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Atlantis beach day or Blue Lagoon Island


layteacher
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Want to spend the day on the beach in white sand and not too rocky. would love to see Atlantis but dont want to waste the one day wondering around without knowing where to go. Have heard some say that is the case. My dream would be to spend half the day exploring Atlantis and half the day at the beach. Looking at Carnival excursions and Blue Lagoon has some great reviews. Any tips or suggestions?

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You wouldn't go wrong with either option. If you go to Atlantis, I'd suggest going to the Cove Beach. It's not rocky and it's private. The Atlantis Beach area is public with obnoxious vendors and not all that nice. The property isn't THAT big or complicated, don't be intimidated. Their lazy river is amazing as well.

 

If it's something you have always wanted to do, then go for it. Enjoy the pool/lazy river. Walk the property and see the aquariums, etc. Note that there is a restaurant in the middle of the lagoon, with a bit clamshell looking roof. In the middle of that restaurant is stairs down to the predator tank and tunnel. Many don't know it's there but a must see as well.

 

Blue Lagoon is also an excellent beach day but that's all it will be. A nice, sandy beach with good facilities.

 

I've been to both multiple times, so feel free to ask more questions and I'm happy to help.

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BNBR.. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

QUESTION DO I RESERVE Cove Beach ahead of time? if so what is the cost? Will they let you just look around the property? Eat at the restaurant and go to the predator tank and tunnel or is there a fee? Sorry so many questions. Thanks in advance

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This got me thinking, the cruisers get a different color wristband. I haven't been to Atlantis on a cruise so I don't know if there is a restriction, someone else can chime in. But providing the wristband gives same access as any other wristband (I'm pretty sure it does), then you are free to roam the property as you wish. It's not complicated or full of security stopping you or anything like that. Cove Beach is just a beach, you can walk right over to it and enjoy it all you like just like anywhere else on the property. Definitely no reservations for Cove Beach. Once you are on the property, you are on the property. You just walk in to the aquarium and what not and enjoy it. It's called "The Dig" and is separate from the predator tank. Do both for sure. The predator tank has the glass tube you can walk through underwater.

 

Sorry, it just occurred to me. You can't just "go to Atlantis" for free - I think that is your question. If you do that, you only get access to the casino area and restaurants near it. You would pay for the excursion and get the day pass to the property. Once you pay for access, this is what gets you to everything on the property, including the beach. You can't go to the Dig or walk the property without a wristband.

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Thanks layteacher for this thread. I have a similar question and I'm hoping BNBR can help answer it.

 

We've been to Atlantis twice. The first time we did the beach day excursion and the second time we did the waterpark excursion. When we went to the beach the first time, in March 2017, we had a great time. We were directed to Atlantis beach and at that time we were told not to go any further on the path because it brought you to Aquaventure. When we went to the waterpark, in March 2018, we didn't have as much fun because of over crowding. There wasn't anywhere to sit so we left and went to the beach. Because of the summer 2017 hurricanes the beach was completely different than when we were there the year before. The beach was eroded and the surf was very strong so it wasn't safe to swim in.

 

We are going again in March of 2019 and I am researching Blue Lagoon also. I am an adventurer but my husband is a little more nervous about being away from the main island. He also doesn't want to do an excursion that is not provided by the cruise line. BNBR recommended The Cove Beach. I never knew that there were additional beaches because we were told not to go any further on the path. I am just curious if we get the Atlantis Beach Day excursion again, can we really access The Cove Beach?

 

No worries if you can't help, I just thought I would ask. Thank you!

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I would not go to Atlantis to visit the regular Atlantis beach, that's for sure.

 

I can't speak for the cruiser wristbands. I wish I knew but I haven't been there on a cruise. I stayed there just a couple of months ago, actually. There is a security guard on the path to the Cove Beach. If we wanted to go on waterslides or whatever, then we would show our room key at the towel station and get a wristband. When we wanted to visit the Cove Beach, the security guard would just see if you had a wristband on or if we didn't have our wristbands, just flash the room key.

 

The cruisers were getting different color wristbands. So it's possible they don't have access to the beach there? I really don't know. But they were all over the property, aquariums, etc. You could also go to the lagoon beach at Atlantis, which cruisers certainly had access to. Looking at their day pass section, I don't see anything that suggests you get less access to the beaches than anyone else. They have 3 beaches and the day pass says you get access to "the beaches"... I would bet you don't need to worry.

 

The Cove beach is right off the waterpark. It's protected so shouldn't need to worry about rough surf. Atlantis beach is further off on the other side of the lagoon, and is loaded with pushy vendors and what not.

 

Interesting about your comments that it was overcrowded. We went just 2 months ago in May and the resort felt nearly empty, even with the cruise guests on day passes.

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Thank you for the info. It did help! :)

 

Anytime. Your comment about overcrowding at the water park is interesting! We were there in May 2018 and even with cruise guest day passes, the resort felt nearly empty. It was a pleasant experience.

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BNBR

I just booked the Atlantis beach excursion with Carnival as I got 10 percent off for booking within 2 days of booking my cruise. I thought I might call Atlantis and ask if the Cove Beach is part of this excursion. My two teenagers do not like big waterpark slides so i opted not to do the waterpark. I hope Cove Beach is included. Also, what are food options while there?

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My personal thought is that I wouldn't pay $95/each for Atlantis beach without access to the pools. I have no idea what the beach excursion includes and if you get ALL the beaches or not.

 

I then looked up the excursions and it's $200 for aquaventure.... I would never spend that. If you are just doing a beach day, I'd personally take Blue Lagoon or another option over Atlantis. I don't think their beach is that special.

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I agree.. we decided to not do the water park.. 200 a person is crazy!! I have always wanted to see the Atlantis Hotel, which is why i decided to go ahead and pay the 95.00. It includes the beach, the aquarium, shops, casinos. I know that is a lot but I dont think their is any other way to see Atlantis besides the 95.00 package unless you are staying there. I have even looked at the Comfort suites deals but with all their extra charges and taxes, it is even more ..

Sounds a little Greedy to me. But of course seems everything is anymore. :(:(:(

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That is what I was thinking. We wont be able to spend a ton of time at the beach there anyway because it is only one day. We can go to the dig, check the hotel out, eat somewhere, and spend a little time on the beach. Did you say what kind of food is available there?thanks again so much. cant wait

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It's just walk up burger type places around the pools/beach. You can sit at the bar and get service. The big clamshell restaurant in the middle of the lagoon has actual sit down service and is reasonably priced. Otherwise you'll have to go inside to a few different restaurants. Another option is the Marina Village (right off the casino) which has some restaurants and what not. The marina village is kind of cool and worth checking out, if nothing more than all the cool mega yachts.

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The Cove beach is not included with any of the passes. I believe we were allowed access one year because the Atlantic beach was so rough, they weren’t allowing anyone on the actual beach. I think a nice lifeguard let us go over out of pity. It’s too bad the RIU right next door went adult only, for the price of Atlantis’ beach pass, they have an all inclusive that includes a pool plus all food and drink.

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We did the Atlantis two times. We wanted to share with our children who were interested in going their. We didn't do the water park as it was extremely expensive IMO. I was very disappointed with the beach. Water was rough and we had to go down a steep hill to get from our lounge chair to the water. We were given a voucher for lunch-which we had at a snack bar- fast food.

 

If you have other options for a beach day, I would suggest them.

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Thank you! That was what I was looking for. It's Blue Lagoon for us! I think that seeing Atlantis once is a good idea. I would NOT do the waterpark again and wouldn't recommend it to cruisers. There just isn't enough time and it was way too crowded.

 

There were people who set flip flops on chairs to hold them and though they say it's not allowed, the staff didn't do anything to move them. After hunting for a chair for 45 minutes we finally find one. We put our stuff down and go grab some lunch. Were ere gone for no more than 5 minutes and when we came back someone had removed our things and they were nowhere to be found.

 

We had to go back to get new towels and start the hunt all over. We decided to split up because we were wasting our time just searching for a place to sit. My husband wandered around looking for a chair while I took the kids to the slides. After doing the lazy river and one other slide we went on hunt to find my husband. He never did find a chair so we decided that was enough and when to the beach. That's when we discovered the beach had completed changed from the year before. My kids really weren't able to swim because of the drop off and there really wasn't a place to sit. It was like a cliff to get to the water and once you were off the cliff the water came it so high that your things would wash away...

 

Like I said before, you will enjoy wandering around Atlantis and it is worth doing once. Unless we actually stay at Atlantis, we wont be doing that excursion again. Thanks for all the info everyone!

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The Cove beach is not included with any of the passes. I believe we were allowed access one year because the Atlantic beach was so rough, they weren’t allowing anyone on the actual beach. I think a nice lifeguard let us go over out of pity. It’s too bad the RIU right next door went adult only, for the price of Atlantis’ beach pass, they have an all inclusive that includes a pool plus all food and drink.

 

I'm not sure this is true. The passes clearly suggest you have access to the beaches without restriction. Can you find a reference to the Cove beach being restricted?

 

I just stayed at Atlantis (not at the Cove) for several nights and the cove beach was not in any way blocked off or anything of the sort. I'm not really sure how they would even do that as the cove beach backs right up to the water park and you can just walk on to the beach. One of the main snack bars is right off the beach as well. The beach is totally open to the property.

 

It's a pretty darn nice beach and much better than the Atlantis beach.

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I read on the RCCL excursion details that it is Atlantis Beach (the public one) that you get on the beach pass. The Aquaventure pass gets you into the Cove Beach. its in the fine print of the excursion :confused::(

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