Nassau Port Excursions

[hudsosa]

Hello all!! First time DCL cruiser and I have plenty of time before my July 2017, but my son (10) has his heart set on a certain excursion in Nassau and I was wondering if anyone has ever not been able to book what they wanted there. I'd like to know if I need to start steering him toward something else or just prepare him for the possibility it won't happen. Is it a better idea to try to book not through DCL?? He will understand weather issues and not being able to dock should that be the case...he's been through a lot and I'd love to make it happen for him.

 

[Floridatinaherb]

Hello all!! First time DCL cruiser and I have plenty of time before my July 2017, but my son (10) has his heart set on a certain excursion in Nassau and I was wondering if anyone has ever not been able to book what they wanted there. I'd like to know if I need to start steering him toward something else or just prepare him for the possibility it won't happen. Is it a better idea to try to book not through DCL?? He will understand weather issues and not being able to dock should that be the case...he's been through a lot and I'd love to make it happen for him.

I think it would depend on which excursion he has his heart set on. We've never had an issue getting our excursions (even when we were 1st timers), but without knowing which excursion it is (popularity etc) it is hard to make any predictions. Which one is he looking at?

 

[hudsosa]

I think it would depend on which excursion he has his heart set on. We've never had an issue getting our excursions (even when we were 1st timers), but without knowing which excursion it is (popularity etc) it is hard to make any predictions. Which one is he looking at?

He would like to do a Dolphin Swim and I've been reading the Blue Lagoon is the better of them. I managed to look at one of those port schedules and there will be 4 other ships there that day. I didn't know if DCL goes ahead and secures a certain amount prior to that or if they just reserve them as a guest requests them.

 

[Dug720]

Yes, the cruise lines do contract for a certain number of slots. I have not heard of the dolphin filling AS quickly as the sea lions, but it can fill.

As far as trying to do it on your own, unless they have changed things, they will NOT book you independently if you're on a cruise from previous reports of people trying to get the sea lions when they were sold out on DCL. I don't know what information is required or how much lying you'd have to do to try and book on your own, but if they know you're on a cruise they will not book you independently. (Like I said, unless things have changed.)

 

[minorthr]

I was worried about the same thing as our son wanted to do the dolphin swim at Atlantis. We had no issues getting it, it was our first cruise as well. I believe there were even still openings the day before the exclusion as well.

 

[hudsosa]

I was worried about the same thing as our son wanted to do the dolphin swim at Atlantis. We had no issues getting it, it was our first cruise as well. I believe there were even still openings the day before the exclusion as well.

Were you happy with the Atlantis swim??

 

[minorthr]

yes and no. Its very expensive, almost $1k for 3 people for the deepwater but we had a really good time and our son had a blast. Afterwards we really did not have a lot of time to do much in Atlantis before we had to head back to the ship.

 

[Luvzmy3boys]

We had no problems booking Blue Lagoon Dolphin swim as first timers. I think because it is pricey as far as excursions go it may not sell out as quickly. Be sure to do online checkin on the first date that you can. My boys had a wonderful time and made memories that will last a lifetime. The photo packages are pricey but better than the photos you can get yourself as they keep observers at a distance. We went to Atlantis last trip but did the water park. Walked past the dolphin swim area. That place is much bigger and it takes a while to get around the resort. Blue lagoon was way more low key and less crowded.

 

[puffkin]

We did not do the Dolphin encounter at Blue Lagoon, but we did do the beach day there last week and it was awesome. My family enjoyed it more than Castaway Cay.

 

[hudsosa]

We had no problems booking Blue Lagoon Dolphin swim as first timers. I think because it is pricey as far as excursions go it may not sell out as quickly. Be sure to do online checkin on the first date that you can. My boys had a wonderful time and made memories that will last a lifetime. The photo packages are pricey but better than the photos you can get yourself as they keep observers at a distance. We went to Atlantis last trip but did the water park. Walked past the dolphin swim area. That place is much bigger and it takes a while to get around the resort. Blue lagoon was way more low key and less crowded.

Thanks for your input!!

 

[hudsosa]

We did not do the Dolphin encounter at Blue Lagoon, but we did do the beach day there last week and it was awesome. My family enjoyed it more than Castaway Cay.

Yes, I think the beach looks pretty worth it on it's own. I hope we get an earlier time with the dolphins so that we will be able to spend some of the time at their beach.