Going to Freeport or Nassau in Bahamas

[beshears]

Anyone been lately, or going to Freeport or Nassau in the Bahamas?

 

What would you suggest that we see/do in the few hours that we are there, other than seeing Atlantis?

[T. Advisor King]

We spent a week's vacation in Freeport in summer last year. Most of our days were beach days, because there are so many nice ones (not quite as pristine as in the Exuma's, but that's a pretty high standard).

 

Our favourite spot was snorkeling at Paradise Cove/Deadman's reef about half-way toward the west end from Freeport. I think we went there twice. They cater to cruise ship passengers and you can book directly through their property. Personally, I'd suggest renting a car and just driving (keep left), especially for a party of four.

[getupgo]

We cruise to go snorkeling. We are going 11/16 and are going to deadmans reef in Freeport. They pick you up at the ship. The price for transportation and snorkel equipment is $35/adult. We book thru deadmansreef.com (click activities to see what they offer). Meals are available for $6. I have no idea how good they are.

 

We are doing a catamaran snorkel in Nassau for $52 each and booked on line thru Shore Excursions Group.

[StaceySteveDMB]

Last time in Freeport we took a cab to the brewery and then went to Port Lucaya for lunch. In Nassau we have taken self guided walking tours going through downtown and up to Queens Staircase and Fort Fincastle and also walked to Junkanoo beach and the Cricket Club for lunch.

 

 

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[beshears]

Thank you all for your replies. This will help me in deciding on what we might see/do. :)

[cruiseapril]

We took a van cab to Our Lucaya and the hotel area (now the Grand Lucayan.) There is a website for the hotel.

 

In Nassau, with only a few hours, we would go again to the Ardastra Gardens & Zoo or just walk up to the British Colonial Hilton for tea or a drink. We don't stay around the pier.

[beshears]

Cruiseapril, in Nassau, is the zoo worth seeing? Do you remember the cost to see the zoo, or is it with the garden also?

 

What is the cost of Taxi's, or can you bargain with them?

[tikib]

Cruiseapril, in Nassau, is the zoo worth seeing? Do you remember the cost to see the zoo, or is it with the garden also?

 

What is the cost of Taxi's, or can you bargain with them?

 

here's the union taxi rates. You don't negotiate with them unless perhaps you have a lap child or luggage. Otherwise, the rate is as posted (some try to get even more due to high gas prices.

http://www.bahamas-treasures.com/bahamas/Nassau_Taxi_Fares_2004.html

 

Taxi should be $11 for 2 ppl. $3 for ea. add'l person.

 

Zoo info can be found at:

http://www.ardastra.com

 

We love the zoo. It's small and quaint, but very fun.

Edited October 6, 2014 by tikib

[beshears]

cruiseapril, thank you for getting back with me.

 

I seen where it had $27 for "downtown." Do you know if anything is worth seeing downtown for that price?

 

Also, I'm a little confused. Is "Atlantis" in Nassau or Freeport? Did I see that we can get a van/taxi for $4PP?

 

This is another question on Atlantis. I understood unless we were on a tour, we could not go inside. Is that correct? I'm talking about the area where the guest relations are. I know we would have to pay for the acquarium, etc.

[tikib]

cruiseapril, thank you for getting back with me.

 

I seen where it had $27 for "downtown." Do you know if anything is worth seeing downtown for that price?

 

Also, I'm a little confused. Is "Atlantis" in Nassau or Freeport? Did I see that we can get a van/taxi for $4PP?

 

This is another question on Atlantis. I understood unless we were on a tour, we could not go inside. Is that correct? I'm talking about the area where the guest relations are. I know we would have to pay for the acquarium, etc.

 

 

The Dock is located "downtown", so a cab within the area is $8 for 2 ppl.

Or if you get a shuttle to a popular spot (atlantis, cabbage beach, cable beach, etc) the shuttle is $4 pp.

Atlantis is located in Nassau (actually over the bridge from Nassau) and is not open to the public with the exception of the casino, shops in the old towers and marina village. You can't just walk around the lobbies. Not sure what you mean by guest relations, but there really isn't much you can access without security.

[cruiseapril]

We enjoyed Ardastra Gardens & Zoo with the Marching Flamingos. Small zoo, but nice.

 

One year, we just took a van cab ($4 or $5 pp) over to Atlantis to the casino and shops and marina. It's a good place to walk around.

 

How much time do you have in Nassau?

[beshears]

I think we will be there at Freeport and Nassau about 8 hours each.

 

The Taxi price sounds alright.

 

When I mentioned guest relations at Atlantis, that is the area we walked into years ago, and I remember that part with its large pillars, very beautiful inside. It sounds like they have stopped letting people come in now? How else would a person see the acquarium or shops, or are there doors from the outside to pay to see the acquarium, or go visit the shops?

 

If we did a tour, I guess they would stop long enough for us to walk around the front of Atlantis, right?

[Tracer140]

I was wondering about this too. Can we just take a cab/shuttle to Atlantis and just walk into the casino? I don't need to do any of the other stuff.

[Fourseventeen]

Yes you can take a cab over to Atlantis. If I recall its about 11 bucks for 2 adults each way. You can walk the casino and the shops for free but thats as far as you can go without paying for a beach/pool/waterpark pass. Of course we all know going into the casino wont be free haha

[Tracer140]

Thanks for the info. It's our backup plan if it's not nice enough to be in the water since we will be going in December. Our first choice is to hang out at Blue Lagoon.

[marshhawk]

What cruise line are you on? In Nassau= Before it was Carnival's Balmoral island, the island was called Blackbeards Cay, and we loved it, we have done Blue Lagoon, and gone twice to the Sheritan which is now the Melia. So far that was our favorite day trip, we walked to the bus stop and got the jitney for 1.25 each out to the hotel, great beach, wonderful pools, and a couple of hot tubs, The hotel has built up a small reef to allow for snorkeling.

[cruiseapril]

The Atlantis Casino, shops at Marina Village, and looking at the yachts there was our back-up plan which we did on a very windy morning in Nassau one March. We were surprised by the weather!