Which Dolphin Trip to take

[MandM]

We're on the 10/20 4 day with a stop in Nassau and Freeport. Any idea which dolphin trip is better. The Nassau Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter or the Freeport Sanctuary Bay Dolphin Encounter

 

[cruisnfamily]

MandM:
I don't know for sure as we haven't gone yet but when I asked the same question you asked, this is what I was told:

1)Both Dolphin Encounters are exactly the same
2)Blue Lagoon also includes the "beach day" which is why it is more expensive.

Don't know if this is true but based on this info, we have booked the Freeport Excursion as we will be doing the beach thing at Castaway Cay.

Hope this helps! Maybe someone with personal experience will chime in.

 

[castawayfan]

We did the one in Freeport and it was terrible, not worth the money at all - we only spent 2 minutes in the water with the dolphins. I understand from other posts that the one in Nassau is really different and a good experience.

 

[Disneylovers]

We did the Nassau encounter in June. You go into the water for a "photo op", get out, then about ten people at a time get into the water. The time you interact with the dolphin is about 15 minutes. Was it worth it? Definitely! I was a sick puppy for the whole day, and didn't think I'd make it off the Wonder, but once I got into the water, I was so thrilled to see that magnificent creature, I forgot how awful I felt! My younger DD (9) was freaked by the size of "Shaun", so she hung onto me, and the handler was very patient with her. The beach day is o.k., we didn't take advantage of it, cuz I was miserable, but it's a different feel than Castaway Cay.

 

[stitchfansmom]

We just returned from a 4-day Wonder and did the Dolphin Swim in Nassau, which is more expensive ($145 pp - be prepared to shell out another $100 or so on photos/videos) than the encounter and requires advance booking directly through Dolphin Encounters (I've been told at least 60 days; however, I sent them an e-mail about 6 weeks prior to our cruise and after not hearing from them for a couple of weeks they confirmed). They tell you that you have to get your own transportation to Paradise Island where the ferry leaves to take you to the Dolphin Encounters place; however, the DCL encounter excursion was for the same time, so DS and I showed up in the lounge at the designated time and asked if we could go with them and they allowed us to (although we were told we were supposed to arrange our own transportation; however, they allowed us on anyway). The boat stops at the ferry terminal to pick up the people who paid for the taxi over and I had to debark briefly to pick up our prepaid tickets. On the ride back, you definitely can stay on the boat, unless you want to stop at Atlantis.

We were completely immersed in the water with the dolphins for about 25-30 minutes. We were 10 people with 2 dolphins. At the end you lay flat in the water on your stomach and a dolphin swims up behind you and propels you into the air by pushing on the back of your foot. It is quite an experience. We just returned home yesterday and watched our video last night. I highly recommend doing this. Some people we met on the ferry did the encounter (which is about half the price but you don't go all the way in the water) and enjoyed it.

I have heard that the Nassau people are much better organized than the ones in Freeport. A friend who did the Freeport one in June told me he wasn't happy with the video or photos.

There is a really good report on DIS about the Dolphin Swim in Nassau which I don't have time to track down the link; however, I posted it in another thread about three weeks ago.

Have a great time!