Dolphin Encounter Blue Lagoon vs Atlantis

[Iron Man]

I've been searching and reading the boards but can't seem to get a clear picture of the difference between the two.

Please help!

Also, how does it work if you book the Atlantis encounter through Disney?

What did everyone bring? How do you keep your things safe while enjoying the water rides at Aquaventure?

 

[Anal Annie]

We did the dolphin swim at Blue Lagoon (booked direct) back in July 2008. It was fabulous. Top notch. I believe there may be a difference in the minimum age requirements for one thing if you have younger kids. Also I think there's something different with the foot pushes. Atlantis has some sort of gizmo you ride or something where at Blue Lagoon the dolphins literally put their noses on your feet and push you so fast you are practically standing up! We were doing back-to-backs so we had another day in Nassau and had booked the Comfort Suites for the Aquaventure Park. I felt that was a better value, personally as DCL charges small fortunes for these excursions. IMO there is so much to do at the Aquaventure you would be spending a lot of money for very little time to enjoy it if you combined the dolphin swim AND the Aquaventure park into the one excursion at Atlantis. I would pick one or the other...

 

[Iron Man]

thanks Annie.

The blue lagoon dolphin swim is already fully booked for our trip and Disney is not offering the Atlantis dolphin swim. So we're left with choosing between the two dolphin encounters.

Also, the Atlantis encounter includes Aquaventure - so no option to decline it if you book thru disney.

Just curious as to what the difference is?

 

[Anal Annie]

thanks Annie.

The blue lagoon dolphin swim is already fully booked for our trip and Disney is not offering the Atlantis dolphin swim. So we're left with choosing between the two dolphin encounters.

Also, the Atlantis encounter includes Aquaventure - so no option to decline it if you book thru disney.

Just curious as to what the difference is?

I actually published these articles on eHow.com last year which compares the two so it might answer a few of your questions. There are also some links in them that might help too.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5451656_compare-dolphins-excursions-nassau-bahamas.html

And a similar article that compares the encounters to the swims:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5532560_choose-swim-dolphins-nassau-bahamas.html

 

[Iron Man]

They were helpful, and I did try to research as best i could.

I'm hoping for some first hand experiences here on the boards. I'm hoping anyone who has recently done the Atlantis dolphin encounter can share their day. This may help me to compare it for myself.

Also how does everyone secure their belongings at Aquaventure?

 

[disney 2010]

I know nothing about Atlantis but just to share. When you do an excursion to Dolphin Encounter you may spend as much time on the island as you want. People in our group doing the encounter had the option to upgrade to the swim and others were adding the swim so I'm not sure about the swim being fully booked. We were waiting for people to pay for their upgrades before we started our debrief/lesson
We could choose to take whichever return boat we wanted an spend the day at the beach and/or explore and see the sea lions etc.
Loved it. Beautiful Island.

 

[Anal Annie]

They were helpful, and I did try to research as best i could.

I'm hoping for some first hand experiences here on the boards. I'm hoping anyone who has recently done the Atlantis dolphin encounter can share their day. This may help me to compare it for myself.

Also how does everyone secure their belongings at Aquaventure?

We booked the Comfort Suites next door to the Atlantis to do the Aquaventure as it is a significantly cheaper alternative. You still get full use of the Atlantis facilities. We took very little with us. They do not take cash so we took 1 credit card & just enough cash for the taxi to & from and our smaller camera, not our big DSLR. We took no extra precautions to "secure" anything although I believe they have some lockers for rent somewhere on the property. We had a pool/beach bag & a collapsible cooler with some waters & the towels from the towel stand. We selected a spot with a couple of lounge chairs near a lifeguard stand and just left everything covered up with the towels. Not that I thought a lifeguard would be paying much attention to our stuff I just thought someone would have to be extra brave to go rooting through our stuff right there like that. I could be wrong but I didn't think it would hurt.

Again, I will say that IMHO I think the Aquaventure is big enough in of itself that to try to add the Atlantis Dolphin Swim to it would be a huge time waster. There really isn't time to do it all and get your moneys worth. The lines for the attractions at the Aquaventure can get long...before you know it it's lunchtime.

Oh, and food there is expensive - our credit card got hit for $33 for 3 hotdogs and 3 Gatorades!!!

 

[Iron Man]

ok so here's where were at right now.

Our group is 5 adults - 19-25 yr olds. The two girls want to do the dolphin encounter and the three guys want to do aquaventure.

We're debating on splitting up in order for everyone to have what they want. Or stay together and travel to Dolphin Cay (we are allowed to accompany the girls as spectators for a $15.00 fee) and walk to Aquaventure.

We don't really want to stay for the whole two hours with them - hopefully, we're allowed to leave whenever we want.

Obviously the price is much higher for the girls to do the Atlantis deal vs Blue Lagoon. But we do get to stay together and hang out for the day. Also, since the guys are doing the jet ski excursion at Castaway Cay we figured the extra cost for that works out to about even money wise.

We've been reading about security and safety problems in nassau and are leery about jumping in a cab and winging our day. We may look like easy targets.

We've also been reading about the Comfort Suites deal but since it's Easter Week so far we're not generating any real savings through them. (once you factor in the additional fees/cab fares/food etc) Not to mention the fact that there are 5 of us and I can only get passes for 4.

Disney's Atlantis excursion says it includes lunch. Not sure what that involves in terms of real food.

We saw some you tube videos on the Atlantis encounter (some were dated)but didn't see alot of real dolphin interaction and got worried. I haven't looked for the Blue Lagoon yet but I know most posters here have chosen that one and talk it about it alot more. I just want to make sure if we spend the extra money everyone has a blast and the girls get a great experience with the dolphins. (not a rip-off) if you know what I mean.

So thanks again for any additional advise you can give. I appreciate all the help so far.

 

[nyyankeegirl]

I'm interested in hearing peoples thoughts & opinions as well. We are trying to figure out the best option for our day at Nassau. So far, I haven't heard any overwhelming applause for the island!

 

[Johnny Quest]

same here.

Anybody?

 

[Anal Annie]

Since I seem to be the only one responding...here goes...again. I have done both.

Blue Lagoon dolphin swim is VERY good. First rate organization and worth the money charged IMO.

Atlantis Aquaventure is a full day but pricey (read: overpriced) thru DCL. For the best deal book the Comfort Suites to get full access to the property.

Trying to combine the Atlantis dolphin swim with the Aquaventure is TOO MUCH for one day. The waterpark is an all day thing all by itself.

Iron Man - your group is being too ambitious for 1 day. If the boys want one thing & the girls want another you should split up or you'll be wasting time that you paid for to be there. There should be no safety concerns in taking a taxi to Atlantis. They are located right outside the port exit - right in front of the door. You are basically going door to door and it's a 10 min. ride. The people who were robbed a couple of months ago were in a remote area and were on segways, not in a car. They were vulnerable in that situation.

Not sure what else ya'll are looking for?!

IMO either of these excursions are a good time and offer your best bet for Nassau.

 

[Iron Man]

thanks again annie,

I guess I was looking for more information on the Atlantis dolphin encounter.

It didn't appear from your post that you had done that one. So I was hoping for more first hand accounts.

And I understand DCL prices for Aquaventure are high, but like I said, right now comfort suites is no deal for the day we're there.

 

[Anal Annie]

thanks again annie,

I guess I was looking for more information on the Atlantis dolphin encounter.

It didn't appear from your post that you had done that one. So I was hoping for more first hand accounts.

And I understand DCL prices for Aquaventure are high, but like I said, right now comfort suites is no deal for the day we're there.

I think for the most part, cruisers go to Blue Lagoon for the dolphin encounters & swims and to Atlantis for the Aquaventure. I have been on the DIS for a long time & I don't remember reading any reports about the Atlantis dolphin swims... It is probably more popular with hotel guests that are staying AT the Atlantis property.

Good luck...

(PS) keep checking the Comfort Suites rates freqently...sometimes they drop.

 

[mtleota]

My husband and I did the Atlantis Dolphin Encounter in 2011.
I WAS WONDERFUL! I would do it again hands down, no questions asked.

It was a bit of a walk and they walk fast to get to the cove.
We sat through a brief lesson/introduction.
We were also fitted for a wet suit. There are lockers there to put all your stuff in.

You have to remove ALL JEWELRY. I didn't know this, if I did I would have left ours in the safe on the ship.
NO CAMERAS either. They have someone taking pics. 5 Pictures was $70.

We had a group of about 10 of us. Each person gets to "kiss" and "pet" and a few other things. The trainer we had was nice and let siblings and couples take pics together as well as individually.

Atlantis does not accept cash. Make sure you have a credit card with you.