Review: The Coral at Atlantis Bahamas

After holding Caesars Diamond status for almost three years now, we finally got to take advantage of the perk for which I had originally pursued the status: four free nights at Atlantis Bahamas!

To be honest, I was initially indifferent about visiting this property a few years back, as some websites offer mixed reviews about the resort. After we had a fabulous experience at its sister property, Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, we were curious to experience what this resort much closer to home had to offer. 

My husband has Caesars Diamond status as well, so we ended up booking a second room and inviting my sister and her family along for the fun. In the end, my parents ended up coming, too.

Here are my thoughts on this iconic resort, with a focus on The Coral, which is the property we stayed at.

The Coral at Atlantis Bahamas – About the Resort

Atlantis Bahamas has been around since the 1960s. Its ownership has changed a few times, and although Caesars Entertainment Inc. provides a free stay as a perk of their program, they aren’t involved in its operations in any manner.

Rather, the resort is owned by Brookfield Asset Management Inc., and since late 2014, it has been operated by Marriott as an Autograph Collection property. 

This massive resort is currently made up of six different hotel properties, but only three of them participate in the Bonvoy program for redemptions: The Coral, The Royal Towers, and The Cove.

The other three properties are The Beach Towers, The Reef, and Harborside Resort.

The Beach Towers used to participate in the Bonvoy program; however, it’s currently closed and undergoing extensive renovations. The Reef offers condo-style units, and the Harborside Resort offers residential villas which have both in-suite kitchenettes and laundry facilities.

The Coral is the the oldest but most economical option. The rooms were renovated in 2017, but are still pretty bare-bones with respect to in-room amenities. There are some visible signs of age around the building.

There are several advantages staying here though, as all rooms offer full balconies. As for its location, it’s off to the far side of the resort, but if you’re going to spend more time by the Marina Village, the theatre, or prefer a quieter venue, this would be a better option.

This is where we wound up staying, so I’ll provide a more detailed review below. 

The Royal Towers is the most iconic building at Atlantis Bahamas. It’s the most centrally located for access to all resort amenities, including the Aquaventure Waterpark.

Many of the high-end shops, the casino, the spa, the gym, and the kids club are located here as well.

Renovations have been ongoing this year, and by the end of next year, all rooms will be fully renovated and will feature a modern, ocean-themed décor, much like its Dubai counterpart.

Rooms here are generally priced somewhere between The Coral and The Cove. 

The Cove is a luxury property that just completed its renovations. The lobby of the building is stunning, and features an open-air design.

The renovated rooms are elegant and contemporary, decorated in light pastel and grey tones.

The property is located on the other side of the resort, and is closer to the spa, fitness centre, basketball courts, and Dolphin’s Cay. Here, you’ll also find the resort’s lone adults-only pool, in addition to pools and beach areas for exclusive use by guests staying at The Cove and The Reef.     

All the properties are family-friendly and connected. Opportunities to see aquatic animals are better at at The Coral and Royal Towers.

In the end, which property you choose will depend on your budget and which amenities you prefer. 

The Coral at Atlantis Bahamas – Booking

There are two ways to book a stay at Atlantis Bahamas. One is directly through the Marriott Bonvoy app or website, and the other is through Atlantis’s own website.

If you’re hoping to redeem points for a stay, then the Marriott route is the way to go. The best flexible rate is the same on both websites, but if you’re a Marriott member, have a corporate code, or hold a Marriott business card, you’ll see a bit more of a discount on the Marriott website compared to the pricing on Atlantis’s website. 

To redeem our two rooms as part of the Caesars Diamond perk, my husband and I had to call the dedicated Caesars booking line. Recall that with Diamond status, you’re entitled to a two- to five-night free stay at the Atlantis Bahamas each year. 

The booking process with Caesars was quite simple. You simply give the agent your dates, and they check for availability and book it for you. For any changes, you’ll also have to call in, but thankfully there are no change fees.

The perk only allows you to book their standard room, a King or Double Queen Terrace View, at their cheapest property, The Coral, which is still a decent accommodation option.

Unfortunately, each standard room can only accommodate four people, regardless of whether they are adults or children. This was a bit tricky for us, as both my sister and I have families of five.

Rather than foregoing the free accommodation and booking a suite to accommodate our families, we decided to invite the grandparents. This gave us a third room to account for the extra kids on paper.

Perhaps some of you may consider sneaking in the extra child and just buying them a separate day pass for the waterpark. Day passes cost $250 (USD) per adult and $125 (USD) per child aged four and up, so you’d have to see if it makes economic sense to do so.

If you book a day prior to visiting, the passes are slightly cheaper, but are also subject to availability. While I wasn’t aware at the time of booking, children under 48″ tall do not require wristbands in the waterpark, so this may also affect your booking strategy.

For my parents, we ended up booking two nights on points and two nights with cash. For the two nights on points, we redeemed Free Night Awards worth 35,000 points apiece, plus a top-up of 12,000 Bonvoy points, for a total of 47,000 points per night for a Double Queen Terrace View room.

For the two nights on cash, we paid $216 (USD) per night before taxes. When we initially booked the room, it was closer to $400 (USD), but at one point the price dropped, so I cancelled and rebooked. When I checked back later, it had gone back up again, so be sure to check regularly for a better price. 

Another thing to note is that there is a two-night minimum on cash bookings. If you try searching the rate for one night, it will come back with no availability. 

Taxes and resort fees

One thing to be aware of at Atlantis Bahamas is that taxes and resort fees add a lot to your stay. The base room cost may look reasonable, but you may wind up being unpleasantly surprised by the total cost. 

Currently, there’s a 21% charge on room rates that includes various taxes and levies. In addition, there is a daily resort fee for The Coral and The Royal of $64.90 (USD) per room per night, and $77 (USD) per room per night for The Reef and The Cove for all bookings made after March 23, 2022.

The resort fee covers the following:

• Daily access to Aquaventure Waterpark
• Unlimited access to and viewing of outdoor marine life displays and feedings
• Complimentary Wi-Fi access
• Daily access to the fitness centre for two
• Two reusable water bottles per room and access to filtered water stations
• Access to the indoor theatre and poolside movies
• Complimentary resort activities
• Complimentary coffee and tea
• Use of resort shuttle service
• Daily slot tournament in Atlantis Casino
• Free gaming lessons (upon request)
• Unlimited local phone calls

Other ways to book Atlantis Bahamas

The free stay with Caesars Diamond perk is still ongoing, but achieving Caesars Diamond status has become more difficult. As of March 2022, status matching between Caesars Diamond and Wyndham Diamond is only possible if the Wyndham status is earned through stays or through a credit card.

Another way to get Caesars Diamond is by status matching with MGM Gold, Platinum or Noir status. This match is only available for new Caesars Rewards members only.

Having a Founder’s Card will also give you Caesars Diamond, but it comes with an annual fee of several hundred dollars. 

Status matching aside, you can take advantage of some additional discounts and perks if you are planning to stay at the Royal Towers or the Cove by booking through Amex Hotel Collection or Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts programs, respectively. The American Express Gold Rewards Card and American Express Platinum Card offer annual credits that can be applied to these bookings.

Although The Royal Towers and The Cove are Autograph Collection properties, they don’t appear to participate in the Marriott Luminous program. 

Another option is to stay at a cheaper property in The Bahamas and visit the waterpark as a day guest. Comfort Suites Paradise Island, located a five-minute walk from Atlantis Bahamas, offers free admission to the waterpark if you stay with them, as well as a free hot breakfast buffet.  

The Coral at Atlantis Bahamas – Location

Atlantis Bahamas is located in Nassau, Bahamas. To get to the resort, you’ll need to book a flight into Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) airport. Both WestJet and Air Canada provide non-stop flights here from Canada.

The resort is located outside of the downtown area of Nassau on Paradise Island, which is about a 25-minute drive from the airport. You can make your own arrangements to the resort, or use a paid shuttle service that can be purchased through the resort.

Travelling as a family, the most economical way was by taxi. Although a lot of websites quote $50–60 (USD) one-way, we were quoted only $40 (USD) at the airport taxi stand.

Travelling as a party of 12, we were able to arrange a large taxi that could fit all of us for $100 (USD) on arrival. 

The Coral at Atlantis Bahamas – Check-In

Each hotel has its own lobby and check-in. When we pulled up to The Coral, it looked very unassuming and quite dated on the outside.

Entering the lobby, we were pleasantly surprised by an open and brightly lit space with mosaic tile flooring. Directly in front of the entrance is a large fountain display, and to the left is the check-in desk.

When we checked in for our two complimentary rooms, no elite benefits were offered, even though I was a Platinum member and my husband was a Titanium member. We weren’t surprised, as it has been well-documented by others that elite benefits are not honoured with the Caesars promo.

When we checked in for my mom, the agent was quick to recognize my elite status, and we were offered a welcome amenity choice of 1,000 points or a snack and beverage choice as outlined in the photo below. Unfortunately, complimentary breakfast is not an option here.

In lieu of offering bottled water to guests and as a part of the resort fee, staff handed out double-walled water bottles. I was quite impressed with the quality, and they kept my drinks cool the whole day.

Officially, check-in is at 4pm, and check-out at 11am. We arrived at around 12:30pm and two out of our three rooms were ready, which was great.

The Coral at Atlantis Bahamas – Double Queen Terrace View Room

As soon as we stepped out of the elevator, the age of the building showed again. It felt like a hotel from the 1970s.

The hallways were carpeted other than the area directly in front of the elevators, which was tiled. The ceilings seemed low, but were probably the standard eight feet. The walls were painted a dull yellowish colour, and the the room doors were made from varnished oak wood.

The room itself was nicer than I expected after seeing the hallways. The room was spacious, but even with the extra space, it appeared a bit bare.

The floors were covered with grey ceramic tiles that resemble wooden planks. The furniture was wooden with linen and glass accents.

Two floor-to-ceiling mirrors flanked a three-drawer dresser and wall-mounted TV.

To the corner of the room was a small dining set, which had a small circular glass table and two wooden chairs with linen seat coverings.

The room had two queen beds with night tables on either side, as well as a side table between with a phone and alarm clock.

There was a tiny coffee and tea station close to an empty mini-fridge, as well.

At the entrance was a large closet with a sliding door, and inside were hangers, a safe, an ironing board, and an iron. 

Across from here was the bathroom, which featured a toilet, a bathtub, and a large vanity with a single sink.

Gilchrist & Soames amenities were provided in the bathroom. The vanity looked a bit dated and there was some rust on the shower curtain bar, but it was otherwise clean.

Every room has a balcony with a sliding door that can lock. The balcony had two patio chairs and a small side table.

All of our rooms were on the sixth floor, and my room was connected with my sister’s room, about which the kids were quite pleased.

Even though they were technically all the same room type, my mom’s paid room had more of an ocean view than our complimentary ones. We had almost no view, other than the roof of the building below and the one in front.

One thing to note that is if you’re looking for a place to fill your water bottles, there is one located on each floor hidden behind the elevators. The water has a bit of a sulphurous smell and taste to it, so some may prefer to buy bottled water instead.

The Coral at Atlantis Bahamas – Dining

With 21 restaurants and 19 bars and lounges, there is no shortage of dining venues on-site. For convenience, we stayed on-site for our meals and found it to be fairly expensive.

An automatic 10% in taxes and 15% gratuity is added to all food bills, so keep that in mind when reviewing the pricing below.

For breakfast, you can enjoy a buffet breakfast at Poseidon’s Table for $36 (USD) per adult and $14 (USD) per child aged 5–12. Children under five eat for free.

The selection was decent and the food quality was standard, and what you would typically expect for a breakfast buffet. 

If you prefer something cheaper, you can buy a breakfast sandwich and coffee combo at the Sun & Ice Café at The Coral for $13 (USD). You can have free refills on coffee till 11am every morning.

The adults in our group chose this option. For the kids, they were happy having the cereal we packed from home with milk we bought at the resort.

There is a toaster at Sun & Ice Café that is for public use. If you can buy some bagels, peanut butter, and jam off-site, that’ll make for another quick cheap breakfast. 

Every morning, by the entrance to The Coral, is a donut stand that sells different flavours of freshly baked donuts for $1.50 (USD) each. 

One thing I discovered on my last day at the resort is that there is a full-service Starbucks located one floor below the main lobby. Pricing is similar to other Starbucks locations. 

We ate lunch at Zero Entry by the waterpark and beach. By the poolside you can order burgers, wraps, hot dogs, and salads ranging from $7–14 (USD).

You can often get a pop and bag of chips for an extra $2 (USD) by making it a combo. Pop refills are complimentary. 

If the kids are in need for a cold snack, snow cones are available for $7 (USD) each. They are a decent size and the staff are happy to split an order into two cups for kids to share.

By the beach, there is a food stand called Pisces, which had different options from other places and we found to be our favourite. Here, they had coconut fried shrimp and breaded chicken cutlets that were delicious.

An order of shrimp was $18 (USD), but you got five huge prawns with fries. 

If you are looking for a good seafood sit-down meal, I’d recommend Fish by Jose Andres, located at The Cove. The fish entrées are quite large (larger than what’s specified in the menu) and can be shared between two people, which helps cut down the cost.

I ordered an eight ounce grilled branzino, which was actually more than 16 ounces and cost $54 (USD). Their signature Bahamian Whole Fried Fish, pictured below, was $60 (USD). 

Olives, a Mediterranean restaurant, offered the best value for a kids meal. The chicken tender meal has nine decent-sized nuggets with fries for $8 (USD).

If you want something more casual or need a late night snack, you can order a pizza from the Marina Pizzeria. Price wise, you’re looking at $7 (USD) a slice, $23 (USD) for a 12-inch pizza, or $50 (USD) for an 18-inch pizza with six sodas. It was quite a popular option for families. 

Reservations for most restaurants can be made on OpenTable, but for tables of greater than eight people, you’ll have to call the dining reservation line.

To save some money on dining, pack extra snacks for the trip or make a grocery stop en route to the hotel. Most taxis will allow a quick stop for a few extra dollars.

Of course, eating off-site would be the most cost effective, but remember to factor in the taxi fare. 

The Coral at Atlantis Bahamas – Aquaventure Waterpark

The 141-acre waterpark is the main draw and attraction of Atlantis Bahamas.

The main features are the two towers that feature a total of eight waterslides, the river rapids, a number of pools, a hot tub, a few pools dedicated for kids, and a five-mile stretch of beach.

To be honest, given the massive size of the waterpark, I was expecting to find a few more rides. 

Poseidon’s Playzone, the newest play structure for kids that just opened in Fall 2022, has a number of water-play features. It’s a great addition for kids who may otherwise not be tall enough for the main waterslides, which have a height requirement of 48″.

For younger kids, there are a few shallow pools dotted around the resort. If you head halfway up the Mayan Temple, there are a couple of smaller slides that go into the Mayan Temple pool that have no height restrictions.

We found the iconic Serpent Slide at the Mayan Temple to be bit overrated. The sharks are better viewed from the outside rather than inside the ride, in my opinion, as visibility is not the greatest in the tunnel.

All guests 48″ and taller are required to have a wristband, which can be picked up from towel stations throughout the resort. The staff will look up your room to check the number of guests, but only guests who meet the height requirement will receive wristbands.

Children under 48″ who want to ride the river rapids must do so with an adult. There are a few double tubes that have a closed bottom for children too small to sit in a tube without falling through. If you don’t see one right away, ask an attendant to help you find one.  

Keep in mind that the waterpark is not exclusive to Atlantis guests, as day guests from other hotels or cruise ships often frequent the waterpark. Despite this, when we visited, the waterpark was not busy, and we rarely waited more than a few minutes for a ride. 

Cabanas are available for rent throughout the waterpark. They can accommodate six to eight guests and offer a shaded retreat with a refrigerator, safe, and personal attendant. The cost ranges from $242–1,250 (USD) per day, depending on the location. 

The Coral at Atlantis Bahamas – Other Facilities

On the main level, there are few clothing shops and a convenience store that sells snacks, drinks, and toiletry items.

If you keep walking past the shops, you’ll reach the Atlantis Theatre, where three films are featured daily at 5pm, 7:15pm, and 10pm. The first feature is always geared for children. 

Watching movies is one of the few activities at Atlantis Bahamas that you can enjoy for free. The theatre resembles a typical movie theatre and there is a concession on-site as well. Popcorn and drinks were reasonably priced. 

The Coral also features a weekly activity guide which features both paid and complimentary activities. Some complimentary activities include bingo, poolside games, and scavenger hunts. 

On the main floor is Sun & Ice Café, which I briefly mentioned earlier for their breakfast. They also serve light snacks, snacks and wraps throughout the day until 11pm, including ice cream.

Right next to the café are some seating areas that are good for socializing and playing a card game.

Towards the back of this same area are a couple of work tables as well, with outlets for laptops and table lamps for adequate lighting.

Outside, The Coral has its own pool, and there are plenty of marine life displays around it. 

You’ll also find the Mandara Spa and a fairly large fitness centre at Atlantis Bahamas. Outside the fitness centre is a lap pool and basketball courts that are complimentary to use.

They are located between the Royal Towers and The Cove. 

Tennis courts and equipment are available for rent as well. You can also play a round of golf at the award-winning Ocean Club Golf Course. 

The casino is located in the Royal Towers and has your typical tables and slot machines.

The casino is flanked by a shopping promenade on either side, consisting mainly of high end shops, such as Gucci and Rolex. 

There are plenty of areas throughout the resort to sit, socialize, and enjoy a drink.

If you’re in need of some adult-only time, there are a couple of options for child care. Atlantis Kids Adventures is the resort’s kids club that’s located in the Royal Towers for children aged 3–12.

They provide free play and organized activities, such as cooking, art & crafts, and games, during morning, afternoon, and evening sessions. The cost of a session starts at $65 (USD) plus taxes per child for roughly 2.5 hours. Unfortunately, there are no sibling discounts.

Given the hefty price of the kids club, we decided against trying it out. Alternatively, the resort also provides a babysitting service to guests in their rooms. The pricing here is a bit more economical. 

Across from the kids club is The Gamer’s Reef, a pay-as-you-go arcade room. The games cost on average $1–2 (USD) per game. 

Marine activities, such as swimming with dolphins, interacting with sea lions, or snorkelling among sting rays, can be booked at the Aquatic Experiences desk in the lobby. In general, these close-up encounters are quite pricey.

For example, a swim with the dolphins encounter will cost $250–300 (USD). 

One experience that seemed reasonable was an early-riser 20-minute encounter with dolphins for $65 (USD) per adult and $35 (USD) per child. If you choose this experience, you’ll wade in knee-high water to interact with the dolphins. 

If you have a toddler, look out for experiences which are complimentary for children aged three and under, as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult. 

If you don’t mind seeing them from a bit of a distance, you can view the dolphins swimming around from the patio at Dolphins Cay for free.

Outside of paid experiences, there are still plenty of opportunities for kids to see marine life around the property. My kids had a lot of fun just walking around the resort, exploring tunnels, and running over bridges looking for aquatic life.

They saw sea turtles, sting rays, sawtooth fish, and hammerhead sharks, just to name a few.

Scattered throughout the resort are information boards on the animals and different conservation efforts that the resort participates in, which makes it a nice educational experience as well. 

Conclusion

My family had a really fun time at The Coral at Atlantis Bahamas; however, I’m not sure if we will be back any time soon, especially if I have to pay the full rate. Even though our rooms were complimentary, the resort fees, taxes, and the cost of food really adds up.

For the same amount of money, we could probably just go to an all-inclusive resort and have a similar experience.  

Furthermore, after an amazing stay at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, I can’t help but feel that our stay at The Coral at Atlantis Bahamas fell a bit short in comparison. In my mind, The Palm, Atlantis in Dubai has the best waterpark resort in the world.

While I felt that our stay was worth the effort of pursuing Caesars Diamond status, I wish the resort provided more value to justify all of the additional costs.