HAL Nassau Excursions

[icehatchling]

Hi everyone! I'm going to Nassau with HAL in April, and I'm trying to figure out what to do about Nassau, since I'm seeing such mixed opinions about the place. I thought that since so many people describe Nassau as "a dump" or suchlike, that maybe I'd be best to do an excursion. Has anyone done:

 

-The personal sub experience (This sounded really cool, but I wonder if I might be better off just snorkeling with waterproof case on my camera)

 

-The seahorse snorkel & sail

 

-The snorkel bahamas adventure (this one advertises possible snorkeling with sharks)

 

Reviews and advice of all sorts are very welcome. Also if anyone can compare Nassau excursions vs. going to Atlantis, that would be great, because I've read great things about Atlantis but am unsure I want to spend the money to go to a waterpark (probably by myself - don't know if I could convince my sister to spend that much on Atlantis either). I'm in my 20s and have never been on a cruise before, so I'm up for anything. I'm cruising with my family (parents in their 50s and my sister in her 20s) but we're splitting up for excursions, so my sister and/or dad may or may not go with me.

[scubagirrl]

Keep in mind, that there is no other way to enjoy the Atlantis waterpark except renting a room at one of the Atlantis properties, or Comfort Suites. Tours from the ship do NOT include pools, slides, lazy river, lagoons etc. It's just a "tour" of the grounds. Certainly not worth the time and effort, since you can enjoy the interiors and casinos for free. The only thing worth a few bucks at Atlantis is the aquariums, unless you have seen some of the wonderful aquariums in the states. For $29 - you can view the walk thru aquarium. Not a full days adventure, that's for sure.

 

My recommendation would be the Snorkel Bahamas Adventure (this is with Stuart Cove), which includes the sharks in the afternoon dive. http://www.stuartcove.com

 

Seahorse is a nice easy day of sailing and snorkeling off the coast of Rose Island (a nearby private island)

 

Personal Subs are a little too restrictive for me, but I'm a diver, so that might be the reason I feel too "controlled". You can read the details on the Stuart Cove website stated above.

[vicocala]

My wife and I are taking the semi-submersable and then we may just hire a horse and buggy to tour thru the city. It will be our first visit as well. I will be doing a lot of snorkeling thruout the cruise but my wife is afraid of it and doesn't see well anyway without her glasses, so the semi-sub seemed to be the best bet to give her a taste of the underwater aspects of the Bahama's.

[BambiRumsey]

Absolutely do the Stuart Cove (Snorkel Bahamas) excursion. The drivers from the ship to Stuart Cove's were courtesous, professional. Vehicles were clean, cold A/C. Top notch, professional organization. The guides on the boat were excellent, friendly, articulate, knowledgable. No pressure to tip at the end which made us want to tip more.

 

When we were on this excursion from the Zuiderdam in 2004 we went to three snorkel spots. First spot - clear water, great coral, lots and lots of colorful fish. Maybe some of the best snorkeling I've ever done, on par with the Kona Coast in Hawaii. Spot number two was near a sunken plane used in a James Bond movie. Spot number three was a shark feeding while you are in the water - FREAKY! Water in all three spots was very calm, like glass, would have been great for water skiing too! I am a diver, DH is not so we snorkel on cruises, I agree with scubagirrl about the subs, too restrictive and I don't think they give you as much time in the water, they spent most of the time at our snorkel spot number two after having to take time in the excursion to learn how to do it.

 

Ride back to the ship was a mini island tour with our dirver pointing out sites of interest. Again, clean van, courteous, professional driver.

 

I cannot give this excursion or the Stuart Cove organization any higher praise, it was simply the best. In fact, we hope to use them again on our Majesty of the Seas trip this Thanksgiving. Only sticking points may be 6 year old daughter traveling with us - not sure of their age restrictions.

 

PS - on a side note, if your HAL trip is going to Tortola, highly recommend The Baths on Virgin Gorda, worth evey penny - like snorkeling over a Grand Canyon of coral and fish, pristine.

[icehatchling]

Absolutely do the Stuart Cove (Snorkel Bahamas) excursion. The drivers from the ship to Stuart Cove's were courtesous, professional. Vehicles were clean, cold A/C. Top notch, professional organization. The guides on the boat were excellent, friendly, articulate, knowledgable. No pressure to tip at the end which made us want to tip more.

 

When we were on this excursion from the Zuiderdam in 2004 we went to three snorkel spots. First spot - clear water, great coral, lots and lots of colorful fish. Maybe some of the best snorkeling I've ever done, on par with the Kona Coast in Hawaii. Spot number two was near a sunken plane used in a James Bond movie. Spot number three was a shark feeding while you are in the water - FREAKY! Water in all three spots was very calm, like glass, would have been great for water skiing too! I am a diver, DH is not so we snorkel on cruises, I agree with scubagirrl about the subs, too restrictive and I don't think they give you as much time in the water, they spent most of the time at our snorkel spot number two after having to take time in the excursion to learn how to do it.

 

Ride back to the ship was a mini island tour with our dirver pointing out sites of interest. Again, clean van, courteous, professional driver.

 

I cannot give this excursion or the Stuart Cove organization any higher praise, it was simply the best. In fact, we hope to use them again on our Majesty of the Seas trip this Thanksgiving. Only sticking points may be 6 year old daughter traveling with us - not sure of their age restrictions.

 

PS - on a side note, if your HAL trip is going to Tortola, highly recommend The Baths on Virgin Gorda, worth evey penny - like snorkeling over a Grand Canyon of coral and fish, pristine.

 

Thanks so much for the advice! I am 99% certain that I will do the snorkel bahamas excursion now, even though I have extremely little snorkeling experience - it just sounds amazing. (I do own my own equipment, randomly enough.) Now the trick is getting anyone in my family to go with me...

 

And YES, I am going to Tortola, and yes, I do plan to go to the Baths! I've heard nothing but great things about them. Do you recommend just showing up at Tortola and finding a ferry over to the baths, or do you book with somebody?

[BambiRumsey]

the baths should be offered as a ship excursion but it fills up quickly so book it ahead of time or as soon as you board.

[BambiRumsey]

the baths should be offered as a ship excursion but it fills up quickly so book it ahead of time or as soon as you board.