When they came to The Bahamas, we told them: ‘Hey, you saved the best till last’,” recounts Marcus with a smile. “We rolled out the red carpet for them.”
Negotiating the compact streets of downtown Nassau, the engaging taxi driver provides a brief background of the nation’s capital, before crossing Sidney Poitier Bridge to Paradise Island, and stopping outside The Cove hotel.
His remarks refer to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who stayed here during the final leg of their Caribbean tour to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in March this year.
An absence of crimson-coloured floor covering confirms I have arrived too late to catch a glimpse of William and Kate. Yet I receive a royal welcome of my own as I enter a tranquil, open-sided lobby and follow in their footsteps by wandering along marble corridors.
The Cove, opened in 2007, is the most opulent of five hotels within the sprawling Atlantis resort, sister property to Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai.
Several floors down from the penthouse recently occupied by the royals, I check in to one of the 600 suites and am greeted with glorious views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Based on the mythical lost city, Atlantis is a colossal water paradise primed for both relaxation and adventure. Sharks, stingrays and sea turtles are among 50,000 lagoon-dwelling marine creatures dotted across a thrill-seekers playground, which is surrounded by five miles of beaches and home to 11 pools, a 141-acre water park, nightclub, casino, golf course and more than 20 restaurants.
© Press Association ImagesThe waterfront location is the setting for my first genuine taste of Bahamian culture – an experience similar to one enjoyed by the royals on Bay Street in the heart of Nassau.
Rumbling goat-skin drums, clanking cow bells and whistles signal the arrival of a frenetic cascade of feathered headdresses and elaborate costumes.
The vibrant street parade is Junkanoo – a joyous national celebration dating back more than 200 years and celebrated most fervently on Boxing Day and at New Year.
Brass instruments contribute heavily to the carnival atmosphere, with the passionate parping of a solitary sousaphone player stealing the limelight.The Commonwealth country – located north of Cuba and a stone’s throw from the south-east tip of Florida – is an archipelago of 700 islands. For guests eager to join the royals in exploring the surrounding areas, Atlantis has teamed up with Coco Bahama Seaplanes, to launch trips with a touch of glamour.
I board the inaugural scenic flight from Nassau to Kamalame Cay on the nation’s largest landmass, Andros. Shortly after take off, it is initially difficult to distinguish where sea and sky meet. “I hope everyone’s ready to get their feet wet,” warns co-pilot Cole as we splash down with a light thud.
Paddling ashore, it is instantly clear that the privately owned destination is the antithesis of Atlantis. Golf buggies allow visitors to access some 97 acres of flowering jungle and deserted stretches of white sand.
© Press Association ImagesAfter driving barefoot along winding trails, I jump aboard a speedboat to gain a different perspective on my new surroundings, before later sitting down for a beach lunch. It is tempting to linger longer among the hammocks and coconut palm groves, but the time quickly comes to make the return hop east, a journey of roughly 15 minutes.
Back in Nassau and after an adrenaline-fuelled afternoon testing the slides and rapids of Aquaventure water park, my final hours on Paradise Island are spent sipping Sky Juice – a Bahamian cocktail of gin, coconut water, sweet milk and nutmeg – by the Cove’s adults-only pool before a rejuvenating massage at the resort’s Mandara Spa.
Atlantis undoubtedly justifies the fanfare. It is a destination fit for a king – a future one, at the very least.
P.S.
Unsurprisingly, the resort is a celebrity hotspot. Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey and Angelina Jolie are just a handful of those who feature on the list of previous clientele, while multi-million-pound super yachts are permanently docked in the mega-resort’s marina.
Factfile
British Airways Holidays offers seven nights at The Cove at Atlantis Paradise Island from £2,781 per person, including return direct flights from London Heathrow.
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