Getting to Atlantis from the dock in a wheelchair

[u2lightmyway]

I will be taking a three-day cruise stopping in Nassau aboard Carnival's Fascination from June 3-6. Since we are in Nassau the entire day on the 4th we would like to go to Atlantis for the day and check out the casino and aquariums. I use a power wheelchair and would like to know of any options to get to Atlantis. If I remember correctly Queenie gave me some information that there are no accessible taxis and that it is rather a precarious situation to get onto one of the water taxis. My father read somewhere that if you were to walk it would take approximately 45 minutes to get to Atlantis. Anybody know if there is any truth to this and/or how dangerous this would be? Open to any options.

 

Dwight

[qman76]

Hi Dwight,

 

I would advise you NOT to try to walk to Atlantis. My aid and I tried when we were there in 02. The farther away you are from the dock areas the more unsafe you will feel. I too am in a power chair, and after 45 minutes we were maybe half way and started fearing for our safety. The sidewalks stop, and you must travel along the road. There is a handi cap van in Nassau, But I didn't wait to pay the fees, I wished I had. {$150.00 at that time} Goto http://www.bahamas.com contact them and have them send you some info. I've looked for that e-address, but must have deleted it. The van is to a private school that's why they are charging so much. Hope this helps. Any more questions, just ask. Stephane

[DEL67]

Dwight:

 

The Bahama's Board of Tourism gave me the same answer. There is a van with a lift, but it is expensive. Unluckily, they really did not answer by question about accessivility of the Dig or Astara Zoo and Gardens.

 

Stephanie:

 

Did you ever get to Atlantis? If so, how accessible is the Dig? I would like to take my husband there when we are in Nassau next month, but do not want to get there and find out its not accessible. Luckily he can transfer to a cab so we will not need accessible transportation.

[qman76]

Sad to say "NO", but I've learned from that. You may never be able to go there again. One thing you don't want to say to yourself "I should have done it". When I went to Jamaica, I spent the money to see the island and I'm going to Bermuda in Oct. To me it was worth the extra expense. Why go some where wonderful and just sit that the docks? I can do that home. Hope this helps. Stephane

[klsmom8]

We were in Nassau in 2002 with the Disney cruise. My father is also in a powered wheelchair (an Amigo). He managed to find a taxi driver at the dock who was willing to put the powered chair in the trunk and then took him on a tour of Nassau as well as a short stop at the Atlantis. I think Dad paid the guy $75 for the whole trip.

[DEL67]

Its expensive, but Shoretrips.com offers a 3 hour private tour of Nassau and Paradise Island. Its $380 for a lift-equipped van that holds a wheelchair and up to 6 additional passengers.

 

http://www.shoretrips.com/

[Splinter]

An Amigo is a scooter, not a power wheelchair. Most scooters will breakdown into pieces so you can load them into a large trunk.It is virtually impossible to load a regular power wheelchair into a trunk.

[Corinne - Honeymooner]

DH (in a manual) and I went in May through RCCL, and used the water taxi. I suggest it for only those able to scoot down/up 3 steps, or let workers pick you up. With the gentle rolling, we opted to not use the workers... DH didn't want to end up in the water :)

 

And, we called a van for the return trip. It was not accessible, but luckly DH's manual collapses enough to fit it in the front passenger seat.

 

We continued to the Pirates of Nassau Museum. We would only suggest it for those with narrow chairs, who are indifferent to cobblestone, and willing to find a worker to access the elevator.

 

We also attempted the shopping mini-mall -- didn't realize what we were gettting into. Some aisles were difficult for me, a slender miss, to navagate! Sellers were willing to slowly rearrange items for DH to get past, so long as he looked through their stuff!

 

 

I definitely suggest not walking to Atlantis. In the van back, I saw areas that reminded me of the shabby-side of Detroit, and maybe a little worse for tourist safety.... DH and I are willing to scoot through Detroit regularly, but not in residential areas like those, where even the streets were not wc accessible.

[Oceanwench]

Atlantis is a hike -- even for AB people! What about crossing the bridge to Paradise Island? :eek:

As has been said, there are some very scary areas you'd have to pass through.

When we were in Nassau last month, a woman who was on our ship was mugged, purse stolen, etc.