just got back from our first cruise on the dream!

[Brian & Jill]

We have only sailed DCL and I would not try any other cruise line. I get a lot of flack from people and coworkers about how we always do Disney trips (since we don't have kids). I tell them we always have fun and that I don't tell them what kind a vacation they should take. (Sorry about my rambling ) Glad to hear you and your family enjoyed your cruise and hopefully you will go on many more all the DCL ships are very beautiful!!!!

 

[BigTxEars]

We have only sailed DCL and I would not try any other cruise line. I get a lot of flack from people and coworkers about how we always do Disney trips (since we don't have kids). I tell them we always have fun and that I don't tell them what kind a vacation they should take. (Sorry about my rambling ) Glad to hear you and your family enjoyed your cruise and hopefully you will go on many more all the DCL ships are very beautiful!!!!

You tell em! I want to take a cruise again but won't cruise anything but Disney because they spoiled me for any other cruise line last time we did DCL

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Glad to see someone else hooked on cruising! I NEVER thought I would like cruise. Never, ever, ever!! But I did the girls cruise last year and now I'm in LOVE! Cruising is AMAZING! We did another 4 night on the Dream in Feb and have 3 more booked, one 3 night on the Dream in Sept, a 7 night on the Fantasy in November and another one that we have to move but we're not sure where we want to move it to yet! I could totally skip sny WDW vacations in the future to go cruising and I think that is our plan. We're going to Disneyland next week but after that, nothing but the open seas!

 

[CheshireCat12]

Why is there such a lack of love for Nassau? Just wondering, I've never been.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Why is there such a lack of love for Nassau? Just wondering, I've never been.

Well.... When you step outside the cruise pier fence there's people that may be perceived as sketchy. Also, there's a lot of people waiting for you at the end of the pier to try and get you to take their tour or offer you taxis or braid your hair. Saying "no, thanks" over and over so fast can be a little overwhelming. Also, it's a Bahamian island often affected by hurricanes. The buildings and structures are subjected to harsh salt air every day. It results in a lot of perfectly nice, fairly new buildings looking a somewhat worn or dingy. It's just the way things are. Everything there has to be brought in because it's an island. It's just different. I think people might have expectations that they'll step off the ship and the entire island/city will be a pristine paradise. Not very realistic. I think just by how different everything is from what they know, people often dislike it. I find it fascinating, really. Dirty, sketchy areas are in every city in the world. Crime is not uncommon to ANY tourist area in the world. You have to remember just because you're on vacation doesn't mean you're in a bubble. Use common sense same as anywhere else. Like for an upcoming cruise with pals that stops at Nassau we're talking about going to the chocolate tasting/tour thing at Graycliff. Well, a block or so away is a rum distillery that offers free tours. I would like to go from Graycliff to the distillery then catch a taxi back to the pier. Would I do that alone? No. I don't think so. But, in a group of gals I would. Will I wear my finest jewelry and splashiest handbags? Nope. Common sense stuff. Ya know?

 

[CheshireCat12]

Thank you- that is good to know!

 

[ChuckElias]

Sweetpee's perspective is interesting, because to me the appearances of the buildings and the "sketchy" aspect aren't really an issue. As she said, there are sketchy areas in every big city or tourist town. For me, there's just nothing really there that I want to do. There's a beach and there's a casino. Those things don't really draw me. I had thought about visiting the Botanical Gardens on one trip, but was told by several people not to bother.

There are excursions, of course, for snorkeling or sting rays or catamaran rides. But you can do those in any port. So I don't feel like I need to do those things in Nassau.

So for me, personally, I'd just as soon stay on the ship while it's a little less crowded and have some extra room in the pool and shorter lines for chicken fingers.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Sweetpee's perspective is interesting, because to me the appearances of the buildings and the "sketchy" aspect aren't really an issue. As she said, there are sketchy areas in every big city or tourist town. For me, there's just nothing really there that I want to do. There's a beach and there's a casino. Those things don't really draw me. I had thought about visiting the Botanical Gardens on one trip, but was told by several people not to bother.

There are excursions, of course, for snorkeling or sting rays or catamaran rides. But you can do those in any port. So I don't feel like I need to do those things in Nassau.

So for me, personally, I'd just as soon stay on the ship while it's a little less crowded and have some extra room in the pool and shorter lines for chicken fingers.

I hear so many reasons people dislike Nassau. Many site just the appearance. My first trip I wondered why it's even included as a port of call. I looooove water parks so there's always that for me. It IS a good water park. Not a casino person at all. I'm not one to let go of $$ unless I know the return for certain. I'd like to learn more about the history of the island, tho. Everywhere has a story to tell. But, it's a hard bargain with shorter line for the chicken tenders. What do they put in those that makes them so addictive?!

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

The taxi drivers when you get off the ship are beyond annoying. On our last cruise we must have been asked no less than 50 times by various taxi drivers if we need a taxi and while most of them take no thank you for an answer some will try to keep harassing. My first rule when going into Nassau, don't go alone.
And I agree on not wearing your good jewelery also. It's not the most appealing place but we do like to walk into the shops since you can get some good deals and we always hit the rum cake shop. The straw market is another place to be careful. The people in there are trying to sell their wares and if you look at them, they will keep trying to sell you something. Unless you are set on getting something specific and are prepared to barter for it, then I would skip it.

Pam

 

[sweetpee_1993]

The taxi drivers when you get off the ship are beyond annoying. On our last cruise we must have been asked no less than 50 times by various taxi drivers if we need a taxi and while most of them take no thank you for an answer some will try to keep harassing. My first rule when going into Nassau, don't go alone.
And I agree on not wearing your good jewelery also. It's not the most appealing place but we do like to walk into the shops since you can get some good deals and we always hit the rum cake shop. The straw market is another place to be careful. The people in there are trying to sell their wares and if you look at them, they will keep trying to sell you something. Unless you are set on getting something specific and are prepared to barter for it, then I would skip it.

Pam

Only 50 taxi offers? You must not have gone very far! LOL! I kid! I find that very annoying, too. I've never been to the straw market mostly because I can't think of anything there I want. Rum cake! There's a local rum cake bakery (not the old one that closed) that I read did some tours & samples. I guess I picked that off Cruise Critic and/or Trip Advisor last fall before our Allure cruise (then we didn't get into port on our Nassau day). I know I mapped it and it was sorta over on the side of Nassau near the bridge to Paradise Island. I haven't been but I'd like to if its still there. What could be better than rum cake?? I imagine warm, fresh rum cake! Mmmmm!!! The problem is its kinda over where there really isn't anything else interesting near it unless you wanted to cross the bridge. It's not convenient like catching a taxi to Graycliff then walking a block or 2 to the rum distillery. If that makes sense?

 

[jme]

IMO DCL should skip Nassau completely. I would rather have just spent 2 days at CC. That island was just dreamy.

That's exactly why I booked my upcoming cruise:
1Port Canaveral, Florida—3:45 p.m.
2Castaway Cay8:30 a.m.4:45 p.m.
3Castaway Cay8:30 a.m.4:45 p.m.
4At Sea——
5Port Canaveral, Florida7:30 a.m.—

 

[LSUmagic]

Thank you- that is good to know!

I guess my DH and I are in the minority that like Nassau. We love water parks so Atlantis was well worth the money for us. Their "lazy" river is not lazy at all. We have already decided we are taking another DCL to the Bahamas. The Dream is the only ship we will have left so I think it's time to try it

 

[tk924]

Is there public beach access in Nassau within walking distance from the pier?

 

[tink66]

We are officially in LOVE with DCL! It was AMAZING! My husband isn't a huge disney fan or a fan of cruising (he's a sailor so thinks it's dumb to vacation on boats when he works on one lol) but even he loved that boat. It was gorgeous and so CLEAN! I could hardly find a flake of dust! Our room (8590) was amazing and HUGE! It was in a perfect spot. The CMs were just awesome. I can't think of anyone who had a negative attitude. The restaurant staffs went out of their way to accomodate my son's milk protein intolerance, making him all kinds of milk free dishes that weren't even on the kids menu. Our last dinner, they brought him a buffet-like spread of assortment of dishes, including milk free chicken strips and a bowl of milk free fried shrimp. They made sure he had a dessert every night just for him since the kids menu was all ice cream. The shows were spectacular with my fav being Villians Tonight, although the guy playing Scar for the 830 showing was just comically terrible. lol. The elevators were annoying, esp the people taking the elevator to go down one floor. The purfume/cologne bathers were just bad (seriously, people. You bathe in water and soap, not cologne! Covering yourself in Axe will NOT get you girls!) There were a couple of guests that were downright aggravating, but, hey, it was THEIR vacation, right? lol. There was a Jamacian bartender at Currents up on deck that made a mean Mango Mojito. Our servers, Ekkaphon and Francia, were spot on and funny. The cruise Director was hilarious. My husband and I got a trip out of the amount of jokes CMs made about how expensive the DCL cruises are. lol.

IMO DCL should skip Nassau completely. I would rather have just spent 2 days at CC. That island was just dreamy.

I found the Aquaduck disappointing. Even my kids thought it was slow and underwhelming. I think the hype killed it. I was also a bit disappointed in the fireworks. It seemed very short.

Our MAW hostess was Ni Wayan. She did all kinds of special things for my son. My husband and I have vowed to get us back on that boat. lol. Even if we have to actually finance a vacation. ahahaha. I even considered cancelling our World trip next week to book another cruise.

All in all, 5 out of 5 stars. I couldn't think of any critiques for the comment card at the end. Nothing.

So glad you enjoyed your trip!! We LOVE DCL!!! I agree would prefer 2 days Castaway instead of Nassau

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Is there public beach access in Nassau within walking distance from the pier?

It would be a decent walk to get to a good beach. We've taken a taxi to the public beach on Paradise Island right next to Atlantis and it was great!