Dolphin Enounter - Book through DCL or on my own?

[Cricket538]

Hi everyone -

We want to do the Dolphin Encounter at Cozumel. I'm looking for others who have done this, as I wondering if it's better to book on my own at dolphindiscovery or book through DCL.

I believe the price breaks down this way:

Booking through dolphindiscovery:
Dolphin encounter is
$75 for adults
$70 for kids,
plus admission to Chankanaab which is $10 per person
plus about $10 taxi fare from the ship
This adds up to $260 for our family of 3.

DCl's rate for this trip is
$105 per adult and
$90 for children under 10.
It includes park admission (i think?) and transportation to Chankanaab. This excursion totals $300.

Are there good reasons why I should spend the extra $40 and book through DCL?


Also, if I were to do the Royal Dophin Swim, could my family watch and take pictures?

Love to hear any and all tips from those of you who've done this.

Thanks everyone!!

 

[DawnL]

We didn't do the Dolphin Encounter - but did the Royal Dolphin Swim this past August and it was absolutely wonderfu. The swim has to be booked directly with Dolphin Discovery. It costs $110 per person, plus admission to the park - but it was definitely worth every penny. You are put into groups of 8 and after a 15-20 minute orientation, you end spending about 45 minutes in the water swimming and playing with the dolphins. It was a very easy 15 minute taxi ride, $5 per person each way to get to the park.

 

[Cricket538]

Sounds fabulous!!!!!

Since my DD is 5, she's too young to do the Royal Swim. I'd thought about me doing the Royal Swim while my DH and DD watch and take photos, then they do the Encounter while I watch.

Is this possible?
Do they allow spectators??
Are spectators close enough to take pictures??

 

[RKB]

We also did the Dophin Swim at Chankanaab (actual swm not encounter). We booked through shoretrips.com. Getting a taxi to and from is simple. There are about a zillion taxis in town. They wait outside of Chan to take people back. All you have to say is the word Disney and you are on your way. We all did the swim. I don't know if they would allow spectators... I would think yes. I am sure who you book through could answer that. Also - I don't know if they would like you to take your own photos since they take some from above to sell to you. We did take our underwater cameras and took photos from the level that we were at. We did buy some of their photos and the video (it was excellent and not too much $$ - don't remember exactly). One option if they would let you do it would to sign up you and you DH for the swim and see if your daughter could just stand next to you on the platform in the water. Since you swim out one at a time to be with the dolphin you could take turns watching your DD. She would even get to pet a Dolphin. I don't know if they would go along with it or not, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.....

 

[littleowensmommy]

My DH and DS did the dolphin swim in July. My DD (age 3) and I were allowed to go down the dock and watch them from a short distance. We both really enjoyed watching but we weren't allowed to go down to where my DS and DH were. Next time I will definitely book the Royal Swim on my own. That looked incredible.

Kathy

 

[Mr. Bill]

My 8-year-old granddaughter and I did the Dolphin encounter. It was fantastic.

I booked directly with them through the Internet and saved about $50.00 as opposed to booking wiht DCL.

Bill