Dolphin Excursion?

[rbork]

Dolphin Excursion? My husband and I aren't really interested in most of the Excursions offered EXCEPT maybe the Dolphin one on Cozumel. Can anyone give me a detailed report of your experience? Exactly how much time with the Dolphins? Are you on a platform the whole time or treading in 20 feet of water? How cold is it? etc. If we don't pick any other excursions, I can probably swing the 400$ it will cost for DH, Me, DS6 and DS9! I figure it would be a great experience for our son's! Having trouble convincing DH though!

 

[NowaSki]

We did the dolphin during the 4/23 Magic cruise. It was myself, DW, DS 9, DS 7, and DD 4. We had the 10:20 meeting time. By the time they got everyone organized and walked off the ship, to the taxi stand, to the park, and oriented it was almost 1:00. They broke us up into groups of between 10 to 15 people. We had about 15 people in our group. My DD, did not enjoy it at first, because she did not like to wear the life-vest, but she did enjoy herself towards the end. You are in the water for about 20-30 minutes. You stand the entire time on a platform. My DS 9 was able to stand, but my DS 7 could not, there is a fence along the back of the platform that he held onto, or he held onto me or DW. The water was comfortable, but you are in the ocean and the waves do pick up sometime. I would recommend you wear sandles or water shoes, the platform is slimy/slippery. My DW kept her sandles on, and I wish I had left mine on. We all had one hand most of the time on the netting/fence behind the platform to keep our balance. There are two photographers on the platforms around the pen, 1 with a video camera, and 1 with a still camera. Everyone gets the opportunity to kiss the dolphin, get a kiss from the dolphin, and then hold onto it's flippers for some pictures. The dolphin does some tricks, splashes everyone, "talks" to you. After the encounter is done, they lead you to a class room to preview the video which they put onto DVD for $29, the DVD is about 8 minutes long. They do an excellent job with the DVD, so I bought one. The pictures where $18 each. You can bring in your own water camera, and it is encourged that you do.

There is a small beach and restaurant a few steps away, so we hung out there until about 3:30. When you leave the park a rep from the dolphin encounter program is waiting at the gate to get you into a taxi and send you back to the ship. The reps are there until 4:30.

I would do it again, but not until my DD is older and would enjoy it more. It's very cool to see and touch a dolphin.

Other than my DD being upset, my only issue was the amount of time it took to get the large group organized and over to the park.

Oh yeah, the best part, our dolphin's name was Ariel.

 

[minievicky]

My DH & DS (8) did the dolphin swim in Cozumel, we were on the April 23 Magic. We booked on our own by going to their website as Disney only had encounters and by the time we decided to book there were no more time slots left through Disney. I booked the 12 noon swim, we took a cab ($10) to Chankanaab about 10am and it was about a half an hour ride. We had enough time, so we took the kids to the kiddie beach which was right next to the Dolphin place. We checked in at 11:30am, they gave us a band and said to meet at 12pm. There was about a 30-40 min instructions then you walk to the area where the swim will be. Their swim was about 45 min-1h in the water. They were asked to remove their water shoes, you stand on platforms and wait until you get directed to swim out for the swim and such. Overall they had a great time. It was over by about 2pm and still had plenty of time to do other things in the park. A friend on the same cruise booked with Disney for the 12noon encounter, she didn't get there until about 2pm and she said that right after there was not time for any exploration of the park on your own, so she said next time she will book on her own.
Vicky

 

[rbork]

thanks, we saw and touched dophins at Sea World. I'm still not sure it's worth 400$. I thought you might do more w/ the dolphins other than touch fins and kiss them. I'm not sure what I expected but thanks for the detailed info. I really appreciate it!

 

[DIS NURSE]

Isn't there a different dolphin excursion at Cozumel that cost more $$ but you actaully swim with the dolphins? If I am not mistaken when you look at the Cozumel excursion list on the DC website, there are two different options. One sounds much more involved and worth the $$. Does anyone have any experience with what I am talking about?
Thanks

 

[TooPure4u]

I booked the dolphin excursion on my own. I did it through Dolphin Discovery . com....lol just eliminate the spaces. I did the Dolphin Adventure. I was able to kiss the dolphin, shake the fins, swim out to an area and wait for the dolphin to come out and then I swam back in on her belly. Then the group all swims out to the middle and makes a circle while the dolphin swims around the circle. You have snorkel equipment on so you can watch it swim around you.

I paid $99 for this and I think 12 to get in the park. I went in January. I also had to pay for the taxi but my excursion wasnt until 3pm so I went to Paradise beach first for a few hours and then to Chankanaab right before my excursion.

I purchased pictures and a video. The pictures were 40 dollars for 3 (8x10's) I think but one was me on the belly riding in, one was the dolphin kissing me and the other was me shaking the dolphins fins. The video was 35 dollars and was hilarious. I love dolphins so to me...this ranks way up there on my list of "my most favorite moments".

There was one package higher priced than mine. It is the Royal Swim, where you actually get pushed in by the dolphins on your feet with there noses. I was afraid of this one so didnt pay the price. I think it was 25 dollars more. You get a great deal of time but it didnt matter to me. You can also link your choice with a sea lion show. This package includes your park entrance.

Whatever you decide....enjoy yourself. In my opinion,,,,it was WELL worth it.

Have fun

 

[blueiis99]

we did this a couple of years ago when we were on a carnival cruise. I booked our swim's ahead of time before leaving NY. I called Discovery cove, and did everything over the phone (faxed cc info) this way everything was paid for and I researched it all before we left.

I was great!!!!!!!!!!!! I am deathly afraid of water, and I was absolutly thrilled with this! I am going to Nassau with the kids this year, and I'm letting them enjoy this too. (I can't do the swim, I have to be in the water for the "experience" for my 6 yr old,,,,my 17 yr old will do the swim)

its worth it. I felt very very safe.