The BEST swim with the Dolphins Program!!!

[GeneralMax]

We are just back from the March 15th Magic Western Cruise and I wanted to share with the group the BEST swim with the dolphins program I have ever found in Cozumel.

We have done this program with other companies in other places and it usually involves the dolphin swimming by while you pat its back and then a photo op while you "kiss" the dolphin. This program is really swiming with the dolphins.

We booked the prgram through ShoreTrips.com. The dolphin swim was the highlight of our cruise. You really swim with the dolphins. You hold on to the fins of two dolphins while they pull you through the water. They push you out of the water with their noses on your feet! The cruise ship's dolphin swim is at the same place and only includes touching the dolphins. This was amazing.

My husband bought the video and trust me he never buys this stuff. We have watched it over and over again and we have only been home for two days! What a memory.

Take a look you will love it!

 

[moocow35]

I definately agree! I booked directly with Dolphin Discovery. We bought all the pictures, they were having technical difficulties with the video, so we didn't even see it. It was an amazing experience that everyone should do!

Robin ºOº

 

[GeneralMax]

I am so sorry that you did not get a copy of the video but having the pictures and the wonderful experience are just as good!!

 

[rae519]

Thanks for that report - this is exactly what DH and I are looking for!!!!

Was there an age limit for children? Our DS will be 8.

Rae

 

[bigtime]

HI GENERALMAX

Sounds like the dolphin swim was an awesome experience! I have booked the dolphin swim directly w/ dolphin discovery. This sounds the same, I was wondering if you (or anyone else) knows if this is the same. They charged me 119.00 pp and said there were 2 dolphins to swim with per group of 8max (we are 5)

Any feed back would be appreciated!!!

Dee

 

[two4ruff]

Thanks for the great review!!
We have our reservations for May...I can't wait!

 

[two4ruff]

PS
Rae519 - We were told 8 is the minimum age...our son just made it by two months!

 

[rae519]

HURRAH! Thanks for letting me know - we definitely are going to do this and I think DS will really enjoy it! He will be 8 at the end of May - so our sons will be approximately the same age for their experience!!!

Rae

 

[momofofo22]

How long in advance you have to book the dolphin swim ?

We want to do it on our next trip. It is a must. I always dream to swim with dolphins.

 

[buzz638]

Hi momofofo22

We are booked on the western cruise ob 08/16/03
and we booked the dolphin swin on february 24th.

Since they only take 8 person per swim, and i think there's 2 or 3 swim per day,and for us cruisers we only have the one day the ship is in cozumel, it give us only 1 or 2 shot of booking this excursion. So yes i think you should book as soon as you can.
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Thanks for the nice review, if anyone as pictures of the excursion could you put a link on this board so we can see them.
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Thank you
Steff

 

[tchalene]

We just did the dolphin swim in Anguilla on the Magic Eastern, March 8th. I have to admit it was a little disappointing. I thought we'd be doing more swimming with them. We really only got to touch them a little and kiss them. I wanted to hold their fins and get pulled through the water. Don't get me wrong, just being close to them was really cool. However, it wasn't what I really expected. This was booked thru DCL and Dolphin Fantaseas while we were in St. Maartin. If you're going to swim with the dolphins, just be sure you know how much swimming activities you'll get. Different places do different things. Good luck.

 

[Grumbo]

Hi tchalene I was wondering if you could give a bit more info on the Anguilla Dolphin Fantaseas excursion. I see it is $180 per adult through DCL. It is $125 through the company directly. What is involved in getting to their location and do you get $65.00 extra worth of value?
Just wondering as there would be 5 of us and $325.00 savings towards a boat trip there would be fine if it is a viable option.
Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[momofofo22]

Hi Buzz 638,

I will book very soon because I don't want to miss this excursion.

Did you book directly with "Dolphin discovery" ?

I know that we have to pay in full when we make the reservation. Do they have a policy to reimburse if you have to cancel your cruise or if the boat doesn't go to Cozumel ?

 

[disneyeveryyear]

Hi Momofofo22--

I "chatted" online with Dolphin Discovery last week. They told me that they charge your credit card as soon as you book. However, if your ship does not dock due to bad weather, they will check and make sure, and then they refund your money to your credit card.

If you have any questions, they have an on-line chat link at their website, www.dolphindiscovery.com. They were wonderful about answering all of the questions I had. I did find out that since my daughter will only be 5 we can't participate in the dolphin swim, we must the dolphin encounter. You'll have to check about booking your dolphin swim yourself. They don't book any dolphin encounters on Wednesdays because there are so many cruise ships there that all of the shops are taken by shore excursions.

We'll be going in November and I can hardly wait!

 

[momofofo22]

Thanks for the info. It is very appreciated.

 

[GeneralMax]

Lots of good answers to questions already but I am going to back up and try to answer everything myself in case it helps.

The minimum age to particiapte is eight. To be honest the eight year old needs to be a confident swimmer to participate in everything. My eight year old skipped a couple of the swim items like being pushed by his feet and pulled by the dolphins' fins. This was more his doing then the company. Their was a person in the water and he offered to help him.

I think you can book at anytime. I booked several monthes in advance - before you could book the Disney excursions. I booked through a tour company because I was sure that if we did not make port I would get a refund but I liked the dolphin discovery people too. I just felt more confident with a company recommended by my travel agent if there were problems.

I paid $119 per person. You have to have a paid adult for each child under age 12. We had two adults and two kids. I think it was lucky that they required this. I would not have paid for the adukts if I did not have to and we loved it as much as the kids..maybe more!!!

ENJOY!!!

 

[tchalene]

Re to Grumbo...

There is a boat that came and took us from St. Maartin's dock to Anguilla. It took about 45 minutes to get there. Then we got on a 15 minute bus ride to the Dolphin Fantasea place. I'm not sure how you would book the excursion on your own on a day that Disney is in port. It seemed that we were the only group there.

 

[buzz638]

I could not have answer more correctly myself.
Momster's absolutely right on everything, and yes at dolphindiscover they are very nice, i spoke with Marian Davies and she was very helpful.
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If i may add, she did confirm that the ONLY reason they would refund is if the ship does not dock the day of your excursion.
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Momofofo22, when are you taking your cruise ?
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Have a nice day all

Steff

 

[momofofo22]

Hi Buzz638,

We are going on the Magic Feb 28th 2004.

I have two DD's 15 and 13 and they will love to swim with the dolphins.

My only concern is if I paid in full amount (which is a lot a money because I am canadian) what happen if I have to cancel the cruise. I understand that they refund if the boat did'nt make it to Cozumel. I guess I will have to ask them the question about a cancellation of a trip. I will ask too my travel insurance maybe they will reimburse.

I want to reserve as soon as possible. However, if I do it many months in advance anything can happen (sickness, death in the family) and I can be in the obligation to cancel the cruise.

 

[tchalene]

If you're reserving your excursions thru Disney, you can cancel/change up to just a few days before you leave.