Nassau questions (atlantis resort and other excurions)

Hi! Nassau will be one of our day stops on our cruise in Feb. and I enjoy aquariums so was wondering if anyone has visited the aquarium at the Atlantis resort. Is it worth paying $29 each (seems expensive!)? I called their reservations number and they said the price included "The Dig". Is the dig worth seeing or just hokey? Are you allowed to look around the Atlantis or do security chase you out? What's the cheapest way to get to the Atlantis?
Is it worth going to or would we be better off spending our time and money on other excursions in Nassau, such as the pirate museum, the zoo or botanical gardens? I'm not particularly interested in watching flamingos on parade but do enjoy a good zoo. Also, is the Pirate museum worth the $12 each or is it hokey? Anyone been to the zoo or botanical gardens? What did you think of them? Thanks, Fiona in Ohio

[Donna]

Hi Fiona,
Yes, I thought the price to have the tour of Atlantis and the aquarium/dig were well worth it, I've never seen anything quite like that, don't miss it.

Does the cost of $29 cover just the aquarium or also a tour of the entire complex? Thanks, Fiona

[Donna]

In order to use the water slides etc. you have to be a guest, but the $29 tour is well worth it. You can go to the casino, shop in their shops, and eat in the restaurant as well.

[LisaK]

the cost for the Aquarium/Dig is well worth it. Its amazing, and the casino is gorgeous

Does anyone know how well kids enjoyed this excursion? I have 2 boys ages 6 and 9.
Thanks

[Donna]

I'm pretty sure the kids would love seeing all those colorful fish, esepcially when they feed them.

We got a mini van, which I think was about $8 each. The kids wanted to head straight to the beach, so we were dropped at a public entrance to beach just up from Atlantis. Beach was nice but ocean was very rough, our kids (8 and 6, their great swimmers but it was to risky!!) couldn't go in, which was a shame. After a couples of hours digging castle and holes we walk back down to front entrance of Atlantis. Walked around the Aquarium which was really good and across bridges with hundreds of rays swimming under, beautiful. This was free. If you don't pay for the dig, you can walk around freely and see the aquarium. Their fake Caribbean beach was very tempting (after the rough ocean on offer) but we were told £150 for two adults and two kids, for the wrist bands and towels for the day which would intitle you to use pools and slides. as we had to be back on ship at 1.00 it wasn't worth the money. The guards will let you through to the beach from Atlantis but they will stop you if to try and walk to see the Mayan waterfall area.

If we done it again, we would head for Cable Beach (more Caribbean) and get a day pass at say Holiday Inn.

Good Evans,

What kind of day pass do you get at Holiday Inn at Cable Beach? What does it entitle you to?

Thanks

is there still a cheap public transportation jitty stop between the straw market and the british colonial sheraton that takes you to cable beach?
when I stayed there yrs ago, it was .75 to go one way
b