Swim with Dolphins

Good Morning Everyone,

My upcoming cruise on the Eurodam is taking me to Falmouth, Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island and Cozumel Mexico. For those that have been there with HAL which Swim with Dolphin excursion would you recommend. Thanks in advance for your help and have an awesome day.

Maryjo :)

Please see the recent movie "Blackfish" before doung this excursion. Im ashamed that we paid to swim with dolphins now that I'm aware of the cruelty of their living conditions. (Including Seaworld.)

Please see the recent movie "Blackfish" before doung this excursion. Im ashamed that we paid to swim with dolphins now that I'm aware of the cruelty of their living conditions. (Including Seaworld.)

I agree. Sorry OP as this is not the answer you are looking for.

You might want to try the port of call board for each location.

I'm sorry to tell the OP that I agree with the previous posters about the ethics involved with swim with the dolphins excursions. This especially true for venues outside the US where animals kept in captivity are more monitored (but still not so great).

Do see Blackfish!!!

I blame HAL for turning a blind eye in situations like this. Years ago we were one of the first ships to return to Columbia and there was an excursion to an island that included a "dolphin show" the itinerary was go to a beach resort, go to show, return to beach resort for lunch. I asked if I could skip the show because I did not believe they were humane. I was laughed at (literally) by the excursion person and told that everyone loves dolphin shows and I had to follow the tour. I didn't book but was angry because I was pretty sure that the dolphins were live captured and not living in humane conditions.

Sorry for the soapbox.

I'm sorry to tell the OP that I agree with the previous posters about the ethics involved with swim with the dolphins excursions. This especially true for venues outside the US where animals kept in captivity are more monitored (but still not so great).

Do see Blackfish!!!

I blame HAL for turning a blind eye in situations like this. Years ago we were one of the first ships to return to Columbia and there was an excursion to an island that included a "dolphin show" the itinerary was go to a beach resort, go to show, return to beach resort for lunch. I asked if I could skip the show because I did not believe they were humane. I was laughed at (literally) by the excursion person and told that everyone loves dolphin shows and I had to follow the tour. I didn't book but was angry because I was pretty sure that the dolphins were live captured and not living in humane conditions.

Sorry for the soapbox.

I agree totally. People are becoming more aware of the plight of these defenseless creatures which are being kept in captivity. It is cruel and inhumane. They were meant to be free and swim in the oceans. They are highly intelligent animals and I feel for them. We don't even know the half of what goes on in these places or how many die. I will never attend Sea World or any other live aquarium show. That's my soapbox for the day.

If you still want to do this - read my thread from this Spring re: Dolphin Cove in Grand Cayman.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2013962

I really want to swim with Dolphins, but so far, all options that I have seen where with captive Dolphins in inhumane conditions, so I never did it.

However, in some places, it is possible to swim with Dolphins in the ocean, where they are free and just come and visit the coves. You might want to research that if you are comfortable with that.

cruise_bunnies

I never thought my dream of swimming with dolphins would come true, I feel that most of the "swim with the dolphins" enterprises on a cruise itinerary were cruel and inhumane, then I discovered Anthony's Key in Roatan Honduras.

The caring staff here have an educational program thru the Roatan Institute for Marine Science - Roatan Bay Island's Marine Research & Educational Facility, which includes dolphin interaction. These dolphins are very well cared for with a healthy and stimulating environment.

If someday your cruise plans take you to Roatan , stop by Anthony's Key - it was one of the best things I've ever done for myself!

I never thought my dream of swimming with dolphins would come true, I feel that most of the "swim with the dolphins" enterprises on a cruise itinerary were cruel and inhumane, then I discovered Anthony's Key in Roatan Honduras.

The caring staff here have an educational program thru the Roatan Institute for Marine Science - Roatan Bay Island's Marine Research & Educational Facility, which includes dolphin interaction. These dolphins are very well cared for with a healthy and stimulating environment.

If someday your cruise plans take you to Roatan , stop by Anthony's Key - it was one of the best things I've ever done for myself!

I totally agree that "swim with the dolphins" is cruel and should be outlawed. How would the OP like it if the dolphins offered a "swim w the humans" option or if a cruise line offered a "swim with the {insert any racial or ethnic group you like}" option.

I am not familiar with the place on Roatan that you mention. Are the dolphins imprisoned in a tank or are they allowed to come and go as they wish? If they are imprisoned, the place is inherently cruel regardless of how well they appear to be treated.

DON

The dolphins at Anthony's Key are allowed to come and go as they wish. Several wild dolphins have joined the "pod". Females tend to stay in the area with their young, but the males go "out" freely and return at night. Dolphins are intelligent creatures, if there was any mistreatment they wouldn't come back! There are NO tanks - it's a natural lagoon.

Thank you all for your thoughts on this. I will surely see the movie before my cruise. MJ

Thank you all for your thoughts on this. I will surely see the movie before my cruise. MJ

I am willing to take on the flamers for stating the following:

While I cannot speak of Swimming with the Dolphins on any Islands on your itinerary, I can speak of it for Curacao at the Dolphin Academy. And it was AWESOME!!!

Go for it if it is something you really want to do and do not let anyone else deter you from doing it!!

It is not for me to tell you not to do it, but my experience with having done it.

One of my neighbors, very close friend, even went so far as to hand me a DVD of the dolphins being caught/trapped whatever you want to call it, when I told him I was doing it. I watched the DVD AFTER I got back home and am glad I did not watch it prior to the cruise.

I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!

I am sorry that so many members of this forum, instead of answering with the info you requested, instead posted their thoughts of why you should not do it.

Joanie

I never used to see the harm in it, but we have more info and knowledge now. I just keep wondering what was required to "tame" the dolphins into doing their tricks and interacting with us humans. It is certainly not what they do in the wild, where they are meant to be.

I think that many people are just not aware of how the for profit swim with the dolphins are run. Anthony's Key sounds like it is part of a research facility and Roatan has a reputation of being extremely sensitive to its marine environment. Having seen dolphins in Mexico I get the feeling Mexico does not care as much, and would have my doubts about Jamaica.

Dolphins are very sensitive, intelligent and social animals with strong family bonds.

I don't blame the OP for asking, I blame HAL for not doing its homework.

I am sorry that so many members of this forum, instead of answering with the info you requested, instead posted their thoughts of why you should not do it.

Joanie

I won't flame you, Joanie, but I will comment. The majority here view this activity as unacceptable (with exceptions), and I see no valid reason for you to express sorrow that posters have expressed that sentiment. Cruise Critic isn't here to provide only direct answers to specific questions, but to provide a forum where discussion can take place.

Hypothetical Question:

My DW/DH/DD/DS (pick one) has a very contagious disease but we don't want to cancel our cruise. Which pool should (s)he swim in to lessen the chance of infecting others?

Would you REALLY prefer to see posters just answering the question, or would you be open to comments on the appropriateness of the OP joining the cruise?

I know I'm exaggerating, but I think my point is valid.

It very well may be an awsome experience, just not for the dolphins. These creatures are meant to be in the wild,socialising with their own kind. I personaaly find it cruel to capture these animals and train them to be your buddy for an hour. Good on the OP to want to research this.

In Barbados, we took an otherwise wonderful day cruise that included swimming with the turtles. These poor creatures are "free" to swim away, but are constantly fed by the many tour operators and lured into mobs of flailing swimmers. They endure being grabbed at and accidentally kicked in the hope of another morsel or two of food.

Experienced divers, we have often swum with turtles in their natural habitat, never too close and never feeding them. We were dismayed and depressed to see the treatment of these beautiful animals in Barbados and vowed to never again join tours that offered this type of activity. We've had many opportunities to swim with dolphins too, but have avoided them for the same reason.

I am willing to take on the flamers for stating the following:

 

While I cannot speak of Swimming with the Dolphins on any Islands on your itinerary, I can speak of it for Curacao at the Dolphin Academy. And it was AWESOME!!!

 

Go for it if it is something you really want to do and do not let anyone else deter you from doing it!!

It is not for me to tell you not to do it, but my experience with having done it.

 

One of my neighbors, very close friend, even went so far as to hand me a DVD of the dolphins being caught/trapped whatever you want to call it, when I told him I was doing it. I watched the DVD AFTER I got back home and am glad I did not watch it prior to the cruise.

 

I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!

 

I am sorry that so many members of this forum, instead of answering with the info you requested, instead posted their thoughts of why you should not do it.

 

Joanie

Thank you for understanding Joanie.

MJ

Some friends we recently cruised with took the excursion and couldn't stop talking about what a good time they had.

We did a wild dolphin swim in Puerto Vallarta. Not much use for people cruising the Carib, but if you get over to the west side of the continent we heartily recommend this operator

http://www.wildlifeconnection.com/

(We chose a wild dolphin swim because we vote with our dollars)

I would love to swim with dolphins, but on _their_ terms, in _their_ turf, and without any containment or any coercion (other than a freely-given fish snack or two). Sadly, many of the commercial offerings cannot comply with such a pie-in-the-sky expectation.

So I don't support them with my money. I will swim and snorkel and pray that someday a dolphin or a pod will come over to gawk at the balding fat man who is swimming through their neighborhood, and maybe stop a moment to chat.:rolleyes:

If the research facility at Anthony's Key on Roatan is what it purports to be, I will be there with fins on!

While "Blackfish" relates to the commercial display of sea mammals, "The Cove" gives a better insight on the intermingling of the "Dolphin Swim" industry and where they buy their dolphins--from Japanese trapping/fishing industry, which has lots of things to answer for.

I would love to swim with dolphins, but on _their_ terms, in _their_ turf, and without any containment or any coercion (other than a freely-given fish snack or two). Sadly, many of the commercial offerings cannot comply with such a pie-in-the-sky expectation.

So I don't support them with my money. I will swim and snorkel and pray that someday a dolphin or a pod will come over to gawk at the balding fat man who is swimming through their neighborhood, and maybe stop a moment to chat.:rolleyes:

If the research facility at Anthony's Key on Roatan is what it purports to be, I will be there with fins on!

See my post above, if you are ever in Puerto Vallarta. Completely wild.

Thank you for understanding Joanie.

MJ

You are quite welcome:)

Joanie

Good Morning Everyone,

My upcoming cruise on the Eurodam is taking me to Falmouth, Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island and Cozumel Mexico. For those that have been there with HAL which Swim with Dolphin excursion would you recommend. Thanks in advance for your help and have an awesome day. Maryjo :)

DH and I did not "swim" with the dolphins, but we did play with them in Curacao at the Dolphin Academy several years ago. We thought the little guys seemed quite happy. We researched the Academy beforehand and approved of their training and handling methods. As with everything in life, I'm sure there are companies that do not treat animals properly.

I think in reality swimming with the dolphins isn't any different than, let's say, a horse race. Would you want to run around a track with someone whipping your butt? Yet I'll be most of you have a least watched the Kentucky Derby, or a similar event and enjoyed it.

If a swim is offered in Cozumel that is probably one I would pick, only because I know my DD did one there awhile back and she would never had gone without lots of research on dolphin treatment at that location.