Dolphins - Discovery Cove or Nassau Blue Lagoon Encounter?

[Melcatfish]

Ok after my previous thread about whether or not to cruise it has boiled down to this:

If we cruise we don't do Discovery Cove and do the cheaper Nassau Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter instead.

Any thoughts? Particularly from those who have done one or both.

Basically by saving £80 each (£150 DC price less the £70 it costs in Nassau) and taking in to account the £120 each we would have spent going on the Bahamas 2 day tour and taking into account the food and entertainment money we would have spent if we weren't cruising I can just about justify the cost of the cruise.

What would you do?

HELP! DC or DCL 3 days on the Wonder???????????????

Regards
Mel
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[gingernick]

Hi, what you must take account of is the 7 days free at Seaworld you get with DC, I don't know anything about what you get with BLDE but the 7 free days at Seaworld will make a big difference to the tickets I'm buying for Disney over the 2 weeks we're there. Hope this helps.

 

[HeidSFost]

To be devil's advocate here; What do you know about the facilities at the place in Nassau?

There are lots of Dolphin encounter places where the well being and the health of the dolphins can leave a lot to be desired.

I did a dolphin encounter in Mexico in 2001, and far from it being a wonderful experience, I left it feeling ashamed that I had paid money to continue the poor treatment and exploitation that these wonderful creatures were experiencing.

I thought long and hard about whether I would feel the same way about Discovery Cove, and spent a good deal of time doing research about Seaworld and the way they keep their animals.

I was very pleased that I did Discovery Cove in the end, the interaction and bond that the trainers at Sea World had with the dolphins there was very evident, and it was a world away from the hopelessness I felt emanating from the Dolphins in Mexico.

Just something to consider while you are trying to make your decision.

Heid
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[Melcatfish]

Thanks, you make a good point. I guess i was (admittedly rather naively) working on the assumption that an official tour from Disney Cruise Line would have to be of an acceptable standard in order to maintain Disneys reputation. I will do some more research but I am not getting much response from DCL forum. I did read on the Dis that board users had rated the excursion highly, but again that assumes that everyone has animal welfare in mind.

i hope some people who have done the cruise and excursion will reply because cruise is looking favourite option but I don't want to find that the dolphin encounter is not up to scratch in any way.

Thanks again for your response

Mel

p.s. as for seaworld tickets Gingernick, we will get flextickets for universal which include seaworld so it doesn't alter plans too much.

 

[WDWfan uk]

Hi Mel I would post on the Cruise Line board as many people there have done the cruise and excursion
I don't think it's naive to think that the Disney link would mean that the dolphin encounter at Nassau would be of a high standard - you are right, Disney would be loudly criticised if it wasn't, but I'd definitely ask the experts on the Cruise board

 

[Melcatfish]

I got some responses today from DCL Forum, there was praise for DC AND the Blue Lagoon.

We are going for the cruise because although I would LOVE to do DC the whole cruise experience will be a great end to our hectic holiday.

Despite it upping the cost a bit it is offset by the chance to sail away on the Wonder and visit the Bahamas and the famous Castaway Cay!

Thanks again for all your help
Mel
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