Which excursions should I choose?

[keef22]

Okay, we embark on the Disney Wonder on October 23 for our first cruise (myself, DW and DS 4). I don't want to waste money on an excursion that could be utterly boring for any of us...especially DS and I can book excursions starting the end of this week.

What excursions should we look at?!?

 

[UGAFan0829]

Which cruise are you doing, 3, 4 or 7 night?

 

[keef22]

4 night. It's our first and we have no idea what to expect...

 

[Joan1]

It really depends on what you like to do, have you looked at the shore excursion descriptions?

If you just want to go to a beach you can just grab a taxi and go to Cable Beach in Nassau or Paradise Island. You can walk to the main shopping area on Bay Street

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

4 day means Nassau and castaway Cay. I can recommend 2 excursions at Nassau that would be appriate for a 4 year old child. one is the Atlantis tour of the digs,(aquarium). If he likes to see fish this is a good tour. They move quickly, however after the tour is over you can go back and spend as much time as you want in the aquarium. The windows are large and go almost to the ground so easy for a child to see in. You take a ferry boat to Atlantis, then a short slightly uphill walk to Atlantis. The ferry boats go back every 35 or 40 minutes all day so no need to hurry. If you dont want the walk you can take a taxi for about $5 per person and get let off by the door. I would recommend an unbrella stroller as they fold easily on the excursions and easy to take along. The second tour is the glass bottom boat ride. Again it's colorful fish, but easy for a child to do. They do have a short wall around the glass bottom,so some kids need a little help to see over.
Of course beach excursions are always a hit with kids.
Castaway Cay does have some activities with the kids group that your son can sign up for while you relax on the beach, if you want. Also they have kite making on board, with the parents help, then you can fly them together on the beach.
mom x4,grandma x4

 

[keef22]

Thanks! That helps a TON! Honestly, those were the excursions we were thinking about; but it helps to know what to expect when we get there. DS4 is a big Nemo fan and I think the sea life would be of great interest to him ...

On average, would we probably be good for just one excursion in Nassau and then shopping if we have time? I love my DW ; but sometimes I think we "schedule" ourselves out of relaxing !

Starting to get pretty excited about this cruise ! Heading down to the P.O. Monday to start paperwork on passports...

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Glad to help, but I did forget one thing.
Since you have a young child you might like to know that there are restrooms on all the excursions, however when you go shopping the bathrooms are far and few between. The main building you have to go through as you leave the port had public restrooms. However after that it's not so easy to find. We only saw a couple of public restrooms on the island and they charge you to use them or at least a mandatory tip. Also the bathrooms on excursions are pretty clean, however the public ones near the shopping are not as clean as you'd like them to be. The only free ones were at the port as you were leaving, the casinos, and on Ferry Boats going to excursions.
We never saw any public water fountains either. There may be one in the main building as you leave the port, but we just took a bottle of water with us. Most places on the island sell bottled water, but it's very expensive.
We did ask about this and were told that fresh water is a rare item on any tropical island so you must pay to use anything that has to do with using water. This was true on St.Maatin, St. Thomas and St. John's islands too.
Just thought you might like to know this ahead of time too.
If your son really likes the Fish, Atlantis is 10x better than the glass bottom boat since you can take him back through at his leisure. Just keep your wrist bands on as proof you paid for the tour.
mom x4,grandma x4

 

[Lisa0503]

I am also a first time cruiser and my husband and I will have our two young children with us (DD will be 22 months & DS will be 4 months) We are leaving on the Wonder 4 day Sept 18th sailing. My question is, on the Atlantis tour, is there a beach there so my DD can swim (since she will not be able to on the boat) If there is a beach, do they have any umbrellas for shade for my 4 month old? Also, is it a far walk to the ferry since my DH has knee problems...he can't walk too far and it will be tough with 2 small children!!!

Thanks for the info!!!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Yes it is a bit of an uphill walk from where the ferry lets you off, so i would suggest taking a Taxi, or at least the person with knee problems. Taxi will let you off by the door. There are a few steps outside towards the end of the tour, but not too bad. If you take strollers for th ekids just do umbrella type so you can easily fold and carry for a minute.
Sorry there is no beach access area unless you stay at the hotel. I have read of people booking a room at an adjoining hotel for the day and they have access to the pools at Atlantis. However if your daughter wants she can play in the Mickey Ears. One ear is designed for kids in swim diapers, with jets of water, only 2 or 3 inches deep. The other ear is about 8 inches deep and lots of kids who are too little for the main part of the pool play there. Parents often sit on the edge of the ear to watch the little ones. Maybe that would help her to be able to go in the Mickey pool too.
Hope this helps you some.
mom x4,grandma x4