We are actually looking at the same two as you...the Dolphin Encounter and the Stingray at
Castaway Cay. My debate is...do I really want to spend the $$ on the Dolphin encounter and do I really want to get off the boat in Nassau?? As far as the Stingray, cost is not a problem, there just seems like you would have plenty of fun on Castaway Cay without booking an excursion.
We enjoyed this cruise last year and are repeating this year - we're bringing along my inlaws, which will be fun. Last year we did not book any excursions, and the boys (twins now age 13) and I did not get off in Nassau. I used to go to the Caribbean for business (yeah, you're really feeling sorry for me, aren't you?!?) and let's just say Nassau isn't my first choice. With so much to do onboard, we decided to enjoy the ship for the day instead. My DH and one of the boys did rent bikes on Castaway Cay (did not book ahead, BTW) and they had lots of fun.
This year, I did book 2 excursions. In Nassau, I booked the "Seaworld Semi-Submarine" for a little more exploring ocean life, then we'll go for a little walk in Nassau just so the boys can see a totally different looking city (we live in Toronto, and our visits to the US don't exactly count as visiting a "foreign" country!). I hope it's good. For Castaway Cay, I booked the stingray activity.The boys were intrigued by this last year once they saw it, but we couldn't book same day - no availability.
As the boys are twins, they always have company, and they didn't take to the kids club at all. We never spend enough time together as a family, so that was OK with us, but we did think they might enjoy meeting other kids. One of our boys has a physical disability and we had mobility issues (elevator access etc) on our first visit to the club. I think that put him off, made him feel a bit unwelcome, although the CMs were trying to put him at ease. Also, they both have some medical issues (born extremely prematurely) and until recently haven't stayed up really late. I think you really, really need to get your kids to spend time in the tween club on the first night to help them "connect" with the club. We weren't prepared to run the risk of illness by having them up past 11:00 (and then some?) to participate in the first night, so they missed out on that and never really caught up. Not
DCL's fault at all. We'll see how it goes this year, but I've really lowered my expectations for any time they'll spend in the club, and hope to do more aquaduck, minigolf, family entertainment etc.
Oh and I promise to be clearer with the boys that I will not fund anything but the first bingo cards of the trip...they can pay with their spending money...and if they DO win (as they did last year!!!), the first thing they must do with their winnings is pay me back for the cards! They won $250!!!
I didn't think about an ornament...they unwrapped t-shirts and a piece of paper.
