Nassau instead!!

Just found that the "Official" decision from RCI is that the NOS 5/1 sailing will go to Nassau instead of Labadee!

So what are you going to do there. We were there on our very first cruise. Had some local kid push me and try to put a conch shell in my just purchased straw (dickered at the market before it burned) bag so he could force me to pay for it.

We were in our late 20's, I was pregnant and my husband punched him to get him away from us.

I dislike Nassau about as much as Jamaica for a walking around port. Has Nassau changed much in the 17 years since I was there? Hope so since I think I will be back there and Jamaica in July. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

We were in Nassau in October. Several people tried to call us over and we just said no thank you. Most of them backed off, some did keep trying to persuade us. I found walking up and down the streets with the larger - newer stores easier.

We did avoid the new straw market area. Walked past it trying to get to senior frogs and the people outside were pushy and I felt very uncomfortable.

Going back again - but this time we are spending the day at Stuarts Cove

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Voyager of Seas - Canada
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RCCL Majesty of the Seas 10-27-03
Carnival Ecstasy 5-26-03
NCL Sky 5-19-02

I was there last March, and loved it. We did not have any bad experiences. We found an awesome tour guide, and took a two hour tour through the island. He even stopped at the liquor store for us! We also went to Paradise Island, Senor Frogs, and Hard Rock!!!

Good news! I'm not pregnant anymore so I can clock 'em myself if they haven't settled down by now. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Have a Good Cruise and Thanks for the updates. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

I'm not a big Nassau fan
two of the cruises we have been on stopped in Nassau, the second time we just stayed on the ship and my daughter loved that, she had the pool all to herself for like two hours.

Dolphincruiser,

What happened to the "official" announcement from yesterday of Grand Bahama being the alt port? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Actually, either one is fine with me- never been to Grand Bahama before, so that would be nice.

We were in Nassau on Explorer last year, but we never got around to Atlantis- so if it's Nassau, I'm headed there!

Of course... if we had a few more days on the 5/1 sailing... I wouldn't mind having a real diversion to say... St. Martin! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]
(I know- it's on the wrong side of the caribbean)

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RCI Voyager- Coming Soon!!!
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Ready for Ultra-Voyager- NOW!

Nassau is like Jamaica in that the locals will push you to buy stuff. It is much safer to walk around, though. I met my wife in Nassau, so we still like to go there. Atlantis is good if you don't want to deal with the vendors. You can easily spend half a day there.

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UNTIL EXPLORER OF THE SEAS

I'd be mostly going to Atlantis to find a roulette table... come on #26!!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

CCL Holiday- August '94
CLB Horizon- April '95
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RCI Grandeur- June '00
RCI Vision- April '02
RCI Explorer- May '03
RCI Navigator- Coming Soon!
RCI Voyager- Coming Soon!!!
---------------------------
Ready for Ultra-Voyager- NOW!

Seems as though the info I got from RCI was completely conflicting until yesterday. They told me three different things Monday, but I found it online yesterday that the itinerary was officially changed to Nassau.

We like Nassau because we spend the day at Club Med Paradise Island where we spent many happy days in our youth. Always great to go back to that beautiful village.

dolphincruiser404

I'm looking online now and its still showing Labadee as the scheduled port...where exactly do you see that it has been changed to Nassau.

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What is Stuarts Cove?

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hoboken - I went under the section for booking excursion, and the itinerary was changed.

Fo14 - Stuart Cove's is Nassau's biggest dive/snorkel operation. We found out about them from this board and booked a half-day snorkel with them for $35 each over Easter weekend. We had a glorious time. They take you out on a nice size fishing boat and take you to 3 different snorkel spots - the third being with sharks! We cruised around and got to sightsee some the fabulous houses as well. Their van picked us up near the pier at noon and returned us to the pier about 5:20/5:30.

Barbara
Monarch 6/02, 4/03
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When we were in Nassau last year we were not bothered to buy anything. Some people may ask "do you want to look at...." but the thing that surprised me was that when I said "no thanks" they kindly replied with "no problem". More than I get from pushy sales people here at home. I liked it there, no problems at all, am going back for another Majesty cruise in Oct.

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Norwegian Dawn
Monarch of the Seas
Diamond Princess (5/04)

I haven't been to Nassau in about twenty years [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] We will only be in that port for about 4 hours any suggestions?

Michele

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dolphin cruiser,

I can believe you on conflicting info from RCCL- this has got to be real hairy for them. Imagine a country you do business with up and having a revolution! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

btw- my TA has confirmed Nassau as well. Good work, dolphin- hope to see you on the cruise! Is there a scheduled CC party for this cruise? I'm new to the whole CC thing. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Finding a new port is probably very complicated- otherwise they'd just pick a new spot and announce it as a "until further notice" sort of thing. I'm happy enough with Nassau.

Curiously- I never had a problem with the bahamians there being pushy with sales. I've only had polite (and sometimes indifferent) experiences from the locals.

Atlantis- get those roulette wheels READY! Come on #21, 26 and 13!

Cheers,
Paul

CCL Holiday- August '94
CLB Horizon- April '95
CCL Fascination- May '96
CCL Inspiration- Feb '98
RCI Majesty- March '00
RCI Grandeur- June '00
RCI Vision- April '02
RCI Explorer- May '03
RCI Navigator- Coming Soon!
RCI Voyager- Coming Soon!!!
---------------------------
Ready for Ultra-Voyager- NOW!

I just returned from a Nassau trip...first time to stay there. Have visited Nassau on 12-15 cruise ships. LOVE it there! The only place where they haggle is at the straw market, other than that the prices in the stores are as marked. We had only great people. Remember, you are not in the USA anymore! They do things the 'island way'. Things are a little slower. We took a 1/2 day sailboat, snorkle, run-punch trip on Barefoot Tours. It was great....only 5 plus 2 crew on the boat!
You can take a bus (the No. 10) heading West to Cable beach or go down farther to Compass Point..next to Love Beach. The buses are great and only $1.00! We did have to take a taxi back into town, but we were in a hurry to get back to the Hilton.
Nassau is great if you get away from Bay Street and all of those liquor, perfume and jewellry stores!!
Have fun!!....and watch out for the Extra Strenth Kalik Beer!!

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SS Carolyn

I'm going on the VOS on 5/21 and am also looking into Nassau, just in case. If we have enough time, what I plan on doing is renting a room for the day at the comfort suites hotel; it has FULL access privileges to Atlantis, including the pools and water slides (which the cruise excursions don't give you.)On choicehotels.com, the price is 175.00 for the room, 2 adults and 2 kids. For 4 adults, the price is 235.00 (plus 12% tax). About the same as a typical shore excursion, but you get Atlantis! Learned about it from reading all of these boards!