Excursion help!

[Mickeylover]

So...going on our first cruise on Dec. 15th (just changed from the 1st as another local family we know is traveling that date as well and my DS will have a buddy in the kids activities)

Anyway, I have had a hard time getting any good info on excursions. We're doing the 4 night sail with the Freeport option. What's good to do in Nassau. Is there anything work doing in Freeport (is Lucayan Beach worth it? )

I have half a mind to rent a room at Atlantis for the day in Nassau, use their facilities all day and then stay on the ship in Freeport. The cost is about the same as two shore excursions. Anyone done that? I'm dying for some honest info on these excursions--being our first time, I feel like I should get off the boat at least once [img]graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

THANKS

[ August 27, 2002, 09:00 PM: Message edited by: Mickeylover ]

[pearlieq]

I can't give you much solid info about any of the Bahamas excursions, but I do remember something I learned about Atlantis when I used to work as a travel agent.

There is a Comfort Suites hotel right next to Atlantis which has full exchange priviliges with the Atlanis facility. You may be able to save some $ by renting your room there and then still enjoying the pools and beaches at Altantis.

Hope you have a blast!!!

[stitchfan]

We took a 4/3 this past June, so we've seen Nassau and Castaway Cay. We studied the shore excursion booklet that came from DCL, and then checked on the DCL Web site (the brochure and Web site are essentially the same). We called DCL with questions, but the shore excursions are operated by local concerns, so even though the CM did her best, she didn't have all of the information.

We did the Atlantis tour on Nassau, and then explored the town.

We're aquarium fans, so we thought the aquarium/seaquarium part of Atlantis was pretty cool. The Atlantis theme is kind of hokey, but that's OK 'cause it's well done and the guides go along with the fiction (just like at WDW [img]smile.gif[/img] ).

The Atlantis resort has swimming/sunbathing, the aquarium, a restaurant, and a fairly nice casino (at least, it looked nice -- we had our DS10 with us and had no opportunity to try it out). I think you can do what there is to do without going to the added expense of renting a room anywhere, since there is an "Atlantis Beach Day" shore excursion available that gets you lunch and the use of the Atlantis facilities for $60 per adult.

The town of Nassau is, in our experience, a grubby tourist trap, and possibly dangerous.

The straw market burned down a couple of years ago and what's left has been crammed into a huge circus tent. The vendors are very close together, and it looks like a good place to get your pocket picked, purse snatched, or even rolled. The vendors don't even pretend to bargain with you any more, and the goods are tacky souvenirs made in China rather than tacky souvenirs made in the Bahamas.

The people we met in town and in the shops weren't friendly; some weren't even polite. I think they get so many tourists every day that they feel they don't have to care.

Next time we're planning to do the glass-bottomed boat tour or maybe a dolphin encounter, or something else that takes advantage of the sea; but when it comes to town, I'd rather go back to the ship and enjoy the spa, pools, theatre, etc.

On Castaway Cay our DS10 went with the Oceaneer's Lab, my DW went swimming and snorkeling, and I had a massage and then joined DW for swimming. We rented snorkels, masks, and fins (there is a whole discussion on take your own vs. rent them there in another thread) and enjoyed the ocean and the day-long beach party. [img]graemlins/party.gif[/img] We took the banana boat ride and had a hoot. We wanted to go fishing, but the fishing boats were in drydock that week for repairs. We'll do that next time! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Stitchfan [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Mickeylover]

Thanks for the info, folks! I understood that the Atlantis Beach day gave me beach access, but not pool/waterpark/etc access. I'm still kicking around what to do as I've heard a lot of people give good reviews of the Blue Lagoon excursion as well. I had heard about the Comfort Suites and they are about $40 cheaper than Atlantis...so that's still an option.

I expect overall Castaway Cay will be my favorite time spent off the ship. I CAN'T WAIT [img]graemlins/muscles.gif[/img] Only 3 1/2 months to go!