A Brief Overview of Our Stops on Carnival Magic Cruise: Nassau, Amber Cove and Grand Turk

Closing week, I printed a publish with my concepts  on Carnival Magic shipas throughout the good, the unhealthy and the ugly. There weren’t any nasty surprises, and on all the, the experience was principally good. Proper now I wanted to focus on the itinerary. Since we dwell in Florida, my family has taken pretty various cruises throughout the Caribbean. That’s why it’s sturdy to find a port that we haven’t however visited.

On this specific cruise we stopped in Nassau, Amber Cove (Dominican Republic) and Grand Turk. Out of the three, I was most excited to go to Amber Cove, since I haven’t been to DR. Nevertheless to be honest, the itinerary itself was secondary. Since we had been using Carnival match program, I primarily wished to find a Caribbean cruise over Thanksgiving the place we could on the very least have oceanview cabins. My husband and I agreed that we in the mean time are too spoiled for inside staterooms and in actuality, typically e book a balcony unit.

I wanted to keep up the costs down, so initially didn’t e book any ship excursions. I did change my ideas and splurged in Amber Cove on account of my daughter begged me to, which ended up being an important decision. Additional on that later.

Nassau

My husband and I visited Nassau on the very least 5 events via cruises, if no extra, so I was really tempted to solely carry on the ship. To be honest, it really isn’t my cup of tea. However, the children have in no way visited Atlantis resort, so I’ve decided to solely take a taxi there and marvel spherical. It value us $30 for five people one-way along with tip, which isn’t too unhealthy.

I keep in mind going to Atlantis and visiting their spectacular aquarium with out cost, though it’s been on the very least 16 years. Properly, as a result of it appears, it’s no longer free. I went to their train desk to look at on the value, contemplating it’s maybe $20 or so per particular person. Nope, it’s $60. That’s a troublesome go for me, because it may value $300 for our event of 5. The aquarium is neat, nevertheless not neat enough to justify that price. In spite of everything, I don’t fault the resort for proscribing entry to squatters like us.

There was a family in entrance of us, making an attempt to buy entry to the well-known water park. Atlantis employee instructed them it’s $220 per particular person. The grandma thought it was $2.20 and reluctantly decided to “splurge” sooner than the kinfolk stepped in to proper the misunderstanding.

Anyway, we decided to solely “squat” and marvel spherical, which is allowed even if you aren’t staying on the resort. I’ve to say that every one workers had been very nice and didn’t make us actually really feel unwelcome. And we acquired some good photos consequently.

Every of my kids requested if there could also be any method we’re capable of hold at Atlantis resort for a family journey. Really, there could also be, though I now need we took advantage of the deal various years previously. Nevertheless should you’re a gambler and don’t ideas making use of for Wyndham Enterprise Earner card correct nowyou may be capable to get a deeply discounted hold at Atlantis resort. See all of the small print in Milestalk article.

If taking part in is a dealbreaker (it is for us), there is a approach to get free entry to all Atlantis facilities by using Different components on Comfort Suites Paradise Island resort Keep in mind the truth that you will get charged $50 resort cost  per particular person every single day, so a family of 4 will drop $200 per night time time in fees alone. But it surely certainly’s nonetheless cheaper that staying in Atlantis, and in addition you get free scorching breakfast, a pleasing perk in pricey Nassau. I’m considering it, though my husband isn’t thrilled about flying to Bahamas. Will probably be primarily for the children, as this isn’t a spot I’m dying to return to each. Appears an extreme quantity of like Florida.

Amber Cove

Amber Cove is a port in Dominican Republic, created and paid for by Carnival. Proper right here is its location on the map:

It’s a extremely scenic location, for sure.

You could even lease an overwater bungalow for the day, though it acquired’t come low price.

Initially, I consider to go ashore with kids and simply use the free facilities on the port, along with lazy river and  swimming swimming pools.

However, the day sooner than our stop in Amber Cove, my daughter begged me to take her to an space seaside in its place. There isn’t really one inside strolling distance of the port, so I checked out  quite a few cruise tour decisions. Probably the most inexpensive one would value me $49 per particular person and didn’t embody any meals. But it surely certainly’s not like we had been hurting for meals on the ship anyway.

A bus would take us to Amber Seashore Membership (20 minutes from the port) and resolve us up 2.5 hours later. Okay for me. The seaside membership regarded main, nevertheless had all the facilities one desires, like restrooms, showers and lounges. There was a great deal of shade.

The water was crystal clear and the view was lovely:

You presumably can moreover order drinks for an extra value.

My daughter and I had a blast, and I’m very glad we went proper right here in its place of stopping  for lounges on the crowded pool in Amber Cove port. Throughout the grand scheme of points, it’s solely a $100. She talked about it was our specific mother/daughter getaway. The rest throughout the event chosen to stay on the ship. Keep in mind the truth that they require {a photograph} identification to enter Amber Cove house. I actually didn’t have mine with me, nevertheless fortunately my cellphone had {a photograph} of my passport, which was sufficient. Don’t be like me.

In its place of strolling once more to the ship, I used a bicycle service, which inserts two people. These native youthful guys work for concepts, and get some respectable practice alongside one of the best ways.

Amber Cove was my favorite stop on this cruise, by far. Dominican Republic strikes a chord in my memory of Jamaica, one different lovely island throughout the Caribbean. See Nancy’s publish describing her Carnival tour to Monkeylandwhereas visiting Amber Cove.

Grand Turk

The ultimate time we had been in Grand Turk was in 2009, and once more then it was a sleepy island and never utilizing a pier. All cruise traces needed to make use of tender boats to maneuver passengers. All through that go to, our Holland America ship was the one one anchored throughout the house, so the seaside was principally empty. How points have modified!

This time, there have been two large Carnival ships, and the pier made it so much easier for folk to entry the island. Due to this, the speedy neighborhood was super crowded, though I was nonetheless able to find a free lounger.

That being talked about, you presumably can’t beat the consolation of strolling off the ship and swimming in a clear calm water a few minutes later.

A few of us walked half a mile and had the seaside all to themselves, nevertheless I was too lazy to do this. Plus, it may suggest giving up a lounger. All-in-all, I give Grand Turk stop a thumbs up for consolation, though quite a lot of the enchantment I keep in mind is no longer there. C’est la vie…

Final concepts

As I’ve talked about many events sooner than, should you’re looking out for an real native experience, cruising will probably disappoint. It’s not the becoming match for that. What it is good for is sampling quite a few places to see if you could return for an prolonged hold in the end. And hitting some scenic seashores alongside one of the best ways really doesn’t injury each.

Author: Leana

Leana is the founding father of Miles For Family. She enjoys seaside holidays and visiting her family in Europe. Initially from Belarus, Leana resides in central Florida alongside along with her husband and two children.

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