Sea lion encounter?

[kolebyt1996]

Has anyone been to the sea lion encounter in the Nassau? If so how did you like it, and was the beach open on Thursdays? If not is it still worth the price?

 

Thanks in advance!

[scubagirrl]

Has anyone been to the sea lion encounter in the Nassau? If so how did you like it, and was the beach open on Thursdays? If not is it still worth the price?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

I was there 2 weeks ago. Had a wonderful time.. I posted in on this forum.. do a quick search.

 

As for Thursdays.. I don't think the island is open (at all) on Thursdays. There are rarely any ships in port on a Thursday, so many tours have the day off.

 

Check the website for availability.

www.dolphinencounters.com

[scubagirrl]

Check out ShoreTrips.com, We have use them many years with no problems.

 

Shoretrips is more expensive than going direct to the tour company. (Actually, shoretrips is usually more expensive than any of the other middleman tour vendors).

 

I wouldn't recommend them at all in this case. They don't even provide transfers or transportation for the increased $$$.

 

www.dolphinencounters.com is the sea lion/dolphin encounter company, programs are the lowest price you will find. They also provide access to the Blue Lagoon Beach.

[Carolyn1950]

I was there 2 weeks ago. Had a wonderful time.. I posted in on this forum.. do a quick search.

 

As for Thursdays.. I don't think the island is open (at all) on Thursdays. There are rarely any ships in port on a Thursday, so many tours have the day off.

 

Check the website for availability.

www.dolphinencounters.com

 

Dang and double dang.. My ship is in Nassau on thursday.. First I booked Paradise resort then found out it was a dump, changed to the Sheraton and discovered it was on the harbor and we want ocean, then researched the Blue Lagoon and made plans to go there and now they will be closed.. Nassau and I are snake bit.. My last resort is Black Beards Cay the ship..

 

I read these boards daily waiting for the perfect trip to appear. Thanks to all that post, keeping us informed..So now back to the proverbial drawing board.:p

 

We are wanting a beach and drinks near by..

[scubagirrl]

Dang and double dang.. My ship is in Nassau on thursday.. First I booked Paradise resort then found out it was a dump, changed to the Sheraton and discovered it was on the harbor and we want ocean, then researched the Blue Lagoon and made plans to go there and now they will be closed.. Nassau and I are snake bit.. My last resort is Black Beards Cay the ship..

 

I read these boards daily waiting for the perfect trip to appear. Thanks to all that post, keeping us informed..So now back to the proverbial drawing board.:p

 

We are wanting a beach and drinks near by..

 

Sheraton isn't on the harbour.. it's part of cable Beach.. open water. Wonderful beach.

[Carolyn1950]

Sheraton isn't on the harbour.. it's part of cable Beach.. open water. Wonderful beach.

 

Sorry, I meant the British Colonial Hilton.. The other tour thru Island Marketing.. I am brain dead today..

 

I am resolved to losing my deposits to Island Marketing co. so we can avoid the harbor.

 

The Sheraton looks very promising but hard to get info on a pass there. We are not going til Sept. so maybe by then it will be all worked out..

 

I emailed Dolphin Encounters, the beach day there isn't available on thursdays or sundays.. The encounters are available just not the beach day only..

[Yenrab22]

We did the Sea Lion Encounter last week. It was the highlight of our trip. I was a bit wary that it might be just a quick "pet the animal and get a photo," but we spent about 15-20 minutes up close with a very fun Sea Lion in a group of about six people. You get to feed, pet, hug, shake hands with the Sea Lions and the trainers explain a lot.

 

We watched people doing the dolphin encounter and they have basically the same activities. You won't go wrong with either. We chose sea lions because there seem to be a lot of other ports offering dolphins, but this was the only sea lion encounter we have heard of. Nassau is full of rip-offs, but this organization seemed to be very responsible.

 

Of course, they photograph every minute and their goal is to sell you a lot of pictures. That said, the pictures were high quality, the prices pretty reasonable and you had a good selection of what you wanted to buy. Given that it was a very memorable experience for the kids, I had no problem buying the photo package.

 

BTW, they provide wet suits and changing rooms at the place.

 

Bottom line - a very worthwhile shore excursion.

[JBug]

how much are photos?

[brnsofia]

we were just there a week ago and the photos were like $15 somewheres around there for a 5 x 7 if I remember. we bought one of them.

[Yenrab22]

Hello and Happy New Year -

The photos come individually or in packages. A DVD of your whole session costs $58 (it will show all of your interaction with the animals, but, we discovered, they cut out a lot of the funny patter by the trainer). Indiviual photos on a CD are $16 each. The packages ran from $39 up over a hundred. Also, if you bought a big package, you could get a CD with all your photos for like $29. The $39 package had 3 5x7s (you could choose the pictures you want), plus a bunch of magnets and key chains with photos. To get an 8x10, you had to go up to the $59 range, I believe.

They take one family photo with the sea lion and then a photo of each individual. Sea lions are real actors for the camera.

[lovetexas]

I was wondering about the temp of the water? Was is cold? And did you need the wetsuit?

 

Thanks

[brnsofia]

we went over xmas and everyone put on a wetsuit they have a ton of them available for free right there

[ewok1626]

Is the wetsuit mandatory? Can you interact without it?

[moopigsdad]

I was interested in doing this when NCL Sky will be in Nassau on 1/14 but was told by dolphinencounters that they were full for both times on this date :*( So now I am debating signing up for the one through the ship? It is only $85 (Dolphinencunter is $80) but I don't usually like the ship tours as they tend to not be as good as a private excursion. Anyone do the ship tour of the sea lion encounter in Nassau? If so, was it worth the $? Thank you!

[brnsofia]

Is the wetsuit mandatory? Can you interact without it?

 

the girls said the water was very cold around 70 which we own a inground pool and we swim cool in 80. so 70 is very chilly. the wetsuit covers right past your knees so they knew the water was cold! I wouldnt reccommend it!

[brnsofia]

I was interested in doing this when NCL Sky will be in Nassau on 1/14 but was told by dolphinencounters that they were full for both times on this date :*( So now I am debating signing up for the one through the ship? It is only $85 (Dolphinencunter is $80) but I don't usually like the ship tours as they tend to not be as good as a private excursion. Anyone do the ship tour of the sea lion encounter in Nassau? If so, was it worth the $? Thank you!

 

we did it on our own BUT years and years ago hubby and I did it through the sip and I see no difference what so ever. but it too may already be full. dont miss it hurry and sign up through the ship! I cant see where it could be any different its run by dolphin encounters not the ship! they will just escort you to the boat saving you the taxi ride cost