Someone please cheer me up

[GoinCruisin]

I know it is disappointing, but this is the risk when you cruise over a major holiday... you will find plenty of other things to do, and IMHO, the straw market isn't worth getting upset about :p Just be thankful that commercialism hasn't gotten to a point where EVERYTHING is open on Christmas and these people will be able to spend Christmas with their families... I wish everything except critical services was closed on Christmas... I miss the good old days when it was actually a sacred holiday :(

[nolaAlive]

And since the Carnival Web site let me BUY tickets to Ardastra for the 26th, I ASSUMED that meant Ardastra would be open.

 

You might as well ask Carnival for a refund on those tickets, because they otherwise probably won't notify you until you are on the boat. As it is, they are a lot quicker a taking your money than refunding it.

[suezducruz]

Plenty of cruise guests visit the Atlantis when EVERYTHING is open...we did and it's a gorgeous hotel with a beautiful beach. The way the natives were trying to lure us to jet-ski and parasail I have a hard time believing that they won't be out. Besides, we have heard lots of people say that a cruise is about the ship and it's activities, and not the ports. Go and have a terrific time!

[Beach4me]

Dudette....

Oddly enough, the Carnival Web site offers, for instance, Ardastra Gardens, as an excursion for that day but I called Ardastra and they're closed.

 

If this excursion is offered through the ship, book it. Often times, things that are closed to the public will open to ships' tours. Case in point - I'll be in Kona on the Island Princess on a Sunday. The Seahorse Farm is closed on Sundays...but is open to the ship's tour. If the place knows that they have a large group for a limited/specific timeframe, they will often open for the tour group. Book it through Carnival and enjoy!

[heyitsmejudy]

If this excursion is offered through the ship, book it. Often times, things that are closed to the public will open to ships' tours. Case in point - I'll be in Kona on the Island Princess on a Sunday. The Seahorse Farm is closed on Sundays...but is open to the ship's tour. If the place knows that they have a large group for a limited/specific timeframe, they will often open for the tour group. Book it through Carnival and enjoy!

 

Emailed 'em asking if this was the case... here's what I got back:

Dear Judy,

 

Am afraid that we will be closed to all public for the whole day on Boxing

Day. In the past attendance has been so low that we lose too much money by

staying open - a small place like this simply cannot afford to do that. I am

very sorry that you will not have the chance to visit us but I do hope you

will understand our situation.

 

Kind regards

 

Nick Atchison

Director

[florida cruiser girl]

Get your refund and go to Atlantis. It's the thing I enjoy most about Nassau anyway. A place to really enjoy. You can go through the aquarium tour that puts you out where you can eat a fabulous lunch with great staff! Roam around and enjoy at your leisure. Also many nice shops inside the hotel itself. Have fun and no worries!!

[45014]

Please don't flame me. I think I would have put more preperation into the planning of the excuersions. We always check the dates carefully when making a cruise date. It doesn't take that much more time to explore the possibilities. And as another poster said, "would you want to work on a holiday?" I've been there and done that.

[heyitsmejudy]

Please don't flame me. I think I would have put more preperation into the planning of the excuersions. We always check the dates carefully when making a cruise date. It doesn't take that much more time to explore the possibilities. And as another poster said, "would you want to work on a holiday?" I've been there and done that.

 

Sugar, I've been planning this *(*#()%&* trip since February when I booked it. And I've researched excursions to the point of having a (insert another cuss word) binder a couple inches thick of print outs, maps, hints, documents, etc. I've spent about $60 on Frommer's guides. Have a folder of emailed correspondence between myself, Carnival and several excursion operators that is probably cutting into my computer memory it's so full.

That said: 1) The Ardastra Gardens Web site says "open every day except Christmas 2) Carnival is selling tickets to it for Dec. 26.

I repeat: This is NOT Christmas but the day after. And, again, I've worked more than my share of Christmases, Thanksgiving, New Year's etc.

My parents got married 40 years ago ON CHRISTMAS . This is an anniversary gift for them. And I have a 15 year old brother... we're working around his school schedule as well.

Regardless, I was upset yesterday when I originally posted because I want everything to go perfectly. This is the first and if you can believe it ONLY family vacation my family has taken and, when we return, my oldest brother is headed to Iraq. I'm now more chilled, looking forward to it again and have found some excursions which are taking tourist money those couple days.

(putting flame out now.)

[heyitsmejudy]

Get your refund and go to Atlantis. It's the thing I enjoy most about Nassau anyway. A place to really enjoy. You can go through the aquarium tour that puts you out where you can eat a fabulous lunch with great staff! Roam around and enjoy at your leisure. Also many nice shops inside the hotel itself. Have fun and no worries!!

Thanks! That's what the guy at Stuart Cove's suggested so we're planning that! On the bright side of everything else being closed, the schedule permits us to go snorkeling with them and everyone says they're the best!

[Tabsmom]

We sailed RCL to the Bahamas last year over Christmas. We were in Nassau on the 26th. In the Bahamas there is a celebration called Junkanoo which is celebrated on the 26th. Most everything will be closed. Some vendors in the Straw market were there. I'd say maybe 25% of them were open. As others have said, Atlantis was up and running with no problems.

 

It is a nice day, not the usually crazy traffic. Be careful about the beach day. It may not be extremely warm. Kind of depends. We did not have real warm weather last year.

 

I'd say, best bet is Atlantis or some other island tour not including the Gardens.

 

Good luck and still enjoy. We did.

[mbuote]

The Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in Nassau...casino, aquarium tour, restaurants... an awesome place to visit.

 

That's where I'm going!! Booked it through Carnival. It's supposed to be awesome!:D You can shop anywhere. Focus on having fun. we're only there until 2ish anyway

[heyitsmejudy]

We sailed RCL to the Bahamas last year over Christmas. We were in Nassau on the 26th. In the Bahamas there is a celebration called Junkanoo which is celebrated on the 26th. Most everything will be closed. Some vendors in the Straw market were there. I'd say maybe 25% of them were open. As others have said, Atlantis was up and running with no problems.

 

It is a nice day, not the usually crazy traffic. Be careful about the beach day. It may not be extremely warm. Kind of depends. We did not have real warm weather last year.

 

I'd say, best bet is Atlantis or some other island tour not including the Gardens.

 

Good luck and still enjoy. We did.

Thanks Tabs mom...

What small town in Missouri? My parents are in Odessa.

[florida cruiser girl]

That's where I'm going!! Booked it through Carnival. It's supposed to be awesome!:D You can shop anywhere. Focus on having fun. we're only there until 2ish anyway

 

 

It is!

As I stated before...I have been to Nassau 4 times and Atlantis the last 2!!

Go to www.Atlantis.com. You will forget you were worried and just be excited and so looking forward to visiting. It truly is not to be missed!

[Tabsmom]

Thanks Tabs mom...

What small town in Missouri? My parents are in Odessa.

 

It's called Fordland. About 25 miles outside of Springfield MO.

 

Glad to hear you're feeling better about the trip. We still enjoyed the day quite a bit. I'm a little jealous, would love to take a Christmas cruise again.

[Guest CRUZIN' SUZIN]

Sugar, I've been planning this *(*#()%&* trip since February when I booked it. And I've researched excursions to the point of having a (insert another cuss word) binder a couple inches thick of print outs, maps, hints, documents, etc. I've spent about $60 on Frommer's guides. Have a folder of emailed correspondence between myself, Carnival and several excursion operators that is probably cutting into my computer memory it's so full.

That said: 1) The Ardastra Gardens Web site says "open every day except Christmas 2) Carnival is selling tickets to it for Dec. 26.

I repeat: This is NOT Christmas but the day after. And, again, I've worked more than my share of Christmases, Thanksgiving, New Year's etc.

My parents got married 40 years ago ON CHRISTMAS . This is an anniversary gift for them. And I have a 15 year old brother... we're working around his school schedule as well.

Regardless, I was upset yesterday when I originally posted because I want everything to go perfectly. This is the first and if you can believe it ONLY family vacation my family has taken and, when we return, my oldest brother is headed to Iraq. I'm now more chilled, looking forward to it again and have found some excursions which are taking tourist money those couple days.

(putting flame out now.)

 

You are only in the Bahamas for the 1 day or so. Like I said, I remember 12/25 being open and booming at Hotel Atlantis and the straw market. I don't know about 12/26 -- that was our day at sea. However, just send your folks over to Atlantis. That resort has everything you could possibly want to do. What you miss, you will catch next time around. You did more than enough research -- some things just slip by. Who every heard of Boxing Day in the US anyway. Not your fault. Go have a good time and don't listen to the "shoulda, coulda, woulda" folks.

[heyitsmejudy]

Thanks, Suzin! I am going to be suprised if the straw market is, indeed, closed. But that's what I've been told. Since the folks there THRIVE on tourist biz, I would think they'd be there, but we'll see. My little brother collects tiki masks. I bought him one there last year and he was looking forward to adding to his collection. We're going to Lucayan National Park in Freeport on Christmas and will check out Atlantis and go snorkeling with Stuart Cove's on the 26th. I didn't get to see much at Atlantis last year so it's worth the go. Junkanoo should also prove worth a shot.

You're right, I researched the snot out of this trip. Now it's time to chill and pack and go have a large time and an umbrella drink.

[heyitsmejudy]

And can I add that even the people at Ardastra didn't know until last week that Ardastra would be closed the day after Christmas. So it ain't my lack of "preparation" that botched the deal.