what if you cant swim?.

[washington6505]

I am interested in the Disney cruise western 7 day (Fantasy). I was browsing the web and saw as the ship stops they do a bunch of fun stuff. One especially was on the ocean they has this huge bouncy ball kids were climbing and jumping off of into the Ocean. What if your child cant swim?. My kids are 14 and 11 (not strong swimmers at all). Also what about sharks?

 

[lbgraves]

What would you do at home at the beach? If your kids can't swim, I guess you can see if they offer life vests otherwise don't let your kids do that if it is in deep water. There is always the possibility of sharks in the open ocean, unless there are shark nets up as there are at CC. Don't wear anything shiny in the water. There are other things online that might attract sharks.

 

[KristiMc]

At the various port stops there are many different types of activities you can do. If your kids don't swim well, don't pick a swimming excursion.

 

[JimGA]

If your kids don't swim well, don't pick a swimming excursion.

It is as simple as that.

 

[mikehn]

All the beaches Ive been to in the caribbean have life jackets, either included in the admission to the beach, or for rent. The water is too warm for sharks

 

[martinm]

All the beaches Ive been to in the caribbean have life jackets, either included in the admission to the beach, or for rent. The water is too warm for sharks

Don't you believe it!

I went fishing at CC. The whole time I (wearing polerized glasses) kept seeing a shark. So I caught a little fish and just left him on my line in distress. Sure enough the shark grabbed it.
Nobody else on the excursion seen the shark. They all thought (accept the operator) I had snagged the bottom. I told them the bottom doesn't swim.

After about 30 min on light tackle I got the shark near the boat.. This shark was over 8 feet long. The people on the excursion cancelled their para sailing excursion later in the day because of my shark.

All that being said, your more likely to fall and hurt yourself in the shower than be attacked by a shark.

 

[Rogillio]

If you kids can't swim, I suggest you find a YMCA or some other local organization and get them swimming lessons. Kids learn quickly and it is something that can potentially save their lives.

Castaway Cay is a good beach to go to if your kids are not strong swimmers because there are no crashing waves or undercurrents. The beach is a gradual slope and you won't find any sudden 'drop offs'.

 

[neg58]

If you kids can't swim, I suggest you find a YMCA or some other local organization and get them swimming lessons. Kids learn quickly and it is something that can potentially save their lives.

Castaway Cay is a good beach to go to if your kids are not strong swimmers because there are no crashing waves or undercurrents. The beach is a gradual slope and you won't find any sudden 'drop offs'.

I agree that there is no time like the present (and no better motivation than a cruise) to get kids swimming. It's a life skill.

I'd be very concerned with 11 and 14 year olds swimming on the ship with the other kids. Your kids will want to participate and may overestimate their own abilities, may be unwilling or unable to say no to rough play or simply get knocked around by the other kids in the clubs or pools.

My mother wasn't/isn't a good swimmer (she's a world class floater, having lived by the ocean most of her life). She made sure all of us took all the swimming lessons we could and she even took a Red cross class herself (passed but was told not to try to save anyone -ever!).

Nancy

 

[Capt_BJ]

The water is too warm for sharks

The folks running the shark dives in Nassau and Freeport are sure gonna be surprised to learn this!

UNEXSO pioneered this exciting dive almost 20 years ago and was the first to offer shark diving on Grand Bahama Island. Our staff are considered experts in shark behavior and conservation and will organize an up close and personal experience with the sharks at UNEXSO's Shark Junction. The expanded pre-dive briefing dispels the misconceptions about sharks, covers information about shark behavior and highlights interesting facts about these misunderstood creatures. During the dive, you'll observe these magnificent creatures as our experienced staff feeds and interacts with sharks of all sizes. You will come away from the experience with a new appreciation of these beautiful animals and understand the need for increased conservations measures.


Stuart Cove: This could quite possibly be the most exciting dives you will ever do. Stuart Coves Shark Adventure" is a 2-tank dive program which introduces thrill seeking divers to wild sharks and provides you a close up look at these magnificent and misunderstood creatures.
There are currently four sites where we dive with the sharks. You will dive either the combination of "Shark Wall" and "The Arena" or the combination of "Runway Wall" and "The Runway". At either location encounter a gathering of Caribbean Reef Sharks on a consistent basis.

 

[Moxin]

All the beaches Ive been to in the caribbean have life jackets, either included in the admission to the beach, or for rent. The water is too warm for sharks

Bull sharks and tiger sharks love warm water...make no mistake about it. That said, Caribbean isn't exactly known for it's predators though.

 

[lanejudy]

I am interested in the Disney cruise western 7 day (Fantasy). I was browsing the web and saw as the ship stops they do a bunch of fun stuff. One especially was on the ocean they has this huge bouncy ball kids were climbing and jumping off of into the Ocean. What if your child cant swim?. My kids are 14 and 11 (not strong swimmers at all). Also what about sharks?

OP, while I'm not familiar with the specific excursion you are asking about...my thoughts are that if the kids are jumping into the ocean it likely is deep enough to be over their heads. How do your kids feel about that? Will they be comfortable, or terrified? As a former lifeguard, I know many "not strong swimmers" who were still comfortable enough to swim in somewhat deeper water, jump in, get to a ladder to climb out, etc. How do YOU feel about them swimming in water at that depth? There may be lifejackets available -- but would an 11 yr old or 14 yr old want to wear one if other kids their age aren't? Maybe the description of the excursion indicates lifejackets, or maybe you can call to ask. You'll have to decide for your family.

There are usually lots of non-water excursions and activities available if that is preferred.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[hpsalb]

I don't know about that specific activity, but all of the attractions like you describe that I have ever seen require everyone - regardless of age - to wear a life jacket.

That being said, sign your kids up for swim lessons. Letting them remain "poor" swimmers at this age and beyond nearly guarantees that they will always be poor swimmers. I used to teach and if children were not comfortable in the water by elementary school, it became much harder to learn, especially once they became teens/adults. I would not consider an activity like that if they were not proficient swimmers, life jacket or not. If that doesn't pan out, pick another activity - there are plenty of fun ones

 

[Kitster]

The water is too warm for sharks

Someone better inform the Caribbean Reef sharks that the water is too warm for them. This photo was taken on a snorkeling trip in Nassau thru Stuart Cove, and the shark was only about 6 feet below me. Having said that, it was not aggressive in any way, just kind swam around and looked bored. BTW, this snorkel stop was made just so us crazy people COULD snorkel with the sharks....hubby stayed on the boat.

OP, please consider swimming lessons for your children. There is so much to see and do when in the Caribbean/Bahamas. If your children learned to swim and became comfortable swimming in the open ocean, it opens up a whole new world of amazing sites to enjoy. Hubby has never forgotten getting 'noggin' from a sea turtle the 1st time I coaxed him into an open water snorkel adventure. Of course, he's also never forgotten being the main course for a school of yellow-tail snappers, either.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you kids can't swim, I suggest you find a YMCA or some other local organization and get them swimming lessons.

Absolutely.


If you don't do that, don't let your kids get in the water, especially the ocean. What a recipe for utter disaster and heartbreak.





Regarding sharks.....
Here's a sign that's on Castaway Cay.

 

[Zeppelin]

I am interested in the Disney cruise western 7 day (Fantasy). I was browsing the web and saw as the ship stops they do a bunch of fun stuff. One especially was on the ocean they has this huge bouncy ball kids were climbing and jumping off of into the Ocean. What if your child cant swim?. My kids are 14 and 11 (not strong swimmers at all). Also what about sharks?

sounds like Fury Catamaran snorkel and sail....there's a 40 minute snorkel before you get to the beach with all the bouncy balls and stuff you can slide into the ocean...great excursion...

they made a point of telling us there are no sharks in Cozumel...

before we took our first Disney cruise we sent our daughter for swimming lessons....worked perfectly though she was younger than your kids...

 

[Kitster]

Regarding sharks.....
Here's a sign that's on Castaway Cay.

I've seen the barracuda out at Serenity Bay. It's a regular occupant, and if I'm not mistaken, the CM's have named it Fred.

 

[dcassetta]

they made a point of telling us there are no sharks in Cozumel...

They were fibbing to you. If you are in salt water, there can be sharks, and a variety of species live in the area around Cozumel. However, please remember that millions of people go in the ocean every year and there are fewer than 100 reported attacks.

Swimming lessons should be of much greater concern than sharks.

 

[aaklang]

rent them life jackets or choose a different excursion.

Really though, kids that age should know how to swim. It's a critical safety skill and important throughout life. A 14 year old might be too embarrassed to wear a life jacket and could take it off to be cool, and then get into trouble because he can't swim. He needs to learn.

The likelihood of being attacked by a shark is incredibly low. Impossible, of course not. But most certainly not likely. These beaches do TONS of business from the cruise ships every year and people wouldn't be flocking to the beaches if there was a high risk of shark attacks. Just don't swim with an open, bleeding wound.

 

[Castillo Mom]

The family beach on CC has a predator net. However, SB doesn't and I can assure you there are sharks. Last cruise we were lying on the beach when I saw a dark shadow moving pretty quickly through the water. After a while the shark turned and swam back the other way. By this time a small crowd of people had formed along with a couple of CMs who were pointing at it so I walked down with my camera and caught a good glimpse of it through my lens. It didn't look that big, maybe 3 or 4 feet. It wouldn't keep me from swimming at SB in the future though, I haven't ever heard of a shark attack at CC.

 

[TXDCLfan]

I am interested in the Disney cruise western 7 day (Fantasy). I was browsing the web and saw as the ship stops they do a bunch of fun stuff. One especially was on the ocean they has this huge bouncy ball kids were climbing and jumping off of into the Ocean. What if your child cant swim?. My kids are 14 and 11 (not strong swimmers at all). Also what about sharks?

Then do not let them get into the water period! Accidents happen please have you children take swimming lessons