Questions about Dolphin Excursion in Nassau

[TumFamily]

Hi --

I didnt notice anyone mentioning that you can spend time on the island. Lunch was included and we sat outside by the water. There were very few people there. It was amazing. We had our own area to relax and enjoy the beautiful Bahama beach!!!

 

[Mdavison]

Bump!

 

[Hanover]

In February 2005, Me, dh, and then ds7 and ds3 did the Blue Lagoon Dolphin encounter (our ds turned 4 on the trip) and we all loved it. We've also done the dolphin encounters in Cozumel and Anguilla (from St. Maarten) and liked the Blue Lagoon the best. The boys had seen, felt and fed dolphins at Sea World before the BL excursion, but loved being in the water with them and interacting with them. We also enjoyed playing at the beach after our encounter. I couldn't recommend the excursion more.

 

[Mdavison]

Bumping up thread.

 

[Amlee]

Just to add, for those of you that don't know this. The BL dolphins were the ones used in the "Flipper" movie with Elijah Woods and Paul Hogan. Just a fun FYI!

 

[poconoboatniks]

We did the BL swim in Feb05 & Anguilla in Apr 04. Our kids were 7 & 10 at the time of the BL swim. BL is by far a better experience than the one in Anguilla. After the Anguilla excursion, I did see some negative comments about the man who owns that property. The comments concerned the way he got his dolphins, not about how they were treated. You can do a google search about both properties if you want more info on the excursions. Both properties are breathtakingly beautiful.

Our BL rep told us that they had the dolphins from the MaryKate & Ashley movie. I never saw the movie, so I don't know what she was talking about.

Pocono

 

[Mdavison]

bumping up thread

 

[Mdavison]

Bumping thread up!

 

[disallday!]

My DH, DD, DS, & I as well as our neices and nephews did this! We loved it, even though we had a cranky trainer

Just a little info... there are three different Dolphin Encounters. One is where you are completely in the water with the dolphins, the second is standing on a platform petting the dolphin & watching him do some tricks (we did this one), and the third is being an observer on deck.

My sister sent her kids with me & DH but had to pay the observer fee to watch kids.

The island was neat and we got a drink & lunch included with our excursion!

Have fun!

 

[littleprincessmom]

Hi!

We took our 1st ever DCL trip in June and did the Dolphin Swim/Encounter! I would HIGHLY recommend both.

You can't book the swim through Disney - only the Encounter. They will let you upgrade to a swim (by paying the cost difference) if there is availability that day. We booked directly through Dolphin Encounters because several of us really wanted to do the swim and wanted to ensure it was available!

MIL (60s), me (30s) and DD6 did the Swim. DH and DD4 and the other relatives did the encounter. We all enjoyed the experience but those of us who did the swim were just blown away by it. With trying skydiving in my earlier and less cautious days, this was truly a great "life" experience!

It is expensive but is something you might only do once in a lifetime. While we are all swimmers, there were a couple of nonswimmers who did the SWIM. You wear well fitting life jackets so you don't have to worry about treading water. The Dolphin push was incredible. I actually got to do it twice b/c DD6 had trouble getting up and I went back and she "piggybacked" on me.

We also got to stay and help them "hydrate" our dolphins (they run a hose down their throats and pour bottled water directly into their stomachs - apparently dolphins have no gag reflex). The trainer told us that dolphins in the wild get their water from fresh fish but because the dolphins at Blue Lagoon are fed frozen fish, they have to be careful to make sure that they are kept hydrated.

Really a neat experience, that I would highly recommend. Please let me know if you have any questions!

 

[Mdavison]

How did you get over to the Island? Seeing that if you book it with Dolphin Encounters you have to go to the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal, and how much was it to get over to the island?

 

[Mdavison]

Bumping Thread up

 

[Mdavison]

Bumping up thread.

 

[Mdavison]

Anyone out There???

 

[disallday!]

How did you get over to the Island? Seeing that if you book it with Dolphin Encounters you have to go to the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal, and how much was it to get over to the island?

Is one of the ports you are going to Nassau?

I know at one point Disney stopped the dolphin encounters with Blue Lagoon, so back then you would have to go out on your own to find dolphin encounters.

Now...I have been checking their excursions and I see DCL has a dolphin encounter listed under Nassau excursions. If you book thru Disney, they take care of setting you up to be taken to the place.

Check this out for more info:

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/ports/excursionListing?name=NassauExcursionsLandingPage

Click on the view details and it will tell you that the package includes travel to and from the excursion in the price!

Good luck!

 

[littleprincessmom]

We took a taxi from the port to Paradise Island Ferry Terminal. It was only about a 5 minute ride and I believe cost about $4 per adult (the kids were free). We had a great taxi driver - no problems whatsoever. On the way back, the ferry takes you all the way back to port so there is no need for a taxi on the return trip.

We loved our swims and encounters! Have a blast!

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

I have read all the threads referenced on this topic, and see that taking the taxi for about $4 per adult works if you don't book through Disney. The Disney price for the Encounter is $99 while booking directly is $85 per adult. Besides cancellation being easier with Disney, is there any other reason NOT to book directly??

 

[I M Grumpy]

Anybody know if there is time to do both the Dolphins and the Garden and city bus tour?
Looking at a Navigator it looks like we can make both but don't want to over book.
Thanks.

 

[disallday!]

Anybody know if there is time to do both the Dolphins and the Garden and city bus tour?
Looking at a Navigator it looks like we can make both but don't want to over book.
Thanks.

You may be cutting it close... You'll be awhile with the boat ride to and from, then being shuffled into one group to hear instructions, next being divided into groups and if you purchase pictures, the wait for that.

Plus you may want to see Blue Lagoon and walk around a little.

Just my opinion though, someone may tell you different! Have fun on your vacation

 

[Amlee]

I have read all the threads referenced on this topic, and see that taking the taxi for about $4 per adult works if you don't book through Disney. The Disney price for the Encounter is $99 while booking directly is $85 per adult. Besides cancellation being easier with Disney, is there any other reason NOT to book directly??

The BIGGEST reason for booking with the cruise line directly is if something happens and you don't get back to the dock in time. The ship will wait for you. If you go out on your own, and the cab breaks, boat breaks, etc... Then the ship will sail away with out you.