Day 2 Nassau Day
Got the wakeup call from Mickey at 7:30 AM. We were still sailing and could see land (we brought Binoculars and we could see the Atlantis in the distance) from our Verandah. Got the kids up (one slept on the couch-turned-bed the other slept on the pull-down bed from the ceiling) and headed up to Beach blanket buffet for breakfast. Very nice breakfast selection (breads, muffins, omlettes, bacon, sausage, etc). We sat outside in the enclosed part of Deck 9 and watched as we pulled into Nassau. At 9:00 we went down to the Cadillac bar to meet up with everyone else for our catamaran sail and reef snorkel excursion. It took a little time to get everything and everyone together and get on shore, but it was pretty smooth. They do an excellent job of getting everyone on and off the boat at port. You must show your KTTW and picture ID to get on and off the ship, but the whole process is very organized. We walked a short distance to the catamaran and we were off. Nice boat trip (about 40 minutes). Youll pass the Atlantis, and go in between Nassau and paradise Island. They handed out the snorkel equipment while we were sailing (the kids and I had our own) and gave a very brief demo on how to use the equipment. When we arrived at the reef, they told us where to go. They could have done a much better job of briefing us on what to do, where to go and how to enjoy our time in the water. The reef was OK, but I was expecting something much better. There were some pretty colorful fish and some very interesting vegetation, but I felt somewhat disappointed in the amount of fish that we saw. I had a disposable underwater camera and (I havent taken the cameras in for developing yet) I think I got some good pictures of fish, coral, and the kids and I snorkeling. I also asked my wife (she didnt snorkel) to take some pictures of us, from the catamaran, in the water with our regular digital camera They served beverages and potato chips on the boat and the trip back was wonderful. The sun was shining and we really had a chance to relax and enjoy the scenery and the weather. It was a nice excursion, but later that day on the ship some people told us about the Caribbean Queen snorkel tour and said that it was amazing (thousands of interesting and colorful fish), so I would definitely recommend that excursion instead of the catamaran sail and reef snorkel excursion. After we got off the catamaran we took a taxi ($4.00 per person) to the Atlantis. We really want to go there on vacation, so we thought we would take a look at it and have lunch. We ate lunch at the Great hall of water café and the restaurant aquarium was incredible. They have floor-to-ceiling windows that allow you to eat lunch and watch all the action. The whole family loved it. We were there for feeding time and the fish (rays, sharks, etc.) were wild. Huge casino, great shops, good food, bad service, neat place. We didnt really go all over, but just walked around a little bit and then grabbed a taxi (there are a million taxis) back to the ship. Nice to see Paradise Island (never been there before). Boarded the boat, met back up with DM & DD, handed them off the kids and went to the Spa. I bought a three day pass to the Rainforest room and really enjoyed the steam room. They have an aroma-therapy steamroom (maybe Im unsophisticated, but it smelled like burnt soup to me) a regular steam room (this steam room kicks ***. Its hot) and a mild sauna (too mild. It wasnt even hot. For a real sauna, go to the one in the mens locker room. It was dry and hot). They also have a (again, maybe Im just unsophisticated) complicated and confusing set of showers (you have to wear a bathing suit the whole time youre in the RR). Tropical, rain, fog & side modes plus a temperature setting. Maybe I should have asked the staff for help, but you shouldnt have to ask for help in the shower. Anyway the showers in the mens locker room were great so when I finished in the RR I showered there. I also used the heated tile lounges and they were good. It sounds like the most uncomfortable thing on the world (a tiled lounge chair?), but they were very relaxing. Not hot enough, but still, very interesting. That night we had dinner at Parrot Cay. I started with the Cream of Sweet Onion Soup (not to be missed, I guarantee it) and the Hot Crab Newburg (I didnt like it) followed by Baby Back Ribs (good Ribs) and the Grilled Rib-Eye Steak (just OK). My wife had the fish and said its out of this world After that we played a few cards of Bingo and then went to the show. We saw one of the best entertainers weve ever seen. He was a comedian/ventriloquist, and he was just great. We had ages 8-70 in our little group and we were all still talking about him the next day. We all loved him. After the show we took the kids to Quartermasters for a little while (nice game room) and then we went to Pinochios for a BBQ Chicken Pizza (what the hell, we were on vacation). If Im not mistaken (and I often am) this was also the night of the Tropical Deck Party. The Goofy pool was covered and the cruise staff and sea breeze (the DCL house band) played some popular party songs and even sang and danced La Vida Loca. After the show there was a buffet (as if we hadnt had enough to eat). One half of the buffet was dessert and the other half was hot food (roast beef, etc.). We had some great pastries and the chocolate cake was very good. There was a lot of action on Deck 9 that night and we really enjoyed it. My wife and I took the kids back to the room, packed the day bag for Castaway Cay (we took so much stuff, it looked like we were moving in) and then sat on the Verandah as we left Nassau.
Got the wakeup call from Mickey at 7:30 AM. We were still sailing and could see land (we brought Binoculars and we could see the Atlantis in the distance) from our Verandah. Got the kids up (one slept on the couch-turned-bed the other slept on the pull-down bed from the ceiling) and headed up to Beach blanket buffet for breakfast. Very nice breakfast selection (breads, muffins, omlettes, bacon, sausage, etc). We sat outside in the enclosed part of Deck 9 and watched as we pulled into Nassau. At 9:00 we went down to the Cadillac bar to meet up with everyone else for our catamaran sail and reef snorkel excursion. It took a little time to get everything and everyone together and get on shore, but it was pretty smooth. They do an excellent job of getting everyone on and off the boat at port. You must show your KTTW and picture ID to get on and off the ship, but the whole process is very organized. We walked a short distance to the catamaran and we were off. Nice boat trip (about 40 minutes). Youll pass the Atlantis, and go in between Nassau and paradise Island. They handed out the snorkel equipment while we were sailing (the kids and I had our own) and gave a very brief demo on how to use the equipment. When we arrived at the reef, they told us where to go. They could have done a much better job of briefing us on what to do, where to go and how to enjoy our time in the water. The reef was OK, but I was expecting something much better. There were some pretty colorful fish and some very interesting vegetation, but I felt somewhat disappointed in the amount of fish that we saw. I had a disposable underwater camera and (I havent taken the cameras in for developing yet) I think I got some good pictures of fish, coral, and the kids and I snorkeling. I also asked my wife (she didnt snorkel) to take some pictures of us, from the catamaran, in the water with our regular digital camera They served beverages and potato chips on the boat and the trip back was wonderful. The sun was shining and we really had a chance to relax and enjoy the scenery and the weather. It was a nice excursion, but later that day on the ship some people told us about the Caribbean Queen snorkel tour and said that it was amazing (thousands of interesting and colorful fish), so I would definitely recommend that excursion instead of the catamaran sail and reef snorkel excursion. After we got off the catamaran we took a taxi ($4.00 per person) to the Atlantis. We really want to go there on vacation, so we thought we would take a look at it and have lunch. We ate lunch at the Great hall of water café and the restaurant aquarium was incredible. They have floor-to-ceiling windows that allow you to eat lunch and watch all the action. The whole family loved it. We were there for feeding time and the fish (rays, sharks, etc.) were wild. Huge casino, great shops, good food, bad service, neat place. We didnt really go all over, but just walked around a little bit and then grabbed a taxi (there are a million taxis) back to the ship. Nice to see Paradise Island (never been there before). Boarded the boat, met back up with DM & DD, handed them off the kids and went to the Spa. I bought a three day pass to the Rainforest room and really enjoyed the steam room. They have an aroma-therapy steamroom (maybe Im unsophisticated, but it smelled like burnt soup to me) a regular steam room (this steam room kicks ***. Its hot) and a mild sauna (too mild. It wasnt even hot. For a real sauna, go to the one in the mens locker room. It was dry and hot). They also have a (again, maybe Im just unsophisticated) complicated and confusing set of showers (you have to wear a bathing suit the whole time youre in the RR). Tropical, rain, fog & side modes plus a temperature setting. Maybe I should have asked the staff for help, but you shouldnt have to ask for help in the shower. Anyway the showers in the mens locker room were great so when I finished in the RR I showered there. I also used the heated tile lounges and they were good. It sounds like the most uncomfortable thing on the world (a tiled lounge chair?), but they were very relaxing. Not hot enough, but still, very interesting. That night we had dinner at Parrot Cay. I started with the Cream of Sweet Onion Soup (not to be missed, I guarantee it) and the Hot Crab Newburg (I didnt like it) followed by Baby Back Ribs (good Ribs) and the Grilled Rib-Eye Steak (just OK). My wife had the fish and said its out of this world After that we played a few cards of Bingo and then went to the show. We saw one of the best entertainers weve ever seen. He was a comedian/ventriloquist, and he was just great. We had ages 8-70 in our little group and we were all still talking about him the next day. We all loved him. After the show we took the kids to Quartermasters for a little while (nice game room) and then we went to Pinochios for a BBQ Chicken Pizza (what the hell, we were on vacation). If Im not mistaken (and I often am) this was also the night of the Tropical Deck Party. The Goofy pool was covered and the cruise staff and sea breeze (the DCL house band) played some popular party songs and even sang and danced La Vida Loca. After the show there was a buffet (as if we hadnt had enough to eat). One half of the buffet was dessert and the other half was hot food (roast beef, etc.). We had some great pastries and the chocolate cake was very good. There was a lot of action on Deck 9 that night and we really enjoyed it. My wife and I took the kids back to the room, packed the day bag for Castaway Cay (we took so much stuff, it looked like we were moving in) and then sat on the Verandah as we left Nassau.
