Solo Excursions

[jcw2462]

I need some advise from you guys. I am going to the Eastern Carribean in June and stopping in Nassau, St Thomas, and St Martin. I am not cruising solo, but my husband will be golfing in Nassau and St Thomas. I have signed up for the Sunny Liston tour in St Thomas and I want to do an excursion or something in Nassau, but will be going alone. I would like to go to Atlantis and then just hang around at the beach and stroll through the shops close to where the ship docks. I know there will be other passengers on the Atlantis excursion, but my questions is, is it safe for me to wonder around alone in Nassau? Have any of you been there, and what is your opinion?

[Lois R]

Hi,:) I have been to Nassau many times (all solo). The ships dock

close to town. Normally I don't carry a purse when I go in town,

and I feel fine. I usually just put my $, credit card and S&S card in

my pocket.

 

There is the strawmarket ...and just down from it is Sr Frogs:D

you can always pop in there if you want......lots of folks from

all the cruiseships are around the entire area.

But I have always felt safe walking around there. Depending on

how many ships are in port you will find lots of passengers around!

 

Have a great cruise:)

[jcw2462]

Thanks, I felt like there wouldn't be anything to worry about. I've done it before in Mexico and never felt at risk. There are a lot of tourists and cruisers around too. Have you been to Atlantis? I'm wondering if it's really worth the trip? I would like to see it, but with such a short time at port, I don't know if I should make that a priority? I'm really leaning toward strolling through shops and enjoying some time on the beach at the Hilton.

[Lois R]

Hi, I have been to Altantis...a long time ago. It is really lovely

inside. They have a ferry that takes you. It used to be 3.00 but

I don't know the current price.

 

That is funny, last time I was in Nassau (December) I went to

that beach at the Hilton!

Nice area:) I think it was 12.00 for the beach and their

facilites! And you can see all the ships:D

[Lois R]

How come the post is missing....?:eek: shows your reply was the last one?

Boards are messed up again:(

[jcw2462]

I know, it's confusing me. I posted, but I'm not sure what happened:confused:

I asked if you think I should make it a point to go to Atlantis? Since I will not have a lot of time, I want to make the best of it.

[Lois R]

Hi...hmmm....you could hop over on the Ferry to see it and

still have time for the beach:)

It is lovely but overall its a BIG CASINO.....do you gamble?;)

[jcw2462]

Hey Lois, yes I do gamble, but it might be better to avoid the casino if you know what I mean!:eek: I'll probably get enough of that on the ship. I've read that I can't go around the beach, pools, or anything if I go there as a non-guest. I don't know if it would be worth the trip since my "tour" would be so limited to what I had access to. It looks beautiful in the pictures, but with only a few hours at Nassau, I am thinking laying on the beach and shopping near the port sounds better. I think we get there early in the morning, but will have to be back on the ship by 1:30, so I don't want to go too far.

[Lois R]

Hi,:) that part is true (about being a guest).

 

It sounds like you are looking forward to the beach more than

Atlantis so I would say go to the beach;) just be careful....

that Caribbean sun is HOT:eek:. They do have umbrellas you can

sit under.....I would grab one:D

[Cruise-Crazy]

I need some advise from you guys. I am going to the Eastern Carribean in June and stopping in Nassau, St Thomas, and St Martin. I am not cruising solo, but my husband will be golfing in Nassau and St Thomas. I have signed up for the Sunny Liston tour in St Thomas and I want to do an excursion or something in Nassau, but will be going alone. I would like to go to Atlantis and then just hang around at the beach and stroll through the shops close to where the ship docks. I know there will be other passengers on the Atlantis excursion, but my questions is, is it safe for me to wonder around alone in Nassau? Have any of you been there, and what is your opinion?

 

Nassau should be pretty safe. I have been there several times usually with a couple thousand dollars worth of camera equipment and have always felt safe. There are always a lot of other passengers around the downtown area.

[robinzhere]

I had a similar dilemma when traveling with my 18-year old. I went to the British Colonial Hilton and got a day-pass for $15. It's just past the Straw Market and Senior Frog's -- an easy walk from the ship. (For me, it was good because my son, who was testing his wings at drinking legally, could join some on-board friends at Senior Frogs and I could be nearby, but not in his space.) It was lovely and I felt very safe being alone there.

 

We also went to Atlantis later that day (this itinerary has you there until mid-night). You can easily get a group taxi there for about $4-5 each way -- the trip takes about 15 minutes in good traffic. It was interesting to see, but no more spectacular to me than any other casino I've been in. I didn't pay the extra to see the "Dig" (another name for the aquarium), though I know people who did and thought it was worth the money.

 

If you'd like to see pictures of the both the BCH and Atlantis, they are pictures 20 to 30 on my photosite here. Hope they help!

[DiannaInVA]

I just got back from a cruise that stopped in Nassau. I highly recommend the Segway tour in Nassau. I'm not sure if all cruise lines offer it as an excursion though--I got it through RCI. I went by myself, and there were 5 other people in the tour. None of us had driven segways before so we all learned at the same time. There were a few spills but nobody got hurt :). I'm sure it's not for everyone, but those of us who went had a great time, and all of us said they would do it again.

 

Plus, added bonus: the instructor is hot.

[Guest CRUZIN' SUZIN]

It is one of my favorite ports because the people do not look so poor and downtrodden and I feel perfectly safe wandering around. And wander I do. I have even gone off the beaten path a ways several times and have never felt unsafe or threatened.

 

I believe that since it is so close to Florida, the tourist industry is so robust that most Bahamians can easily make their living doing legitimate hustles without resorting to violently victimizing the tourists. We tourists are more than happy to spend our $$ on just about anything. Also, since it is a tourist haven, to a certain extent, the locals probably police their own, i.e. cab drivers, tour guides, merchants, and the like. I am sure the bad apples are run off in short order.

 

Nothing kills tourism like rapes, muggings and robberies -- just ask the residents of Limon, Costa Rico.

[jcw2462]

Thanks everyone, I'm sure I will have a great day, too bad it's only a few hours. Guess I'll have to get up early (we dock at 7 am) to have time to enjoy the island.

I've read in other posts that the Hilton beach and pool are never crowded. Why is that? It looks like a great place to spend some time for cruisers that are there for a short time like I will be.

Any places not to miss while shopping?

[robinzhere]

I think the Hilton is not crowded because a) you have to pay the $15 pp charge and b) the beach is not an "ocean view" -- but a view of the port with the ships in the background not that far away. There's no surf of any kind and I'm not sure I would have felt comfortable going in the water but I didn't. For me, the location was perfect and it was a very peaceful way to spend some time off the ship and swimming in a pool that was not salt water. They even had floaty things you could use in the pool.

 

If I felt I had more time and didn't want to hang around with my son a bit, I might have tried the Radisson farther away. It would have involved a taxi, but people were able to get to for free because they were not checking if you were registered there. It has a more natural "beach" feel from what I heard. I understand now that it is being turned into a larger resort and that going there may no longer be an option, though.

 

Hope you have a great time, whatever you decide!

[mitaxi]

I just cruised solo for the first time last month... Eastern route, and in Nassua I went ovet to Atlantis by water taxi... very easy... felt very safe. LOved walkign around the resort and some very nice shops by the ATlantis Marina... when I came back I wondered alittle downtown Nassua... there were lots of people and it went fine...

 

Have a great time