What to do in Nassau?

[CBR600]

I am unsure what of what to do on our day in Nassau - any one have any ideas? None of the organised excursions really appeal to me - we will have already done the dolphins and sting rays at Discovery cove,, and walking around Atlantis with the kids would be a nightmare, it would be torture for them to see all the great swimming pools and not be able to have a dip.
I am not one for shopping and I dont think DH or the kids would enjoy me dragging them around a straw market. :confused2

What are your plans for Nassau?

[jdybnsn]

I would recommend a trip to the Pirate Museum ....its cheap enough and not too long either if you know what I mean :confused2 . It also has a great pirate shop & pub attached. Its a short walk from the boat, only 5 - 10 mins (turn right at the quay side and its in the street behind the main street).

I believe that you can book a day room at one of the other hotels affiliated to the Atlantis, I forget which one, but a quick search on the Disboard should tell you - this would give you much cheaper access to the Atlantis facilities. I believe they have just opened a new water park at the Atlantis and it looks fab:cool2:

Alternatively, you could just stay on board the ship as the pools & clubs will be much quieter.....Nassau is nothing to write home about really - we only spent about an hour and a half off the ship there, picking up a few T shirts (you should take a look in Piranah Joe's ), and visiting the museum.

[gala]

Ds was there for a week in September and loved Nassau. Of course for him and his dgf it was a base but the places I particularly remember him talking about were the pirate museum which he loved and the Straw Market. He said that the guide in the pirate museum was fantastic and such a character.He also did a tour of the rum factory and brought back a local speciality of rum cake which was delicious. There are lots of good places to eat in Nassau too and he particualarly liked the conch. It was the best holiday he has ever been on - they both loved it.


Margaret

[ANGEL]

must admit Nassau wasn't one of our favourite places...we visited the straw market though and a bar called Senor Frogs to have drinks by the sea :) Some friends had a drive around the harbour in a horse & carriage and liked that :)

[vaunlou]

we took a boat trip to a lovely beach.....very nice....hot day...lovely beach....what more could i ask for

[ANGEL]

we took a boat trip to a lovely beach.....very nice....hot day...lovely beach....what more could i ask for


sounds ideal!:cool2:

[rylisal]

We didnt do much in Nassau as all the trips were a bit too much for our toddler to enjoy.We went for a walk around the many jewellery shops(There are LOADS!), as it was my birthday I chose a lovely ring & earrings to match!
We looked in at the Straw market-it was heaving and with toddler in buggy it was really not our thing, if you like straw bags/fake designer bags or t-shirts then its for you!
We then went back to the ship about 12 noon, had a fab lunch & then took in the sun on deck whilst our lo slept and big brother went off to kids club! It was fairly quiet back on ship too which was great! !

[ANGEL]

I agree about the straw market Sally, bright and colourful but not much substance!;) I know a lot of people stay onboard ship at Nassau:)

[NatalieD]

We didn't think much of Nassau either :( We went for a walk around the Straw Market (found the traders really in your face) and then for a stroll around the shops in Nassau. Looking to do something more exciting this time!

Natalie

[ANGEL]

Think I'd give the Atlantis a try next time Natalie. I know friends really liked it there :) I wasn't struck on all the 'hawkers' around the port at Nassau either.

[NatalieD]

I think that's what I'm leaning towards Mandy - just got to try and convince the kids though - they absolutely hated Nassau, they were really frightened and intimidated by it and just wanted to stay on the ship

Natalie

[rylisal]

I think if we ever go there again, we'd stay on board & make use of the wonderful facilities whilst everyone else is out & about!!

[ANGEL]

I think that's what I'm leaning towards Mandy - just got to try and convince the kids though - they absolutely hated Nassau, they were really frightened and intimidated by it and just wanted to stay on the ship

Natalie


I think they'd love the Atlantis though Natalie, have you shown them the web site at all?

(having trouble posting a link at the moment, but you can google it!)


Looks lovely!

[mandymouse]

We're not big fans of Nassau either, I hated people coming up to us asking if we needed our hair braided or if we wanted taxis. For our past 2 cruises we have disembarked to take photos and then we get back onboard and enjoyed an empty ship :smile:

[TinkTatoo]

.....For our past 2 cruises we have disembarked to take photos and then we get back onboard and enjoyed an empty ship :smile:

That's what we plan to do :d:

[Michelle]

I think if we ever go there again, we'd stay on board & make use of the wonderful facilities whilst everyone else is out & about!!

I think that sounds like a plan :)

[Suzieq]

Do you have to pay to use the facilities at Atlantis?

DD is loving the look of it.

[ANGEL]

yes I beleive you pay to use their facilities, or DCL do an excursion to there too :)

[jdybnsn]

Yes, you have to book a day room but it is very expensive ...a cheaper option is to book a day room with the hotel that is affiliated with it (and you still get use of the facilities at Atlantis) ...sorry can't remember the name of it but someone else on here will know...could be the Comfort Inn ????

Anyone ?

[Suzieq]

Mmmmm

I can feel a call to Val coming on ;)


Edited to say

:omg: :omg: :omg:

Have just been on the Atlantis website and $585 room only for the 5 of us.

Will have to rethink i think, so does anybody know for sure which chain of hotels they are affiliated with so I can have a look.

[ANGEL]

The excursion through DCL would be cheaper!

[jdybnsn]

I've just done a bit of research for you.......

It's the Comfort Suites (Paradise Island) at Nassau.......you book a day room and this gives you full access to Atlantis whereas apparently the DCL excursion only gives limited access which does not include the pools :( !

Apparently the staff at the Comfort are well used to cruise people doing this, and so it is worth your while telling them when you book, so that they will have your room ready early, and make sure it is in a block nearest the Atlantis, which is just across the street.
As you are allowed 4 people per room, it is also common for couples to arrange, via the cruise meet boards (such as on the Dis), to share the cost of these day rooms !

It has also been said that sometimes if you just turn up at the Atlantis and just ask about the availability of day rooms, if capacity allows they will allow you to book one, at half the cost of a nights stay.

Hope this is helpful, but please bear in mind it has been sourced from what other people have said, rather than hard facts. :smile:

[ANGEL]

Thats a shame the excursion doesn't include using the pools :( Booking the room at the Comfort Inn may be a good option then.

[CBR600]

Mandy, if you look into a day room at the comfort inn would you let us know how much it costs? This is something that I would seriously consider doing if we could use the Atlantis pools :)

Otherwise I think we will go to the pirate museam in the morning and enjoy a quiet ship in the afternoon :)

[ANGEL]

well, we're not actually going to Nassau this cruise, but I'll see what I can find out for you!;)

[CBR600]

well, we're not actually going to Nassau this cruise, but I'll see what I can find out for you!;)

Ohh of course! :blush: are you doing the cruise that visits St Maarten etc this time? I can never remember which one is eastern and which one is western! :blush:

[ANGEL]

Well, a room for the night is $248 so if there was a family that would still be a lot cheaper than the Atlantis.....or the DCL excursion! trying to find out day rates now.....

[ANGEL]

Apparently the official Comfort Inn website/phone number is a good place to start, and depending on your travel dates it could be as low as $180 for the day, which would be much better :) That may be worth you looking into!:)

[jdybnsn]

Apparently the official Comfort Inn website/phone number is a good place to start, and depending on your travel dates it could be as low as $180 for the day, which would be much better :) That may be worth you looking into!:)

Only a small point, but worth checking, that the Comfort Suites is the same place :confused2

[ANGEL]

Ohh of course! :blush: are you doing the cruise that visits St Maarten etc this time? I can never remember which one is eastern and which one is western! :blush:


We're doing the western, which visits Key west, Cozumel and Grand Cayman..as well as cc of course :)

[ANGEL]

well, the website for comfort inn and suites is the same (all part of Choice Hotels) , but the actual place near the Atlantis is the Comfort Suites so you're right about that thanks :)

Apparently the maximum number of wristbands they will give out for the facilities per room is 4, unless a child is under 3, so worth taking that into consideration, and prices do seem to vary according to date of travel obviously, with some people having paid as low as under $120! Worth checking out?;)

[jdybnsn]

well, the website for comfort inn and suites is the same (all part of Choice Hotels) , but the actual place near the Atlantis is the Comfort Suites so you're right about that thanks :)



Thanks for checking Angel - not that I'll be going, but if I were, it would be just like me to find I'd checked into the wrong hotel :blush:

[ANGEL]

lol no problem :) Best to be safe!;)

[Maz]

We're not big fans of Nassau either, I hated people coming up to us asking if we needed our hair braided or if we wanted taxis. For our past 2 cruises we have disembarked to take photos and then we get back onboard and enjoyed an empty ship :smile:

That just sounds ideal and I think we will do this too.:grin:

[disneydreamer]

Anyone know if the childrens clubs still run on board ship when you are at Nassau? I know they don't when you are at Castaway.

jackie

[rylisal]

Just checked our Personal Navigator from Feb for you & YES all kids clubs run as normal on board whilst in Nassau!
HTH x

[scottishwee35]

Anyone know if the childrens clubs still run on board ship when you are at Nassau? I know they don't when you are at Castaway.

jackie

I had feet massage while my husband and mil were in shopping in Nassau and the childrens were at the club. After my feet massage, i went to shopping in Nassau on my own!! I was worry about the kids but turn out they had a smashing times!!

the children clubs are on Castaway as I took my childrens there for couple of hours then they come with us to have fun with sand and sea.

Scottishwee35

[disneydreamer]

thanks for that everyone. If we were to leave kids in Clubs how far are the shops away just incase we get paged for some reason? I think we will just do the photos bit and go back on board to get some quieter times at pools, etc.

[ANGEL]

the shops in Nassau are pretty close to the port where the ship docks. I don't think it would take too long to get abck...I'm guessing the pager would work that far...but someone else may like to confirm that......:0

[rylisal]

The shops are really close, so I'm sure pagers probably work anyway. I'm pretty sure I remember seeing something about parents being able to go off & enjoy Nassau safe in the knowledge the kids are entertained back on ship.
I may have even read it on DCL website b4 we went!

[disneydreamer]

The shops are really close, so I'm sure pagers probably work anyway. I'm pretty sure I remember seeing something about parents being able to go off & enjoy Nassau safe in the knowledge the kids are entertained back on ship.
I may have even read it on DCL website b4 we went!

Are they really close i..e. walking distance? or do you get a taxi?

Jackie

[scottishwee35]

Are they really close i..e. walking distance? or do you get a taxi?

Jackie

Hi Jackie

No, you dont need taxi as it is close - shop, museum, as my husband and Mil went to horse cart for 20 mins and I went shopping myself and bought watch, clairns from shop called John Bull? As tax free, I wish I bought two clairns as expensive here!! Walked around and I was trying find Hard Rock but I gave up cos myself so there is Pirate Museum well.

Leave kids on the Cruise and enjoy your shopping and the kids will love the club!! Believe me. lol.

Scottishwee35

[rylisal]

Takes no more than 5 mins to get to 1st shop-It really IS that close!
Do take advantage of all the Tax Free cosmetics/Perfumes too as they are cheaper in US anyway & so with no tax in Bahamas, they are a real bargain-Wish I'd stocked up a bit more too!!

[CBR600]

Takes no more than 5 mins to get to 1st shop-It really IS that close!
Do take advantage of all the Tax Free cosmetics/Perfumes too as they are cheaper in US anyway & so with no tax in Bahamas, they are a real bargain-Wish I'd stocked up a bit more too!!

Where is the best place to get perfume etc? I dont want to buy some then find out its fake, any recommendations for reputable shope Sally?

[ANGEL]

Once onboard you are given a great shopping guide which has all the reputable shops on it :) It's very helpful! :)

[rylisal]

Went in 2, one was like a department store but small, the other just a cosmetic/Perfumery-Both authentic, sorry can't remember names. There are'nt that many Perfumeries really , just hundreds of jewellers!
I work in Cosmetics myself, so am sure not fake, even had long chat with one of assistants all about what I was buying, & know she was genuine as I now sell it myself(New product we didnt have then!)
I think its Handbags there mainly that are fake!

[rylisal]

The shops Disney reccommended were ok but we did find the jewellery slightly more expensive in those!
Funny too as they were all heaving with Cruise people(Not just Disney) as they offer 'Free' gifts to lure you in!
The shops are very competative though & can make you feel a bit like not going inside plus of course nothing is priced!
I had to pluck up courage & finally went into a few as DH promised me a ring for my BDay...Actually bought it in a lovely one & served by a young girl who looked just like my neice!!

[CBR600]

Thanks for that, really good to know! Can you get nice face creams/cleansers/toners etc?
Would love to be able to stock up on clinique when we are there!

[jules_c]

I think that's what I'm leaning towards Mandy - just got to try and convince the kids though - they absolutely hated Nassau, they were really frightened and intimidated by it and just wanted to stay on the ship

Natalie

We left our DS on the ship whilst we wandered the town. The playleaders in the club encouraged us to go saying that although the pager is not long range it does bleep if you are within a certain range. Luke was not keen at all and bearing in mind he only had 3 days!!! to play we left him to be looked after. Having said that he is not really fazed by being left so its up to the individual and how you would feel leaving your kid.

Agree with most though the Pirates Museum is good and the Pirate is such a character. The shops are lovely but expensive things so you have to be on a mission to shop there. Didnt like the straw market at all. We only stayed off the ship for a couple of hours, enough time to see what we wanted.