Bahamas Atlantis Review: Is Paradise Island Worth It?
Are you looking for a Bahamas Atlantis review before your Caribbean vacation?
Atlantis is a popular resort, but does it hold up to the hype? Is Atlantis worth it?
Or maybe you booked your trip already and want to know what Atlantis Hotel amenities you should focus on. There is so much to choose from! My husband and I stayed at the Atlantis Resort for our honeymoon. He had been to the Bahamas before, but it was a new tropical vacation destination for me. We’re both certified, so we focused a lot on SCUBA diving (I’ll tell you more about the shark dive later!), but we also just enjoyed exploring Paradise Island.
It was a trip to remember from winning at the casino to a surprise swim with the Dolphins.
Let me explain what the Bahamas Atlantis Resort offers and my personal experience staying there to help you plan your vacation.
Atlantis Bahamas Hotel Options
Atlantis Resort has five hotel towers. Each one has a different theme and location on Paradise Island.
Paradise Island is a private island the resort is located on with a road connecting it to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas.
Which hotel you stay at depends on who you are traveling with and what type of vacation you want.
The Cove
The Cove is the most expensive Atlantis Hotel. Some may say it’s for adults only, but families are also welcome to stay here for a more oasis vacation vibe.
There is an adult-only pool area with cabanas, a private bar, and outdoor games. Nearby, you have the Cascades Pool for any age, but only for Cove and Reef guests.
The Reef
The Reef is next to the Cove and offers high-end studios and suites. There are either kitchenettes or full kitchens, and you can get groceries delivered.
This hotel tower is perfect for extended vacation stays, families, or large groups. It’s got a great location and a playground! A Starbucks is conveniently located in the lobby. You can get your coffee anytime!
You’re right by a shuttle that can take you to other locations within the Atlantis resort.
The Royal
The Royal is the iconic pink hotel in the middle of the Atlantis resort.
Even though we didn’t stay here, we explored the area. Chances are you will visit the Royal quite often no matter what hotel tower you book.
Many food choices and the casino are in the Royal Tower, but my favorite part was the indoor aquarium!
It’s a beautiful spot to walk around and enjoy the ocean-themed designs. The Royal Hotel is centrally located, so you can easily walk to the water park, Atlantis Marina, or anywhere else on Paradise Island.
The Coral
The Coral is perfect for any age but is the best choice for families.
The Coral Pool has a swim-up bar and family cabanas. This pool is between the hammerhead shark habitat and the cownose rays lagoon.
If you have a teenager, the Coral Tower is where Atlantis has CRUSH, their teens-only night club.
It’s a perfect location for food and shopping at the Royal or the Marina and is close to the Aquaventure water park.
Harborside Resort
My husband and I stayed at the Harborside Resort through his parents’ timeshare.
You don’t need a timeshare to stay at Harborside, but it is very convenient if you own a timeshare or rent points from someone who does.
It’s a facade of colorful houses of villas with full kitchens and laundry.
I enjoyed leaving the busy hotel areas for this quiet corner of the Atlantis Resort. We stayed about 10 days and used the kitchen and laundry perks.
The pool was fun and relaxing, and you have a stunning view of the ocean, Atlantis Marina, and Royal Tower.
Things to Do at Atlantis Bahamas
There are a lot of activities, amenities, and experiences at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.
I love having so many options all in one place.
When you stay at Atlantis, your vacation has marine animals, waterslides, beach time, lounging poolside, shopping, and much more.
Atlantis Aquaventure Water Park
Your stay at the Bahamas Atlantis Resort includes the Atlantis Aquaventure Water Park.
There are a lot of water slides to choose from, but the most notable are the Serpent Slide and the Leap of Faith.
The Serpent Slide is an enclosed water slide where you ride on an inflatable tube with a 2-person tube option. This slide takes you through the 5-stories of the Mayan Temple and then a see-through tunnel going through the aquarium.
You have a stunning panoramic view of the Caribbean Ocean and the Atlantis Resort from the top of the Mayan Temple. The view is worth the stairs to get to the top.
The Leap of Faith is a steep 60-foot water slide going down a different side of the Mayan Temple. This slide also goes through a see-through tunnel through the Aquaventure aquarium.
These and many other thrill water slides have a 48” height requirement. Poseidon’s Playground is a kid-centered water area next to the Ripples Kids Slide.
Marine Habitat and Dolphin Cay
Atlantis has over a dozen marine habitats throughout the Bahamas Atlantis Paradise Island, and over 50,000 marine mammals.
The Water’s Edge Lagoon has cownose rays, and there is a hammerhead shark exhibit.
Discover multiple indoor and outdoor aquariums just by walking around the resort. Half the fun is not knowing what you might see next.
My Bahamas Atlantis review isn’t complete without explaining Dolphin Cay where you can swim or kayak with dolphins in their 14-acre habitat.
This dolphin habitat isn’t just a spot where you can watch dolphins from a sandy beach, but you can reserve an encounter where you swim with the dolphins.
Knowing that dolphins are my favorite animal, my husband surprised me with the swimming with dolphins experience.
It was such a unique experience, especially with the dolphin’s rostrum pushing your feet while you hold onto a boogie board.
You can buy photographer pictures of your encounter. My photo looks like the dolphin’s tail is my own!
If you’re passionate about animals and nature, Atlantis on Paradise Island is the perfect destination.
Pools and Beaches
We spent a lot of time in the pool, except when a thunderstorm started. At least it didn’t last long!
General rule of thumb: don’t be in the water when there’s lightning.
The benefit of going to the Caribbean in June is that you’re enjoying the islands right before hurricane season.
Each Atlantis Hotel has its pool area. The Harborside Pool has a mini splash pad in the shallow end. You can see the Royal Tower and the boats in the marina from the jacuzzi.
Drinks are available poolside, and there is a billiards table. I won our game of billiards, of course!
The Cascades Pool is only for the Cove and Reef guests, but there are plenty of pool options in the Aquaventure water park if you want to explore more.
Paradise Beach is only for Cove and Reef guests, while Royal Beach and Atlantis Beach are for any hotel guests.
Other fun things to do include renting jet skis, snorkel equipment, kayaks, or paddleboards at the beach.
Kayaking is fun with tons of benefits, but the last time I kayaked in the Caribbean Sea, my husband tipped us over on purpose. It was quite the event turning the kayak back over and climbing back in.
Atlantis Marina
You can dock your boat at the Atlantis Marina. We enjoyed looking at all the fancy yachts, especially lit up at night.
There are also small shops in the Atlantis Marina. My husband had to get Kalik, a Bahamian beer, with his pizza at the Marina Pizzeria.
The Tortuga rum cake shop was the perfect souvenir, and I enjoyed the Oh Sugar Candy shop.
Ben & Jerry’s was delicious, although we did prefer Bernie’s all-natural Bahamian homemade ice cream. Get the coconut and pineapple!
You can catch live music playing throughout the day and in the evenings. The marina is beautiful when the lights go on at night.
Bahama Tours and Marine Adventures
There are a lot of things to do in the Bahamas, and heading off-site gives you even more adventure options. The tours are easy to book online or through the Bahamas Atlantis Resort.
We did a boat tour of Nassau and some SCUBA diving. If you’re not SCUBA certified, you can get a temporary certification or choose snorkeling.
We dove by an authentic shipwreck and a shipwreck created for a movie set (I think it was for a James Bond movie). I love being surrounded by colorful schools of fish!
The real highlight is the Shark Dive offered by Stuart Coves Dive Bahamas.
We were all on our knees on the sand about 40 feet underwater, and a diver in a chainmail suit was in the middle with a chum bucket.
The Caribbean Reef Sharks zoomed past us to get the chum, and some bumped into me! It was surreal and one of the best dives ever.
Next time we go, I want to visit the pigs. The swimming pigs live on Rose Island, but many people call it “Pig Island.”
There’s a 4-hour Swimming with the Pigs tour. The tour includes snorkeling over a coral reef and shipwreck at Atholl Island, followed by sightseeing in Green Cay where you can see sea turtles, and ending with a pig-filled adventure on Rose Island.
The tour includes snacks, water, soda, snorkel equipment for Atholl Island, and optional kayaks or paddleboards at Rose Island. Meals and alcoholic beverages are an additional cost.
You get picked up by a boat near Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville on Paradise Island, so it’s convenient for resort guests.
Additional Atlantis Amenities
The Atlantis Hotel Casino in the Royal Tower has fun slot machines and casino game tables.
I won over $100 on one of the machines! Not that I could do it again if I tried, but it was exciting. My husband lost, so it was a wash anyway. That’s how gambling goes, right?
Atlantis also has the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island. The golf course has beautiful ocean views and an 18-hole par over 7,100 yards.
Other hotel amenities are the Mandara Spa, fitness centers, and theatrical performances.
Shops are everywhere in the hotels, at the golf course, and throughout the Marina. You can buy souvenirs or enjoy boutique shops for the fun of shopping.
The Aura Nightclub has a dancing nightlife for adults, and Atlantis has a Kids Club full of activities for the little ones.
Atlantis Bahamas has a little bit of everything you could want for a Caribbean vacation, so pack for fun in the sun and more formal attire.
Atlantis Bahamas Resort Food
Before I discuss the food options on Paradise Island, I need to give you a food recommendation off-site.
The Twin Brothers restaurant in Nassau is a must. You can’t give a Bahamas Atlantis Review without mentioning this field trip.
The restaurant is a quick 10-minute taxi ride from Atlantis. They are famous for their seafood and conch fritters.
No matter where you eat, make sure to try the local food. I think the food in Puerto Rico and the Bahamian food are my favorites in the Caribbean.
Signature Dining
Nobu is the most popular signature dining restaurant in Atlantis. The menu is Japanese cuisine with Peruvian and European influences.
It’s the perfect sit-down formal dining option for families or couples. Kids under 6 are allowed if your family’s reservation is before 7 pm.
Other signature dining options include French, Bahamian, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisine.
Make a reservation if you plan on a special occasion dinner or prefer fine dining on vacation.
Casual Dining
There are several casual dining restaurants available for sit-down meals without a reservation.
Seafire Steakhouse has delicious steak and plenty of surf and turf options. The restaurant is family-friendly, but Seafire Steakhouse does require smart casual attire.
A more casual option is Bimini Road. It offers authentic Bahamian cuisine and has a colorful design with booth-style seating.
Atlantis has plenty of fast dining and grab-and-go options like snack carts and Starbucks throughout the resort. I enjoyed the pizza from Marina Pizzaria, and the outdoor tables were the perfect spot to eat while looking at the boats in the Marina.
Burger Shack has milkshakes, but you need to try the Goombay Punch. It’s a sugary, carbonated, tropical fruit punch made in the Bahamas.
Dining Plans
A great way to save some money on dining is to purchase a dining plan.
This does not include the fancier signature restaurants, but it does include two casual meals and one snack per day.
Non-alcoholic beverages are included, such as water, coffee, tea, soda, and lemonade.
You choose what you want your two included meals to be. There are participating dining options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
You can still eat anywhere on Paradise Island, but it is an additional charge and not included in your dining package.
Day Pass to Atlantis Resort
You do not need a day pass if you’re a resort guest at any of the Atlantis hotels.
If you are a local or staying off-site, you do need to purchase a day pass to enjoy any of the resort amenities or book a tour like swimming with dolphins experience at Dolphin Cay.
The day pass gets you access to the Aquaventure water park, the beaches, shopping, dining, the casino, and the marine life habitats.
Atlantis is not a cheap resort, but the Bahamas is one of the cheaper islands in the Caribbean. Depending on your budget, you could stay off-site and get the day pass for one day during your visit.
There are multiple ways to save money in the Caribbean, and resort day passes are one of them.
Is the Bahamas Atlantis Resort all-inclusive?
No, the Bahamas Atlantis Resort is not all-inclusive.
It may seem that way, because there is so much to do at no additional cost, but the food is not included in resort fees.
You can purchase a dining pass to help make it more of an “all-inclusive” vacation, but you will still be limited on how much food you get with the pass. Alcoholic beverages are also not included in the dining pass.
Even though it’s not all-inclusive, it’s a popular destination because of the water park and other amenities that are included. Plus the Bahamas is one of the islands in the Caribbean that don’t require a US passport.
Bahamas Atlantis Review Summary
My Bahamas Atlantis review is yes, the Atlantis resort is worth it.
The price tag can add up, but if you budget for the resort, you will have the time of your life. Atlantis has a full-on resort atmosphere which lets you sink into vacation mode.
Even without swimming with the dolphins or SCUBA diving, just walking around the marine habitats, soaking up beach time, and lounging at the pool is worth your vacation days.
Remember, the Aquaventure water park is included for hotel guests, too!
You get the benefits of a tourist resort and fun experiences. The best part? You are in the Bahamas and can easily explore more of Nassau.
What do you think? Are you ready to book a Caribbean vacation for some ice cream, poolside drinks, waterslides, and aquariums? I know I’m ready to head back!
