Hi, Becky!
Congratulations on your summer cruise aboard the Disney Dream -- you're going to fall in love with this spectacular and oh-so stylish ship!
I'd be happy to help you with your question about ports of call and
Port Adventures. Our family has been fortunate enough that we've taken several trips to the Bahamas -- including the beautiful Atlantis Resort. Therefore, aside from doing a little shopping in town, we like to stay on board and enjoy the ship's amenities without as many other guests present.
If you've never been to Nassau or the Bahamas at all, I highly recommend one of the Port Adventures offered by Disney. They provide easy, convenient transportation to and from your destination and provide the comfort and peace-of-mind knowing that all the details are taken care of. Otherwise, you have to do all the coordinating and planning yourself, and you may pay much more trying to piece together all the elements of your excursion -- transportation, meals, entertainment and activities.
As far as which Port Adventure to pick, I recommend one featuring the Atlantis -- it's a magnificent resort with lots of interest for a variety of guests. It has world-class shopping, an amazing water park, pools and relaxation areas, a marine habitat complete with animal encounters, an underground labyrinth of aquariums which are hard to describe, a casino, beaches, restaurants, etc.
Plus, if you're looking for a day at the beach, I would reserve that time for Castaway Cay -- no beach experience comes close to Disney's private island. I hope I've helped clear things up for you.
Have a wonderful day and a magical vacation. Bon voyage!
Andi