• Welcome to the FREE TUGBBS forums! The absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 32 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 32 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 32nd anniversary: Happy 32nd Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    All subscribers auto-entered to win all free TUG membership giveaways!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $24,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $24 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Fabulous week at Harborside

azsunluvr

azsunluvr

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2005
Messages
566
Reaction score
5
Location
Mesa, Arizona
A girls' trip, 3 old friends. Floated around Aquaventure's lazy river more times than I can count. Tried all the slides at least once. Great time of year to go, as it was very quiet. Hot, true, but not at all crowded until a large convention and 5 cruise ships arrived Friday. Wednesday was especially quiet. There were times we didn't see another person on the river either direction. Most of the staff were friendly and talkative.

The Straw Market was closed most of the week for renovations. The Bahama Craft place on P.I. was more expensive than the shops in downtown Nassau. Purses of Nassau had a great selection and competitive prices. Our best meal was at Cafe Skans downtown. My traveling companions had grilled lobster tail for $23, vs. $30+ elsewhere. On site at Atlantis, Dive Inn was very good and a little more economical. You can get a large soda for $3.75, refillable. The spicy chicken wrap was pretty tasty.

One day a rainstorm drenched us as we floated around in tubes, but so what? Otherwise, it didn't rain too much.

Already planning a family trip next September!
 
Do you remember which cruise ships they were? I'm trying to cross check some of the big cruise lines itineraries--to try and avoid the crowds as best as possible.

Great to hear you had a good time!
 
gopogo said:
Do you remember which cruise ships they were? I'm trying to cross check some of the big cruise lines itineraries--to try and avoid the crowds as best as possible.

Great to hear you had a good time!
Click to expand...

There were 3 Carnival Ships, I think Splendor, Fascination & Sensation.

There was a Disney ship, and 1 small line that I don't remember the name of.
 
Azsunluvr,

How wild does the lazy river get? I was looking at the Atlantis web site and looks like part of it goes over "rapids". Sounds like fun unless it's too crazy! And what was your favorite slide? The one that goes down the pyramid and under water looks insane!
 
I'm not Azsunluvr, but I was there last week and "lazy river" isn't an accurate description for Aquaventure! It's a blast -- but you definitely can't hold your Pina Colada while you're in it. It takes about 30-40 minutes to go all the way around -- there are at least 3 rapids that would dump your drink, and a really fun "current" section that works a lot like a wave pool (my favorite part). I only did one of the new slides (I'm old :)) and it wasn't too bad -- definitely not as scary as the "Leap of Faith" in the older section of the resort (my favorite before I got old :)).
 
Jerseygirl is right about the "lazy river." There are parts that are definitely lazy. There are certain places where we got out and pushed our tubes because it took awhile to float through. But there are other places that are much faster. There are several rapids. Nothing too wild. You need to be sure and lift your rear so you don't bump on the rocks and you might get splashed a little on the face. The wave part that jerseygirl mentions is a lot of fun. People can get dumped there, though. If you catch the wave just right and are leaning the wrong direction, over you go. I got dumped twice, but after a couple of days I figured out how to ride without getting dumped.

All of the new slides are fun. They are novel because on several you ride your tube UP the slide, pushed by a lot of water before you take the final stretch down. Again, lift your bottom! And the view from the top is amazing! Take a water camera because it's spectacular. Make sure there's a strap to hold onto it, though.

The new body slide is great. It dumps you into a cave below ground with fish tanks. Pretty cool! I still really like the original tube ride in the pyramid. Floating through the shark tank is pretty amazing.

For the 3 tube slides at Aquaventure, you can either ride the lazy river around and take the route to Power Tower, or you can get off the river at a certain point and walk up to the top, or not even get in the river and just walk to the top.

So much to do!
 
Last edited:
Wow, that all sounds like lots of fun! Thanks for the descriptions. I'm wondering if this body is getting a little old for steep water slides, but heck, it's worth a try! :)
 
jerseygirl said:
I'm not Azsunluvr, but I was there last week and "lazy river" isn't an accurate description for Aquaventure! It's a blast -- but you definitely can't hold your Pina Colada while you're in it. It takes about 30-40 minutes to go all the way around -- there are at least 3 rapids that would dump your drink, and a really fun "current" section that works a lot like a wave pool (my favorite part). I only did one of the new slides (I'm old :)) and it wasn't too bad -- definitely not as scary as the "Leap of Faith" in the older section of the resort (my favorite before I got old :)).
Click to expand...
No Pina Coladas???? :eek: :rolleyes: ;)
 
This thread really inspired me - I just exchanged into a 2BR sleep 8 for next Sept!
Thanks for the 'push' :)
 
That's wonderful Pat -- hope it was the Pina Coladas that put you over the edge! :D
 
jerseygirl said:
That's wonderful Pat -- hope it was the Pina Coladas that put you over the edge! :D
Click to expand...

It was the 'before' and 'after' image that did it!
I hope there are blenders in the units for 'adult' beverages ;)
 
azsunluvr said:
There were 3 Carnival Ships, I think Splendor, Fascination & Sensation.

There was a Disney ship, and 1 small line that I don't remember the name of.
Click to expand...
The Disney Wonder is there routinely on Mondays and Fridays.
 
Definitely blenders -- two if you're in the older phase (large one-Br plus small one-BR). I had to teach my friends, who weren't as experienced with the blender as I am, to put all the liquids in first and then the ice. If you put the ice in first, you'll burn up the cheap models that most timeshares have. I have lots of marketable blender skills (they compensate for my lack of skills in the other parts of the kitchen).
 
I'm on hour 30 or so of successfully resisting picking up one of these exchanges. Once a year is enough for me, I think -- too much stress on the wallet, too many places to go, etc. I picked up a May 2008 2-BR at WSJ a couple of weeks ago ... :cheer: ... which is helping me resist these exchanges! I had a WSJ studio unit for this week, but couldn't take back to back weeks of vacation right now 'cuz too much is going on at work, so opted for Harborside 'cuz of the ability to bring friends. I gave the WSJ week to a former employee/friend ... and she emailed me that they bought a week while they were there. I'm racked with guilt that maybe I forgot to give her my "don't buy from the developer" speech before she left. :eek: Hoping to get details tonight (they return sometime today). Sent a frantic, "check EBAY" email ... but not sure if she saw it before it was too late. No good deed goes unpunished, I guess.
 
jerseygirl said:
I'm on hour 30 or so of successfully resisting picking up one of these exchanges. Once a year is enough for me, I think -- too much stress on the wallet, too many places to go, etc. I picked up a May 2008 2-BR at WSJ a couple of weeks ago ... :cheer: ... which is helping me resist these exchanges! I had a WSJ studio unit for this week, but couldn't take back to back weeks of vacation right now 'cuz too much is going on at work, so opted for Harborside 'cuz of the ability to bring friends. I gave the WSJ week to a former employee/friend ... and she emailed me that they bought a week while they were there. I'm racked with guilt that maybe I forgot to give her my "don't buy from the developer" speech before she left. :eek: Hoping to get details tonight (they return sometime today). Sent a frantic, "check EBAY" email ... but not sure if she saw it before it was too late. No good deed goes unpunished, I guess.
Click to expand...

The WSJ exchange with II - did you 'see' it or have an ongoing search????

jerseygirl said:
Definitely blenders -- two if you're in the older phase (large one-Br plus small one-BR). I had to teach my friends, who weren't as experienced with the blender as I am, to put all the liquids in first and then the ice. If you put the ice in first, you'll burn up the cheap models that most timeshares have. I have lots of marketable blender skills (they compensate for my lack of skills in the other parts of the kitchen).
Click to expand...
I confirmed into a 2BR sleep 8 so I believe that will be a lock-off in either the old or new section - II also lists a 2BR sleep 6 which the Starwood website lists as the 'dedicated' 2BR - Starwood website describes old and new lock-offs as sleep 8's.
Soooooo, I think I will be in a lock-off
 
GrayFal said:
The WSJ exchange with II - did you 'see' it or have an ongoing search????
Click to expand...

It was just sitting there, calling my name, one morning about 2-3 weeks ago. No resistance whatsover that morning! It says sleeps 8/8, and I can't for the life of me find that floor plan on the SVO website.


GrayFal said:
I confirmed into a 2BR sleep 8 so I believe that will be a lock-off in either the old or new section - II also lists a 2BR sleep 6 which the Starwood website lists as the 'dedicated' 2BR - Starwood website describes old and new lock-offs as sleep 8's.
Soooooo, I think I will be in a lock-off
Click to expand...

Well, there you go then, you'll have TWO blenders! Great trade!!!! Let me know if you want me to send you my blender recipes. :) We got creative with Baileys -- you can find a bunch of recipes here:

http://www.us.baileys.com/recipes/
 
jerseygirl said:
It was just sitting there, calling my name, one morning about 2-3 weeks ago. No resistance whatsover that morning! It says sleeps 8/8, and I can't for the life of me find that floor plan on the SVO website.
Click to expand...
WHOOPEE
I bet you got the 2BR with loft - it sleeps 10 but II would consider it a private 8...maybe


floorplan_twobedloft_bv.gif
 
Oh, I hope so. That would be wonderful. I'll get around to calling and asking one of these days so I can figure out how many people to invite.
 
I don't know what II would consider a WSJ unit that sleeps 8. The 2Bd TH is definitely a 6 (what we own) and no way 8 people - and the 3Bd sleeps 10. I doubt it would be in the BV villas (new development) - they may have a sleeps 8 there.
It is probably a 3Bd villa. Nice grab.

The floorplans can be found on MyStarCentral - under Resorts. I just looked and the new section (Bay View) has a 2Bd villa that is stated to sleep 8. Perhaps there? I know nothing of II, or how this is done (don't need to). Interesting that they list the 2 sections under the same Resort - I was told that they would be run separately. I hope to attempt a SVN exchange (using SOs from WKV or the WKORV studio) into WSJ in a few weeks.

2 weeks in STJ/WSJ is definitely better than 1 week - especially from SFO.
 
Last edited:
D&R --

I did check out the floor plans as soon as I got the exchange, but I can't identify one that sleeps "8" privately. Most 2-BR units on II are coded as 6/8, meaning:

Master Bedroom
Guest Bedroom with 2 queens
Pullout couch with separate access to the guest bedroom

When something is listed as 8/8, there is theoretically 4 separate sleeping areas, each with its own access to a bathroom (doesn't mean there are four bathrooms, just that no one has to walk through someone else's sleeping area to get to a bathroom).

I'll be happy with the unit no matter which floor plan it turns out to be -- I'll call next week to try to get to the bottom of it.

Hope you get your 2nd week -- couldn't agree more -- 2 weeks is ALWAYS better than one week!

Posted on another thread about friends I sent to WSJ this week (studio trade through II). They bought a unit -- I'm dying to get the details. I'm hoping it was from someone at the pool and not a developer purchase -- but, I guess you really can't go wrong owning in Paradise.
 
BTW, did you bring your tubes from home?
Can u rent them???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top