The stringray excursion and the treasure hunt are all also at Pearl Island, so there are a lot of people on the island, although you don't notice that many. Spending the day at the Blue Lagoon was a really nice and relaxing time for our whole family. The island is beautiful and the people are nice, don't get me wrong. Don't expect a wide variety of beer.they only have Kalik, the "beer of the bahamas", affectionately nick-named "cow-lick" by Americans. Balmoral is on a private island shared by Sandals Royal Bahamian. The snorkel and mask are the basics - bring your own if you have them. I believe the BL day would be much better suited for your crew. The kids were getting bored and when I tried asking where the ferry was, no one knew. CC Help Jenn Good luck in making your decision! Definitely choose Blue Lagoon over Pearl Island The beach itself is beautiful and there are plenty of loungers. Thank you. Also have my 80 yr old father in law(whose more like 60)so want to have something for all to do. I wish I had time to do them allbut alas, no. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. I do. In this video I will show you what a day at Pearl Island is like - including the beach, the free lunch, and the lighthouse. And lets be honest, there are tons of beaches around Nassau! The snorkeling itself is nice, there is an area that is MUCH large enough for all the people to swim in, and you won't run into people or get kicked by someone else's fin. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Did Blue Lagoon last time, so wanted to try Pearl Island and do the snorkeling there as well. Its the perfect cruise port excursion if you are stopping in Nassau for a day! Balmoral is much smaller than Blue Lagoon. The boat left at 2 to take us back and we got back about 2:30pm. The excursions in Nassau don't sound great and Atlantis is too expensive for time you get. I've read that the pool isn't complete and there is a lot of construction still happening. Months earlier I had visited Blue Lagoon during a port call to Nassau onboard the Carnival Mardi Gras. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. It wasnt the most exciting thing we did during our stay, but we did like it. Given that Atlantis also has beach access and a dolphin experience on its property, would you say its a day trip to Blue Lagoon is worth it? I just got off a cruise and we snorkled at pearl island. It's open sea, not interior protected lagoon. You cannot paste images directly. We waited in a very long, slow line just off the ship for our tickets. I guess it depends on when you are going - sounds like it will be nice but it's not there yet. Which is better Pearl Island snorkel or Blue Lagoon Snorkel? We're booked for the Pearl Island Treasure Hunt, which includes a meal, did you run into anyone who took that excursion? Valmoisy, September 24, 2016 in Bahamas. This incredibly beautiful island has had a fascinating past and continues to be the number one attraction in Nassau/Paradise Island for activities with families and is wonderfully enlightening and educational excursion suited for children and adults alike. Former City Market on Cable Beach Now Open, Just Used Nassau Grocer Delivery Service at Harborside. Let me just say that the gear isn't the best. The lagoon is really shallow andyou can basically walk across the enitre thing to the other side. Great tour! Ultimately decided to book the VIP Cabana for 2 at Pearl Island. Has anyone been to Pearl Island in 2017? It also has several decent sandy beaches and a calm lagoon area for the smaller children or if the waves are rough that day. The weather was a bit too cool for swimming and the waves were rough. But looking into all 3, I'd say Blue Lagoon has the best beach - as it has a lagoon! They have a beach bar (extra price) and a lunch (included) that was very tasty. Web5 hours (approx.) Frequently called the real Bahamas, Blue Lagoon has I ended up booking the Pearl Island excursion for my March 5th cruise. We ended up booking Pearl Island via the cruiseline. Thanks. That gives me some very good insight. Bahamas Balmoral, Pearl Island or Blue Lagoon Balmoral, Pearl Island or Blue Lagoon By Valmoisy, September 24, 2016 in Bahamas Share Valmoisy 147 You will be salty for the rest of the day, just get used to it. Don't expect a wide variety of beer.they only have Kalik, the "beer of the bahamas", affectionately nick-named "cow-lick" by Americans. I've done both and my choice would definitely be Pearl Island which I've done now about 4X's only for the fact that it is limited to about We too are trying to decide before the sale ends. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. We took the Blue Lagoon ship excursion this past November. D Alt Even the kids found enough to eat and not complain (for once!). It was a relatively inexpensive excursion, about $45 a person I think. Overall it was a nice day. It's not a bad little trip for the money (considering how expensive everything else is). It was the most amazing place I have ever stayed at and enjoyed it very very much. We saw some people snorkeling there the last time we were there. There were 3 baby dolphins that I could see . After we finally boarded the ferry, we zipped across the blue water for about 30 minutes before arriving at Blue Lagoon. Be sure to bring lots of sunscreen -- there are plenty of shaded areas, but the sun is strong this time of year. We are in Nassau a short time so sticking with ship excursions that port. Pearl Island Bahamas East Bay Shopping Centre East Bay Street Nassau, The Bahamas. You can cancel your pass up until 11:59 p.m. the day before your arrival on their website, however, you can cancel by email up until 10 a.m. the day of your arrival. We got to the Island about 10:40-10:45. This will be our first time to Nassau as well, so great question. Disappointed? The lunch was BBQ flavored chicken and some sides. Option 1: Pearl Island offers a beach break and snorkel (lighthouse climb). The plot of the Robert Louis Stevenson novel of the same name sounds not unfamiliar to the history of pirates in The Bahamas, and while Treasure Island in The Bahamas may not be the pirate haven of the storied novel, it is a haven nonetheless.. We have our own snorkeling equipment, but cant figure out if you're allowed to snorkel on your own in either of these islands? Includes a delicious barbecue lunch. There are good and bad parts to pearl island. Do you have more pics of the island in general. Please give your opinions. We found some hammocks in the shade on the adventure side that had some water floaty things and it was more of a lagoon, but then the other side was open ocean and gorgeous! The island is small, but everyone seemed to be spread out and it never seemed crowded at all. I've never been there.but from what I heard & seen on pics, I wanna goooooooooo!!!!!!! Balmoral uses the south side/ Sandals the North. The beach is excellent with great facilities, too. WebThe crystal clear waters surrounding Pearl Island is the perfect venue to explore these natural wonders. Also, the ONLY way you are allowed to visit BL is by using their excursion and their boats. Your email address will not be published. CC Help Jenn Started August 27, 2021, By So we didnt arrive to Blue Lagoon Island until almost noon. I don't do those, so I did just the beach. The island is beautiful and the people are nice, don't get me wrong. The beach is small but nice and they have lots of water toys (kayak, paddleboard, trampoline) that you can use in the equally small roped off swimming area. I'm between pearl island and blue lagoon as those two are offered by the cruise line. It is a great experience, but now that I have experienced it, I probably wouldn't do it again. Get answers to your questions about Nassau, Back from Margaritaville Resort- Trip Report, SLS Baha Mar - need help deciding (option 2 is the Reef), Grocery delivery or shop yourself on Nassau, Global Entry- Enrollment on Arrival at NAS. We also took the kids over to watch the dolphins swim. They also make great drink at there bar. is Many times, both cruise travelers and cruise lines refer to this excursion by the most sought after activity in the Blue Lagoon Island - Dolphin Interaction or Swim and Sea Lion Encounter. There are 2 sides to the Blue Lagoon. I posted a review and pictures on my blog. Snorkeling in Nassau: Water Temps in December? LauraS Im leaving for Nassau in 10 days!! So I found your review totally different than my experience. And Ill be honest, I was REALLY suprised at how much food there was and how GOOD it was! I want the most beautiful beach, don't care about swimming with dolphins but have an 11 yr old girl and a 6 yr old boy both very active. Enjoy! Wow, that's crazy, we've been 3 times, never had it be that shallow. I guess I prefer it more on the shallow side as I just want to hang out in the water and it's a great depth for kids. It was $299 for 2 people (We are on the Carnival Dream) Very excited . All rights reserved. We made lots of memories there, but wouldn't choose to do it a second time. You are ready to leave the island within an hour and a half. Thanks, your message has been sent successfully. I put some Bahamas Coconut Rum in my Hydroflask and added some juice when I got to Blue Lagoon. But, unfortunately, you are there for about 3 and a half hours. The pictures and website for Pearl Island look great but I saw quite a few negative reviews saying that the area is just not ready yet. Shirley Street I have some pictures of both excursions below. Next time I'll proof read before sending [emoji849]. Firstly, thank you for providing your take on travel! I have only been to Blue Lagoon, but it was AWESOME! The Blue Lagoon Island is, in fact, named Salt Cay but since it became a tourist attraction has become known by its main feature. Advice needed. But if you are just looking for a good old beach day or some other more unique experience around Nassau, I would look elsewhere. I did the snorkel package. If we are going to interact with animals, its going to be a unique experience. And by the time we arrived, most of the lounge chairs where filled and we had a really hard time finding a place to lay out. To learn more about our resort and villas, call 1-800-310-5148. Blue lagoon has easy access to all. looks like a pretty island. I am very confused what to book. 43 Reviews Full Details Excursion Size:Small Excursion Type:Active, Water/Beach Food/Beverage:Not Included Activity Level:Moderate Excursion Duration:3+ Hours Taste of Nassau Cuisine and But if you are visiting the Bahamas on a cruise and only have one day to experience Nassau, I dont think the Blue Lagoon should be at the top of your list. The beach area at Blue Lagoon is what really makes this place perfect for families. I just got the beach day with lunch. Thats great flexibility if the weather happens to be bad. For the Blue Lagoon input, it was nice there as well. Bring your own gear and enjoy the BL -- lots to do and see for adults and kids alike. By Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, This is a birthday cruise, so the idea of a VIP cabana sounded nice as a celebration, We usually travel with friends, not often it's just the two of us, and since it's a 2 person cabana, now seemed like a good time, Reviews online regularly repeated that people like the food at Pearl Island more than Blue Lagoon, At BL, I'd probably be most interested in either the dolphin swim or sea lion encounter, and I can do both of those in the Florida Keys, so less of a push to try it in the Bahamas. Read more about our adventures byclicking here. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. Given the short day, probably looking to do just a beach excursion - no dolphin experience (though my kids would love it). You can only get there by Ferry and there are no vehicles on this small Blue Lagoon we've done 3 times now and it's great. Bye-Bye Beach Tower - Hello 'Somewhere Else'? Any updates or details would be appreciated. I've done both and my choice would definitely be Pearl Island which I've done now about 4X's only for the fact that it is limited to about 200 guests per day so it never felt crowded. They are doing some work on one of the docks so there is some construction there too but if you go left off the dock, you can easily get away from it. Ferry from Miami or Fort Lauderdale to Nassau. It's shared with Sandals. All views expressed on this post are posted by the users and do not represent the opinions of BahamasLocal.com, its management or staff. Thanks for your review. :). Your previous content has been restored. While we really did enjoy our day at Blue Lagoon Island, I do want to mention a not-so-great experince we had also.