Chankanaab or Dolphinaris?

[MoranClan]

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1384014&page=3

Page 3, Post 36.....

 

[Mjasp]

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1384014&page=3

Page 3, Post 36.....

OMG I wish I wasn't chicken, I would do it that looks awesome

 

[disneyfaninaz]

They will offer a package. They shoot 1 DVD of the entire experience so you only need to buy 1. They will also shoot individual pictures of each member of your party with the dolphin in 5x7 sizes. You can pick and choose or select them all.

 

[MoranClan]

Another question.

What time Does the Ship Actually Let you off in Cozumel?

I want to make sure I book the Correct Time..

I guess it has to be Cozumel time not EST time..

Thanks

 

[MoranClan]

Just Found This Also...

Just got back from Cozumel - and we the dolphin swim through Dolphinaris - I know there aren't a lot of reviews out there so here are my two cents:

We booked directly through the Dolphinaris website and paid $119 a person. There are several times to choose from, but the 10:20 tour worked out great since we got into port at 9:00. We took a taxi to the Dolphinaris site (Our ship was at the International Pier and the resort was about 1.5 miles towards the downtown area, cost was $2 per person for ride.) (If you are parked downtown, you could walk - its about 4-5 blocks.) Once we got there, the resort is beautiful! Very nice facilities including outdoor showers, nice bathrooms and a locker area (lockers were very big - cost was $4.00 to rent.) We were instructed to put everything in a lockers except ourselves in our suits of course and were given a key to hang around neck. Once done we joined a group of people - were given a number and waited our turn to be called up to get life vests and snorkel (all included.) The wait wasn't long and soon our group of about 12 were off to our dolphin area. We had two dolphin trainers who were both very nice and informative, they enouraged us to ask as many questions as we wanted. We ended up in a smaller pool area with 3 dolphins, 2 girls and a boy. The entire experience was wonderful - we started out by all swimming freely with the dolphins while they swam by us over and over to be petted - sometimes rolling on their backs so we could get to their bellies. They seemed to really enjoy themselves. After about 15 minutes of just swimming with them - we made our way back to the platform and in between our guides pointing out various facts and letting us touch their teeth, tongues, skin.. etc. we took turns doing 3 things: 1. The dolphin flipped on it's back and we went belly to belly and held onto their fins - while they swam us around the entire pool. 2. We swam out into the middle and waited while the dolphin swam up and gave us a good long kiss on the cheek. 3. We floated in middle and stuck our arms out straight and splashed the water and the dolphins swam up in between arms and "shook hands" with us with their flippers for a few seconds, face to face. After that we sat on the platfrom in the water while we watched the dolphins do some tricks including showing us how fast they could swim and jump among other stuff. Tour ended with us being able to swim freely again for about another 15 minutes while the trainers threw fish out to the dolphins and just plain had fun. They did one trick where they threw a fish to dolphin and made a gesture so the dolphin played fetch and brought the fish back to my husband to be grabbed out of his mouth.

All in all it was a fantastic tour and I feel like we got a lot of exposure for the money. The resort was beautiful and there is a restaurant and bar. My one and only complaint was that they did not allow cameras down near the dolphins - however they did take lots of pics for us including a DVD. We didn't really price the pics, but between the 5 in our group we did all chip in $10 each for the DVD ($50) and burned copies for everyone. DVD captured the entire day so it was worth it.

I have been to Chakanuub many times and experienced the park, but only watched the dolphin swim from afar. I really liked Dolphinaris because it is conveniently located and much closer (We only had to walk about 4 blocks to make it downtown to Carlos N Charlies when we were done.)

I have also been reading that the food is overpriced at Chankanaab, and not that good...

Hmm... Or I can walk for a few blocks to Carlos and Charlies..

What to do....

 

[CatManDoo]

What is the age minimum for the Chankanaab encounter? The DCL site said 3-9 and 10+, but the cometocozumel.com site says 8+ only.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

The minimum age for the encounter is 3. This is where you interact with the dolphin. You shake fins, give him/her a kiss, pet and feed the dolphin. You stay on the platform. The minimum age for the "royal swim" is 8. This is where you go into the water and the dolphin will come out and do a nose push and a fin hold with you.

 

[msminniemouse]

If you book the Dolphinaris through DCL website, can kids do the swim or is it only the encounter? I know that if you book the Chankanaab through DCL it is only encounter for either adult or child.

 

[WiscBill]

If you book the Dolphinaris through DCL website, can kids do the swim or is it only the encounter? I know that if you book the Chankanaab through DCL it is only encounter for either adult or child.

Children can do the swim at Dolphinaris booked through DCL. Our daughter was 5 and spent more time in the pool than I did. That is an advantage for Dolphinaris over Chankannaab in that the enclosed pools are easier for the children as opposed to the grate in the open water.

 

[msminniemouse]

Children can do the swim at Dolphinaris booked through DCL. Our daughter was 5 and spent more time in the pool than I did. That is an advantage for Dolphinaris over Chankannaab in that the enclosed pools are easier for the children as opposed to the grate in the open water.

Does an adult have to be booked on the Dolphin "Swim" to accompany a child, or can they just be booked as an observer? I am confused because on the DCL website it says:
"Guests are reminded that all children under 12 years of age must be accompanied in the water by a parent or guardian booked on the Dolphin Swim at Dolphinaris excursion at the same time. Guests 12 through 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult on the Dolphin Swim at Dolphinaris or the Dolphinaris Observer excursion at the same time."

 

[WiscBill]

Does an adult have to be booked on the Dolphin "Swim" to accompany a child, or can they just be booked as an observer? I am confused because on the DCL website it says:
"Guests are reminded that all children under 12 years of age must be accompanied in the water by a parent or guardian booked on the Dolphin Swim at Dolphinaris excursion at the same time. Guests 12 through 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult on the Dolphin Swim at Dolphinaris or the Dolphinaris Observer excursion at the same time."

The parent has to do the encounter if the child is under 12. They did ask us that when we arrived. Everyone has to wear a lifejacket, so swimming ability isn't too much of an issue. The observers sit on a deck a considerable distance away from the pools. There is a special children's dolphin encounter also offered, but I didn't see what that involves as they didn't have it going while we were there. . They also have a "stingray-type" adventure there, but that wasn't operating the day we were there either. Below is a picture of the Dolphinaris facility. The shot was taken from where the observers sit.

 

[deebs]

We just booked the kids dolphin encouter at Dophinaris....I liked the enclosed pools... I am kind of bummed as an observer that I'll be so far away though... I really want to see the look on the kids faces!

 

[msminniemouse]

The parent has to do the encounter if the child is under 12. They did ask us that when we arrived. Everyone has to wear a lifejacket, so swimming ability isn't too much of an issue. The observers sit on a deck a considerable distance away from the pools. There is a special children's dolphin encounter also offered, but I didn't see what that involves as they didn't have it going while we were there. . They also have a "stingray-type" adventure there, but that wasn't operating the day we were there either. Below is a picture of the Dolphinaris facility. The shot was taken from where the observers sit.

Do you know about the Chanakaab Park Dolphin Encounter? Does the parent have to go in the water with the child if he is under 12, or can the parent just book as an observer? My kids were interested in doing this but me and my husband didn't want to and only wanted to be observers. I was hoping it was possible to book this through DCL, but now I'm wondering about this because on the website it says: "For ages 3-12: An adult 18 years of older must be booked on the same Cozumel Dolphin excursion. For ages 13-17: An adult 18 years or older must be booked on the same Cozumel Dolphin excursion or the corresponding Cozumel Dolphin observer excursion." It doesn't mention adult booking as observer for ages 3-12, only for ages 13-17. I wonder if you have to book as encounter, if you are actually forced to go into the water with the dolphins?

Thanks so much everyone for all of the advice and responses.

 

[MoranClan]

It seems the Pools are a more controlles environment.

Thanks for all the feedback, we are still tossed which one to do...

 

[Mjasp]

It seems the Pools are a more controlles environment.

Thanks for all the feedback, we are still tossed which one to do...

Wait, You're thinking of Dolphinaris now? Now I have to see what its all about. My friends just got back from Chankanaab, went with the kids and did the encounter, they loved the place.

I think I like that you can swim with the dolphins then relax by the pool and have a drink or two or three or...

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Do you know about the Chanakaab Park Dolphin Encounter? Does the parent have to go in the water with the child if he is under 12, or can the parent just book as an observer? My kids were interested in doing this but me and my husband didn't want to and only wanted to be observers. I was hoping it was possible to book this through DCL, but now I'm wondering about this because on the website it says: "For ages 3-12: An adult 18 years of older must be booked on the same Cozumel Dolphin excursion. For ages 13-17: An adult 18 years or older must be booked on the same Cozumel Dolphin excursion or the corresponding Cozumel Dolphin observer excursion." It doesn't mention adult booking as observer for ages 3-12, only for ages 13-17. I wonder if you have to book as encounter, if you are actually forced to go into the water with the dolphins?

Thanks so much everyone for all of the advice and responses.

Here is what the Dolphin Discovery at Chankanaab website states:

Participants from 1 to 7 years old must come with a paying adult as a companion
If children are 8 years old and over, they may swim on their own.

You can book through them directly at :

http://www.dolphindiscovery.com/cozumel/cozumel-activities-dolphin-encounter.asp

You make it sound like torture to have to get in the water with these gentle intelligent creatures. We did the encounter, it was one of the best experiences of my life being in the water with the dolphin. They are very gentle.

I hope your excursions works out the way you want.

 

[Mjasp]

Here is what the Dolphin Discovery at Chankanaab website states:

Participants from 1 to 7 years old must come with a paying adult as a companion
If children are 8 years old and over, they may swim on their own.

You can book through them directly at :

http://www.dolphindiscovery.com/cozumel/cozumel-activities-dolphin-encounter.asp

You make it sound like torture to have to get in the water with these gentle intelligent creatures. We did the encounter, it was one of the best experiences of my life being in the water with the dolphin. They are very gentle.

I hope your excursions works out the way you want.

I don't think she makes it sound like torture, but I also don't want to swim with the dolphins and plan to do it in Cozumel because unlike Discovery Cove, I won't have to pay a $150 admission. My kids can do it but I don't have to

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I wonder if you have to book as encounter, if you are actually forced to go into the water with the dolphins?

Sorry, if I misinterpreted, but being afraid of being forced into the water sounds like being tortured to me.

I can understand not wanting to go in. It's a personal choice. I hope it works out for msminniemouse so everybody in her family is happy.

 

[cats mom]

It seems the Pools are a more controlles environment.

Thanks for all the feedback, we are still tossed which one to do...

I remember reading a trip report that said everything at Chankanaab was cancelled due to bad weather the day they were in Cozumel, but everything at Dolphinaris went on as planned.
Certainly something to think about.

But it sounds like other than the Dolphin excursions and possibly grabbing a bite to eat, there's not much else to do at Dolphinaris... is that the same understanding everyone else gets?

Hmmm... deciscions, decisions.

 

[msminniemouse]

I don't think she makes it sound like torture, but I also don't want to swim with the dolphins and plan to do it in Cozumel because unlike Discovery Cove, I won't have to pay a $150 admission. My kids can do it but I don't have to

I just wasn't clear as far as booking through DCL if they allow an adult to be an observer if the child is under 12. I don't want to pay for encounter for me as I have no interest in it and would prefer only to be observer. I'm still not sure if I book through DCL if they would allow me to book as observer.
Thanks for any advice.