Help Me!

[tde1969]

Ok, I have messed up! For three months we've planned on doing the Anguilla Dophin and Stingray Encounter and I know I waited till less than three weeks out, so i have no one to blame but myself. Well, It's sold out!!!! i've called directly and they said that Disney bascially rents the place for the day, so there is nothing they can do to add me. So someone make me feel better. I hate to ask for negatives, but someone tell me it's ok that the price doesn't justify this encounter or that my ds6 will have other chances in his lifetime to do this. Oh yeah, and can someone help me pick a new encounter for St Maarten. I have no idea now, what to do. Have I just ruined the family's vacation by my procrastination??????

 

[TheWog]

I read somewhere about Dolphins getting sick from doing that and you don't want to contribute to it. It would be way too long for your DS and very expensive. How's that????

We went to the beach right at Great Bay in the morning and I took my DS6 and rode the jet skis. He absolutely loved that and thought it was one of the best parts of the trip. There is a shipwreck out on the rocks way out in the harbor to the right and he loved going near that and looking. A lot cheaper too, plus you get to go to the ship for lunch. I don't think the vacation is ruined. Smile, you will have the times of your lives.

 

[Dodie]

Do you feel you HAVE to do an excursion at St. Maarten? We just took the ferry boat over to the city in the morning and walked around/shopped, then went back to the ship to change, and rode back over to the beach that's right there by the dock. It was really nice. We saw lots of kids playing in the water there.

Maybe you should book an excursion at St. Thomas before they sell out.

 

[MissDisneyTeach]

I'm so sorry that it is sold out! Can you call back and see if there is a waiting list, or ask if there is a waiting list at the shore excursions desk onboard? I'm not sure if there is, but it never hurts to ask. Someone might change their mind about going. I think we had the option of cancelling up to 2 days before sail day.
I can't think of any negatives about it. We did it on the March 6th, and had a great time, but it was expensive!
One positive about not going would be that you could actually see St. Martin. We got off the Magic, walked to another boat, and just saw the island from there. When we got back, we had time to shop in the shopping area right by the boat, so we didn't have any time to explore the island!
Hope y'all have a great time!

Teresa

 

[TheWog]

Atlantis Submarine ride in St. Thomas was great.

 

[grace12499]

For what it's worth...
The dolphin swims in Cozumel have a minimum age limit of 10 yrs old.

 

[ericamanda01]

Sarcasm alert:

Think of it this way, since you can't do it on this cruise then you have no choice than to take another cruise. I know, I know who wants to cruise on DCL more than once. But you really have to do this excersion. So suck it up and while on board fight back the tears and book another cruise. Everythink will be alright!

 

[Monchichi]

I can personally tell you, having just came back frome the same problem. We sailed the 4-3-04 magic and I too waited too long to book, even though I talked about it every day and time just slipped by.
OK, first THEY ONLY TAKE UP TO 60 PEOPLE ON THIS !! I was shocked too, being there are so many on this cruise.
2.I booked the observation part for my daughter(8) and thinking they will have room to put her in a group, or at least maybe I could get a picture of her getting a kiss from one of the dolphins.

Here is the scoop: The 159 and 189 or so you pay (I paid 100 & 125 just to tag along) The price pays for a 45 min. boat ride to the Anguilla, a 15 min bus ride ( go on the little one, great stories),
and a great lunch (service was slow but I guess that's island life) lol
and then the encounter. they split you into 3 groups we had a red and a blue, and orange was for the observers, while the red was doing the dolphin swim, the blue was enjoying the beach at Meads Bay. Then we all met for lunch and then split up again and changed places. The observers could basicly do and go where they wanted.
0k so the price of the Dophin and Stingray Encounter is actually 59 $ for kids and 64$ for adults.
OK, so back to my DD, we got there and after they split us up and put the observer in a group away from everyone else, I asked if my DD could just have a picture with a dolphin, (I would pay extra) or if there was any room, could they fit her in. I really didn't think this was a problem. I guess it was. They could not fit her in, nor could she have any picture with any of the dolphins. There was this one guy ( he was bald and buff) don't know his name, he was the worse. all we could do was hang around while our friends went in the water, ( I was taking thier pictures) My DD had some questions and he compleatly ignored her becaues she was not in the group. At the end of the 2nd group I had had enough, and was going to take her picture if it killed me. What were they going to do, send me back to the ship? I told her to get really low and reach out to Cobi (the baby 18 mo) he came right up to her and she petted him, and then she reached more and did the signal for a kiss and he kissed her. that is all she wanted and she was so exited and talked about it the rest of the day as if she got to do something "special"
The staff was all busy with the cleanup to see what was going on.
On a positive note the Beach was the best in the world!, Soft sand, crystal blue water, and boy was it warm. No sea lice and not much if any seaweed or grass, on a down note no showers for after, I ended up putting my DD in the bathroom sink to rinse her off. LOL
I would save you money and do a real dolphin swim. With this one you get to be in the "POOL" with them, you really don't swim with them, like some other places on the western, I have heard. thier habitat is small and so is the sting ray area, also its really dirty. When you are done with the swim theyhave you rinse off with a hose. (It is to get the dolphin pee off) LOL. You get to see a pelican, some turtles and have a hermit crab race, also there are 2 great birds the are so funny and friendly.
I hope this helps
PM me if need more info.
would I do this again? well I would try to book the swim, but if it had to replay itself the same way, that would be fine too. The beach was the best, and worth the trip out there.

ONE MORE VERY INPORTANT THING: BRING SUNLOTION AND REAPPLY IT ALL THE TIME, I GOT REALLY BURNT. I am pealing today 4-13-04.

Sorry this went so long.

 

[saturday97]

Are you going to be in Orlando before or after the cruise? I know this is a costly alternative but you might go to Discovery Cove for the day.

 

[msh8675]

Try this....
http://www.shoretrips.com/common/search4.asp?tcode=000985

Try some other websites...you may be able to book thru others that still have space available, or directly from the company that runs it.

Otherwise, try dolphin swimming at one of the other ports....I know on the Western there are different options. Don't give up hope just because they are booked thru DISNEY!!

Meesh

 

[dtuleya]

Originally posted by msh8675
Try this....
http://www.shoretrips.com/common/search4.asp?tcode=000985

Try some other websites...you may be able to book thru others that still have space available, or directly from the company that runs it.

Otherwise, try dolphin swimming at one of the other ports....I know on the Western there are different options. Don't give up hope just because they are booked thru DISNEY!!

Meesh

Unfortunately the OP doesn't have the choice of choosing another port because they are on the Eastern. Bummer!

 

[LAMPSKIES]

We did the Golden Eagle Catamaran last Dec....IT WAS GREAT!!

 

[MissDisneyTeach]

Hey Monchichi!
On the little bus, was Dennis your driver? That was a great ride! Did y'all go on a mini tour on the way back to the pier? (and still beat the big bus back!)

Teresa

 

[Monchichi]

I think so. He kept thalking about his brother who stole away "The Texas Rangers" wife. Then he had to show us a picture of his brother in this magazine. He took us to two resorts, they were nice. Ya, we even beat the big bus. I like bus drivers that have a sense of humor. lol, Where you on our bus?
I sure wouldn't mind living there, in my own "unfinished" home. lol