have very little interest in the other excursions offered.

Nassau day will be a Rainforest Spa/Palo Brunch/Pool & Movies day for us.

But otherwise, "Beach day at Blue Lagoon" is definitely our #1 in Nassau!

 

[mdgineok]

Sorry OP, not trying to hijack your thread, but for those that bought day passes for the Hilton ahead of time did you get them directly from the hotel or from a website like "Resort for a Day"?

Thanks!

 

[emilymad]

At Blue Lagoon are there people that hassle you to buy stuff on the beach or is it private?

Does the beach day excursion usually book up in advance? I am thinking about it for our February trip but I would rather wait to book it until we knew the weather.