Thread: Which Port Has the Best Dolphin Swim?

Hey cruisingthehighseas! Welcome to our friendly cruise community!

Thank you for your first hand report of this excursion.

Do explore the rest of Cruise Line Fans and chime in whenever you like!

Originally Posted by cruisingthehighseas

I recently returned from trip to Cozumel. My family and I swam with the dolphins at Chankanaab National Park. This is my first time to do so...so, can't compare to others.

I did want to reply to the posts about height. I am 5'3" and my daughter is a little shorter, plus there was an eight year old boy in our group who was under 5'0". We didn't have any trouble. You stand on the edge (as indicated by the pictures one of the posters share) and then you swim out to deeper water.

We could select different types of swims. The Royal Swim was most expensive, but the most interactive. The other swim used the boogie bards, we did not. But I saw them being used.

In our swim, we did several routines including being pushed up in the air by two dolphins who swam behind you and then used their noses to push you (using your feet). In another routine, we held on to the fins of two dolphins and they pulled you around. The other "tricks" were kissing, hugging and handshaking. The trainer had the dolphins swim by us many times so that we could pet and rub them.

I, too, recommend and agree that the trainers seem to take good care of the dolphins.





When you go to Chankanaab National Park, you can hang out there all day. They also have snuba (which is a mix between scuba and snorkling...not requiring previous experience). You do have to breath through a regulator and you are under water (up to 25 feet or so). They have two restaurants and you can also snorkle. We day we were there the water was very rough and we still enjoyed. I bet on a calm day it's even better.

First, aboard.

Second, I totally agree with you on everything. We did the same tour and absolutely thought it was great.

Thanks for all of the info everyone! i am looking forward to doing a dolphin swim on my cruise next February. I will be travelling with my 5 year old daughter so I was glad to see the discussion about the height.

Has anyone done the dolphin swim in Grand Caymen? That is another of our stops on our cruise and I wonder how it compares to the one in Cozumel.

Thanks everyone!

I am a student doing research on travel blogs, and I am planning a cruise in mid-November to the Caribbean with my wife-to-be. I never even knew about dolphin swims until now. What a cool wedding present this will be from me to her. She will be so suprised! I'm really glad I chose this to explore!

Originally Posted by randykey

I am a student doing research on travel blogs, and I am planning a cruise in mid-November to the Caribbean with my wife-to-be. I never even knew about dolphin swims until now. What a cool wedding present this will be from me to her. She will be so suprised! I'm really glad I chose this to explore!

Randy,

Your cruise is quickly approaching. Did you settle on a dolphin swim excursion? I sure hope you and your wife have an excellent vacation.

I did the one in Cozumel near the docks, not the one in the park and it was great. The dolphins swam around us, hugged us, kissed us, and gave us a ride holding on to his fins.

Our family has swam with the dolphins at both location in Cozumel and we prefer Dolphinaris too which is the one closer to the dock rather than Chak. Park because at the park the enclosure is done with metal fence and you stand on a metal platform. Your surroundings at Dolphinaris is much more natural and you feel that you are just out on the beach and walk into the ocean when you meet your dolphins. I would definately recommend Dolphinaris for anyone who is short in stature or is taking children because they can just walk into the water to where they feel comfortable.

I would recommend that you splurge for the most expensive experience you can afford because it is worth every dime and you can save a bunch of money booking dorect with the company yourself and then just take a quick taxi when you hit port.

Here are a couple of pics for you:






Be forwarned that each place charges quite a bit for the pics that they take of you but when you get pics like those above - you just can't help yourself - well at least I couldn't!

Bon Voyage!

The ones in the Carribean are amazing - but very excited to be releasing a new tour shortly in Tauranga NZ - the major difference being that you actually go out to the sea and find wild dolphins and then snorkel with them in the open ocean. I don't know of any other ports that do this?

Are there any other ports that do open ocean dolphin swims?