Dolphin Program Shore Excursion Grand Cayman

By John McNamara

Grand Cayman is a famous port of call for many Cruise Ships and a popular destination for shore excursions which definitely enhances your experience on this beautiful Caribbean Island. Here at Dolphin World, you have a chance to pre-book your shore excursion for the Grand Cayman Dolphin Interaction program. Within this article, you can learn some of the ins and outs of what you may expect on your shore excursion, the challenges of getting off the ship, getting local transportation, your dolphin experience, and other valuable bits of information to help you have a perfect experience.

Getting to Grand Cayman from the Cruise Ship

To start, we are assuming that you have booked your dolphin program in advance. If you have not yet booked your shore excursion for Grand Cayman, then we highly recommend that you consider booking your dolphin program in advance for a couple of reasons. One reason to book early, you can save money if you book 60 -30 days in advance and save from 10 – 20% off your ticket price if you do this online. Also, remember, the cruise ship will charge more than local ticketed prices. And finally, the biggest reason to book in advance is to guarantee space for you and your group. You will understand better once you get on the cruise ship and see that shore excursions sell out quickly because there are 3,000 – 5,000 people from your ship and many other ships that are going to Grand Cayman and competing to do the same activities.

If you decide to book early, the easiest way to book is online through our website. Only cruise passengers from Car-ni-val ships need to know that this cruise line does not want you to book directly with Dolphin World because they make money if you book through them not directly with us where you can save money by booking directly. If you are with this cruise line and you want to book early through our website, you can and it is easy. When you are at the checkout screen, just don't pick the Cruise Ship radio button. Just leave on the Hotel radio setting and write in the name of the ship in the hotel box. If you prefer, you can call us in our booking office if you are a passenger coming from this cruise line. All other cruise lines can use the normal settings or if you don't see your cruise line on the list, please follow this same procedure as a Car-ni-val booking. Observers can come for free and watch at the dolphin facility.

The day your cruise ship arrives at the port in Grand Cayman, getting off your ship can be slightly challenging for new cruise ship passengers because you will need to catch a tender from your cruise ship to the shore. You will go to the tender platform, from which you will board a smaller boating vessel (holding around 100 people and more) which will bring you to land. Tender boats are used due to the size of the ship (some destinations cannot accommodate the big ships in their port). Also, it is important to know that Grand Cayman is on Eastern Standard Time, so plan accordingly to get off the ship and be at your dolphin program on time.

The trip from the cruise ship to shore is about 10 minutes. Because so many guests are getting off the Cruise ship at the same time, it is important to try your best to be the first ones off your cruise ship. It is easy to be on your cruise ship for hours if you don't make an effort to be first ones off the ship. Your cruise ship will announce their procedures and times it will start debarking for shore the day before they arrive at Grand Cayman or you should find out from your cruise ship guest service personnel about the debarking procedure.

Ground Transportation to the Dolphin Facility

Once your tender lands, Grand Cayman's shore entrance is welcoming but very busy with many guests getting off their cruise ships. You need to hustle to find your transportation to Dolphin Discovery/Boatswain Turtle farm (both are at the same location). Since everyone speaks English on Grand Cayman, this will help you greatly in finding your transportation quickly. Ask right away your cruise personnel, who are on the dock, "which way are the taxis?" If you plan to take a taxi (which I would recommend on the way there), this will ensure that you get to your Grand Cayman swim with the dolphin program quickly and on time.

It can be a little confusing here at this point because there are many cruise guests asking to join different tours, so stay focused to find a taxi. Once you find the taxi area, ask what the fare will be to take you to Dolphin Discovery. As of this writing, the fare should be between $8 - $10 per person. The taxi are mini vans that can fit up to 10 persons. On the trip back to the ship, you can be adventurous and take a local mini bus back to the cruise ship; this will cost you $2.50 per person. The mini bus is same type of vehicle but this van picks up locals on the street, kind of like a bus, not a taxi. You can save money with the mini bus on way back and it is safe. It does take little bit longer with the mini bus because it makes stops for other guests within the van. The ride with the taxi will be about 15 minutes and mini bus is about 20-25 minutes each way.

Dolphin Discovery Grand Cayman

Once at Dolphin Discovery, you will be greeted by a fairly new facility of only 3 years old. The building has a large sign on it so you can not miss it. You will enter the front doors and head for the check in desk. There will be a sign on the desk to know where to go to check in. Make sure you have your paper work to hand in or have your confirmation number written down to present. At the check in desk, they will give you the dolphin and turtle farm wrist bands to ensure your entrance for both programs. Do your best to be on time, but in the case that you are late, still show up and in most cases Dolphin Discovery will be able to help and accommodate you to get your dolphin program scheduled on the same day before your ship leaves port, so make sure you show up otherwise there is no refund for no shows.

After your check in, you will enter the promenade and pool area where the dolphins reside. Once inside, you should make your way to change into your bathing suit or swimming attire and get ready for your program. You need to make sure you bring a change of clothes and towels for drying after your program as you will be very wet. There are changing rooms and showers for men and women and lockers to lock up your valuables. Right before your dolphin program, you will have a briefing about your dolphin program about what is going to happen during your dolphin interaction.

When you pre-book online, you have the choice of 3 types of Dolphin programs to choose from in Grand Cayman, the Dolphin Royal Swim, the Dolphin Swim Adventure, and the Dolphin Lovers program. The Royal Swim is where you get to spend the most time in the water with the dolphin, from 30 – 45 minutes. You also get the smallest amount participants from 6 – 8 persons. During this program, you get the most time in deep water with the dolphins and get the famous toe push which pushes you out of the water like superman. 2 dolphins will propel you from behind your feet and give you a ride you will never forget. Plus, 2 dolphins will give you the dorsal toe ride, where these majestic bottlenose dolphins will come under both hands for a fast and fun ride. Besides learning about the dolphins from the trainer, you get plenty of time kissing, hugging, and petting these lovely creatures. As a bonus, you will get to interact with Sting Rays for petting and learning about them.

The Dolphin Swim adventure is chance to play with the dolphin in shallow and deep water for 30 minutes. Most of the time is in shallow water, where you get to pet, kiss, play and do tricks with the dolphins. Plus, you get at least on ride with the dolphin, either belly ride or toe push with a small boogie board to help propel you through the water. Plus you will get to go into the water the sting rays and spend some time with the rays to pet and learn about them.

The Dolphin lovers is all in shallow and waste deep water with the dolphins, perfect for young children, 1 year old and up and guests that do want to swim and get their head wet. This program is for 20 – 30 minutes, and you will touch, pet, kiss and play with the dolphins. In this program there is no time with the rays.

Photos and Videos of Your Dolphin Program

Many guests ask about photos whether to buy them or take them yourself. Dolphin Discovery has a professional staff and equipment for taking photos of you while in the water with the dolphins. They will have the best photos of you. You can decide on buying the photos after your dolphin program in the check in area are there many computers to facilitate you to look at your digital images. You can buy one large print at $25 or the whole disc with all your digital images on this disc for about $50 per person. A video photographer can be arranged but you need to let the staff know upon check in that you want a video, because a special person needs to come to take the video. A video is not normally being done unless you asked.

If you have another person come as an observer, they can take photos of you during your dolphin interaction and there are no restrictions or charges if you take your own photos or video. You need to keep in mind if you don't have a professional camera or video recorder with a high powered lens, your photos will not be that great. With a normal point and shoot camera, your photos will be average at best. As a spectator you will see your participant in water with the dolphin but the distance might be too far for your camera to get nice photos or video of you in the water with the dolphins.

Added Bonus to Your Dolphin Program

As an added bonus, you will get entrance to the Boatswain Turtle Farm is an exciting extra that you get for Free which is included for the dolphin participant. The Turtle farm is right across the street and easy walking distance for the dolphin facility. The observers will have to pay to get into the turtle farm. You will really enjoy the turtle farm because you see why the Cayman Islands are famous for turtle raising. You should take some time of your day to walk through and see this facility. You will see what they do to raise turtles from babies to full grown sea turtles. You will have a chance to touch and play with the smaller turtles. The turtle are raised here and there are hundreds of them to see and be amazed about. This is must see while you are at the dolphin facility.

Another bonus included with your Royal Swim and Dolphin Swim adventure is a chance to interact with Sting Rays in a small and separate pool within the dolphin facility. This is a nice perk because the Caymans are noted for these docile creatures and interacting with them. This extra bonus of Dolphin Discovery is offered because you will not have enough time to participate in both, Sting Ray City which is the famous attraction on Grand Cayman and the Dolphin / Turtle farm programs. Now, you can say "you swam with the sting rays on Grand Cayman" too.

Because you are leaving the cruise ship early to get on Grand Cayman in the morning, you may want to eat a quick snack on the island before you go back on the ship. At the dolphin facility is a small food cantina where you can pick up normal American food, hamburger and hotdogs to hold you over till you get back on your ship. If you have the time and a little more adventurous, you should take a short stroll and walk by 2 buildings from the Dolphin Discovery center to the Cracked Conch. The Cracked Conch has some of the Islands best local foods. There is a fine dining room where you can be treated to great island food in an air conditioned comfort. Otherwise, there is a dockside eatery there too which is much more casual with the same food. You need to try to the conch chowder and conch fritter, which are really great!

Remember, your cruise ship is punctual about leaving the port, so give yourself time to be back at the island departure port to line up with the other guests waiting for the Tender boat back to your cruise ship. If you have plenty of time, you can take the mini bus back from the dolphin facility to the ship because it is a fun way to travel, meeting locals, and to save money. When you get to the tender boat departure point, there are plenty of shops to get your last minute shopping, tee shirts or the famous local rum cake (Tortuga Run Cake is delicious) which makes a great gift.

In the end, Grand Cayman Dolphin Experience is great way to enjoy this small Caribbean jewel. You will have a chance to interact with the dolphin in an unique and fun way. Also, a chance to see the famous Boatswain Turtle farm and get a small experience of the local flair of the food and local shops. You will say after your day is over while relaxing on your cruise ship again, "The shore excursion on Grand Cayman was worthwhile!". Hopefully this article will make your experience even better on the island of Grand Cayman and maybe you will make your way back here for a longer vacation in the near future.