Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter with Toddler

[irishdancemomma]

I am looking for excursions that can be done with our 22 month old in Nassau. I would really like to do the blue lagoon dolphin encounter, and in the blue lagoon website it says that all ages may participate. However, on the DCL site it says it is for ages 3+. I sent an email asking about this and got a generic reply saying the ages may not be modified. Can I just book through blue lagoon and not dcl?

 

[lanejudy]

You can try, but often port excursion vendors are barred from booking DCL passengers privately. I believe you can try to do a walk-up when you arrive on the pier Nassau, but I'm not sure if there's any guarantee of availability. There's another thread very recently about a similar issue. Go ahead and check with Blue Lagoon to see if they can book you independent of the DCL excursions. It's worth a try.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[irishdancemomma]

That seems stupid. So I paid hundreds of extra dollars to cruise with disney because I figured it would be better for the baby and in reality cruising with disney is going to keep my baby from going on cool excursions? Awesome! Could I just not tell blue lagoon who I'm sailing with?

 

[bats]

That seems stupid. So I paid hundreds of extra dollars to cruise with disney because I figured it would be better for the baby and in reality cruising with disney is going to keep my baby from going on cool excursions? Awesome! Could I just not tell blue lagoon who I'm sailing with?

I would do this. If they ask, tell them you're on a private yacht!!!

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I was there for the Sea Lions and can't personally imagine a toddler there in the encounter area (even for the dolphins). We had youngsters in our group *prob 5-10* for the Sea Lions but the dolphins looked more involved. I would be amazed if they would allow her/him, but I suppose it's not impossible. If it were me, this would be the one instance where I would leave her/him with Grandma/Dad/etc etc on the observation deck waving hello while you go instead of putting him/her in the water with a huge animal? That is just me? Otherwise, the lagoon is good for all ages and swimming activities. Lotta money for a youngster who might not ever remember it? IMO which doesn't count for much.

 

[irishdancemomma]

I was there for the Sea Lions and can't personally imagine a toddler there in the encounter area (even for the dolphins). We had youngsters in our group *prob 5-10* for the Sea Lions but the dolphins looked more involved. I would be amazed if they would allow her/him, but I suppose it's not impossible. If it were me, this would be the one instance where I would leave her/him with Grandma/Dad/etc etc on the observation deck waving hello while you go instead of putting him/her in the water with a huge animal? That is just me? Otherwise, the lagoon is good for all ages and swimming activities. Lotta money for a youngster who might not ever remember it? IMO which doesn't count for much.

Their website says 8 and up for sea lions, 6 and up for swim with dolphins, and ages 3 and under free with paying adult (so no extra $ for him) for dolphin encounter. I assume this means he would be able to do it. Their site also has pictures of some very young kids in the waist deep water with a dolphin (with mom or dad holding them of course). I think I would be afraid to do a sea lion encounter, but I feel like they are more aggressive than dolphins.

 

[baleeve]

That seems stupid. So I paid hundreds of extra dollars to cruise with disney because I figured it would be better for the baby and in reality cruising with disney is going to keep my baby from going on cool excursions? Awesome! Could I just not tell blue lagoon who I'm sailing with?

Duplicate post. I deleted one.

 

[baleeve]

That seems stupid. So I paid hundreds of extra dollars to cruise with disney because I figured it would be better for the baby and in reality cruising with disney is going to keep my baby from going on cool excursions? Awesome! Could I just not tell blue lagoon who I'm sailing with?

Don't let one non Disney Port adventure make you regret your decision to sail with Disney.

When you have to force a square peg in a round hole (aka fudge the truth) maybe you should rethink this stress. Its vacation.

Happy sailing.

 

[ktmo]

We were there in March. There was a family with a baby, maybe 1 year old in the dolphin encounter with us. I don't know if they were on the cruise with us.

 

[neg58]

You can book the child for the beach day or as an observer. Then when you get there, Blue Lagoon will let you upgrade if they have room (they will with your group) and if the child is eligible age-wise.

I think your child would be fine. There is a platform in the water and even if your child can't stand you can hold him or let him sit on the dock (about shoulder high) and then just lift him into the water when the dolphins come. They do splash and some of the kids were not happy.

Nancy

 

[yaddakal]

The young kids in our dolphin encounter in may were really too young and afraid;-( I might not gamble my money if I were you ..

 

[irishdancemomma]

While this probably isn't worth stressing out about too much, it is something I would really love to do and I will probably try to book through blue lagoon or else upgrade as another poster mentioned. If I am able to book through blue lagoon DS would not cost anything extra. DH and I would both like to experience this while we have the chance, but I am not comfortable leaving DS on the ship.

I do think DS (22 mos at time of travel) would enjoy this. He has had swim lessons and has always loved being in the water, so no fears there. He also really likes animals and loves the petting zoo and the aquarium. I know neither of these things really compares to being up close and personal with a dolphin, but I do believe he would enjoy it based on these facts.

Thanks for the ideas and opinions guys! If anyone has had personal experiences that would help me please let me know!

 

[Eliza'sMom]

When we went, our 4-year-old did the encounter with my husband while I watched with our 1-year-old. This wasn't a huge sacrifice for me, but we remarked later about how we would not have wanted to take the baby in. If you're able to book through Blue Lagoon, don't you have to figure out your own transportation? That's not something I was interested in dealing with in Nassau. I wonder if you and your spouse could go together but do the encounter in separate groups, taking turns with your toddler. Then you could spend the time in between on the beach.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

When we went, our 4-year-old did the encounter with my husband while I watched with our 1-year-old. This wasn't a huge sacrifice for me, but we remarked later about how we would not have wanted to take the baby in. If you're able to book through Blue Lagoon, don't you have to figure out your own transportation? That's not something I was interested in dealing with in Nassau. I wonder if you and your spouse could go together but do the encounter in separate groups, taking turns with your toddler. Then you could spend the time in between on the beach.

No transportation is needed to blue lagoon. Its the same Ferry Disney takes you too and the same Ferry drops you off in front of the straw market but if you want to go straight back to the ship, its about 5-10 walk along that side walk and you are back in the bright colored cruise terminal building. However we booked thru DC and had a great time. Having booked many with cruise lines and many without , I can say that all the ones we ever booked thru the cruise line were great. All of them. The ones we booked independently well they weren't disasters but we didn't always get what we expected or were hoping for SOME times. (Taxi to chankanaab was just fine, jamaicaforaday took well over an hour line before we got into resort and then the bus picked us up an hour early.) Point being I have learned that if I book with the cruise line, its prob going to be great. That at least has been our personal opinion..

 

[Eliza'sMom]

No transportation is needed to blue lagoon. Its the same Ferry Disney takes you too and the same Ferry drops you off in front of the straw market but if you want to go straight back to the ship, its about 5-10 walk along that side walk and you are back in the bright colored cruise terminal building. However we booked thru DC and had a great time. Having booked many with cruise lines and many without , I can say that all the ones we ever booked thru the cruise line were great. All of them. The ones we booked independently well they weren't disasters but we didn't always get what we expected or were hoping for SOME times. (Taxi to chankanaab was just fine, jamaicaforaday took well over an hour line before we got into resort and then the bus picked us up an hour early.) Point being I have learned that if I book with the cruise line, its prob going to be great. That at least has been our personal opinion..

I was referring to the ferry. Wasn't sure how that worked if you didn't book through Disney.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I was referring to the ferry. Wasn't sure how that worked if you didn't book through Disney.

The Ferry is included in the BL rate. (Wherever you get it from, whether it be a tour company, Disney, or at the booth. If you just pay to go to the island, I think it's at least $25 for the Ferry unless you are going to observe someone who is having an animal encounter, in which case it may possibly be less. Others have done this but we were happy as mentioned with Disney.)