The Royal is the building on every Nassau postcard: two coral-pink towers linked high above the ground by the Bridge Suite, rising over the lagoons of Atlantis on Paradise Island. It is the heart of the resort and the best choice if your trip revolves around Atlantis. With some 1,200 rooms and suites, it is enormous, but the location is unbeatable: Aquaventure is about three minutes’ walk away, The Dig, the walk-through aquarium of the lost city with more than 250 species of sea life, is beneath the lobby, and the Atlantis Casino, the marina and Nobu are all close by. Most important for families, free access to the water park, pools and beaches is included for every guest, which saves the cost and the rules of a day pass. Rooms were renovated recently with contemporary furnishings and new bedding, the Imperial Club lounge has returned for select room categories, and the Mandara Spa has reopened after a makeover.
Location and getting around: The Royal stands on Paradise Beach Drive in the centre of the Atlantis resort, with the beach on one side and the harbour and marina on the other. You can walk to everything at Atlantis, and resort shuttles cover the longer distances to Dolphin Cay and the far pools. Downtown Nassau is across the bridge, a short taxi or water-taxi ride away, and the Paradise Island ferry terminal, the departure point for the Exuma and Blue Lagoon trips, is close by. An airport shuttle is offered for a fee, and valet parking is charged daily.
The rooms: standard rooms have a king, a queen or two queens and sleep up to four adults, with views ranging from terrace to harbour to ocean. Suites run from Regal and Grand Suites to the Presidential and Royal Suites and the famous Bridge Suite, which spans the open-air link between the towers.
Who it suits: families and groups who plan to spend most days at Aquaventure and the beaches, and anyone who wants the full Atlantis spectacle. It is busy, loud in places and less intimate than smaller hotels.
Good to know: food and drink at Atlantis are expensive, and breakfast and childcare cost extra, so watch for offers with breakfast or resort credit. Ask for a high floor facing the ocean for the best views and quieter nights.
Why stay here
- ✓Free Aquaventure access
- ✓The Dig aquarium
- ✓Casino nearby
- ✓Private beach
- ✓Mandara Spa
- ✓Imperial Club lounge
- ✓Kids club (fee)
- ✓Valet parking (fee)
Good questions
Is Aquaventure included at The Royal?+
Yes, free access to the Aquaventure water park, pools and beaches is included for all guests. Aquaventure is about a three-minute walk from the towers.
What is the Bridge Suite?+
It is the suite that spans the open-air link between the two Royal towers. It sleeps eight adults and has appeared in films and television productions.
Is breakfast included?+
Not usually, since breakfast costs extra on most rates. Look for packages that bundle breakfast or resort credit.
