This was our third trip to the Atlantis, first time staying at the Cove. Overall, I did not feel the Cove was worth it. It is billed as the most luxurious tower and while the lobby area is well-designed and beautiful, nothing else was any better than the Reef or even the Royal, where we stayed on previous trips. The rooms are nice and have beautiful views but are showing their age and in need of updating. We had no hot water the first day and I see from other reviews that this seems to be a consistent problem. We notified the front desk and it was fixed, but at a better-managed property this would not be a recurring problem.
As far as room amenities, there are fridges in the room, but they are not stocked with any minibar options. There are no minibar snacks available either. We had robes, but no slippers. The hairdryer provided was good and the toiletries were nice enough. We had no bottled water provided until the last night of our 4 night stay, leaving us to have to purchase it at the sundry shop in another tower every evening. So the amenities are decidedly not five-star. The Cove also does not have its own fitness center or spa—if you desire these amenities, you must use the ones shared resort-wide that are closer to the Royal.
The adult pool is likewise very stylish but in need of updating. The canvas on some of the daybeds and loungers was noticeably frayed and the handle on one of the two faucets in the ladies room was broken off, leaving only one faucet operational. The overall feeling was of a lack of maintenance, not luxury. I believe they are getting ready to refurbish the adult pool, so hopefully these issues will be resolved. However, no refurbishment will fix the fact that the Cove pool is the windiest spot at the resort. It was like a wind tunnel and a good 10 degrees colder than the beach or water park, so we found it unpleasant to be by the pool or to sit at the poolside restaurant. If the weather is not windy during your stay, this may not be an issue, but you are taking a chance.
The beach shared between the Reef and Cove is pretty, with soft sand and clear turquoise water. Again, however, maintenance of the amenities provided is an issue. Most of the sunshades on the lounge chairs are broken. Food and drink service is also very inconsistent at both the pool and beach. One day we had a server who checked in with us somewhat regularly, another day we had no service whatsoever.
Chairs at the beach and pool are also first come, first serve. There are no attendants to help you or to prevent people from coming out in the early morning and putting towels on chairs to save them before they decide to show up hours later. Any resort that allows this is de facto NOT luxurious. Having to fight to find a chair and then for those chairs to be broken when you do is a mass market experience, not upscale in any way.
If you purchase a rate that includes breakfast, that breakfast is not at the Cove breakfast restaurant (called Perch). It is for the mediocre buffet breakfast at Poseidon’s Table in the Royal, which is a decent walk. The breakfast food at Perch is far superior but predictably quite pricey. There is no grab and go option for breakfast at the Cove. The closest option for that is the Starbucks at the neighboring Reef tower, but be prepared for very long lines, especially early morning.
Finally, be aware that the Cove is not centrally located and it’s a hike to get to the other areas of the resort. While some might believe this offers desirable seclusion, it really just offers inconvenience. It might be marginally more secluded/quiet than the rest of the resort, but if you want a truly peaceful and relaxing stay away from the madding crowds, this is not it. Our group was traveling with teenagers and they all felt it would have been better to stay in the Royal and be closer to the majority of restaurants, the water park, the nightlife, etc. Given that the rooms in the Royal have also been updated more recently, I tend to agree with them.
Overall, the Atlantis is a fun family resort. You just have to know what you are getting. It is showing its age, but I think they are slowly making updates. Our family enjoyed it more during the Battle of Atlantis basketball tournament over Thanksgiving than during spring break. Both times at Thanksgiving, the weather was better (could just be a fluke) and everything was open. This time, some restaurants and several of the water slides were closed, which seemed odd given how busy it was. This created very long lines for the slides that were open. My main complaint about the Atlantis overall is the lack of ease. Whether it’s procuring breakfast or a beach chair or a transfer to the airport, so much of what you experience is a hassle. Just forget about it if you need to make changes to your reservation or transfers, especially if you are not on-site. I thought perhaps staying at the Cove would make things easier/more luxurious. I was wrong. For the added expense, you get a stylish lobby and not much else additional. I’m not sure we’ll be back, especially as my kids are aging out of the water park attractions, which are truly the main draw. If we do come back for some reason, we will not stay at the Cove.
