Nassau and Atlantis Questions

[jlof]

How long is the cab ride from the Straw Market area to Atlantis? Also, does the taxi drop you off near the Casino and/or Aquarium?


Another question: what time do the Straw Market and most shops open? Our ship gets in early (7am) and leaves at noon!!!

Thanks!

[AAAMom]

It is about a 30 min ride from the straw market to the Atlantis. You will be dropped off at the front. From there you will be allowed into the hotel and casino, however, if you do not have a wristband you will not be able to get to the pools/dig site area. The staff is very conscientious about checking wristbands. I believe you can purchase them for $25 per person.

Have fun!

[jlof]

Thank you. Is the drop-off area also near the Aquarium?

[AAAMom]

jlof,
I think what you are calling the aquarium is the Dig Site. No, the drop off is not near it. You will have to walk through the casino and head downstairs to get there. You may not make it that far without a wristband.

[Scoutcat]

When we were in Nassau last December, my daughter and I caught a taxi over to Atlantis. Some will drop you off at the main entrance, and others at the casino entrance. Ours dropped us at the casino. We were able to walk around through the casino without being questioned (and my daughter is still in her teens). There are many beautiful Dale Chihuly glass sculptures and chandaliers to admire along the way.....as well as other interesting decor and architectural items. After you exit on the other side of the casino, you come to the shops area. Lovely to look at/in......mucho bucks to shop in :rolleyes: . The main lobby area is just past the shops. Again, much to admire and gawkl at. You can also see a portion of the aquariaum area from the lobby as well as from the back terraces off of the lobby. Since we had just a little time to spend there, it didn't make a lot of sense for us to pay to see the entire Dig....but we were able to admire a wide variety of undersea life from the public area. While I was out on the terrace looking down into a part of the aquarium a curious ray came swimming up to me and actually hung around long enough for me to get a picture :D .

One of the nicest surprises when we were ready to leave was that there are limos that operate as taxis---for the same fixed fare. When the Atlantis doorman hailed a taxi for us and the limo drove up, I thought he was kidding me. I told him--no, I want the ones that only cost $4 a person. He laughed and told me that he would be happy to get me a different taxi, but the fares were all the same. Needless to say, we took the limo ride! Turns out we could have taken one over there,too. When you leave the Festival Marketplace building at the end of the pier area, walk past the waiting area for the smaller taxis and out to the first street. There you should find a bunch of limos waiting. I am sure that they also have other deals---but the fares to many of the nearby areas are set by the government and are posted near the info desk at the Marketplace. You should be able to get one to take you anywhere you want.

Hope that helps a bit.

"Scout" aka Carol
Dayton, OH

Carnival Valor~December 2005