Hi Karmen!
How exciting to be planning a
Disney Cruise Line vacation aboard the brand-new
Disney Wish, leaving in just a few weeks! This Bahamian itinerary is “blue skies and sunshine, guaranteed!” While I haven’t yet had the privilege to sail on the Wish, I have done this itinerary a few times and am happy to share more about Atlantis Aquaventure to help your family make the most of your day in Nassau.
Aquaventure is an expansive, 141-acre water park at the incredible Atlantis Paradise Island resort, a short ride from the pier and over the bridge to Paradise Island from the Wish. My family chose to purchase day pass tickets on our own, which are available from the resort’s website under Aquaventure > Buy Day Pass. There are many water slides that test the daredevil in all of us, a rapid river for a swift tour around the park, and enclosed water coasters in the dark that are truly thrilling. A day pass also allows you access to explore The Dig, the largest aquarium in the world! My family had an amazing day here – I was exhausted when we returned to our ship from all the stair climbing, thrills, and exploring we did together. If you were to add this onto your tour, you’d have to purchase a pass directly from the resort and advanced reservations are required.
I don’t feel you can truly enjoy all that Aquaventure has to offer in just an hour or two, Karmen. Each water attraction can have wait times like any theme park when many cruise ships are in port. I encourage you to check out the Atlantis Paradise Island website and see if the price of a day pass for the time you’d have to enjoy the incredible park is worth it for your family.
The
Atlantis Aquaventure Port Adventure can be booked through Disney Cruise Line and is a full day’s worth of fun, including your transportation. This is the best way to truly experience all of Atlantis and know your travel logistics from the ship to the island and back are taken care of.
Please know that if you choose to explore Atlantis on your own, you are responsible for returning to the ship by the all-aboard critical time of 4:45 P.M. I’d allow at least an hour’s travel time from the resort. It’s nearby but you must wait for a taxi, which sometimes requires multiple passenger groups to make the drive back over the bridge so your total transportation time is unknown. When you plan a Disney Cruise Line Port Adventure, they will ensure you return to the ship on time and you don’t have to worry about the detailed planning or risks.
I hope your family can have a practically perfect day in Nassau, whatever you decide! This is a frequent port on many Disney Cruise Line itineraries so if you can’t do it all in one day, perhaps a future cruise can take you back there for more fun. My best tip is to book your next cruise in the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app for
special savings on a future cruise; you don’t have to commit to an itinerary yet and you have up to two years to sail again or receive a refund of your deposit.
Please come back and see us with any other questions you have as you finalize your vacation plans.
Adventure is out there!
Amy