We are going on the Sovereign in April with two other families. It's their first cruise, and they are not interested in booking any excursions. They are interested in seeing the Atlantis. If we take a cab ride over to Paradise Island how much of the resort will we have access to? Any tips would be appreciated. We want their first trip beyond Myrtle Beach to be memorable.

Hi! I was reading one of the reviews just yesterday and someone was talking about that very thing. They recommended taking the cab, because it's a rather long hike in the hot sun, and the cab is very inexpensive -- something like ten dollars if i recall correctly.

They said they got to look around the resort AND got to go through the underwater aquarium! But they didn't mention whether this cost extra or not.

Best wishes!

We just got back from an Eastern Caribbean trip and we stopped in Nassau. There are two options...a cab or there's a passenger ferry/boat that will drop you off as well. The cab will take you right to the hotel whereas the ferry will drop you off and you have to walk a few minutes. The ferry is a little cheaper (I think it was like 5 or 7.00), but either way - they will love the Atlantis. It's really cool. They have tours available and it will cost you to see the hotel but if you aren't interested in paying for the tour, you can walk around the hotel and see the Aquarium. They'll love it.

Have fun!!!

Thanks for the input. All is appreciated.
Pennie

Hi! I was reading your comments above re Atlantis.

Can you tell me please about your personal experience in getting off the ship at the Atlantis resort, what the local crowds are like at the pier, any hassles, etc? I was reading a review that said some of the locals there were trying to sell marijuana and other illegal things to the passengers who were getting off the ship to look around the Atlantis.

It sounds like a scary uncomfortable situation. We're not sure whether we shouldn't just stay on the ship the whole time!

Thanks for any info, opinions, etc.

More questions -- does it cost anything to get off the ship there?

Does it cost to look around the Atlantis?

Does it cost to go through the Atlantis aquarium?

Do you have to sign up ahead of time to get off the ship and look around there, or can you wait until the last minute to make up your mind?

Thanks for any info!

Hi! Sorry, I just now checked the chat site, so sorry if it took awhile for me to answer. About the Atlantis....your cruise ship will dock in Nassau and Atlantis is on Paradise Island. It does not cost anything to get off the ship - and I would recommend getting off and just walking around the little stores close by - you can find some good bargains. But, if you want to go to Atlantis...I highly recommend going - it's a fabulous hotel and just amazing how it was built and layed out. To tour the entire hotel - that will cost some money (I forget how much) but if you just want to walk around the hotel itself, it's free to the public. They have some aquariums in the hotel itself and you can walk around and see some sea life there. You will see some awesome creatures but I also recommend the other aquariums that you actually have to pay to get in - they are out of this world. But, it's whatever you want to do and how you feel. About the safety part and people selling marijuana - I didn't run into anyone like this and I thought the island was just as safe as any of the other ones. I feel like all the islands have those kind of people and if you mind your own business - I don't think people will approach you. But, we didn't have any problem with the locals. Most of them are trying to get you to take their taxi or braid your hair. I have rather long hair and I got asked about a zillion times if I wanted my hair braided! But...that's fine - I didn't mind, I was on vacation. To sum it all up - you can definitely wait til the day you are docked at Nassau to get off the ship and if you decide to see Atlantis...I would recommend you go! It's worth the money.

Have fun and let me know if you have any more questions or if I answered everything!

Hey thanks for this info! I really appreciate it, and am sure relieved to hear you didn't have any problems with drug pushers!

No need to apologize for the delay, it wasn't really a delay anyway I try to check in to read here every day but sometimes life gets kind of busy and i don't even have time to sit down at the computer for days at a time.

Anyway, thanks again so much!

Wow, I'm so glad to hear others have had a similar experience as I. I agree, if you mind your own business and not even show a hint of interest, or better yet, avoiding eye contact would be even better, they won't even approach you. But let it be known, the drug pushers are there.

Amy

Thank you all so much. Y'all are just the greatest.

If anybody finds out exact price of Atlantis Tour with Aquarium please let me know, as hubby is trying to calculate everything and driving me up the wall, LOL

Be glad your hubby is helping!! I've got 5 people to please in my family, including myself. I'll be in definite need of a vacation after all of this.....

Amy

I was thumbing through our tickets, and they offer an excursion called the Historic Harbor & Discover Atlantis. The duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes approx. The cost is $42.00 for adults and $31.00 for children. It involves a harbor cruise while a Bahamian host explains the sites and history. Then they drop you off at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal for the tour of Atlantis. It describes seeing sharks, baracudas and other creatures from the deep so I am assuming this would include the aquarium. It states that there is a ten minute walk from the Ferry Terminal to the Atlantis Resort. Hope this helps!

Pennie

I was just there but I can't remember how much they charged - I want to say maybe 12.00 a person to see the aquarium and have access to the pools, etc. But, I can't remember. I know you can definitely do it cheaper than what the cruise line will charge you (but that was great information Pennie passed on to you). I don't think there's much to see on the Harbor tour, or atleast that's how I felt - it seemed like the driver on the boat screamed the whole time about who lives here and who lives there, etc. But, to me...wasn't a big deal. But, it's whatever you feel most comfortable with - I would tell your hubby to calculate maybe 20.00 per person for that day - money to get over to the hotel and then the tour itself. But, like I said, I'm not quite sure - it shouldn't be more than 30.00 dollars though per person. Sorry I couldn't be more help!! Have fun!

Its 25 per person to take the tour with the hotel. I have heard mixed reviews about paying. Some have said that they check to see if you paid and some said that they didnt check at all and they walked every where.

Thanks a bunch. Always looking for feedback.

Pennie

Thank you all ! Wow, this is a big help in getting an idea of what to expect.

They discourage swimming in the pools as a day guest, but you have full access to see everything!! You will be highly impressed over the junky, dirty downtown Nassau.