Cozumel Dolphin Swim

[4everluvDisney]

We have booked the Dolphin Swim at the Chankanaab Natural Park in Cozumel. Booked directly with them instead of through DCL.
Wondering if anyone has taken a cab to this excursion or even just to the park, and if so, how much was it? Did you pay in US$ and were you able to negotiate a price with the driver? Any info would be greatly appreciated as we cruise on Mar. 18/18.
Thanking you in advance.

 

[dmbucsfan]

My mom and I did the dolphin swim at Chankanaab in Cozumel in Dec. 2016. On the trip from the port to Chankanaab we were charged $20USD. My mom thought that seemed a little high and after we got inside asked an employee what a typical cab ride should cost from the port. They said about $10USD. When we went back to the port from Chankanaab we asked the driver before we got in how much it would be and he said $12USD which we were fine with. Didn't try to negotiate so don't know if they would have gone any lower. Moral of the story: try to find out what a typical cab ride costs to wherever you are going and ask the driver the price before you get in.

 

[Minnie368]

We have booked the Dolphin Swim at the Chankanaab Natural Park in Cozumel. Booked directly with them instead of through DCL.
Wondering if anyone has taken a cab to this excursion or even just to the park, and if so, how much was it? Did you pay in US$ and were you able to negotiate a price with the driver? Any info would be greatly appreciated as we cruise on Mar. 18/18.
Thanking you in advance.

Sorry I can’t offer any input because we are going for the first time in April and are looking to do the same thing. Quick question... did you get any kind of guarantee of money back if the ship can’t dock or if it is cancelled due to weather? All I could find on their site was a credit you could use in the future. That’s the only thing that concerned me, but I think we’re gojng to try it anyway because there is a big $ savings. I’m looking forward to hearing other’s tips on getting there.

 

[o&smom]

We did it last April, and it was great! Did you prepurchase the package that includes all your photos? Had read nightmares about adding photos at the end. Getting a taxi was easy. Sometimes we have noticed in Mexico that they charge two different prices going to and from a destination. You can always try to negotiate before you get in a cab and see if you can save a few bucks.

 

[wanderlust7]

It was $12 USD when we went last October. Prices are displayed on a big board at the taxi stand. Follow the signs for taxis through the shopping mall all the way to the end until you see the board.

Still a good idea to verify the price with the driver before getting in. Don't forget to have exact change. Our driver said he didn't have change for a $20, the ticket window at Chankanaab wouldn't give me change either , finally had to buy something at the gift shop to get change. The driver tried to get us to go somewhere else (think they get commission), but stopped when I told him we had reservations.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

When you get off of the ship, you go through a mall. At the end of the mall and down the escalator there is a taxi stand. The stand has a sign with cab fares clearly posted to different locations including Chankanaab. It was very easy to get a cab there. In addition, after your stay at Chankanaab, there are usually a lot of taxi's waiting to take passengers back to the ship.

 

[4everluvDisney]

Sorry I can’t offer any input because we are going for the first time in April and are looking to do the same thing. Quick question... did you get any kind of guarantee of money back if the ship can’t dock or if it is cancelled due to weather? All I could find on their site was a credit you could use in the future. That’s the only thing that concerned me, but I think we’re gojng to try it anyway because there is a big $ savings. I’m looking forward to hearing other’s tips on getting there.

No there was no guarantee of money back but there was such a difference in $$ that I felt it was worth the chance.

Also, thanks to all for your input and info.

 

[Minnie368]

Well I just booked it too- for April. So glad you posted this thread because it got me thinking about it again and now the morning times were all booked. If I had waited I may have missed the 1:00 session too. Saving A LOT over booking with DCL!! So here’s hoping... I do admit I’m a little nervous as it’s our first cruise and booking on our own is a little scary for me.

 

[4everluvDisney]

Well I just booked it too- for April. So glad you posted this thread because it got me thinking about it again and now the morning times were all booked. If I had waited I may have missed the 1:00 session too. Saving A LOT over booking with DCL!! So here’s hoping... I do admit I’m a little nervous as it’s our first cruise and booking on our own is a little scary for me.

What time were you able to book? Our time is 11 am. Our package is for the Dolphin Royal Swim, time with the manatees, lunch and entrance into the park.

 

[4everluvDisney]

For those of you who have been, did you tip the driver and how long was the cab ride? Have to make sure we leave in plenty of time to get back to the ship.

 

[lklgoodman]

What time were you able to book? Our time is 11 am. Our package is for the Dolphin Royal Swim, time with the manatees, lunch and entrance into the park.

We went here a year ago, it was a lot of fun. They have 2 restaurants, one with inside seating next to the pool. If you go past the pool there is another one (just 2-3 min walk) with outside seating by the beach, it has chicken fingers if you have picky kids who don't like Mexican food. The lockers are big enough to fit a backpack, it closes with a key that you will have to keep with you. You can get more than one locker if available, we used 2 for 3 people. Make sure you get towels from the ship, they don't have any at the park. We booked through Disney, but if we do another West Car. cruise, I would feel comfortable booking this on my own. I didn't realize they have manatees at the park, I would have loved to do a swim with them. If you can I would suggest that you get there when the park opens. We did the push pull with the dolphins. It started around 11, by the time they hand out the life vests and go over everything, it was 12 by the time we were done. We were able to do a lot afterwards, but didn't have time to do all that there is to do. It's not a long transport to the park around 20 mins, but I would leave at least 60-90 mins before all on board, you will have a 10-15 mins walk through the port area afterwards.

 

[4everluvDisney]

We went here a year ago, it was a lot of fun. They have 2 restaurants, one with inside seating next to the pool. If you go past the pool there is another one (just 2-3 min walk) with outside seating by the beach, it has chicken fingers if you have picky kids who don't like Mexican food. The lockers are big enough to fit a backpack, it closes with a key that you will have to keep with you. You can get more than one locker if available, we used 2 for 3 people. Make sure you get towels from the ship, they don't have any at the park.

Thanks for the info...

 

[lklgoodman]

I added some more to my above post, also if you like tequila go to the tequila hut, they gave us free samples of various types.

 

[4everluvDisney]

I added some more to my above post, also if you like tequila go to the tequila hut, they gave us free samples of various types.

Sounds good to me!!

 

[Minnie368]

What time were you able to book? Our time is 11 am. Our package is for the Dolphin Royal Swim, time with the manatees, lunch and entrance into the park.

We booked for 1pm- I had wanted 10am. It is for the swim adventure-the one that does the boogie board and belly ride- and gives you lunch and park entrance too. No time with the manatees but we will probably watch the show. For 4 of us it was $258 which is less than half of what we’d pay through DCL plus DCL didn’t include lunch.

 

[Minnie368]

We went here a year ago, it was a lot of fun. They have 2 restaurants, one with inside seating next to the pool. If you go past the pool there is another one (just 2-3 min walk) with outside seating by the beach, it has chicken fingers if you have picky kids who don't like Mexican food. The lockers are big enough to fit a backpack, it closes with a key that you will have to keep with you. You can get more than one locker if available, we used 2 for 3 people. Make sure you get towels from the ship, they don't have any at the park. We booked through Disney, but if we do another West Car. cruise, I would feel comfortable booking this on my own. I didn't realize they have manatees at the park, I would have loved to do a swim with them. If you can I would suggest that you get there when the park opens. We did the push pull with the dolphins. It started around 11, by the time they hand out the life vests and go over everything, it was 12 by the time we were done. We were able to do a lot afterwards, but didn't have time to do all that there is to do. It's not a long transport to the park around 20 mins, but I would leave at least 60-90 mins before all on board, you will have a 10-15 mins walk through the port area afterwards.

Great info! Did you wear water shoes with the dolphins?

 

[lklgoodman]

Great info! Did you wear water shoes with the dolphins?

We had water shoes, but didn't need them with the dolphins because they had everyone take their water shoes/flip flops off before we got in with the dolphins. There's a beach that you can use them for, we didn't have time to spend at the beach so we ended up not using them.

 

[4everluvDisney]

We had water shoes, but didn't need them with the dolphins because they had everyone take their water shoes/flip flops off before we got in with the dolphins. There's a beach that you can use them for, we didn't have time to spend at the beach so we ended up not using them.

Thanks for the info. I was going out tomorrow to buy water shoes but I guess I don't need them. More money to spend at Disney. Going to WDW for a week before the cruise.

 

[4everluvDisney]

We went here a year ago, it was a lot of fun. They have 2 restaurants, one with inside seating next to the pool. If you go past the pool there is another one (just 2-3 min walk) with outside seating by the beach, it has chicken fingers if you have picky kids who don't like Mexican food. The lockers are big enough to fit a backpack, it closes with a key that you will have to keep with you. You can get more than one locker if available, we used 2 for 3 people. Make sure you get towels from the ship, they don't have any at the park. We booked through Disney, but if we do another West Car. cruise, I would feel comfortable booking this on my own. I didn't realize they have manatees at the park, I would have loved to do a swim with them. If you can I would suggest that you get there when the park opens. We did the push pull with the dolphins. It started around 11, by the time they hand out the life vests and go over everything, it was 12 by the time we were done. We were able to do a lot afterwards, but didn't have time to do all that there is to do. It's not a long transport to the park around 20 mins, but I would leave at least 60-90 mins before all on board, you will have a 10-15 mins walk through the port area afterwards.

Were the lockers included or was there an additional charge? And if so how much?

 

[lklgoodman]

The lockers were included in the price we paid for the excursion. Our guide just showed us where the changing area was at and we went in on our own and picked a couple of lockers. There's no employee telling you which ones to use or anything, just whichever ones still have keys in the locks are free to use. The changing area is a large room used by both men and women with changing booths with curtains. The showers are in that area also, again used both by men and women, just for rinsing off. There are separate bathrooms next to the changing area. We had our swimsuits on under our clothes when we got there, but did change out of them before we left. I felt very safe while at the park and found all the employees friendly and helpful, not pushy at all. We leave this Saturday for an Eastern Car on the Wonder. Thinking about the fun we had with the dolphins is now making me wish we were going back there.