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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Visit to Atlantis Resort in Bahamas.

Summary: Atlantis is over priced but fun. Problem is 90F when went in Aug. Best to go Nov to April. I would look at other water parks. Hawaii was lot more relaxing when we went to Maui in April. Much cheaper too.

Details:
We went on Carnival Sensation cruise ship. Arrived at 8am. Park opens at 10am. Need to back at the ship at 4:30pm. So, had to leave at 4pm from the water park.

If bought from Carnival cost is $200 per person including bus and lunch. Bought it for $150 at Bahama Day Pass. Ferry is $4 per person and tip is expected making it about $5 per person. Pleasant when we went on the ferry but a 15min walk when we got off the ferry. Taxi is $4 per person for 2 or more people. Drop off is 1 minute from the day pass counter. So, we came back on the ferry. Be aware that Bahama Day Pass folks need you to carry a printout of the purchase to get a wrist band. I wasted 30min locating the business center and luckily my phone had the PDF file to connect to laptop and print almost $2 per page for 2 pages.

Food costs about $10 per person but drinks are $3.50 for water or Soda. So, cheaper than the $200 when bought from the ship. When we got on the Ferry they offered to sell us cold bottle of water for $1. No water fountains on the island resort. They really force you to waste time looking for water to buy and gouge you for it. Cheap.

We did almost all the rides in the inflatable tube. Very relaxing and easy. If you want a tube, you need to get in the water and walk up stream to see if there is vacant one floating and grab it. Some of them are not properly inflated. Now way to inflate it yourself.

Good to wear long sleeves wet suit with plastic zipper to keep cash and a credit card waterproof or you need lot of sun blocker and frequent long walks to a locker you can buy for about $10. If you buy water, keep it in a small cooler in the locker it more than pays for the locker though. If you carry water, it needs to be something attached to your front and not the back and a snug fit.

I had just a swimming shorts and nothing on the top. Had a pocket without zipper but a credit card may fall off. So, I wasted lot of time going to the locker to drink water and buy a drink.

You are better off flying and staying in the hotel to really enjoy this water park. Open till 7pm but people who come on ship have to leave at 4pm.

When I looked at Costco rooms for 2 people for 2 days it was around $610 without food. Flight adds about $600 per person from SFO. I would add at least $50 per person per day for food and drink if you use a taxi and buy in Nassau. That apparently includes:
Included Extras:
  • Atlantis Kids Experience Pass
  • One sushi and sake sampler platter at Nobu
  • Two gingered bourbon lemonade cocktails at SeaFire Steakhouse
  • One flatbread and two glasses of select wines at Olives
  • Two daiquiris at the Daiquiri Shack in Marina Village
  • Two draft beers and one plate of trash riblets at Virgil’s per room
  • Airport to hotel shuttle
  • $100 tour credit (per booking). (Not sure what this gets)
Not sure if you have to pay extra for the water park. They gouge on Wifi too it seems. No matter what you do you get ripped off...

"The free WiFi and water bottles you are paying are $45 a day resort fee that is not mentioned at check-in. A $5 a day gratuity is added to your bill for the maid whether she is doing her job or not. All restaurants add a 15% mandatory gratuity, so even if the service was terrible or you are eating at a fast food place you still have to tip"

BTW, there is a starbucks on the resort but they don't accept starbucks card from the US even though all payment is in USD.

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