Need Help On Booking Dolphin Excursion In Nassau!

[DonaldsGrl103]

Ok Guys we are going on our first cruise ever in August. We are going on the 4 day wonder and have always dreamed to swim with the dolphins. Can someone please explain what is the difference with booking with disney and booking with the companys website dolphinswim. com?
Disneys cost 120 I believe but the companys website offers two different things - one being 85 and one I believe being 165. So what is the best option for us and what do we do about transportation? Also if we book with the companys website when should we do it? Our cruise is August 28th

Thanks From A First Time Confused Cruiser

*** Also the person I am coming with does not really swim too well but wants to do this- would that be a problem??

 

[chasbos]

Let me start by saying the Dolphin Encounter was great and it was a highlight of our cruise! With booking with Disney you get transportation to and from Blue Lagoon Island included in the price and you also get lunch included (there is not much on the island). If you book through the company itself you will have to arrange for your own transportation and either bring your lunch or purchase it on the island (cash only and very$$). The ferries return at 2 and 4 so you are there for quite awhile.

Now the $165 price through the company is for the Dolphin Swim and you can only do the swim directly through the company (Disney only offers the Dolphin Encounter).

I would think that if your travelling companion is not very comfortable in water that the Dolphin Encounter would be good - you stand on a platform that is about 3 ft in the water.

So I guess you have to decide if the price difference is worth finding your own transportation over to the island or letting Disney worry about everything. We opted for the Disney do everything - I was on holidays and did not want any worries!

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[cepmom]

I don't have any info on the dolphin swim/encounter, but just wanted to say we're on the same cruise! We're actually looking into the dolphin swim/encounter also but have not yet decided what to do. We have 3 kids, ages 15, 8 and 5. The oldest would rather do the swim while the middle has said she was interested in the encounter. My youngest does not want to do either. Are you going with any children?

 

[chasbos]

cepmom - We were with our 4 children (13, 11, 9, & 6) Our 11 yo also wanted to do the Swim but chose to stay with the family. When they had us all assembled they announced that there were still 8 spots open for the swim and if you paid the difference you could go (cash only). So I guess you could chance the fact that they do have open spots available for the swim.

We really enjoyed the whole exerience as a family - everlasting memories! But it is hard to keep all the kids happy when their ages are so different!

 

[Billinaz]

we booked ours with them directly at www.dolphinswims.com

We did not have to be there all day that way, only about 4 hours.

You go there on the same ferry and it is less expensive....

 

[DonaldsGrl103]

No SOrry its only us two adults but we still need your guys help and advice please

 

[tawasdave]

We did the 04/04/04 Cruise and did the encounter and booked through Disney...Was Myself..Disney dad 46...son 15 and daughter 12...my daughter loves dolphins so that was a no brainer..she loved it...my son however was just ok with it...until the dolphin decided he was going to be the one he picked on during our encounter...we laughed so hard..I had to buy the video..if your friend is not a big swimmer..I would also do the encounter...now some things you need to know...

1) They give you wet suits to put on..use them..the encounter is under a canopy and can be chilly even when hot outside

2) They do provide small lockers free of charge for you to use...

3) It is virtually impossible to take any good pictures while doing the encounter unless you split up...so plan on buying pics or the video...I was determined not to buy it...but when the dolphin started picking on my son..well.....

4) If you buy the video, go to lunch after your encounter then go back and get the video...just make sure you tell them you want the video first...we waited and waited and waited for the video..then had to skip part of lunch to make the first boat back.

5)Which leads to a comment about lunch....You would think that doing this everyday they would have lunch down to a science...but it appeared that the employees wanted to fight more with each other than serve..so the line moves at a snails pace...

6)Next..if you are planning on going to Atlantis..be aware that on the boat ride back..it stops at Atlantis first..just have to get off the boat and save a taxi trip....but be aware..if you plan on doing any shopping in Nassau...you will have little time to shop..we did not get back to Nassau until 3-3:30...stores close at 5 to 5:30...

Well hope that helps..any more questions..just ask...Good luck...

 

[Blackunicorn]

If you book through the company itself you will have to arrange for your own transportation

Actually, it says on the website, "Includes boat round-trip to Blue Lagoon Island."

How expensive is lunch on the island?

 

[churchlady]

We were on the 4/7 Wonder and did the Dolphins, booking directly through the company. We are a family of 5 and did the Encounter, not the swim. Booking direct saved us money and time. The website was www.shoretrips.com. They are very easy to deal with. We packed a picnic lunch of hotdogs from the ship, but I've heard others have had room service pack their picnic. We got off the boat and took a taxi ($4 apiece) to the ferry terminal. The ferry left for the Blue Lagoon at 1:00 or 1:30 O think. The return ferry is at 4:00. The return ferry stops at the ferry terminal, but they tell the Disney people to stay on and they dropped us right back at St. George's port where the boats are. The wetsuits were a must! You stand on a platform in about 3 feet of water. Our DD's 8,10,12 loved it. We bought the video ($48) and two pics at $14 each. They had also blown up and framed a big picture of our family for $37, but they didn't do this for everyone. All in all it worked out well and we made some lasting memories!

 

[coco]

We were on the Wonder 04/14 -04/17 and I had tried to book the dolphin swim directly but they were sold out. So I booked the dolphin encounter through Disney. I'm glad I went through Disney. We had just been sailing for about 3 hours on Friday night when there was a medical emergency and the Captain had to turn the boat around and we headed back to Port Canaveral. Instead of docking in Nassau Saturday morning at 9:00 we didn't get in until just before 2:00pm so our excursion was cancelled. Because we had booked through Disney our account was just credited back. No hassle. If you book directly throught the company your payment is non-refundable.
Just something to consider.

 

[chasbos]

Very good point coco! You just never know if you will arrive on time!

The cost of lunch kinda shocked me! We booked with Disney so we were given a coupon and picked what we wanted to eat. They had prices on the menu and I think a hamburger was something like 8$. There was ribs and chicken also - more $ than the burgers. We joked as a family that we would not want to have to eat on that island too often!

 

[lovethatdisney]

It is a point well taken that if the ship doesnt make it to port then you have a little insurance when booked through Disney.

However, in my opinion, the experience with the dolphin swim far out weighs the encounter. If you plan to do this only once and want the opportunity of a lifetime, the dolphin swim is the way to go! You are in the water with these incredible animals -and the interaction is delightful! Personally, I would have been disappointed with the encounter. It is something I will never forget and my husband, son and mother feel the same. Dont short change yourself if its affordable for you and comfortable.

As far as your friend: You are provided with a life jacket and are kept bouyant the entire experience. There are several trainers with you at all times. He/She will need to be comfortable in water over his head, however. If that is out of the question and they are fearful of deep water, then make the most of the encounter.

Hope that helps. Have the best time ever!

 

[MrsPete]

I tried to book independently; however, the company told me that Disney had "bought all the tickets" for that particular day. I don't understand why they'd do this some days and not others. Having done it once though, it was a good deal. The ferry ride is something like 45 minutes, and I don't know how you could book that independently. Also, it included our lunch; the food was good, but the free punch was thick and sugary -- take your own, or take money to buy sodas.

Once you're on the island, you can do the dolphin encounter then stay as long as you want (with the ferry's schedule in mind, of course) on Blue Lagoon Island. Blue Lagoon beach is FREE once you're on the island.

They didn't give us wetsuits, but the weather was perfect. Perhaps the wetsuits are the the swim, not the encounter.

Non-swimmers -- no problem. You stand on a metal grate thing in the water, which was just above my waist. You're not out in the ocean with the dolphin.

 

[DonaldsGrl103]

also when should we book this the latest through the company for our late august wonder cruise??
Also what time is the best time to book with the company?? morning or noon?
THANKS

 

[Blackunicorn]

Once you're on the island, you can do the dolphin encounter then stay as long as you want (with the ferry's schedule in mind, of course) on Blue Lagoon Island.

This is a good point. I did some more research, and it appears that the extra money that Disney charges is for lunch AND beach time. If you book directly through Dolphin Encounters, their FAQ states that you can't stay and enjoy their beach afterward, you must return on the boat. (I haven't got a clue if they've got a way to stop you, or tell who's paid, or what.) If that's the case, then booking through Disney might be a better deal than it appears at first glance.

Also according to the Dolphin Encounters website FAQ's, They release their schedule 3-6 months in advance, so you can try calling now, if you want. I couldn't find anything more specific than that.

I'm a newbie, so I'm afraid I can't answer the question of what time to book your excursion for, but I'm interested in the answer!

 

[ResortsFrmrCM]

I am also indecisive about booking the dolphin encounter with Disney or directly with the company. Our first cruise will be this October and my daughter will be 3. Disney charges you for a 3 year old while the company's site says 3 and under are free. Seems like an obvious decision to save money but I'm also concerned because I know I'm cruising in "hurricane season" when we leave Ocotber 16th. I would really hate for our cruise to be re-routed due to a hurricane and not get my money back becasue I did not book thru Disney. Decisions, decisions!!! Anyone ever have any luck getting money back from the company directly because of bad weather?

Jen

 

[DonaldsGrl103]

Resorts
I am too since we are also cruising in the hurricane season and was wondering what would happen if the ship had to get rerouted because of bad weather??
any help thanks

 

[UGAFan0829]

Just to let you know also-
One reason for the difference in the price is because the excursion that Disney does, which is the Dolphin Enocunter, is just that. You only encounter the dolphins. You are in shallow water standing on a platform, and each person gets to interact with the dolphin doing different things. But you don't actually swim with the dolphins.
To do the actual Dolphin Swim you would have to book through the company, just like you already mentioned, and as stated before you would be responsible for arranging your own transportation over to Blue Lagoon.
The DH and I did the Encounter on our cruise back in Jan. and absolutely loved it. We highly recommend it. Another good thing about doing the Encounter through Disney is that your lunch is included on the island, so you don't have to worry about that!
HTH!

 

[HowieHowie]

This is our first cruise and first time visiting Nassau. I am going to book the Dolphin encounter through Disney. Is there enough time to do the Dolphin encounter and get back to go to the straw market and look around in the stores before our early seating.

 

[tawasdave]

We did the early encounter on the 04/04/04 cruise...we made it back to the ship around 3:30...had time to do the straw market..which closes at 5 or 5:30..not sure...have fun