Graycliff Chocolatier the Art of Chocolate Making and Factory Tour N54

One very common question that I hear over and over is "What should I do in Nassau? Should we stay on the transport? Should we do a port adventure?"  In that location are lots of opinions about Nassau, both good and bad.  My goal for this postal service is not to force my opinion on you, only just to provide you with enough facts to form your own opinion and give you some ideas for port adventures, both those booked through DCL and those not.

Earlier nosotros get started on options for things to exercise off the ship, permit's rapidly talk nigh staying on the ship.  Many, many people stay on the ship in Nassau.  Years agone, fewer people chose this option and thus staying onboard typically resulted in smaller crowds onboard, particularly at the pools.  However, it seems like staying onboard is getting more and more popular, so don't assume that the crowds onboard will be smaller on Nassau day.  Maybe they volition, but you definitely tin can't count on information technology.

Another important topic to address is safety.  Nassau has a worse reputation than almost ports in terms of safety.  Whether this is true or non, I really don't know.  Merely the reputation is there.  The U.Southward. Department of State offers travel advisories for overseas destinations.  Click hither to get to their website and yous tin run into the current advisory level for Nassau.  I practise believe that if it was really bad, DCL would not visit or allow guests to disembark.  Only, at the same fourth dimension, obviously bad things can happen in otherwise "safe" places if you are not on guard or do something inadvisable.  My communication – be on alert at all times and stick to the main tourist areas.

Okay, at present virtually what your choices are if you do want to leave the ship. I have personally only left the ship one time in Nassau, and did the DCL Bluish Lagoon Embankment Day port hazard (more on this later).  And so, this collection of options below are (with the exception of Bluish Lagoon) things that I do not have starting time-hand experience with, but have either read about or heard about from talking to other people. If you lot are interested in any of these, I encourage you to exercise your own enquiry as in that location is lots of information out there to help you make up one's mind and make the best choice for you.

Atlantis Resort

A visit to the Atlantis resort is ane of the more popular options in Nassau.  Information technology has its pros and cons.  I have non personally done this port chance, but I did stay at the resort way dorsum in 2002 when it was pretty new and about ane/iii the size it is now.  I had a great fourth dimension when I was there.  Y'all tin book this through DCL (and there are several different options) or keep your own.  Let's start with the pros and cons of visiting Atlantis:

Pros

Information technology is relatively safe (i.e. you are unlikely to run across/exist a victim of any criminal activeness)

There are a lot of things to do in that location

It is clean and well-maintained

It is close to the send

Cons

It is very expensive

Information technology tin can be very crowded, mostly dependent on how many ships are in port that day (click here to check the cruise ship schedule for Nassau)

Many of the water slides accept summit restrictions so smaller kids will have some limitations

It is huge (and so lots of walking)

The food is very expensive

Start let'south talk about what your choices are if you want to volume Atlantis through DCL.  There are different options in terms of h2o park, beach, touring the resort, fauna encounters, etc.Note that the simply parts of the resort that you tin can enter for free are the casino and the shopping area, which is expensive, loftier-end stores. Instead of typing out all of that data, here are links to the DCL website which y'all can click on to see details, age restrictions, and prices:

Atlantis Aquaventure (N25)

Atlantis Aquaventure Half Day (just available on select sailings) (N66)

I know the prices in a higher place can be quite shocking, but there are also ways to visit Atlantis on your own, not through DCL, and salvage some money.  Here are some options:

You tin book a day laissez passer on the Atlantis website and accept a taxi to get at that place and back.

Last I heard, a taxi to Atlantis costs $iv per person, each style and is about a 10 minute ride.  Depending on your party size, you will likely have to share a taxi with other parties as the drivers like to completely make full them before leaving.  Call up to only used licensed taxi operators for safety.  Visit the Atlantis website here to see the 24-hour interval pass options and prices.  The prices are significantly cheaper than DCL, merely vary past season then yous will have to select your engagement to see prices.  Remember that if you do it this way to watch the clock carefully and leave plenty of time to get yourself back to the ship.

Use Marriott Rewards

If you have enough Marriott rewards, you can use them to book a room at the resort and then have access to the grounds, waterpark and beaches at no charge (you will receive four wristbands per room booked).  But, things similar cabanas and animate being encounters (that hotel guests have to pay extra for) will withal be an extra charge (you tin can check prices here on the Atlantis website). In order to book a room at Atlantis and pay cash, there is a 2 night minimum so that would not be cheaper.  But, I have heard from Marriott reward members who have been able to book only 1 night on points.  If you are a Marriott rewards fellow member, you should look into this to run into if it will work for y'all.

Comfort Suites

The Comfort Suites right next door to Atlantis (within walking distance, but far enough that you lot will want a stroller for little ones) offers its guests admission to the Atlantis Resort's grounds and waterpark.  Once again, cabanas and creature encounters would cost extra.  So, y'all can book a room online in advance, take a taxi there, bank check in and get your room primal cards and and then walk over to the Atlantis resort and not even admission your room.  Note that they will requite you a maximum of 4 cards per room reservation.  If you have more than than 4 people, phone call the hotel in accelerate to observe out if you lot can add people for a apartment fee (I've heard mixed results on this).  If not, y'all would have to purchase a day laissez passer for the extra person/people once you make it at Atlantis (note that ages 3 and under are free), or in advance online.  Room rates vary past season merely unremarkably range from $200 – $400 for 1 night (book every bit far in advance equally possible for the lowest rates). Make certain you lot take the credit carte used to make the reservation with you, too as photograph ID considering they will ask for it at bank check in.  One you have your cards, you walk over to a certain building at Atlantis (the Comfort Suites people will straight you there) and use your room keys to become your wristbands which will allow y'all access to the Atlantis grounds.

Annotation that this method volition requite y'all the best savings if at that place are exactly iv people in your political party.  For ii or three people, booking through DCL may exist nearly the same price or cheaper, depending on the rate you go for the room.  With v people, adding the purchase of the extra wristband at Atlantis may or may not make this method cheaper – you would have to meet what type of rate yous could get on the room and and so do the math.

Notation: Atlantis does provide towels, or you lot tin can bring your own from the transport (but please bring them dorsum so that DCL continues to offer this service!)

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Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon is an island a few miles from the cruise port that is only attainable by boat.  They offer dolphin/sea lion/stingray encounters, a beach day, or a segway tour.  You lot can volume these tours through DCL.  Currently, the Blue Lagoon website states that if you are a passenger on Disney Prowl Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Purple Caribbean Cruise Line or Carnival Prowl Line, that you must book through the cruise line and not on their website.  Simply, they're relying on the honor system because at that place'due south no stopping people from booking on the Blue Lagoon website and challenge that they are non on one of those prowl lines.  I take no first hand reports of people doing this though, then I tin can't answer any questions about that.  When we were in Nassau on Oct of 2016, we booked the Blue Lagoon Island Beach Twenty-four hour period (N44) through DCL.  Yous tin read a full review of our day and my opinions on the port chance here.

Fun fact: Back in the days of the Large Crimson Boat, this island was one of the ports that the ship stopped at (they had to tender to shore) and at that time was called Salt Cay.

Here are the options available to book through DCL.  Click on the links beneath for details and prices:

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British Colonial Hilton Day Laissez passer

If you are looking for a embankment and/or pool day, the British Colonial Hilton is within walking distance of the transport and I take heard pretty good things well-nigh it (that the pool is good, the beach is okay).  It should accept you almost ten minutes to walk there and you tin can buy solar day passes on the hotel website or from resortforaday.com.  Compare the prices to get the best deal.

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Melia Resort Day Pass

The Melia Resort also offers 24-hour interval passes, but is not within walking distance of the ship.  It will take a xv infinitesimal cab ride (~$20) to become there.  I have heard that it is much nicer than the British Colonial Hilton with good pools and a embankment.  I tin't find a style to buy day passes on the resort website, but y'all can from resortforaday.com, nassauparadiseisland.com, and others.  Shop around to get the best bargain.  Also, if you prepay, always bring written confirmation with you.

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Graycliff Hotel

The Graycliff Hotel is a historic hotel in Nassau that is a 10 minute drive from the ship.  You lot tin can book a day pass here (with the choice to add on additional experiences) either directly through the hotel on their website, or through an outside company such as nassauparadiseisland.com.  Shop around and compare prices.  You can also volume a few different port adventures to the Graycliff through DCL:

I have heard mixed reviews nearly the chocolate port adventure.  Some people thought it was boring, disorganized, and not worth the coin.  Others I've talked to enjoyed information technology.

Obviously booking through DCL means they accept intendance of transportation, and if yous proceed your own then you will have to take a taxi on your own.

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Harbinger Market place

The Straw Market is a shopping surface area right next to the ship.  This would be the place to go if you want to briefly become off the ship to purchase souvenirs.  Withal, it has a reputation for aggressive vendors so be careful.  I accept heard reports of people being harassed badly, to not being harassed at all.  Bank check out online reviews, such as these on TripAdvisor, if you desire specific examples.  The advice I have heard is non to make eye contact and if anyone tries to get you to touch something or place an item on you or your kid, refuse firmly or else they may try to brand you to buy it.

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Junkanoo Beach

Junkanoo Beach is a free beach within walking distance of the ship (~fifteen minutes).  I have heard mixed reviews almost it, from people saying they had a great time at that place to people proverb they will never become back (mostly complaints most glass in the sand and annoying vendors).  Apparently they have recently begun placing security guards hither on days that ships are in port which may take helped some.  In that location are restrooms, places to buy food and drinks, and chair/umbrella rentals.  One time once more, y'all tin read reviews here on TripAdvisor.

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Pirates of Nassau Museum

The Pirates of Nassau Museum is located within walking distance of the ship. I accept heard that is is a little bit cheesy, just doesn't accept long to walk through and is good for kids.  You can read reviews on TripAdvisor here.

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There are lots of other options for things to do in Nassau (you tin can see the complete list of Nassau DCL port adventures here), merely the ones listed higher up are the ones that I have heard the about about.  Hopefully this has helped you decide how to spend your solar day in Nassau!

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Source: http://www.disneycruisemomblog.com/the-scoop-on-nassau/

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