Dolphin Swim Question....

[kmab00]

Anyone have any experience with any of the Dolphin excursions in Cozumel?

I booked the Dolphin Swim at Dolphinaris because they let you go out into deeper water and let the dolphins push you, etc.

However, I really want to see Chakanuaub.

The differences:


#1: Dolphin Discovery Cozumel

Get up close and personal to dolphins in an interactive encounter you'll never forget. After a 20-minute taxi ride to Chankanaab National Park, take in an informative orientation and receive your lifejacket. Then, immerse yourself in three feet of water for a fun-filled 30-minute encounter where you're invited to touch and play with these gentle creatures of the deep.

#2: Dolphin Swim at Dolphinaris

Swim with dolphins during an unforgettable up-close and personal encounter at Dolphinaris in Cozumel.

Revel in the sweeping tropical grandeur of the Cozumel landscape during a relaxing five-minute, taxi ride from the ship to Dolphinaris. Located along the main avenue overlooking the sparkling Caribbean Sea, Dolphinaris is one of the few places in the world to offer people of all ages the unique opportunity to partake in up close and personal experiences with dolphins, and is committed to the conservation and protection of marine mammals. Upon your arrival, meet and greet the facility's dolphin trainers and take in an interactive introduction to these gentle creatures of the deep, including a discussion of their anatomy, physiology and natural history. After your orientation, make your way to a submerged, waist-deep platform and immerse yourself in a magical in-water exchange with real live bottlenose dolphins. Learn how dolphins respond to hand signals and positive reinforcement from the trainers and discover the fantastic underwater communication system inherent to all dolphins. Then, delight in an unforgettable hands-on interaction as you are invited to glide your hand over the dolphin's soft skin, share a friendly flipper shake and receive a friendly kiss with your newfound friend.

Following your mammal meet-and-greet, make your way to deeper water - Dolphinaris' ocean coves - where you can experience an amazing swim with the aquarium's dolphins. During your unforgettable encounter, hold on tight as you make waves during a fun-filled belly ride. Then, don an underwater mask and snorkel and behold the dolphins' underwater world, where you can witness these amazing creatures swim, glide and hurl themselves into the air, demonstrating their wonderful acrobatic ability. Finally, after your 40-minute interaction, sit back, relax and embark on a quick five-minute trip back to the ship.

#3: Dolphin Push Pull and Swim

I just found this on the Disney Cruise website. It wasn't in my Passporter!

Begin your adventure with a 5-minute walk to your taxi transportation, which will take you on the 20-minute ride to Chankanaab National Park, home of Dolphin Discovery. Upon arrival, receive an orientation and lifejacket before making your way to the enclosure with your trainer.

Enter the water onto a submerged platform and be introduced to your new dolphin friend. Then be led into deeper waters where you're pushed by a dolphin while on a boogie board, pulled by its pectoral swims, and then don a snorkel and mask to swim with these lovely incredible creatures! Marvel at the grace and intelligence of these marine animals as they perform fast swims, high jumps and other breathtaking tricks.

At the conclusion of your 30-minute program, you can view the DVD filmed of you while in the water before enjoying some free time to explore the rest of the National Park. The park includes a beach, pool, gardens and even replicas of archaeological sites. When you are ready to leave the park, your taxi transportation will be available at the park entrance to transport you back to the ship.


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It looks as if this one has the same things as Dolphinaris and it's at Chankanaab Park! Anyone have any experience with any of these excursions? I'm so torn as to what to do! Any help you can give would be much appreciated! Thank you!!

 

[ESN]

We did the "dolphin encounter" in Chankanab (?sp) - in '07

Booked thru DCL - did this because our kids were young (3 and 5 at the time)

We liked it - neat for kids- taxi to /from park - and then approx 30 mins total time in water while a dolphin swims, does tricks etc - in front of you-- each of us got a chance to touch, pet,feed, etc. dolphin with photo ops.

At the time- chankanab park was just re opened - not long after hurricane - so apart from the actual time with the dolphin - we did not spend much time there.

If our kids were older/better swimmers - I would definitely do this excursion on your own and do the "royal Swim" or whatever it was called-- looked much cooler , from what we saw.

Hope this helps

 

[cats mom]

The answer will vary based on the make-up of your group.

But if no little ones are involved, I'd recommend booking the Royal Swim directly through Dolphin Discovery at Chankanaab.

 

[kmab00]

Cool thanks!

It's just my husband and I! No kids involved at all!

I appreciate your help!!

 

[kmab00]

Also, is just video taken at Chakanuaub or do they take photos also? I think I saw somewhere that they take photographs but I don't remember where I read that at!

 

[chisnpeke]

I did the Dolphin Discovery at Chakanuaub. It was so worth it. They take pictures for you and film a video. You have to buy those separately of course. We booked with them directly and just got a cab in Cozumel.

 

[kmab00]

I did the Dolphin Discovery at Chakanuaub. It was so worth it. They take pictures for you and film a video. You have to buy those separately of course. We booked with them directly and just got a cab in Cozumel.

Awesome thank you!!

 

[cctimmom]

I think we are doing the Dolphin Discovery too... but I think we are going to book on our own through their own website.

I need to book two different times/types (Encounter for me and DS and Royal Swim for DH and DD)... my only issue at the moment -- the only Encounter reservation is at 3:30pm.

Do you think that's too late? (the Royal Swim is available at 1pm)

 

[ibouncetoo]

The answer will vary based on the make-up of your group.

But if no little ones are involved, I'd recommend booking the Royal Swim directly through Dolphin Discovery at Chankanaab.

I second that motion!

Book this directly, as it's not available as a DCL excursion. The cab ride over is about $10-12 about a fifteen minute ride. The park is beautiful and the Royal Swim is fantactic!



Sister took this photo with a disposable underwater camera. Which the DID let us bring into the water with us.

 

[PegIra]

I would love to do the Dolphin Swim, the royal one sounds great, but even though you all say a five minute walk to the taxi, that could be a problem for my husband. How far would you say a 5 minutes walk is. He is handicapped, walks slowly and has to stop and rest frequently. Would there be benchs or something he could sit on to rest on the way to the taxi? He will have a power wheel chair on the ship, but that is not usable on excursions.

I have a feeling, we really won't be able to any of the excursions, but if we can't, no problem.

Any other ideas for excursions?

Thanks,

Peg

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Unfortunately, there is a bit of a walk from where the Magic docks to the street. I don't recall seeing any benches along the way. Maybe a CM could wheel him down to the taxi for you and then take the chair back to the ship. There maybe wheel chairs at Chankanaab but you'd have to check with them.

 

[PegIra]

Thanks for the quick answer, I appreciate it. I had a feeling that would be the answer but was looking for something that we coluld do. We have done the Western before and did Hell and Turtle farm, but because his walking is worse now, we are very limited. I just don't want him to think he is stoping us from having fun. We can have fun, just sitting and talking on the verandah. This is our cruise for our 50th anniversary and we are really ready.

Peg

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Congratulations! I hope you have a "magical" cruise.

 

[cats mom]

I would love to do the Dolphin Swim, the royal one sounds great, but even though you all say a five minute walk to the taxi, that could be a problem for my husband. How far would you say a 5 minutes walk is. He is handicapped, walks slowly and has to stop and rest frequently. Would there be benchs or something he could sit on to rest on the way to the taxi? He will have a power wheel chair on the ship, but that is not usable on excursions.

I have a feeling, we really won't be able to any of the excursions, but if we can't, no problem.

Any other ideas for excursions?

Thanks,

Peg

DCL has loaner wheelchairs you can take off the ship in Cozumel. That might be an option for you. We used one for DD and it worked out well.

If you decide not to use the wheelchair you can grab a pedicab (bike powered rickshaw) to get from the ship to a little 2 story shopping area they route you through. Your DH would have to get through that area, but there are benches to rest, and elevators are available so he wouldn't have to navigate the escalators or the stairs. Then it would just be a matter of getting from where the cab drops you off at Dolphin Discovery out to the water and there are benches to stop and rest along the way.

I really stink at estimating distances, but I would say not more than a football field in length, if that, for any of the three distances I described above.

DD's walking is not good and her balance sucks, but she was able to do the Royal Swim and it was one of the highlights of her trip. We were definitely glad we used the wheelchair though since that helped conserve her energy for the swim.


Edited to add: My FIL took his ECV off the ship in Cozumel. They did have to pay a little extra for a cab since they needed a large enough van to accomodate the chair. While I'm sure accessibility could be a problem some places in Mexico, he was fine at Chankanaab. He didn't do any of the dolphin programs, just hung out and watched but they had ramps and he had no problems getting around there. Maybe the restriction on electric chairs is just on DCL excursions and might have more to do with ease of moving large numbers of people around quickly?

.

 

[Texas Disney Fan]

I would love to do the Dolphin Swim, the royal one sounds great, but even though you all say a five minute walk to the taxi, that could be a problem for my husband. How far would you say a 5 minutes walk is. He is handicapped, walks slowly and has to stop and rest frequently. Would there be benchs or something he could sit on to rest on the way to the taxi? He will have a power wheel chair on the ship, but that is not usable on excursions.

I have a feeling, we really won't be able to any of the excursions, but if we can't, no problem.

Any other ideas for excursions?

Thanks,

Peg

In Cozumel, they have ricksaws "guys on bikes" that will carry you from the boat to the end of the dock where the taxis are waiting.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Thanks for the quick answer, I appreciate it. I had a feeling that would be the answer but was looking for something that we coluld do. We have done the Western before and did Hell and Turtle farm, but because his walking is worse now, we are very limited. I just don't want him to think he is stoping us from having fun. We can have fun, just sitting and talking on the verandah. This is our cruise for our 50th anniversary and we are really ready.

Peg

Peg, the day we were at Cozumel we were with friends on their verandah and had a view of the port (they were in a suite). It was so lovely it was only the call of the dolphins that got us out of our seats and off the ship!

.

 

[PegIra]

Wow, thanks for all the great information. I will definitely look into it.
How do I find out where to get the royal dolphin information?

Thanks again,

Peg

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Here you go.

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