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The Atlantis resort is the biggest marine habitat in the world except for Mother Nature. There are many, many aquariums at the resort. There is a large one in the Royal Towers, one called the dig - which is an area that looks like the ruins of Atlantis under the sea, there are some down by the beach tower pool, there is a predaror lagoon outside - and you can go down under an outside restaurant out past the Casino and look from underneath. There is a swingingbridge over the predator lagoon which is cool. Everywhere you go throughout the complex - there are amazing things to see like beautiful fountains , etc. There are also neat things in the Coral Towers. One of the older waterslides even comes down a tube through a shark tank. The casino is amazing with large glass sculptures. There are many shops (good ones like Gucci, etc. just past the casino. There are also a bunch of new shops over by the marina that I have not seen yet as I have not been there in about 6 years. I used to go there every year and take my employees. It is my favorite place in the whole world. I am finally getting to show it to my new husband when we cruise out of Jacksonville on Dec 13th. I hope he loves it as much as I do - because I really want to take my grandkids there one day.

Go to www.atlantis.com and you can print out a map of the resort, etc. and see what the place is like.

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I agree mzbiddy,

 The Dig is a maze of archeological ruins and excavations.  It's basically the "heart and soul of "Atlantis", "a fabled world long lost in time." 

The Atlantis Resort is truly amazing.   We were diverted to Nassau in September due to Hurricane Ike and we had no idea what to expect or what we were going to do.  Luckily, our table mates at dinner the 1st night had been there before.  They were very helpful as the excursion list Carnival slid under the door seemed overwhemling.  They recommended the Aquarium Tour and book it oursleves as it was cheaper than going thru Carnival.  The casino is gorgoeus and each of those glass sculptures are One Million Dollars Each!!  They are truly beautiful.  We took pic's of each one we were shown and saw.  I felt like I was walking down 5th Avenue in New York with all of those shops too.  The Aquarium Tour was really fun and we also saw a lot above ground too.  Our tour guide was really sweet and she explained everything so well.  It was really neat to be able to touch 2 types of the marine life in the aquarium tour too.  We also saw and took pic's of many types of marine life that were really amazing, including the most dangerous one in the world.  I also got to sit in in a large throne and have my picture taken and another where there was a special type of hat for a princess or something that I put my head in and our tour guide showed me how to get into the right praying position to have my picture taken in that too.  The aquarium tour was only about an hour long.  I think we were just so overwhelmed by everything we alomost missed getting back to the ship by seconds...literally...LOL  We brought home a souviner Map from "The Dig" and also a map of the entire resort.  The resort itself is something to see.  The one section which has the suites that rent for 25K per night ww/ a minimum stay of 4 nights for 100K that Micheal Jordan has stayed in must be something out of this world.  Our tour guide told us all about those suites too when we were once again above ground and saw that section.  We were in tunnels underground where the aquariums were and walked out of a tunnel to above ground to see other things.  We too would love to go back there.  There is so much to see and it is amazing. 

Next time I think we will go to "The Dig" as my husband is really into things like that and some of the things you get to see are really worth it from what I have read in our brouchure.  There is just so much to see there, it's some place that one would keep going back to see over and over again. 

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Suzy Q - that all really sounds awesome!  Is this something that you can do on your own?  If not, who did you go through for the tour?  We are going in January and sounds like something we would definitely be interested in doing.

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Susie Q,

We took a taxi to the Atlantis Resort.  We bought our tickets for the tour inside the casino and the guide was free with the tickets.  The tickets were reasonable and we paid about $75.00 for them for the 2 of us plus a tip (optional) my husband gave them for the tour guide.  The aquariums were all underground in tunnels and also we would walk out of a tunnel to be shown other neat sights and plant life too.  I rermember a fruit tree was hard to spot the the fruit on the tree.  So we were in and out of several tunnels.  The pic's we got all turned out so great as the aquariums itself are not made of glass so there was no reflective glare.  We got some really neat shots of marine life and rare fish.  Also all the artifacts that were there were neat too.  There was a special stone and if rubbed together by a husband and wife was supposed to make your marriage last a really long time too.  I also got to bring home some stones from another artifact we were shown.  I thinkg that the tour was actually a little longer than an hour tho. 

If you know you are going there it would be much easier to plan things in advance and have the oppotunity to plan better. The Atlantis Resort is an amazing place.  There is so much to see and do there one could not do it all in such a short time.  I would love to go back to Nassau again too.  That's ine thing nice about cruising too.  You not only get great food and a fun time but get to see places and sights along with it.  All in all I think a cruise is one of the best values going.   

Have a Great Cruise!!   

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All this is awesome information, so are you (suzy Q) saying that it is better to do this on yoru own versus through carnival?  it is so high thru carnival.  152 for adults and 132 for kids? 

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Crusinlvrs,

If you are referring to the Atlantis Aquaventure Excursion (5 hrs.) then this is totally different from what we did.  That also inlcuded lunch.  All we did was tour the Aquarium at the Atlantis Resort along with a visit to the casino and shops.  We paid $75.00 for the Aqaurium Tour only.  If I am not mistaken, the one with the price you gave me looks like it includes almost everything or a lot at the Resort.  In fact, I have the excursion list we were given and the price for a chld was $122.00 so it looks like that was increased by $10.00 for a child.  If you have children the one you are looking at may be better for your family.  We really enjoyed what we did on our own but we did miss alot too.  We were told by our table mates that going on our own was much cheaper than the prices Carnival charge.  The advantage with them is that you will get to the excursion and back on time so you do you don't miss the ship like we almost did.  You may find an agency at the Atlantis Paradise Island website which is www.Atlantis.com or call toll free from the states at (800) ATLANTIS.  From what I have read from others, they have gone on their own and it was or is cheaper.  Next time we cruise to Nassau we would like to do "The Dig" Excursion and have time to see more sights too.  From all the info I have thre is lots to do and see.   

That is the advantage of being able to plan ahead.  We were very prepared for our excursions in Cozumel and had no clue about Nassau until we were in the Port of Miami to board the ship.  Carnival gave us no advance notice about the Itinerary change as I had called them prior to leaving our hotel for the Port too and we were still set to go to Cozumel.  Hurricane Ike hit that area and I had a feeling we may be divererted or cancelled as Ike had just left the area we sailed into.  The 1st day or so we could not really enjoy the balcony that much due to strong winds too.  Our next cruise will be in October again with less chance of a hurricane again.   

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Suzy Q - thanks for all of the info.  Can you see the aquarium, etc., on your own?  If so, is there a charge for that?

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No you can't see the aquariums in the underground in tunnels on your own.  There are also several places along the way that we stopped at to see the artifacts I mentioned.  That's what we paid the $75 for.  (That price was for the 2 of us)  But since we have been there that price "may be" slightly higher too.  The guide was free and that's why we tipped her.  There are so many huge aquariums in these tunnels I can't even tell you how many.  Plus the 2 types of harmless marine life our guide let us handle and touch was cool.  We were in tunnels and then walked up stairs to see other sights above ground and then back down stairs into the tunnels for more aquariums.  There was no charge to go into the huge casino or walk around and window shop at all of the stores that were also inside.  I could tell by window shopping that they were very pricey stores all with the expensive brand names.  We were on our way to buy the tickets for the tour we I walked by all of those. 

To give you an idea along with "The Dig" excursion there are 9 Lagoons listed on the map and 1 underground viewing Tunnel under  Marine Life Habitat Exhibits alone. 

This gives us a reason to cruise back to Nassau tho!!  It's gorgeous and except for about a day or 2 of rougher waters from Ike the weather was beautiful.  It was actually quite warm in September.  Mainly in the 90's which is my kind of weather...  Where we live we don't get but 2 or 3 months of summer.  So we extended our summer somewhat.  Next year we plan on cruising in October again.  Not as many hurricanes either.   

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Okay, so does anyone know how much the dig is?!  It sounds so awesome....and the Carnival's prices seem a little steep....