melli_fera Posted January 18, 2012 #1 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I'm considering booking a sea lion encounter at Dolphin Encounters at Blue Lagoon. I went there in August for dolphin encounter but booked through the ship so we had direct ferry to/from the port. According to Dolphin Encounters, we'd have to take a cab (by land) to the ferry terminal at Paradise island to catch their ferry, and we'd be taken back to the ferry terminal to catch a cab back to the port. I'm trying to figure out the timeframe for all this. I'd appreciate feedback from anyone with experience in the area. We set sail out of nassau at 6PM. The last ferry out of Blue Lagoon is at 4PM. Would we have enough time (giving room for traffic or whatever), to get back to board by 5:30? I'm so paranoid about getting left behind! Can anyone estimate how long it takes to get from the ferry terminal at paradise island to the port?? Dolphin Encounters has great reviews, and I'm sure that they make it a point to get people back to port on time, but, you can never be too prepared! Thanks for your help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubagirrl Posted January 18, 2012 #2 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I'm considering booking a sea lion encounter at Dolphin Encounters at Blue Lagoon. I went there in August for dolphin encounter but booked through the ship so we had direct ferry to/from the port. According to Dolphin Encounters, we'd have to take a cab (by land) to the ferry terminal at Paradise island to catch their ferry, and we'd be taken back to the ferry terminal to catch a cab back to the port. I'm trying to figure out the timeframe for all this. I'd appreciate feedback from anyone with experience in the area. We set sail out of nassau at 6PM. The last ferry out of Blue Lagoon is at 4PM. Would we have enough time (giving room for traffic or whatever), to get back to board by 5:30? I'm so paranoid about getting left behind! Can anyone estimate how long it takes to get from the ferry terminal at paradise island to the port?? Dolphin Encounters has great reviews, and I'm sure that they make it a point to get people back to port on time, but, you can never be too prepared! Thanks for your help! Yes, the trip is only 20 minutes.. and then you need to grab a cab which could be another 40 minutes in traffic.. BUT.. You can likely take the ferry back to the port dock.. since there should be cruises going back to the ship on the 4pm ferry as well Just ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melli_fera Posted January 18, 2012 Author #3 Share Posted January 18, 2012 I'll ask...I would think they only have a certain amount of spots, for those who paid the ship excursion. Who knows? I just want to be back to the ship and in line by 5:15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limeyalchemist Posted January 19, 2012 #4 Share Posted January 19, 2012 They typically have two returns trips. One at 2:30 and another at 4pm. When we went there, we returned directly to the cruise port and we were back within 30 minutes. Even if you need a cab, it is only a 5 minute drive from the ferry terminal to paradise island, depending on traffic. Check http://www.cruisett.com for a listing of how many other cruise ships are in port the day that you are there. That will give you a sense of how busy it'll be. Most of the ships do leave at 6 pm. Have a great trip. We love Blue Lagoon Island, and are booked to go back again in 55 days, this time we booked direct and will be taking the cab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melli_fera Posted January 21, 2012 Author #5 Share Posted January 21, 2012 So now dolphin encounters is giving me a hard time because I'm an NCL passenger and I need to book through NCL. I heard through CC that this would be a possibility. Thing is, NCL doesn't offer the sea lion excursion. So I sent an email back telling them the sea lions are not an option on NCL and that I want to book it directly with them. We'll see what they say. There should most definitely be a disclaimer on their website stating their policy with cruise line passengers. I shouldn't have told them where I was staying. Lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancersp119 Posted January 22, 2012 #6 Share Posted January 22, 2012 So now dolphin encounters is giving me a hard time because I'm an NCL passenger and I need to book through NCL. I heard through CC that this would be a possibility. Thing is, NCL doesn't offer the sea lion excursion. So I sent an email back telling them the sea lions are not an option on NCL and that I want to book it directly with them. We'll see what they say. There should most definitely be a disclaimer on their website stating their policy with cruise line passengers. I shouldn't have told them where I was staying. Lol. cruised on ncl last week and booked the sea lion encounter directly with ncl.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limeyalchemist Posted January 22, 2012 #7 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I had that problem last year. This time I booked through this excursion company that charges the same/similar price that Blue Lagoon island charges, that is much cheaper than NCL. It also avoids BL not being able to book you because of their contract with NCL. Here is the excursion booking site...http://swimwithdolphinsbahamas.com/blue-lagoon-sea-lion-encounter.html http://http://swimwithdolphinsbahamas.com/blue-lagoon-sea-lion-encounter.html For example, the beach day is $52 instead of $69 with NCL. The sea lion encounter is $80 rather $90+ on the cruise site. Hope this helps. Have a great time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limeyalchemist Posted January 22, 2012 #8 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Wow. Just checked NCL price for sea lion encounter and it is $144 compared to the price above that I just posted ($80). Great example of cruise line markup. Don't pay full price. http://www2.ncl.com/excursions/search?Ntt=NAS_35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melli_fera Posted January 22, 2012 Author #9 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Wow I didn't know NCL had the sealion trip. It never showed up as one of my options. I'll look into that other company. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melli_fera Posted January 22, 2012 Author #10 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Hey Limey, So you used them before and they're legit? You would recommend them? I haven't heard back from BL today and I'd like to book this ASAP as we're only 10 days out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limeyalchemist Posted January 23, 2012 #11 Share Posted January 23, 2012 We booked through the swim with dolphins website. We're going to BL on March 21 for the beach day, so we'll find out. I have no reason to doubt that they are legit. They are one of the main excursion operators. Scubagirl - what do you think about booking through swimwithdolphins? I think the company name is Best On Travel. If you go first, can you let me know how it was? The only difference between this excursion and the NCL one is that you have to catch a taxi to Paradise Island. $5 pp. If you ask, on the way back they might be able to drop you off by boat at the cruise dock if there are other passengers heading back to the ships (through the cruise line). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melli_fera Posted January 23, 2012 Author #12 Share Posted January 23, 2012 We're going on Feb 1st. I tried looking up reviews for swimwithdolphinsbahamas but didn't find anything. I noticed their reservation page isn't a secured internet site, but if I were to go through bestonbahamas dot com, it is a secured site. I'm having a hard time finding reviews for bestonbahamas too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubagirrl Posted January 23, 2012 #13 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Why not just book thru the official website and not worry about your reservation being honored? I don't know anything about these other websites,, they are not bahamian and don't have any customer service people in the bahamas.. they are just resellers. The official website is: www.dolphinencounters.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melli_fera Posted January 23, 2012 Author #14 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I did put in a reservation request online on thursday, and they are supposed to reply to the request. I realized that when I filled out the form I neglected to mention I had a coupon, so I emailed them. They emailed back the next day that they had no reservation request from me. So I sent them my info again, via email, and that's when they told me that I had to book directly with NCL. I logged into NCL again yesterday to look at my excursion options and again saw no sea lion encounter. Therefore I cannot book through NCL. I told dolphin encounters this, and I'm waiting for them to respond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smplyblessed619 Posted January 25, 2012 #15 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I'm interested in BL as well...would love to hear your reviews/updates :) Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limeyalchemist Posted January 25, 2012 #16 Share Posted January 25, 2012 There are lots of informative videos on YouTube if you search for blue lagoon. Many examples of dolphin swims/encounters and sea lion encounters. We did the beach day last March, and going again in 7 weeks (but who is counting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireflymkz76 Posted January 29, 2012 #17 Share Posted January 29, 2012 I can't wait to hear you review as we are doing blue lagoon too!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
writerchick1982 Posted February 2, 2012 #18 Share Posted February 2, 2012 My husband and I are planning on spending the day at Blue Lagoon during our trip to Nassau. I'm booking through the main website for BL because it is around $50 cheaper than booking through Carnival direct. Can't wait to see reviews! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfcf2trips Posted February 9, 2012 #19 Share Posted February 9, 2012 melli_fera, Did you make it to Blue Lagoon? How did you like it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladybug1s Posted February 11, 2012 #20 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Did you ever go? If so, how was it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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