More First Timer Questions

[Timon]

I know that Palo is adult only for dinner. Is it also adult only for the brunch as well?

Regarding booking excursions, are there any must do's? I am definately doing the parasailing at Castaway Cay, but what else would any one recommend? Our cruise is the 4 nighter which means Nassau and Castaway Cay will be our port of call. Also keep in mind that Stitch is a very high functioning autistic.

[cshore]

We have never done any excursions so I can't help you out. We have never even been to Paradise Island. It sure looks lovely though. We got off and walked around Nassau once but I don't feel the need to do that again. We love to stay on the ship and enjoy the relative emptiness and enjoy the amenities. In January I would love to parasail on Castaway Cay and we love to snorkel there as well. I still have not located the Mickey statue in the snorkel lagoon. Have fun planning.

Chris

[Belle]

We got off and walked around Nassau once but I don't feel the need to do that again. We love to stay on the ship and enjoy the relative emptiness and enjoy the amenities.

Chris

AMEN! That is exactly what we do! :lol: We got off at Nassau once... once. I hated the whole experience (DON'T do the glass bottom boat at Nassau - if you want to do one, do the one at CC) and the street peddlers freaked Mik out - imagine if you will a little girl with 36 inches of long blond hair walking down a street full of hair-braiders :yowsa: They were like flies on, well... you know the rest...

So now we stay on-board and enjoy the empty pools, ping-pong tables and decks, check out on-baord entertainment and people watch... it is very relaxing :)

[VillianGirl]

Timon, to the best of my recollection the Palo brunch is also adults only.

[LeiasMom]

I can confirm that Palo is adult only for all meals. We do brunch every year. One good thing to know, however, is that they will send food with you for the other adults in your party if they are tending the kids (or for whatever reason). We always have them send pizza to the room for the husbands as we do a girl only brunch.

Another thing -- I never make it to dinner, but if you tell your server in advance that you want to try the souffle, they will bring it to dinner one night. YUM.

Can't help on the excursions. None are handicap accessible; therefore, we have never done any.

Have a blast!

Amy

[Ursulinda]

I walked up and took the #10 bus to a stop and walked to Ardestra gardens. It was a long hot walk from the bus stop and next time I'd probably take a cab. That same bus also goes to Cable beach and back and costs around a dollar each way. I got a kick out of Ardestra gardens - they have birds and animals and a funny flamingo show - think 50's era attraction - no glitz at all.

Coming back, got off the bus and walked through the straw market and then back to the ship along the dock. There were many Bahamian women selling food to the vendors out of the trunks of their cars. It smelled fantastic and I regret not having had the courage to try some and get a real taste of the islands.

[BetsyAnn]

Not much help here either Timon. I am in the "it's all about the ship" camp - I love to just hang around on the ship as everyone goes off to explore.

Castway Cay is the exception to the rule - I loved the beach and I loved to snorkel that is my favorite $$ spent off the ship - the equipement. Don't know if snorkelling would work for Stitch or not. It might be worth exploring the possiblity if you think it might work. One thing I learned was I could go very far out very quickly while snorkeling and looking at all the wonderful stuff. Just something to think about.

[sandymouse]

My kids (13 & 6) loved the Stingray Excursion on Castaway Cay.

[RaySharpton]

Mark, I took the excursion to the Atlantis resort just so I could get on the island and use the DCl bus system.

I enjoyed getting the tour, but next time I may just stay on the ship. If I did go to Atlantis, I would take a taxi.

And onboard, I want to take more advantage of the Diversions pub. They have very comfy chairs next to some large port holes with a lot of flat screen televisions to watch Sunday and Monday Night NFL Football games. I got there after the start of the second half usually.

Ray

[akdisney]

Mark, I took the excursion to the Atlantis resort just so I could get on the island and use the DCl bus system.

I enjoyed getting the tour, but next time I may just stay on the ship. If I did go to Atlantis, I would take a taxi.

And onboard, I want to take more advantage of the Diversions pub. They have very comfy chairs next to some large port holes with a lot of flat screen televisions to watch Sunday and Monday Night NFL Football games. I got there after the start of the second half usually.

Ray

Ray at Atlantis Reosrt did you do tour only or the water and tour?
I be on the cruse after you get off from MouseFest cruise Dec 3-7

[Flounder]

Timon, we're not thrilled with Nassau, either. If I were going to do an excursion there, it would be to Atlantis beach. Otherwise, everyone telling you to just stay on the ship has it right. That's exactly what we did on our third cruise to Nassau, given that we'd been to Atlantis on the first and the glass bottom boat on the second (NEVER DO THAT! OK, had the inlaws with us and figured we had to entertain them....). The ship empties out nicely, and you can enjoy the pools, movie theater, restaurants, lounges, decks, you name it.

You are going to have a fantastic time.

[Belle]

the glass bottom boat on the second (NEVER DO THAT! OK, had the inlaws with us and figured we had to entertain them....).

So I guess you had a similar experience as we did?? :lol:

[RaySharpton]

Ray at Atlantis Reosrt did you do tour only or the water and tour?
I be on the cruse after you get off from MouseFest cruise Dec 3-7

I did the Disney Atlantis Excursion.

I understand at one time they took a boat to an area to the Atlantis Resort. We didn't do this. We went by land only.

After getting off of the Disney Wonder, we were led to a line of busses.

Some of the busses were bigger and some were smaller. The first bus allowed me to break down my scooter and put it under the bus storage space.

But on the way back there was only a smaller bus and I had some difficulty putting the different parts next to the driver.

The smaller bus had a fold down seat that was filled up the center ailse of the bus as the bus filled up.

Well, so we arrived by bus a distance from the Atlantis Resort.

They took us on a walking tour through this very nice and modern, little open mall type area with shops and restaurants, etc..

I guess that they wanted us to stop by this on our way back because there was a shorter way back to the bus.

I enjoyed walking through here.

Once at the Atlantis Resort, we were escorted through the resort, past some stores and toured the resort areas, and the hugh pool areas.

Then we returned and toured their aquarium.

Afterwards we toured on our own.

I visited the casino and won a little be more than I lost.

And then I made my way back to the bus and to the ship.

If I do this again, I will probably take a taxi.

I hope that this helps.

Ray

[akdisney]

Yes first time on a disney cruises
Ray look like you did the walk tour of the resort Atlantis resort (n-05 )

Not the Atlantis Beach Day (N-07) trip. :confused:

I was look for information on this tour to Atlantis?

[RaySharpton]

Yes first time on a disney cruises
Ray look like you did the walk tour of the resort Atlantis resort (n-05 )

Not the Atlantis Beach Day (N-07) trip. :confused:

I was look for information on this tour to Atlantis?

Sorry, I haven't been on the beach there to go swimming.

Maybe someone else can help you.

Ray

[Ursulinda]

If you want beach, Cable beach is popular and a simple $1 per person bus ride on bus # 10 - going to the right as you stand on the street with your back to the harbor.

[akdisney]

One of your post you said you "And then I made my way back to the bus and to the ship.

If I do this again, I will probably take a taxi." :confused:

would take to the resort or back?:confused: