On our
final day of sailing aboard the
Norwegian Cruise Line ship Epic, we docked in
Nassau,
Bahamas, and made our way to the
Atlantis resort on Paradise Island as quickly as possible.
We then proceeded to have an absolute blast.
Atlantis may be a playground for the rich and famous (Michael Jordan,
Jay-Z,
Jerry Seinfeld, Miss Universe, Justin Bieber, the
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and a long, long list of other A-list notables), but there's plenty of fun to be had for the not-so-rich and the not-quite-famous.
We started off in The Dig, which is the resort's seemingly never-ending aquarium. Beginning underneath the lobby of Atlantis' Royal Towers, The Dig aquarium winds and turns along a circuitous route and features some spectacular maritime eye candy: Sharks, massive manta rays, tiny sea horses, giant tropical fish, creepy-cool jellyfish and dozens more species of marine life.
When you finally exit, you find yourself in the middle of an aquatic play land: Lazy rivers, beaches, water slides and more. Collectively known as Aquaventure, this waterscape covers more than 140 acres , so it doesn't feel crowded. There are so many things to do here, that the biggest headache is simply trying to figure out how to see and do as much as possible in whatever time you have.
Unfortunately for us, we only had about five hours to play. But if you visit Atlantis, be sure to take a ride on The Current, a mile-long water rapids that features rocking waves and body-spinning water surges.
The Current will take you into the Power Tower, where you can choose one of four thrilling exits: The Abyss, The Drop, The Falls and The Surge. None of them are for the faint of heart.
Also be sure to try the slides at the Mayan Temple, where you can zip through an aquarium full of toothy sharks. For an additional fee, you can even strap on a special underwater helmet and walk in the tank with Jaws' cousins.
There's also a private lagoon for guests, and plenty of food and drinks available. Not to mention a casino, dozens of shops, fantastic restaurants like Nobu and … well, you get the picture. Atlantis is a pretty spectacular place, and the perfect complement to the awesomeness of NCL's Epic.
Is it a mere coincidence that scenes from a James Bond movie were filmed here? I think not. It definitely has a James Bond vibe.
* * *
We also got to witness a wedding on the beach today. Nice and romantic, and everybody wore white. The bride was beautiful, and the groom was … well, he was sweating a bit. But the optimist in me would like to think that it was just the Bahamian heat, and not any feeling of impending doom and gloom.