Nassau - Atlantis & Dolphin Swim

[CindyAnn]

My 60 day window for making DCL shore excursion reservations is approaching quickly, and I have a few questions.

I've checked out the DCL Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter and it will cost us about $428 for our family of four. When I check out the Blue Lagoon website, the cost would be $300 for our family, plus the cost of a taxi to get to the Paradise Island ferry terminal.

Has anybody ever tried going to the Dolphin Encounter on their own? How about doing that and then walking from the Paradise Island ferry terminal to the Atlantis casino, purchasing wristbands, and walking around on their own?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[S. C.]

bump

 

[Belle&TheBeasts]

Hi...I have been navigating on that same subject also....but do you want the dolphin encounter $49.00/PP (where you just hang your feet or stand 3' in the water) OR do you want the dolphin swim $145.00/PP includes the boat ride over and back(where you are literally in the water with the mammals) ? There is a BIG difference in the prices as well...

However, I did find a site that you can check out on your own... www.dolphinswims.com
This site is awesome and it clearly explains everything to you!


Good luck and btw- We are going on the swim, wish me luck!
LOL, I can't fathom being in the water with a real fish! Ahhhh!!

 

[valeriekc]

We did the Dolphin swim last year and absolutely loved it.
The "swim" was not offered as an excursion through the cruise line, only the encounter was. We took a taxi over to where the boat takes you to Blue Lagoon Island. (And there the boat picked us up with eveyone from our cruise ship that had booked their excursion through them).
Our family of 4 loved the swim.
Our daughters were 6&10 and they are not super adventurerous but we all had a blast.
The people doing the encounter (which was pretty much everyone else) were only allowed to stand on a platform (waist high) and pet the dolphins as they swam by. I heard several of them saying they wish they had done the swim but didn't know about it as it wasn't offered through the cruise line.
We spent around an hour swimming with the dolphins and the highlight was the foot push where dolphins get behind you and push you through the water very fast. It was awesome.
I say go for it, for the additional cost I think it was a much better value than the encounter.
Good Luck

 

[takemeaway]

WE did the encounter, not the swim and the family loved it. If you have children under 6 (I think that is the age) they cannot do the swim. They have to be a certain age to swim with dolphins.

For the encounter, you get to touch, dance, hug, kiss and play with the dolphin. I booked the excursion through Disney so I do not know about booking it yourself. Remember, if you want an early morning encounter or swim, Disney probably has the monopoly on those times. I would assume, the encounter caters to Disney and then will fit in an individual booking whereever they can. Both the encounter and swim are offered by Disney 60 days before the cruise. Book early, the swim fills up quickly.


Also, the excursion through Disney provides lunch. Make sure to buy the video too. Your kids will want to watch it over and over and over again.

 

[Belle&TheBeasts]

Yes, that is correct, I talked to DCL a few days back and she told me you have to book the swim on your own. The phone number is on that site or else you can email them.
Thanks for the positive info Valerie, Makes me a feel a little better about the swim... I'm nervous!! I don't want anything so big to eat me!!! lol

Good luck with your choices ladies, My family and I are going for the swim. My daughter wants to do this badly. AND

One thing these boards have taught me is ....Not to let anything slide past me (on a cruise) that I cant later on say, I shoulda this, I shoulda that. I'm doing it given the chance...

God knows when we will ever get back on a cruise...and I say this on a good note!!

 

[CindyAnn]

Thanks everybody for your replies. I think we'll be doing the encounter rather than the swim, since last year DS and DD were uncomfortable in the open water snorkelling at Castaway Cay, even though they're both good swimmers and of course were wearing life jackets. Even though they're a year older this year (now 7 & 10), I think the encounter is sure to be a success, while the swim would be iffy. In a few years I know the swim will be wonderful for them.

Thanks for the website, BelleandtheBeasts. I had seen that, but couldn't find the exact times of the programs. I e-mailed them 5 days ago and am still waiting for a reply. Just a note - the website lists the encounter as $75 per person (not $49, which would be much nicer, LOL).

ValerieKC - I'm also concerned that we may regret not doing the swim, too, but that gives us an excuse to book another cruise!

Takemeaway - Thanks for letting me know that lunch is included on the Disney excursion - I hadn't realized that.

Thanks again.