What do you do in Nassau?

[DaveCindy]

So we are going on our very first cruise the Disney Wonder on December 16th, and I have a question.

What do you do in Nassau?
We are the type of people who like to explore on our own and are not planning on taking any of the shore excursions the cruise has to offer.
I know we can explore Atlantis on our own, and we probably will do that, for the aquarium not the gambling. But what else have any of you done? When we go it will be me, my dh, my dd9, and dd7. They love horses and I have heard a little about the carriage ride. Who can tell me more about that?

Any help you can give me would be very much appreciated.

 

[2xcruiser]

Stay on the boat! Just kidding (sort of) - we did not particularly enjoy Nassau - not very clean and you are bombarded with people trying to sell you stuff and hair braiding. On our last cruise, we went on the glass bottom boat tour. This was interesting, but not sure I would do it again. Next time we will stay on the boat and enjoy a day exploring the ship with few people on it.

I have read some very favorable reviews of the Atlantis beach and acquarium, though.

 

[Goofy4Pluto]

Originally posted by 2xcruiser
Stay on the boat!

Ditto! LOL!

I've never been there... and will get off the boat for a little while, just to say I've been there... but I'm not thrilled about it!

A professor friend of mine was employed by the University over there for a few years and the pictures he showed me were gross... he said other than the jerk spices, nothing there was good! lol!

 

[inkkognito]

Same here...we just pretend that it's a day at sea! The ship is less crowded and you don't get bombarded by merchants.
But if it's your first time there, it's nice to take in the local color. You can easily walk over to the carriages, and if you take one, be sure to negotiate the price. If they offer to take a photo of you with your camera, they will expect additional money for that.
You might want to give the kids a few bucks to spend in the Straw Market, too, but be aware that it can be a little overwhelming if you're never been to something like that. The hair braiders swarm little girls wanting to braid their hair, but you can get that done on the ship.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[DaveCindy]

Thanks for all the answers. Maybe I'll just plan on spending a couple of hours walking around just to say I've seen the sights. I Is there anything I should do on the ship when we are at port? Are there a lot less people on the ship? Does that factor in to what I should do?
Thanks again

 

[webray]

You may want to consider the two hour historic city tour..it was very nice..air conditioned vans. Takes you on a tour of the town..all the major sights..lets you out to walk the queen's staircase, go up in the water tower, check out the forts. Our driver also stopped at the beach so everyone could take pictures.

We stopped by Senor Frogs to get t-shirts.

We had lunch after the taxi tour at Conch Fritters..a block from the straw market. Very nice, big open windows..wonderful food.

We got postcards and stamps at the pharmacy and mailed them...mailbox right near pharmacy.

We checked out the hard rock cafe.

Checked out the liquour stores, and other shops. Nice walking around.

We took lots of time in the straw market..had a blast negotiating for stuff.

There is also a wonderful philipino restaurant right beside the straw market..water side. We had to stop for lumpia...it was delicious..we will definately go there again for more of our favorites next time.

We didn't have time to go to Atlantis..because we had dinner reservations at Palo that night.

So, Atlantis next time.

All in all, we found plenty to do. We were not bombarded with people selling stuff. We had a lot of fun. Don't forget your sunscreen.

Enjoy!

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

If we ever take another short cruise, which I seriously doubt, we will never ever ever ever get off the ship in Nassau. It was horrible. People were harassing us before we even got off the dock. I have never been so bombarded in my life and it made both me and DW very uncomfortable. We did take a carriage ride around town and our guide was very knowledgable, when you could hear him, and he did show us the one place we needed to go to get a souvenier. Barb is very much right about having them take your picture with your camera. My DW tipped the little kid a few bucks for doing it because he was such a cute little guy. The people in the straw market were very very pushy, and DW couldn't wait to get out of there. We took a ferry to Atlantis, which cost us only $3 each and a $1 tip to the tour guide on the ferry. and it was nice to visit, but we paid $8 for a taxi back to the boat. If you do decide to get off the ship remember not to make eye contact with the hawkers and most of them back off with a polite "no thanks".

 

[crisi]

We went to the pirate museum and had a great time.

I didn't think it any dirtier or any more harrassing than some other cities I've been in. Its certainly both cleaner and less panhandle intense than I found Rome or Bangkok.

 

[gshoemate]

We went window shopping in the stores. In the Nassau information that was in our stateroom, it showed lots of jewelry stores that sold Tanzanite at cheap prices....I can get it cheaper at Wal-Mart. We spent maybe 2 hours there. When we first got off the boat we were asked about 20 times if we wanted our hair braided but that was about all. And it didn't seem very clean, we went back to the boat to eat.

 

[kaykels]

I've seen so many "don't get off the boat" replies on other threads and it's a real shame. I've been to the Bahamas several times and you have to know what to do and know what to expect and then you will have a wonderful time. Sure, it's a poor island in the city. Take a cab ride to one of the beautiful beaches and have a fun day in the sun. Some of the hotels are absolutely beautiful with nice pools, slides, beaches, restaurants, activities, watersports, parasailing, banana boats, swim up bars, etc. If you don't want to bombarded, stay out of the straw market. It's that simple. I wouldn't miss a beautiful beach day in the warm Carribean at a top notch hotel for another fun day at sea. There are plenty of other locations besides Paradise Island (Atlantis). Try Cable Beach, it's beautiful.

 

[mickeyworld]

We went off the boats to ride the carriages with our DDs and had a blast- lots of photos! Be sure to bargain for the price! Also, the girls got their hair braided at the Hair plaza- just off the boat, ladies had yellow smocks. Very nice and clean!
My youngest hated the shopping, etc., so she went back after the carraige ride and went to her club. If you have never been, try it- who knows if you will ever get back!

 

[kristen821]

which is the best pirate museum alantis or cable beach we are trying to decide which to do I would like to do something since we are there but don't know what. also, which is the best way of transportation when you are there?

 

[DaveCindy]

Thanks again,
Sounds like there is some fun stuff to do there.

Are the beaches better, worse or just plain different than those at CC? I don't want to wear out my family on to much beach. Or is there such a thing as to much beach?

What are the pirate museums, how many are there? How much is admission?

You guys are awesome I don't know what I would do without reading the boards. I'm glad I found them.

 

[webray]

The beaches are just different.

Depending on if you are tanners/burners..on the short cruise..I would probably only have one beach day. That is a lot of sun.

 

[crisi]

www.pirates-of-nassau.com

 

[DaveCindy]

Thanks for the web address on the pirate museum. It helps alot!

 

[Pixie Mom 3]

STAY ON THE SHIP!!!!!


We wish we had...... Put the kids in the programs and you spend the money on the spa... or swim with the fam just enjoy the ship it will be over before you know it..

Family of 5 (ds11,dd10,ds6) wishing we had stayed on the ship