Nassau excursion times?

[kasey1988]

I am wondering what time the tours usually leave the ship and return to the ship? We are looking at doing the excursion. To Atlantis (the one that includes the water park) and have an early dinner rotation and am wondering if we should change it to the later one for our 3 day cruise so we are not rushed at atlantis?
Thanks!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

When you book the excursions online you will choose the time you want to leave. The water park doesn't typically open at Atlantis until 10:00. I'm pretty sure the times we did the Aquaventure thru the ship we met at like 9:00 or 9:30 because we seem to get there just after things are opening. The website will tell you a time to leave of like 2:30 or something in the afternoon. Don't worry about that. Pay attention to the all-aboard time then give yourself an hour or so to get back. The transfer buses for the ship will run continually in 20 minute intervals all day. I don't get exactly why they do the return time online. I've never paid attention to it.

Our first cruise we sailed we did first seating dinner because of hubby's indigestion. We *hated* feeling rushed to get ready for dinner. It felt like it cut into our afternoon. All our cruises since we've done 2nd seating and hubby doubled-up his meds for the indigestion. It's worked out well for us that way.

 

[kasey1988]

When you book the excursions online you will choose the time you want to leave. The water park doesn't typically open at Atlantis until 10:00. I'm pretty sure the times we did the Aquaventure thru the ship we met at like 9:00 or 9:30 because we seem to get there just after things are opening. The website will tell you a time to leave of like 2:30 or something in the afternoon. Don't worry about that. Pay attention to the all-aboard time then give yourself an hour or so to get back. The transfer buses for the ship will run continually in 20 minute intervals all day. I don't get exactly why they do the return time online. I've never paid attention to it.

Our first cruise we sailed we did first seating dinner because of hubby's indigestion. We *hated* feeling rushed to get ready for dinner. It felt like it cut into our afternoon. All our cruises since we've done 2nd seating and hubby doubled-up his meds for the indigestion. It's worked out well for us that way.

That's exactly what I'm worried about, feeling rushed back from castaway cay and atlantis. Hubby is insisting on the earlier time because that's what time we usually eat supper, but we can always have a late lunch or snacks to hold us over until the later sitting.

Just out of curiosity what is going on after supper on the ships? We are doing the 3 night, and with the current early seating we planned on watching a show after dinner, but of we do the layer sitting isn't the show before dinner?

 

[flynnibus]

Just out of curiosity what is going on after supper on the ships? We are doing the 3 night, and with the current early seating we planned on watching a show after dinner, but of we do the layer sitting isn't the show before dinner?

It's setup so you do the show after dinner. It's intended that the two dinner seatings swap.. one is watching the show, the other is doing dinner.. and then swap.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

That's exactly what I'm worried about, feeling rushed back from castaway cay and atlantis. Hubby is insisting on the earlier time because that's what time we usually eat supper, but we can always have a late lunch or snacks to hold us over until the later sitting.

Just out of curiosity what is going on after supper on the ships? We are doing the 3 night, and with the current early seating we planned on watching a show after dinner, but of we do the layer sitting isn't the show before dinner?

I understand where you're coming from. We debated a lot before going with first seating the first time we cruised. We learned from our experience. First seating isn't for us. Everyone has to figure out what works best for them, I guess.

If you have 2nd seating dinner you'll see the show before dinner, like @flynnibus said. I think early show is like 5:45 or 6:00. There's about an hour between the show and 2nd seating dinner. I don't usually wear my dinner clothes to the show just because it's uncomfortable. I like having that little bit of time between the 2. After 2nd seating dinner there will be adult shows in the night club district to go to. There will probably be stuff going on in the kids clubs for them, especially the teens. Also, on pirate night the pirate show, deck party, and fireworks will all be after dinner. Trust me, Disney isn't going to make you miss anything regardless of which dinner seating you have.

 

[flynnibus]

what I was told... was first seating always books out first. So if you can book first seating, you should have no trouble switching to second seating if you want.

I like the later dinner myself to avoid any conflicts with day time activities, especially since the wife insists on getting done up for the dinners... but it also depends on your family's regular eating schedules. Next cruise we are with the parents, and they MUST eat by 6pm or we'd hear no end of it.. so first seating it is

 

[5thGenTexan]

What I am about to say is more for informational purposes, more than a suggestion. On a 3 day cruise it would be a shame to miss any of the experience. BUT, just because they have dinner in the main dining rooms doesn't mean you have to go. Last year on the day we had a port day at Port Canaveral on a cruise out of Galveston. On that day we were able to visit the parks and we were on one of the first buses out to Magic Kingdom. So, we were up EARLY and the kids (2 1/2 and 5) were pooped out by about 3:00. We got back to the ship around 4:00 something and rested just a bit. We were still tired and they offered a special buffet that night.

One night we were also pretty pooped out and really did not want to mess with the dinner hoopla. We got cleaned up and headed up to Topsiders (on the Magic) for dinner that night. In all honesty I thought my steak that night was better than the MDR on any given night, AND they had a salad bar with grilled shrimp.

I am just saying there are options if you are indeed too tired or too rushed after the Castaway Cay day. Although I would try to get to dinner on the 3 day so you get to expereince all 3 dining rooms.