Atlantis....HELP!

[KYCRSER]

Leaving Friday for 3 Night to Bahamas. I was told we could take a ferry to Atlantis and get an armband into Atlantis approx. $25. Is this true? If so were do you get the armbands? Thanks!

[firstcruise05]

You can take a water taxi to Atlantis...it isn't that far. I don't think they do the day passes to Atlantis anymore. What other people have been doing is booking a room at a hotel (the Comfort inn or something like that) and they give you access to the resort.

[1corona4u]

Leaving Friday for 3 Night to Bahamas. I was told we could take a ferry to Atlantis and get an armband into Atlantis approx. $25. Is this true? If so were do you get the armbands? Thanks!

 

Yes, you can get a day pass. Go to the Coral Tower, go down the stairs. They are $29.00 for adults, and I think $19.00 for kids. It's a great day, worth every penny. You can take a cab from the pier for $4.00 pp, each way though, may be cheaper than a ferry......

[cruz1234]

We took a taxi, it was $4pp, the water taxi is $3pp, the water taxi sits there until it is full..so if you are one of the first on could take 30 mins to fill up. Then when you get dropped off on Paradise Island you have to walk to Atlantis..Taxi is DOOR to DOOR! Plus from others I met they said the water taxi was SO FULL they worried about the safety issue.

[dsparku]

Take the Taxi outside of the port-water taxi drops you at the bridge to paradise island and you have to walk to Atlantis-taxi drops you at the door-taxi is $4 or $5 each-the $29 fee is correct for a day pass

[LetsGoCruisN]

What do you get for the $29 day pass? Full-access to the hotel common areas, the pool, etc?

[Broch]

:confused: We have booked the Dolphin Encounter through the ship (RCCL) and was wondering "Is the Atlantis hotel far from Blue Lagoon"?. I apprecaite we won't have long afer the event until we have to return to the ship but if it was not far at least we could have a look at it.

[KYCRSER]

Thanks for the info!!!:)

[1corona4u]

What do you get for the $29 day pass? Full-access to the hotel common areas, the pool, etc?

 

No, you're not suppose to get access to the beach or the pools, or the water slide, but as I have read on this board the last few days, some people have taken advantage of that. They did have people checking the bands when we were there though. You get access to the aquariums, the dig, which is reaally interesting, and the grounds. Go to their website and look at the map. It's an amazing place. I took a ton of pix there, just not ready to post them yet.

 

 

http://www.atlantis.com/flash.aspx

[mbtaz]

No, you're not suppose to get access to the beach or the pools, or the water slide, but as I have read on this board the last few days, some people have taken advantage of that. They did have people checking the bands when we were there though. You get access to the aquariums, the dig, which is reaally interesting, and the grounds. Go to their website and look at the map. It's an amazing place. I took a ton of pix there, just not ready to post them yet.

 

 

http://www.atlantis.com/flash.aspx

 

Right, I was just told by them that the day passes are not for pool use or beach use. They will be checking wrist bands (so they say) Depending on how many people, it's cheaper to get a room. I just got one for a few weeks from now for 99.00 and that way I have a place to change/veg out in too. I have a 4 year old. Good luck and have a great cruise.

[Tenbyman]

They are very strict about who is allowed to the pool and beach area, the place has been designed so that there are maybe two or three pathes to the pool and they stop everyone and check their room key card, the only way to spend the day there is to book into the Comfort suites and you get full access, and it is worth every cent.

[firstcruise05]

I'm sorry..by day pass I assumed you meant to the pools, beaches, and water slides. If you are talking about the dig and the grounds you can get a wristband right outside of the entrance to the Dig...there is a waterfall there and someone standing at a podium, the podium is where we got our wristbands from. We did walk from the water taxi but I don't recall it being a terrible walk...although in the heat it could be tough. Also you have to cross a couple of roads which can be scary in the Caribbean.

[JerseyGirl23]

Right, I was just told by them that the day passes are not for pool use or beach use. They will be checking wrist bands (so they say) Depending on how many people, it's cheaper to get a room. I just got one for a few weeks from now for 99.00 and that way I have a place to change/veg out in too. I have a 4 year old. Good luck and have a great cruise.

 

We also got in on the $99 a room deal. :)

 

I have heard ppl get rooms for $115 through the major travel sites. It's best to keep looking.

[steelydon]

:confused: We have booked the Dolphin Encounter through the ship (RCCL) and was wondering "Is the Atlantis hotel far from Blue Lagoon"?. I apprecaite we won't have long afer the event until we have to return to the ship but if it was not far at least we could have a look at it.

Broch, Blue Lagoon Island is about three miles from Paradise Island. They will bring you back to the docks and you can catch a cab to Paradise. Don't cut your time too short because traffic can get jammed up late in the day and waving goodbye to you ship from the dock is not a cruise experience bellringer. On the other hand the Atlantis is something to see and last time I was there you could walk through the public areas inside the resort and of course they welcome your action in the casino. You could also see the outer edge of the aquarium.

[Honu]

http://www.smartertravel.com/hotel/mb.php?id=16348 gives you 20% off at the Comfort Inn, across the street from Atlantis, that gives you full access to the dig, pools and slide for 4 people. The rates usually run from $87 to $159 per day/night. :)

[Broch]

Many thanks for your reply steelydon. This info is a great help to me because my wifes heart is on the Dolphin trip and as we only have 6 hours in port this has to be the priority and I don't think there would be much free time over. No doubt a little shopping on bay street will have to be fitted in as well, which is nearer the ship and perhaps less stressful than rushing back to the ship in a taxi. I take your point re waving to the ship, not something I would like to see in my Photo Album.

[goodml]

Many thanks for your reply steelydon. This info is a great help to me because my wifes heart is on the Dolphin trip and as we only have 6 hours in port this has to be the priority and I don't think there would be much free time over. No doubt a little shopping on bay street will have to be fitted in as well, which is nearer the ship and perhaps less stressful than rushing back to the ship in a taxi. I take your point re waving to the ship, not something I would like to see in my Photo Album.

 

 

Please go the Bahamas board here at CC and read about the problems at Blue Lagoon. Scubagrrl has been posting that the company that runs the boats to the island has basically been put out of business and are no longer running. Atlantis is building their own dolphin encounter and the fate of the other one is unknown at this point but because Atlantis bought the docks where the boats used to run from they are no longer allowed to run to Blue Lagoon. I may have mixed up some of the details but if your heart is set on this tour you need to go and read about it. Here's a link:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=245958

 

 

.

[zalusky]

We just got back from a celebrity cruise that docked early like 7AM. We caught a cab and walked to the beach going though the beach tower. They must not have had the guards out yet because no one said a word. We then played in the beach for an hour or so and walked into the grounds from the beach and walked around the aquarium and other areas. We then walked back to the restaurant where they were checking.

 

I would have liked to have seen the pools but our ship only stayed till 2PM so it would have been a waste to get a room.

[JerseyGirl23]

Here's the thread in the Bahamas forum about the Blue Lagoon closing:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=245958

 

From Scubagirrl:

 

Here's the scoop. Nassau Cruises, which runs the tour to Blue Lagoon, leased ferries from a company who used the docks at PI Ferry Terminal, since Atlantis purchased the docks, (as well as the adjacent Hurricane Hole Marina) Nassau Cruises can no longer use the docks for loading and unloading passengers. The boats are now being used as ferries.

 

Atlantis has nearly completed it's own Dolphin Encounter in the harbour just opposite the cruise ships (where's our animal rights group???), which should be operational within the next 3 months. This will effectively put the Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter out of business, since their boats leave from the Paradise Island Docks now owned by Atlantis.

Nassau Cruises is trying to regroup, but there is really no convienient docking for them. They would have to shuttle people from the hotels. (paying Atlantis to enter Paradise Island for pickup), thus adding even more time to the already long trip out to Blue Lagoon.

There's also some construction work going on out at Blue Lagoon, not sure what that will be in the future.

 

For the time being, you''re options are using Cabbage Beach on Paradise Island, British Colonial Beach ($15), Lighthouse Beach in Nassau, or take a jitney to Cable Beach.

You can also take a tour to either Pearl Island or Blackbeards Cay. Both have beaches, stingrays, daiguiri bars and outdoor grill.

 

Since Atlantis has recently purchased the last few acres of beachfront on Cabbage Beach, we''re unsure just how long non-guests will be allowed access to the beach. Seems Mr. Kerzner is looking to take control of everything coming and going on "his island".

 

Personally, I'm hoping "his Island" sinks.

[Broch]

sorry double message

[Broch]

Please go the Bahamas board here at CC and read about the problems at Blue Lagoon. Scubagrrl has been posting that the company that runs the boats to the island has basically been put out of business and are no longer running. Atlantis is building their own dolphin encounter and the fate of the other one is unknown at this point but because Atlantis bought the docks where the boats used to run from they are no longer allowed to run to Blue Lagoon. I may have mixed up some of the details but if your heart is set on this tour you need to go and read about it. Here's a link:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=245958

 

 

.

 

Thankyou for bringing this to my attention. She doesn't say that Dolphin Encounters have actually stopped running but this situation is certainly worth monitoring as Atlantis seems to have quite a bit of control. Glad I booked through RCCL as they allow cancellations up to 10 days. Also they could change contract to Atlantis. Funnily enough I did read the thread when she reported that Blue Lagoon was closing but was not concerned when she said Dolphin Encounter Encounters were still running. Thanks to you I will keep my eye on things

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[Tenbyman]

I must admit that in my view that sort of control is not good for the island.

[racephoto]

I must admit that in my view that sort of control is not good for the island.

 

I agree....this sort of heavy-handedness by a big corporation putting the little guy out of business is somewhat distasteful to me. While I am not a big fan of the whole big-resort-complex sort of thing, I hope the Cable Beach project gives Atlantis some much needed competition.

[goodml]

Thankyou for bringing this to my attention. She doesn't say that Dolphin Encounters have actually stopped running but this situation is certainly worth monitoring as Atlantis seems to have quite a bit of control. Glad I booked through RCCL as they allow cancellations up to 10 days. Also they could change contract to Atlantis. Funnily enough I did read the thread when she reported that Blue Lagoon was closing but was not concerned when she said Dolphin Encounter Encounters were still running. Thanks to you I will keep my eye on things

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Your welcome Broch. Maybe since you've still got a ways to go things will have worked themselves out by then.

[1corona4u]

We also got in on the $99 a room deal. :)

 

I have heard ppl get rooms for $115 through the major travel sites. It's best to keep looking.

 

Ok, I have looked everywhere, and the cheapest I can find is $140.00. I am going back to Atlantis in January, and would like to do the room thing, since we will be there for a long port stop, and with kids. Can you give me another hint as to where I can get the $99.00 room rate?

 

Thanks.