Dolphin Trainer [Dolphinaris] Vs. Royal Swim [DDiscovery]

[bbjap]

Hi there, i'm looking at booking either the Dolphin Trainer Program at Dolphinaris or the Royal Swim at Dolphin Discovery. I've seen lots on this board about the Royal Swim and it does sound amazing. Has anyone done the Dolphin Trainer Program?

 

A quick look at the website shows this....

 

Dolphin trainer [$179]

Includes:

• Welcome tropical drink.
  
• Towels and lockers to be used during your time at Dolphinaris.
  
• Snorkeling equipment.
  
• “Behind the scenes tour” of the fish house and laboratory.
  
• Learn how to prepare the Dolphins’ diets and about training techniques.
  
• Behavior presentation.
  
• Personal anatomy lesson on dolphins
  
• Dolphin kiss.
  
• Dolphin ride.
  
• Swim freely with the dolphin with a snorkeling equipment.
  
• Unlimited use of the snorkeling area.
  
• Lunch.
  
• All participants will receive a Dolphin Trainer Certificate, a Dolphin Trainer T-Shirt, two pictures and two complimentary drink
  
• This program allows you 70 minutes of dolphin time.

Royal Swim [$149]

Behaviors:

Foot Push

Hug

Handshake

Dorsal Tow

Dolphin Kiss

Dolphin Song

Free time with the dolphins

 

 

So i dunno which to choose, but it appears that the trainer program includes more and seems to be a better value for 30 extra dollars. But maybe the royal swim as more interesting things like foot push, dorsal tow... I don't know how much of those type of interactions are in the trainer program, but the time with dolphins almost seems double and they include lunch and 2 pictures.

 

Any ideas?

[CruisnGram]

I did the Royal Swim at DD and it was great. However, I really wanted to do the trainer program at Dolphinaris but the rest of our group didn't want to spend that much time. If it were me, I'd go for more time with the dolphins. The foot push and fin ride were great, but I'd gladly trade those for more time to just be with the dolphins. Although DD lists "free time" with the dophins, it's not really free time. You float around in the water for maybe 5 minutes and they swim by you, spin in circles etc. all at the direction of the trainer. It's not like you are in the water swimming around and interacting with them.

 

Hope this helps.

[bbjap]

Yeah i'm leaning towards the dolphin trainer program with the more dolphin time as being the main draw. The 2 pictures would be a bonus. I figure if i paid for a picture at DD then the price would be the same...

 

I was hoping to see if anyone else had experienced the dolphin trainer program in cozumel but if not then i'll gladly review it upon my return in 7 months!

 

THANKS

[savannah2117]

Cozumel- The dolphin swim. We easily got a taxi; ride was approximately 15 minutes. They gave us the voucher at the gate and we quickly checked in. While waiting for our 11am start time, we swam in the nearby fresh water pool. The pool is perfect for younger children because it has several “layers” that made it very shallow in some places. The middle of it was about 3-4 feet deep and there was also a swim up bar for adults. This was probably the neatest design I’ve ever seen with a pool.

There were 9 in our royal swim group. We had 5 people, and 2 other groups of two each. The trainer has a very specific plan for everyone to do every part of the swim. We were able to kiss, shake hands, hug, do the dorsal pull and lastly, the “foot push”. My 10 year old daughter did great as did everyone else. I didn’t do the best at the foot push, but it was still fun. Everyone wears lifejackets, I don’t think a person would necessarily need to be able to swim, but at least “doggie paddle” in a life jacket. They ask you to go out about 20-30 yards for the dorsal pull and foot push. Be prepared to get water in your face and swallow some salt water. That part wasn’t pleasant, but the dolphins were amazing. As many people have said, they come down on the picture price. The DVD was amazing as well. Be prepared to want to buy it. The quality is wonderful and it does a nice job of capturing the excitement of the tour. One tip, they want your plastic for the picture purchase, (or cash, I’m sure). I didn’t bring my card along, but fortunately my SIL had hers and we made a deal for the pictures and DVD. (x2)

After the royal swim, we ate at the open air restaurant. It was very memorable, they had strolling musicians, the beach was gorgeous and the food was very good. (and not really that expensive). My DD and I each got this pineapple fruit salad. It was ½ pineapple cut and loaded with fruit and topped with ice cream. It was huge and only $7. We should have shared!

The remaining time was spent snorkeling--$10 rental for the equipment. My SIL said it was “ok—but not the best snorkeling “ she had done.

Before leaving, I took a quick shower and changed my clothes. The water was cold and the showers weren’t private, but it was nice to rinse off. By the way, the lockers are free for the day, a nice perk.

[lov2cruise707]

Just did the program with them last month. I really wasn't impressed. Yes they do everything they say you will do. Everyone is just taking their turn doing each thing as quickly as possible. They are taking pictures of each interaction you have with the dolphin and if they don't get the picture they will actually have you repeat it again. You can see where that is going. At the end they escort you to a room to watch the video and then show you your pictures. Maybe if they concentrated a little more on the actual program it would be better. I bet they don't get many repeat customers. I would look very closely at the program you are considering.

[CruisnGram]

Just did the program with them last month. I really wasn't impressed. Yes they do everything they say you will do. Everyone is just taking their turn doing each thing as quickly as possible. They are taking pictures of each interaction you have with the dolphin and if they don't get the picture they will actually have you repeat it again. You can see where that is going. At the end they escort you to a room to watch the video and then show you your pictures. Maybe if they concentrated a little more on the actual program it would be better. I bet they don't get many repeat customers. I would look very closely at the program you are considering.

 

I would like to know if you have ever done any other dolphin programs? The reason that I ask is that I am curious as to what other program offers more interaction with the dolphins then DD does. Yes, they had you take turns doing each activity. Yes, they had you pose for photo's, and yes, if they didnt get a good shot, they asked you to repeat. Personally, I LOVED it when they weren't happy with my dolphin "kiss" and asked me to do it again! :) They were also very careful that everyone got their turn as they weren't going to let one person dominate the entire experience. Yes, it was very organized, but I don't understand why you expected anything different.

 

I personally think that you may have been disappointed as you expected more. That is why I asked if you have ever done another program and found it to be more interactive and spontaneous as I simply don't think they exist. These are animals that NEED to be protected from unknowing people that will grab at them. In addition, I'm sure that they are extremely valuable and they simply are not going to risk any injury to the dolphins by allowing the public "free" access to them. I believe that anyone who expects to do a program like this, and have free access to just swim around with the dolphins and do pretty much what they'd like to do with them, is going to be disappointed no matter where they go.

 

FYI, I would repeat going back to DD in a heartbeat and in fact, intend to do so when I return to Cozumel. I thought the program was excellent.

[angel_grll]

I have been planning on doing the Royal Swim. Then I read the Dolphin Trainer description. However, I read posts about not being able to take a camera down with you at Dolphinaris. Has anyone been there recently that knows if you can take a camera down with you? That's definitely a dealbreaker for me. :(

[CruisnGram]

I have been planning on doing the Royal Swim. Then I read the Dolphin Trainer description. However, I read posts about not being able to take a camera down with you at Dolphinaris. Has anyone been there recently that knows if you can take a camera down with you? That's definitely a dealbreaker for me. :(

 

I don't know for sure as I haven't been there, but I've read the same thing several times.

[Shelleywood]

To those of you who have done the dolphin experiences, which ever one you have done, what is your opinion to which one is more suitable for an 8 yr. old child? My son is dying to swim with the dolphins and we are going to take him but I can't make up my mind which one he will enjoy the most and we will get the most experience for our money. Could you also send a link for us to explore their website? I really would prefer to book on my own instead of through the cruise line.

Thanks so much for your help! :D

[CruisnGram]

To those of you who have done the dolphin experiences, which ever one you have done, what is your opinion to which one is more suitable for an 8 yr. old child? My son is dying to swim with the dolphins and we are going to take him but I can't make up my mind which one he will enjoy the most and we will get the most experience for our money. Could you also send a link for us to explore their website? I really would prefer to book on my own instead of through the cruise line.

Thanks so much for your help! :D

 

You should definitely book on your own and not through the cruise ship. You can save a lot of money doing it that way.

 

The two places that offer dolphin programs in Cozumel are Dolphin Discovery and Dolphinaris. Here's their websites:

 

www.dolphindiscovery.com

 

www.dolphinaris.com

 

I did the Royal Swim at Dolphin Discovery and it was wonderful. It's at Chankanaab Park and they also have snorkling, a small beach, a pool etc there so you really can enjoy the whole day. I don't know any specifics about dolphinaris as I've never been there but those who have have enjoyed it.

 

As far as your son, you would have to be the best judge of what he would enjoy, and how much interaction he'd want. While one 8 year old might love the water, and animals, and would willingly do the fin ride and the foot push, another might be frightened and want to do a program where they just pet the dolphin, or hold onto a boogey board while the dolphin pushes it.

 

I'd suggest you just check out both websites and see what you think would best suit your son. I honestly don't think that you could go wrong with either place.

 

Good luck and have a wonderful time!

[Shelleywood]

Thanks a bunch for the information and the website links. I'm definately going to check them out. My 8 yr. old is definately the type to do everything with the dolphins. We recently got back from Sea World in Orlando and participated in the feeding of the dolphins and he was all but trying to jump in the water with them. :D The trainer really took him under her wing and let him help her pick up one of the dolphins out of the water by his back fin so some of the smaller kids could pet him. He was thrilled! This sounds like it will be a once in a lifetime experience. Thanks again!

[CruisnGram]

Thanks a bunch for the information and the website links. I'm definately going to check them out. My 8 yr. old is definately the type to do everything with the dolphins. We recently got back from Sea World in Orlando and participated in the feeding of the dolphins and he was all but trying to jump in the water with them. :D The trainer really took him under her wing and let him help her pick up one of the dolphins out of the water by his back fin so some of the smaller kids could pet him. He was thrilled! This sounds like it will be a once in a lifetime experience. Thanks again!

 

Well then, if I were you, I'd book the Royal Dolphin Swim at Dolphin Discovery. Your son will LOVE the fin ride and the foot push, as well as the hug and the kiss. I checked and the minimum age for the Royal Swim is 8 so he's fine age wise.

 

If you do decide on the Royal Swim, book directly with Dolphin Discovery as it is my understanding that the excursions booked through the ships are not the Royal Swim, but the lesser program. Booking directly with them, you will be sure of what you are getting.

[cheeseheads1]

I have been planning on doing the Royal Swim. Then I read the Dolphin Trainer description. However, I read posts about not being able to take a camera down with you at Dolphinaris. Has anyone been there recently that knows if you can take a camera down with you? That's definitely a dealbreaker for me. :(

 

We were there in March. I asked about the camera in the pool area and was told I could not take it down. It is an underwater. I should have taken it to the platform and not in the pool just to see if I could get away with it but I did not try. Their rationale was that it could harm the dolphins. You can get fairly good pics from the viewing area just not the same. A difference of 50-100 ft max to 20 ft.

[cheeseheads1]

I have been planning on doing the Royal Swim. Then I read the Dolphin Trainer description. However, I read posts about not being able to take a camera down with you at Dolphinaris. Has anyone been there recently that knows if you can take a camera down with you? That's definitely a dealbreaker for me. :(

 

We were there in March. I asked about the camera in the pool area and was told I could not take it down. It is an underwater. I should have taken it to the platform and not in the pool just to see if I could get away with it but I did not try. Their rationale was that it could harm the dolphins. You can get fairly good pics from the viewing area just not the same. A difference of 50-100 ft max to 20 ft. Ooops!