bguppies

i booked a room right next door to the atlantis at the comfort suites for 240.00.. oposed to getting the atlantis day passes for 130 pp.... if you get a room at the comfort suites you get complete all access to the atlantis-

If you just have to go to Atlantis and play at the waterpark, the Comfort Suites is probably the way to go.

Since you get access to Atlantis for up to 4 people per room booked.

Personally there are too many other great things to do in Nassau to spend a day at Atlantis, but if that is what you want, I think you did well.

(but we live 20 minutes from the beach and can swim from March - late October and we have a waterpark 2 miles from the house.)

Check out the Bahamas board to get alot of in depth information about your day there.

Bill

also forgot to mention if you go to Atlantis after 6 or so you can get in to the dig without paying.

Depends on what time of year you go.

In January the guards went home before we got there at 6PM.

But some months of the year, they won't leave until 7PM or even later.

So don't get discouraged if they are still there when you arrive.

Just check out another part of the hotel for a few minutes and check back, until the guards go home.

Bill

Many cruisers (myself included) don't enjoy the sea water in the ships pools. (that and they are so small and usually overcrowded)

Thus I prefer to pay $15 to use a hotel's pool for the day. (and have the beach a few feet away)

Bill

Less than 3 months until we are back in Nassau for the thrid time this year.

Can't wait.

Sorry, back to the days of double posts....

Thanks Zydeco for posting this. Have been debating what to do in Nassau, definitely don't want to do the whole Atlantis thing - way too much for a short period in port. Question - you said there are buggys right outside the port area. Is it possible to get a buggy to take us to the Queen's Staircase/Ft. Fincastle and then we could walk back? Not sure how my knees would handle so much walking there and back. Was thinking about doing this and then taking the jitney to Arawak Cay for the fish fry.

The buggy's are there as soon as you exit the Welcome Center. (same as the taxi's)

I believe the buggy's route must be almost the same as the Walking tour, as they kept passing us as we did the tour. (both times)

I'm sure if your specify that you want to go to the Queen's Staircase at the start, it shouldn't be a problem.

Bill

For the newbies asking about this awesome thread.

Wow fantastic pictures! I feel like I'm there! Thanks for sharing! This is truly the best thread I've read on here.

Ditto

Thanks Bill for info we wer looking at thos pictures and we think we would like to do the walking tour I think I read on here that it takes about 2 hours then that would be good. As far as Atlantis I would like to do it I don't think the fee is important but what I am concerned about is if we go at night what are we still going to be able to get back on the ship. I don't know anything about how long you have to get back on board but then again we are docked over night. We will be there June 3 so who knows how things wil be then.

Nassau is extremely well set up for cruisers.

All ships dock right at the pier. (I think 6 moorings)

You literally walk right off and to the multi-colored Welcome Center.

Going out, there is no checks.

Coming back to the ship, they stop you before letting you back onto the pier, just to check your ship card and a photo ID.

The Sensation that we visited Nassau on both times this year, docked at the furthest mooring both times, and the walk from the gangplank to street was 5 minutes leaving and 10 minutes (once) when there was a small line around dinnertime, returning to the ship.

We returned from Senor Frogs in January at around 11:30PM and had no problem getting back to the ship.

There was only one guard checking cards, rather than 2 or 3 that do during the day, but there was also, only a few people returning to the ships at that hour also.

Bill

I am also thanking Zydec..........this is our first cruise and have been debating on what to do while in Nassau. Our ship will be docked there over night so I guess We will have plenty of time to do things there. I have been asking for opinions on the best things to do there that are worth doing. We do not have a problem with doing a self guided tour we just want to make sure not to get scammed into anything. We considered th Atlantis digs and still might do it but we want some fun interesting things to do. Also I love dolphins and I would like to see them but do not want to pay the price for the excursion, any ideas there?

We have done the 24 hour/overnight cruise on the Sensation twice.

Both times, we got off the ship first thing in the morning and did the walking tour, while it was still cooler in the morning.

Then go to the British Colonial Hilton to enjoy the pool and beach with their daypass in the afternoon. (if you have kids, the Cable Beach hotels could be substuted here for the same price and a $1 Jitney ride)

Then we go back to the ship for dinner, a shower and a change.

Then take a cab to Atlantis in the evening, when the Digs Aquarium is free. (after the guards go home there is no $29 charge like during the day. They were already gone by 6:30PM when we were there in January)

Bill

Considering the number of views, recommendations, and positive feedback this thread gets, would be nice if the administrators could make this thread a "sticky" - so it will always be on the first page.

Or at least ask Zydecocruiser if they can use his great photos and create a brand new, major tourist sites of Nassau sticky....

Maybe have Scubagirl do the write ups for up to date information on prices and times open....

The "what is there to do in Nassau" seems to be the first thing, every new visitor asks.....

Bill

Thanks for all the info. It is a great help. I'm just hoping the flowers are just a beautiful when we go in August.

They were amazing when went the first week of September.

I couldn't believe how many were still in bloom when we went the last week of January.

I guess living on a tropical island has it's perks, vegetation-wise.

Bill

Your pictures are beautiful, would this be to much walking for a couple in their 50's?

 

Chiro 59

The only really distant part of the tour is getting out to Fort Fincastle/Queen's Staircase. (which is unfortunately the best part of the tour)

It is uphill most of the way there.....(you can see the watertower next to the Fort from the ship)

Once you get there, it is all downhill. (literally)

If you are in shape, it shouldn't be a problem.

I'm an out of shape 42 year old and had zero problem with any part of the walking tour. (twice now)

Bill

Sorry, the dreaded double post due to slow website on a Saturday night...

Bill

I did this tour as well. If you are interested in seeing my photos, they are at http://www.pbase.com/2112/nassau

Excellent pictures.

My Wife and I couldn't believe how beautiful the streets were as we walked the tour.

Gorgeous flowering plants growing everywhere and beautiful walkways and paths everywhere you turned.

Bill

Just booked another Sensation cruise for the end of January.

Can't wait to do the walking tour again and expand our time at some sites we shorted the first time around.

And then of course spend the rest of the day poolside at the BCH!!!!!!!!

Bill

Got addicted to the wonderful "Miami Vice" this past week on the Sensation.

Bill

Any recipes for either the sugar free orange cake desert or the sugar free chocolate cake?

I was stunned at how good they were last week on the Sensation.

Bill

zydecocruiser,

Many thanks for the link to the walking tour and the great pictures.

My Wife and I just got home from our cruise to Nassau and we did the tour right off the ship and it was great.

We were luckily the first ship in port and were able to get off the ship a half hour early and were able to hit everything up to the Queen's Staircase before anyone else got off our boat or the 2 RCCL ships that arrived within minutes of our ship.

The first excursion we ran into was at Fort Fincastle.

I recommend letting the local guides stationed at the Queen's Staircase (great local named Phillip) and at the Fort give you a tour for a buck or two tip. Great information.

We also stopped in the Graycliff and took the free tour of the cigar factory and were then let to wander the private grounds and take pictures of their gorgeous pools and grounds.

We wound up taking Scubagirl's recommendation and when the tour got to the British Colonial Hilton, we got a day pass for $15 and enjoyed their beach and pool facilities for the day. (with only 2 couples from another ship, 10 British vacationers from the hotel and the dancers from our ship)

The best $30 we spent on the trip and we are definitely taking advantage of the deal everytime we stop in Nassau.

Bill

Thanks for the amazing pictures to help decide what looks interesting to see while in port.

Bill