On this second day of our Disney Fantasy sailing, we woke up as we made our approach into Nassau, Bahamas. My day always starts with a trip to Cove Cafe promptly at 6:30 when they open their doors. That usually leads straight to finding a deck chair up in Satellite Falls to enjoy my latte while either reading a book or working on these reviews. I was dismayed to find the upper decks roped off due to high winds, so we had to settle for enjoying our caffeine fix on Deck 11 instead.
The night before, Jimmy had informed us that we were scheduled to arrive in port around 9:00 am, with an all-ashore time of 9:30. To our surprise, by 7:00 am we were already lining up for entry into the harbor. The other thing that was out of the norm was that as we made our way in, the captain must have been feeling a little frisky and decided to let every other ship know we had arrived by sounding the horns. All. The. Horns.
If you are not familiar with Disney ships, they do not have just any old horns. They play a few bars of classic Disney tunes. Nothing subtle about it. This is something that usually only happens when leaving port in the evenings. In fact, we had told my father-in-law not to worry and to sleep in because they do not sound the horns in the morning. Doh.
Not too long after that, Cruise Director Jimmy came over the PA to announce that our early arrival was due to a guest onboard needing medical attention, so they put the pedal to the metal to arrive ahead of schedule. The all-ashore call came more than forty-five minutes early at 8:40, with an all-aboard time set for 5:30.
Nassau, New Providence Island- Bahamas
In typical Nassau fashion, we were joined in port today by:
- Carnival Mardi Gras (An Eastern Caribbean cruise review of this ship is here and a Western Caribbean cruise here)
- Carnival Pride
- MSC Meraviglia
- Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas
- Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas
That is close to 25,000 specimens of humanity being dumped into port all at once. Needless to say, it was pretty hectic everywhere you turned. As one of, if not the, busiest ports of call for cruise lines along the Atlantic, it is always a hot mess. The kicker to that? It is not that exciting of an island to visit. Are there things to do and see? Sure. Are they really worth it? Debatable. Let’s dive in and take a look.
Generally, I view Nassau as a stationary sea day, meaning stay on the ship and enjoy its amenities while everyone else goes ashore. I have always felt this is a port that separates seasoned cruisers from first-timers, because once you have been here, that is usually enough. Unless you want to grab a day pass to Atlantis and hit the water park or make a donation to the casino, the other options are mostly variations on the same themes. Swim with dolphins, beach day, land and or sea tours. Here you can see the port adventures offered through Disney Cruise Line.
As I mentioned in Day 1’s report, this is only the second cruise for my in-laws, with the first also visiting Nassau. On that initial sailing, we decided not to do any excursions and instead wandered around the then newly reopened Prince George Wharf, which had undergone a major facelift in the two years prior. This time around, we wanted to give them a better idea of what excursions can offer in an effort to broaden their cruise experience.
We went with the Discover Nassau by Land and Sea package. Here’s how Disney describes it:
See Nassau from a Different Point of View
Experience the best of Nassau on this historical tour by land and sea, where you will discover Nassau’s colonial and pirate past.
On this adventure you will…
-
- Begin with an approximately 15-minute walk down Prince George Dock where you will board a custom catamaran.
- Take a leisurely 60-minute cruise through the crystal teal waters of Paradise Island Harbor, while enjoying complimentary domestic open bar including tropical drinks, beer, soft drinks, water and fruit punch from the onboard bar. Experience beautiful views of the Atlantis Resort, celebrity homes and mega yachts. The guide will keep you entertained while pointing out historic sites including Hog Island Light, Fort Montagu, The Royal Nassau Sailing Club and many others.
- Return to the dock and continue your approximately 90-minute adventure aboard an air-conditioned mini bus. Along the way, stop at historic Fort Charlotte for about 25 minutes to peruse the local artisans.
- Continue along Bay Street, the heart of Nassau’s shopping district and home to the native Straw Market, driving by the governor’s mansion, Gregory Arch and many other historic sites.
- Continue the tour to Paradise Island, connected to New Providence by two bridges that cross Nassau Harbor. Hog Island Light, constructed in 1817, is a lighthouse at the western tip of the island that can be seen from the cruise port.
- A journey across the bridge lands you at the sprawling Atlantis Paradise Island, a world-famous beach resort featuring a beautiful lobby and plenty of boutiques for a short photo stop and head back with your guide to port, or opt to stay as long as time permits and arrange your own transportation back to the ship — the choice is yours.
Let’s take a look at how it stacks up to that billing. Upon boarding the catamaran, we pulled away from the pier and proceeded through the Paradise Island Harbor, just as advertised. Basically, it is a gentle troll down the waterway that separates New Providence Island and Paradise Island, two of the roughly 700 islands that make up the Bahamas. Paradise Island is what most people picture when they think of Nassau, as it is home to the Atlantis Resort. Along its shores are a number of smaller condos and resorts that eventually give way to more exclusive private homes owned by the rich and famous. Cue Robin Leach.
These are also the only two islands in the Bahamas connected by a bridge. Every other island requires some form of water transportation to reach.
Along the way, our energetic guides shared bits of the region’s history while pointing out landmarks of interest. I will start by saying we did a very similar tour on one of our first visits to the island, and it was pretty much copy and paste. Of course, a lot of attention was given to Atlantis, since you cannot miss it towering over the landscape. Continuing down the channel, we passed one of the old forts that once guarded the harbor, along with a slew of private yachts tying up for the day.
As we moved into the more expensive beachfront areas, we were shown the homes of the late Lisa Marie Presley, Shaquille O’Neal, Oprah Winfrey, and Jeff Bezos. Ever wondered what all those eight-dollar lattes can buy? Check out the photo below of the Starbucks founder’s beach house.
Once we reached the eastern end of the harbor, we made a brief stop as the guide passed out pieces of bread to all the kids onboard. As we coasted to a stop, he had them toss small pieces into the water alongside the boat, and before long we had a school of fish swimming up for their lunch. Seeing all the yellow snappers jumping out of the water, I began eyeing my own lunch as well. Alas, this section of reef is protected and fishing is not permitted, so I would have to wait until after the tour concluded to fill my belly.
After making a 180-degree turn, it was back the way we came. Since everything worth pointing out had already been covered, it was time for some island vibes as our guide turned into the DJ and made sure everyone’s drinks were full. The boat did offer an open bar, and while the Bahama Mamas were free flowing, it never turned into a booze cruise by any means. With most of the passengers being families, things stayed pretty moderate.
On the way back, we grabbed a few nice photos of the pier with all the cruise ships lined up, then headed to the far western end of the harbor where we once again came to a stop to look for sea turtles floating around. We spotted a few, but they all stayed closer to the sea floor. The smaller ship docked directly in front of the Carnival Pride was Steven Spielberg’s 250 million dollar yacht.
One other key observation was just how far along Royal Caribbean is with their new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island which is directly across from the pier, and is set to open to the public next week.
That wrapped up the sea portion of the journey after about an hour and a half. Nothing spectacular, but a comfortable little cruise.
After returning to the pier, we transferred to a small bus for a ride around some of the land-based points of interest.
This portion consisted of a drive through some of the main shopping and dining areas just outside the Wharf, followed by a few miles inland to the Queen’s Staircase.
Essentially, it is an alleyway carved out of limestone to allow passage through that part of town. The architecture was interesting to see, especially when you consider it was all done by hand using hammers and chisels. The overgrowth that has accumulated over the years adds a certain aesthetic appeal. Other than that, it boils down to a 65-step stone staircase with a small man-made waterfall running alongside it.
Hoping that climbing the stairs would reward me with a picturesque view of the port below, I made the trek up while the rest of the family respectfully declined. Upon reaching the top, I was greeted with a wonderful view of a low-rent neighborhood. Oh well. At least I can check it off the list.
The next stop took us over the Sidney Poitier Bridge, named after the most famous actor to come from New Providence, and onto Paradise Island, where we were dropped off for a half-hour visit to Atlantis Resort. Not much time to really accomplish anything beyond a quick walk-through. I did manage to make a small donation to the local economy with a few fruitless hands of blackjack.
And that was it. Back to the ship.
The cost for this excursion was $99 per person for ages 10 and up, and $69 per person for ages 3 to 9, and it lasted approximately three hours. Like I mentioned earlier, this is not something we would have done without the parental factor. The trip through the harbor is the same regardless of which excursion you book, so if you have done it once, it does not really change. The Queen’s Staircase is worth about five minutes of your life, not much more. Atlantis? If you actually want to experience it, just book a day pass or grab a water taxi across the harbor and do a self-guided walk around.
So would I do it again? A resounding no. We did ask our parents what they thought, and they got more out of it than we did. Their takeaway was that the boat ride was nice, but the bus portion was not worth the time.
As we made our way back through Prince George Wharf, we did a bit of window shopping, but nothing caught our attention enough to break stride. The sheer number of other cruise passengers did not help. There were hints of holiday decorations scattered about as Nassau prepares not only for Christmas, but also for their Junkanoo celebrations.
I stand by the sentiment that the best way to enjoy Nassau is to stay on the ship. Do not get me wrong, if you have never been there, or if you are taking your first cruise and do not want to commit to a longer sailing, it is a decent starting point. Call it a gateway island. The first taste is not free, but you get the point.
I have discussed the value of Nassau at length with other cruise enthusiasts, and most feel about the same. I believe Scott has even written an article on this very topic. With its logistical position near the major Atlantic Florida ports, it can be reached overnight, which makes it ideal for shorter itineraries. Beyond that, there is not much else there, in my opinion.
Why Cruise Lines Continue to Call on Nassau and Freeport Despite Low Guest Satisfaction
Dinner at Royal Court on Disney Fantasy
Dinner time arrived, and tonight it was Royal Court, located on Deck 3 midship right off the atrium. Styled in French elegance, this dining room definitely makes you feel like royalty. With murals of princesses adorning the walls and Cinderella carriages doubling as lamps, it makes you feel like the belle of the ball.
Remember yesterday when I said they need to revamp the menus on this ship? About that… this menu can stay exactly as it is. You could throw a dart and land on a fantastic meal just from the appetizers and soups alone, let alone the entrees. There are so many great options that you cannot pick just one. And honestly, why would you?
Double Crowned
Crown Royal, Chambord, Cointreau, Cranberry Juice and Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice.
Impérial Illusion
Absolut Mandarin, Apple Pucker, Blue Curaçao Liqueur and Pineapple Juice.
Princess Delight
Passion Fruit Juice and Mango Purée (Non-Alcoholic).
Duck Confit
Slow-Cooked Duck Leg pulled and garnished with Cranberries and Walnuts.
Iced Lobster and Jumbo Shrimp
Served with Green Asparagus, Horseradish Cream and Dill Dressing.
Gaston’s Escargot Gratinée
Herb-marinated Snails with Finely Chopped Mushrooms topped with Garlic Butter.
Breaded and Deep Fried Brie
Served with an Orange and Cranberry Chutney.
French Onion Soup
With Gruyere Cheese Crouton.
Potage Parmentier
Leek and Potato Soup.
Farmhouse Salad
Baby Spinach, Asparagus, Cherry Tomatoes and Fingerling Potatoes served with Goat Cheese Crostini and Olive Vinaigrette.
Red Wine Bosc Pear Salad
Arugula, sliced Red Onions and crispy Lardons dressed with Sherry Wine Dressing and served with Red Wine Poached Bosc Pear.
Bread Service
Warm French Country Bread with Olive Spread.
Conchiglie Pasta
With Buttered Lobster, tossed in a Tomato Shrimp Tarragon Brandy Sauce with Lemon Basil. Suggested pairing: Sangiovese with cherry, plum notes and herbaceous quality.
Oven-Baked Salmon Royale
Crowned with King Smoked Salmon and Horseradish Crust accompanied by Sautéed Swiss Chard, Truffled Cauliflower Purée and White Wine Beurre Blanc. Suggested pairing: A rich, oaky and butter Chardonnay.
Crispy Roasted Duck Breast
With Cabbage, Shallots, Honey Parsnip Mash, and Duck Red Wine Jus. Suggested pairing: An aromatic Riesling with apple and peach notes.
Roasted Rack of Lamb Medium
With Dauphinoise Potatoes, Buttered Brussels Sprouts and a Burgundy Rosemary Sauce. Suggested pairing: Mellow and herby nature of a Pinot Noir.
Chateaubriand-Roasted Filet Steak
Roasted Filet Steak, crushed New Potatoes with Shallots, Buttered Green Beans, Red Wine Jus, and Béarnaise Sauce on the side. Suggested pairing: Robust, young Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wild Mushroom-Stuffed Pasta in a Vegetable Broth
Topped with Watercress, Shaved Parmesan Cheese and Paprika Oil Drizzle.
Grilled Marinated Tofu, Roasted Zucchini, Eggplant, and Red Peppers
On Israeli Couscous and a Lime-Cilantro Drop.
Ahi Tuna Niçoise
Seared Ahi Tuna with Green Beans, Potato, Olives, Red Onions, sliced Egg, and Parsley-Garlic Vinaigrette.
Grilled Grain-fed Sirloin Steak
Served with Garden Vegetables and your choice of Steamed White Rice or Baked Potato.
Slow-Roasted Breast of Chicken
Served with Garden Vegetables and your choice of Steamed White Rice or Baked Potato.
Oven-Baked Filet of Salmon
Served with Garden Vegetables and your choice of Steamed White Rice or Baked Potato.
Espresso
Cappuccino
Caramel Pecan Chai
Oregon Chai, Caramel Pecan Syrup and Steamed Milk.
Tiramisu Mocha Latte
Tiramisu Syrup, Chocolate Sauce, Espresso and Steamed Milk.
Espresso Martini
Absolut Vanilla, Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur, Frangelico and Espresso.
Crème Brûlée
Grey Goose, Baileys Irish Cream, Amaretto, Caramel Syrup and Half & Half.
RumChata
Baileys Irish Cream
Sambuca
Grand Marnier 100 Cuvée
Hennessy V.S.
Courvoisier V.S.O.P.
Remy Martin X.O.
Grappa Gianduia
Grappa Fior Di Latte
Tawny Port 10yrs – 20yrs
Knob Creek
Woodford Reserve
Johnnie Walker Odyssey
Glenmorangie Signet
Grand Marnier Soufflé
Served with Grand Marnier Crème Anglaise.
Apple Tart Tatin
Caramelized Baked Apple served with Vanilla Ice Cream.
Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brûlée
Served with Almond Biscotti (Gluten Free without Biscotti).
Strawberry Shortcake Sundae
Strawberries, Vanilla Ice Cream, Whipped Cream and Shortcake.
Classic Opera Gâteau
Layers of Joconde Sponge soaked in Coffee Syrup with Chocolate Ganache and rich Buttercream.
Duo Chocolate Slice
Layers of Brownie and Truffle Mousse with a Berry Crème.
My dinner this evening consisted of the Iced Lobster and Shrimp along with the Fried Brie, two of my absolute favorites. For my “something new,” I chose the Duck Confit appetizer. I have tried duck a handful of times before and it has always been more miss than hit, but I figured this was a small enough sampler to give it another shot. Expecting to take a bite or two and then turn my attention back to the shrimp and lobster, I surprised myself by polishing off the entire plate. The flavor of this particular duck was closer to shredded dark meat turkey than anything else. In fact, if you had told me that is what it was, I would not have argued one bit.
As with our Disney Magic sailing last month, I could not decide between the soups and asked Dewa to surprise me. Unlike Christiano declaring that I would be having the French onion soup, Dewa simply said it was taken care of. Moments later, he proudly presented me with a plate holding a bowl of each. Yeah, he is definitely my people now.
The entrée selection is solid as well, but since I had already met my criteria for experimentation, I went with the Chateaubriand Roasted Filet Steak. I briefly considered doubling down on the duck, but opted to stick with red meat. Cooked to a perfect medium rare and wonderfully tender, it melted in your mouth.
As if the main menu did not present enough difficult decisions, the dessert menu offered just as much of a challenge. With so many tempting choices, I ultimately went with the Grand Marnier Soufflé.
I usually save ordering a soufflé for when we dine at Palo, where they offer a chocolate version, but we did not book a dinner there this cruise, so I had to take advantage while I had the chance. It was a light and sweet cake soaked in a creamy sauce with a hint of citrus. A great choice. But what the heck, throw in a crème brûlée to go, just in case I need a snack later.
After all that I needed a few laps around the walking track to aid in digestion a bit!
Disney’s Frozen was the featured Broadway presentation in the Walt Disney Theater this evening. While I was inundated with this movie, as Becca was born shortly before its original release, it does have a special place in my heart. It was always the go-to when she was an infant on those nights she would not go to sleep or was not feeling well.
Tonight though, I did not feel like sitting in the theater and wanted a little more space to stretch out and relax. With the atrium lobby bustling with photo ops featuring scenic backdrops, lightsabers, gingerbread houses, and Santa, the spot to really be was up in front of Funnel Vision to watch a little Thursday Night Football. I made it to halftime before deciding to catch the rest of the game back in the stateroom and then drift off to sleep in a food coma.
We are heading to Disney’s exclusive destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, for tomorrow’s beach day. This will be our third visit to the second of Disney’s designated locales, fingers crossed for sunshine and low winds. I am going to take a look back at my review from the last time we visited to see how this one stacks up. The jury is still out on our preference between Lookout Cay and Disney’s original private island escape, Castaway Cay. Will Lookout close the gap?
That is a wrap on Day 2 of this 4-day Very Merrytime Cruise. Thanks for checking in.
Daily Schedule
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Good Morning Disney Fantasy | Disney Fantasy |
| 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Beauty and the Beast: Enchanted Christmas | Funnel Vision |
| 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Elio | Buena Vista Theatre |
| 8:30 AM - 9:15 AM | Coloring Time | D Lounge |
| 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Stitch Meet & Greet | Preludes |
| 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Toddler Time for Families | Andy’s Room |
| 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM | Minnie Mouse Meet & Greet | Balcony |
| 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | Youth Activities Open House | Disney’s Oceaneer Lab |
| 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | Photo Moment: Disney Cruise Line Float Ring | Shutters Photo Gallery |
| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Zootopia | Funnel Vision |
| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Mickey Mouse Meet & Greet | Lobby Atrium (Vestibule) |
| 10:15 AM - 12:30 PM | Freakier Friday | Buena Vista Theatre |
| 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Youth Activities Open House | Edge |
| 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM | Prep and Landing: Naughty vs Nice | Funnel Vision |
| 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Youth Activities Open House | Vibe |
| 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM | Coloring Time | La Piazza |
| 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM | Crafts: Masks | La Piazza |
| 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM | Very Jonas Christmas Movie | Buena Vista Theatre |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Guardians Mix with the Fantastics | Lobby Atrium |
| 1:45 PM - 2:00 PM | Goofy Meet & Greet | Lobby Atrium (Vestibule) |
| 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM | The Search for Santa Paws | Funnel Vision |
| 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM | Minnie Mouse Meet & Greet | Preludes |
| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Disney Vacation Club Group Preview | D Lounge |
| 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM | Bingo Pre-Sales | The Tube |
| 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Crafts: Destination Signs | La Piazza |
| 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | $5,000 Mega Jackpot Bingo | The Tube |
| 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM | Pluto Meet & Greet | Lobby Atrium (Vestibule) |
| 5:15 PM - 6:00 PM | Disney Trivia | D Lounge |
| 5:45 PM - 6:07 PM | Elena of Avalor: Festival of Lights | Funnel Vision |
| 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM | Frozen: A Musical Spectacular | Walt Disney Theatre |
| 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM | Crafts: Anchors | La Piazza |
| 7:15 PM - 8:15 PM | Disney Hits with the Fantastics | Lobby Atrium |
| 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM | Holiday Tree Lighting with Your Memories | D Lounge |
| 7:35 PM - 8:45 PM | Holiday Movie: Mickey’s Holiday Party | Deck 11 Stage |
| 8:00 PM - 9:15 PM | Frozen: A Musical Spectacular (ASL) | Walt Disney Theatre |
| 8:30 PM - 11:15 PM | NFL Football: Rams vs Seahawks | O’Gills Pub |
| 9:00 PM - 9:45 PM | Santa’s Greetings with Santa | Lobby Atrium |
| 9:30 PM - 10:00 PM | Majority Minds | D Lounge |
| 9:45 PM - 10:15 PM | Princess Tiana Meet & Greet | Lobby Atrium (Vestibule) |
| 10:00 PM - 10:45 PM | Match Your Mate | The Tube |
| 10:45 PM - 11:15 PM | Family Superstar Karaoke | D Lounge |
| 11:30 PM - 12:15 AM | Silent DJ Dance Party (18+) | The Tube |
