September 2018 brought the opportunity for me to fly down to the Bahamas and scope out the well-known Atlantis Resort. I was impressed at how well this resort blends a family resort chock full of educational must-dos for the kiddos with lively night-life, and sometimes it’s hard to describe Atlantis because it is so unique! However, if you can imagine the marine life of Orlando, combined with the excitement of Las Vegas, overlooking the majestic beauty of the Caribbean, then you can begin to visualize what awaits you in the Bahamas. It is truly ideal for weddings, multi-generational, groups, families, honeymooners, girl trips, adult getaways, or anyone celebrating a milestone. Foodies will love Atlantis with famous chef restaurants, shoppers will swoon at the selection of options and it’s a feel good experience too, visiting all of the marine life. Sunrise Exercise in the water with dolphins? Can someone say “Extra?” Be prepared to be wowed and read on for the rest of my review!
September 2018
Atlantis is on Pleasure Island (Nassau), while the Bahamas overall is a series of 700 islands that include the Exumas, Berry Islands, Abacos, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Ragged Island, Mayaguana, Long Island, Inagua, Freeport, Eleuthera & Harbor Island, Cat Island, Bimini, Andros, Acklins & Crooked Islands. The water is a stunning aquamarine, the locals are friendly and the pace RELAXED.
One will lack for nothing at Atlantis. We stayed in the Coral tower where the lobby area will offer the rest of your party Starbucks, Sun and Ice Diner, bar, comfortable sunken “living” areas and charging stations and table which to work if need be while you get checked-in.
Our room was spacious, offered a view of the marina and tastefully decorated with a light airy color pallet. I liked the relaxed feel of the wooden style ceramic tile. The bathroom was spacious as well.
Nighttime view from our balcony.
Loved “The Atlantean” daily activities newsletter delivered to our room every day!
Our first evening we dined at Carmine’s on property. Carmine’s is a well-known New York, Italian dining establishment but one can also experience at Pleasure Island! A family-style restaurant, one will find incredibly delicious and mouthwatering cuisine. We feasted on plates of pasta, salads, seafood, and poultry to name a few! Save room for dessert though. We ordered “The Titanic.” Just oh my!
Up next we checked out rooms from the Cove and Reef Towers located to the Eastern side of the resort overlooking Paradise Beach. Room categories in this tower include the Guest Rooms, Regal Suites, Grand Suites, Presidential Suites, Royal Suites, and Bridge Suites. With six different hotels on property there is a lot to consider when deciding where on property to stay; proximity to your desired amenities, your personality and your price point, Atlantis has something for everyone, rest assured!
We also checked out the Reef Tower before exploring the eleven pools and Dolphin Cay. While Dolphin Cay deserves a blog post of its’ own, highlights include Trainer for a Day, Stingray Experience, Serenity Snorkel, Snorkeling the Ruins of Atlantis, Dolphin Cay Educational Center, Kayaking, Paddleboard, Sunrise Fitness, the Rise and Shine Experience with the Dolphins, Playtime with Sealions, Swimming and interacting with Dolphins in both the Swimming in Wonder and Dip and Discover experiences. Whew, there is so much to do in this one area of the resort alone!
Of note is that Dolphin Cay was birthed out of a desire to rescue 17 stranded dolphins who became displaced after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. I loved the mission of the center. The resort does not participate in staged marine shows and is not an entertainment center. Atlantis’ official description of the Cay is “A World-Class Marine Habitat Dedicated to Conservation, Rehabilitation, and Education.” Today’s animal conscious guest will resonate with this focus.
Speaking of facilities the kiddos will enjoy, did I mention that the Atlantis resort is home to ELEVEN pools? The entertainment aquatic area sits on the western side of the resort and is referred to as “AquaVenture.” Here you will find the famous Mayan Temple pool that many associate with Atlantis. I was grateful for the area’s outdoor directional signs and options for outdoor dining. Within AquaVenture you will find much to do besides swimming. Check out The Current, Lazy River, Leap of Faith, Serpent Slide, Challenger, Jungle Slides, The Drop, The Falls, The Surge and The Abyss. Other pools sprinkled about the property are the Baths Colonnade, Cascade (for Reef and Cove guests only), Grotto (preferred guests only), Coral Pool, Lap Pool, Royal Baths Pool, River, Ripples, Splashers, and Poseiden.
The Lap Pool is in view from the Fitness Center. The sun didn’t rise ’till 7 am during our stay so I had a nice view while entering exercise hour. Everything is so beautiful at Atlantis!
If you do find yourself wanting to do some additional exercise while on your vacation, the Fitness Center boasts some nice amenities including a gift shop for any of your athletic needs and lockers too. I have to say, the fitness center experience felt more like a spa experience as the staff waited on me constantly ready to hand me a towel, water, etc. They just really anticipated and catered to my needs. While access is complimentary, you will have to show your room key card to receive a band which is good for the duration of the day.
Speaking of the Spa, while time did not permit me to experience its’ indulgence, I did notice it was located away from any potential noise and close to the fitness center at the Royal Tower. There is also a complimentary shuttle service between The Cove, The Royal, Harborside, The Coral, The Beach, and the Ocean Club Golf Course. While a little bit of walk, I noticed a plethora of security along the way, checking room key cards to make sure everyone was where they were allowed. Nice.
There are so many options for things to do at Atlantis. There’s the teen hangout. As a mama to teens myself, I really appreciated the security features in place at Crush. All bags and such must be checked into lockers before entering the entertainment area.
There are also the younger kiddo areas..
If you’re STILL looking for something to do….
There’s the on-site movie theatre,
Shopping at various price points for everyone,
Way cool clubs and bars for the night-life. While I wasn’t allowed to photograph the casino area, trust me, it was AWESOME. There are actually a variety of gaming options on property, including pool-side. High rollers, to novice players and even those wanting to partake in gaming classes on property are all welcome at Atlantis!
And Marine life everywhere.
To complete your stay don’t forget to take advantage of the photo package Atlantis offers as well as all of the restaurants and dining plan!
A few last shots!
Thank you for taking a stroll with me through the Atlantis resort! I hope I have whet your appetite to learn more about all that Atlantis has to offer! If you would like more information, more photos or a customized quote, do not hesitate to reach out to me at 205-873-8621 cell or text or email at c.winchester@cruiseplanners.com ! I am a member of the Travel Advisors Atlantis Ambassador program and would love to book your Atlantis vacation! My services are complimentary to you!
Until we meet in the Bahamas!
Clarissa, Your Cruise Planners ® Travel Advisor
Cruise Planners - Clarissa Winchester and Associates, A Travel Franchise Located in Birmingham, Alabama 
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