Comletely absurd and daft question- Boatswain Turtle Farm

[CeCeGarrett]

So, I know my DD would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see sea turtles.. and admittedly so would I (clapping like a toddler with a cookie when I think about it.) BUT, DD (7) is super sensitive when it comes to animals and I am a wee bit concerned that during the tour, the guide might talk about raising the sweet cousins of Crush for meat. She would be horrified.

I know I must sound like a total goofball. Any experience with the tour will be super helpful. Thanks!

[gigi1313]

We did not get a tour, just a speech before we went over and the rest was self guided... No talk of food!

[mammacaryn]

We went on our own, self guided, like the other poster said. Nice hands on self guided tour. With that being said though, you need to be aware they are just in big round tanks. Not pretty set up to look like their natural enviornment or natural. Just big round above ground swimming pool type tanks with the turtles separated by size. So you may have to do some explaining....We told our kids what it was about, and they did ok with it-they may not be as sensitive as your daughter thougn.

[luvdamouse91]

We did the tour a few years back - yes they did discuss turtles raised for consumption and at the end they take your towards a restaurant that is serving turtle soup.

I would recommend going, but not doing the tour if your DD will be sensitive to that.

[yvonneh]

Personally, I wouldn't go. I think it's sad, and yes it is just these round tanks. My 7 year old daughter, who is VERY sensitive to animals would think it was sad too. She was too young to understand when we were there. My sister was really upset when we went (she is a vegetarian). I would recommend Stingray City. It is much nicer to see sea life in their natural environment. That is just my opinion.
Whatever you decide I hope you have a wonderful time!

[Woodmnky]

Obviously it is up to you. They do serve turtle soup & turtle empanadas in the cafe. On our tour there was no mention of consumption that I recall. If you want to go, it may be possible to ask your tour guide to hold off on this part to the end and the gracefully exit before this discussion, but there is no guarantee that DD won't hear about this. I too was very excited about this excursion and was a bit disappointed in the tank area, however, the snorkeling area was great.

DH & I snorkeled all the way to the back and were swimming with about 10 turtles at one time. DH did get freaked out when he saw a shark as he hadn't listened to my warning that there was a glass wall between the turtle snorkeling area and the shark tank and that you could snorkel right up to the wall.

[kristinfly2]

It's a great question! I was thinking about the same thing! I really hope they don't mention eating them while we are there!

[kelis]

Originally Posted by CeCeGarrett

So, I know my DD would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see sea turtles.. and admittedly so would I (clapping like a toddler with a cookie when I think about it.) BUT, DD (7) is super sensitive when it comes to animals and I am a wee bit concerned that during the tour, the guide might talk about raising the sweet cousins of Crush for meat. She would be horrified.

I know I must sound like a total goofball. Any experience with the tour will be super helpful. Thanks!

This post, the wording of it....why am I not surprised?!?! But in all seriousness, I would feel bad for little A if they talked about eating turtles. That's terrible. I mean, I know it's done but to discuss this on a tour with children...well, that's just....not right, IMO.

Originally Posted by luvdamouse91

We did the tour a few years back - yes they did discuss turtles raised for consumption and at the end they take your towards a restaurant that is serving turtle soup.


I would recommend going, but not doing the tour if your DD will be sensitive to that.

[cruisecrasher]

Originally Posted by yvonneh

Personally, I wouldn't go. I think it's sad, and yes it is just these round tanks. My 7 year old daughter, who is VERY sensitive to animals would think it was sad too. She was too young to understand when we were there. My sister was really upset when we went (she is a vegetarian). I would recommend Stingray City. It is much nicer to see sea life in their natural environment. That is just my opinion.
Whatever you decide I hope you have a wonderful time!

As a vegan, I'm taking DS to stingray city rather than the dolphin swims precisely because I'd get depressed. Thanks for the warning about the turtles.

[Weedy]

It's a Turtle "Farm". When my son was about 9 we went and he was very upset. And he is not a drama kid.
Here in a photo from 2006 of my daughter. No pictures of my son he would no hold a turtle. Note the big tanks in the background. There are lots of turtles in these tanks with their little flippers sticking out of the water.

[Kae]

Originally Posted by kristinfly2

It's a great question! I was thinking about the same thing! I really hope they don't mention eating them while we are there!

Our guide did talk about it but he explained the % of turtles are are used for consuption & why it protects the Turtles in the Wild. The only turtle meat that can legally be consumed on the island is from the farm.

Now he also explained how many are released how many stay & such. It was a great tour

Kae

[mammacaryn]

It's pretty much like a fish hatchery would be here (which some of us have went to on school field trips, at least I have) if you added a gift shop, bar and grill, and a place to swim if you want.

[CeCeGarrett]

Thanks for the input, Y'all! I think we will skip this... The $ I'll save, I can take her suvi shopping.

[sambycat]

Probably wise! I'm on the sensitive side of things that way and I wouldn't want yo give my money to a "fill in the blank" animal farm or touristy display of animals if I can at all avoid it.

We saw very cool sea turtles swimming freely on our eastern Caribbean cruise last August and it was amazing!

Enjoy your cruise!