Dolphin Discovery Update

[seppy55]

Just spoke to Oscar at Dolphin Discovery. He says the Cozumel location won't be open until at least May, so if you have a reservation before then you may want to send him an e-mail to get a refund. He says refunds are taking up to three weeks right now because of the heavy number of cancellations.

[IslandJim]

From Por Esto, regional newspaper....

With the commitment to order a direct inspection about the conditions that keeps these dolphins confined in pools of Cozumel, finished in Mexico City the environmentalists groups and defenders of the animals with Ignacio Loyola Vera, federal proxy of protection of the environment.

Twelve animals have been living badly in pools since the step of "Wilma", therefore the company that exploits them lost the two dolphinariums they had in Quintana Roo and does not have any other place to carry them.

The situation of the dolphins is complicated because they should not be maintained in reduced pools that are dirtied and in spite of the fact that the business "Atlantis" has assigned personnel coached to take care of them, this does not change the dimensions of the pools in which at present they are found neither does it improve the level of tension of the marine mammals.

It denounced in diverse opportunities, the present difficulty of these dolphins was converted already in theme for the holder of the Profepa, Ignacio Loyola Vera, who received this past week a group of defenders in his office in Mexico City.

During this meeting, Loyola Vera compromised to order a direct investigation of the dolphins, according to data provided by the environmentalist Cozumeleña Guadalupe Alvarez, who was present in the meeting next to other representatives of conservationist organizations.

The investigation should be carried out in brief and will include a visit to places where at present the dolphins are found to certify its state of health and the conditions in which they survive, therefore in Mexico an official norm about the management of marine mammals exists, another for species protected and laws of wildlife and animal deal that would be able all to be contravening in Cozumel.

In the meeting with the holder of Profepa participated groups and people as the already mentioned Guadalupe Alvarez, of Citymar, Beatriz Burgetti, of the group Isau, Marielena Pit, former director of the zoological one of Chapultepec; Yolanda Alanís and the group Comarino, as well as the group environmentalist of the Mayab, Gem, and the Protective Company of Animals of Cancun.

[TheBeachBears]

If you have booked, as we did, you can ask for a refund. We did in Nov and still have not seen any money. First it was we have to check into it, fine, then it was we sent it and it may take a couple weeks, ok, now it's we just sent it now and it may take a couple weeks. I am already in the process of posting a dispute. I feel bad but it was not a couple of dollars. So if you are waiting for a refund I would step up your efforts with your credit card company if you want to see your money soon.

[Cozumel-Ian]

I don't want to get too political here, and I know the dolphins are a favourite attraction of many, but please think twice before visiting any attraction anywhere that has 'caged' dolphins for the sake of making a profit.

It's been alleged that the dolphins from Dolphin Discovery have not been treated well during and since Wilma (see IslandJim's translation from a local paper in this thread), and questions should be asked about whether they were really receiving the best treatment in the first place...

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are many dolphinariums that help breed and release animals into the wild that are doing a great job, I'm just not convinced it is right to have them purely as a tourist attraction...

Hopefully those of you receiving refunds will be able to find another dolphin-free attraction to visit instead...!

Just my opinion of course...

Ian

[Cozumel-Ian]

Sorry, I made a mistake in my post above that shoud be corrected. The dolphins referred to in the Por Esto newspaper story are those from Atlantida NOT Dolphin Discovery. If anyone knows how the dolphins from Dolphin Discovery are being treated feel free to let us know...!

Ian

[TheBeachBears]

Not for nothing if I don't get my money back I won't be looking for "caged" dolphins I will be looking for "canned" dolphin.

[kaylahszoo]

We're also waiting for a refund. Got an email from Abby 2 weeks ago now. She said the paperwork was all ready and I should see a refund on my cc within the week. Right. The refund is almost $500. No small amount in my world. This will mean the difference between doing a lot or things or not on this cruise. We're leaving in 23 days, so I sure hope it goes through. I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I'm starting to run out of patience.

[motheroftwomuch]

Originally Posted by kaylahszoo

We're also waiting for a refund. Got an email from Abby 2 weeks ago now. She said the paperwork was all ready and I should see a refund on my cc within the week. Right. The refund is almost $500. No small amount in my world. This will mean the difference between doing a lot or things or not on this cruise. We're leaving in 23 days, so I sure hope it goes through. I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I'm starting to run out of patience.

I have had the same experience. Was told it would take 2-3 weeks to process the refund. The 3 weeks have gone by, and I've seen nothing. I've contacted them again, asking why there is a delay, but have heard nothing back. We leave in 6 days, and were counting on spending those dollars in Cozumel. Maybe I DO need to contact the credit card company.

[palmtre2]

Who did you book with?? Should I worry about my money too??? I've booked with Coz Insider for April and was told to wait and see since the projected time frame for Dolphin Discovery to be up and running is late March early April. We may make it yet....

[kpauley]

Cozumel Insider does not put charges on your charge card until a week before your activity so you shouldn't have the same problems as the others who booked directly with Dolphin Discovery. This was one of the reasons I booked with Cozumel Insider for the dolphin swim. We're scheduled the last week of March and I'll be pleasantly surprised if Dolphin Discovery is up and running by then. As my backup, I booked a shore excursion our ship is offering for this activity at Dolphin Discovery's other location in Puerto Adventuras. I've got 10 days before we sail to cancel the ship's excursion so come March, I'll be watching what goes on in Cozumel like a hawk.

[palmtre2]

Thanks for the info - I couldn't remember if they charged my card or not, but I didn't think so.

[walkswife]

I booked directly with dolphin discovery after the hurricane and they accepted my reservation for March 31st, but said they are not charging my card until they are sure we will be able to keep the reservation.

[palmtre2]

Walkswife - your signature shows a Mom & Me GS cruise. I'm a troop leader 2nd year Juniors and very interested as to what went into the planning of something like this??? Is your council sanctioning this or is it something the Mom's & leaders are doing on their own? How are you breaking down cabin assignments??? I'd love to do something like this (I'm a cruise addict) but I've got too many questions!!!

[shirleygr]

Originally Posted by TheBeachBears

Not for nothing if I don't get my money back I won't be looking for "caged" dolphins I will be looking for "canned" dolphin.

Well, did you get your refund?
BTW, I think it's a little rediculous to take your frustrations out on the caged dolphins instead of their captors.

[kaylahszoo]

I check my VISA almost every day ans still nothing. I emailed Dolphin Discovery back again and no reply from them. i am going to try one more email and then I will contact the credit card company, I guess. I've never disputed a charge before, but this is too much money to just walk away from.

[shirleygr]

I have disputed a charge before and it is not a big deal. The credit card rep will take all the information and put a "hold" on those charges while they investigate the situation. It usually take 4-6 weeks (I think, maybe less) to resolve. Personally, I wouldn't wait. I'd contact the credit card company now and get the ball rolling. Good luck!

[solita]

The dolphins from Dolphin Discovery are doing just fine over at Puerta Adventuras located between Calica and Tulum. The facilities are beautiful...very naturey. I am over there about once a week now...happy animals there.

[kaylahszoo]

My emails are coming back to me undeliverable. i have sent them to Abigail and to Oscar- no go. I finally called their 800 number and talked to someone. He said 2 or more weeks before they can get to it. I then called my credit card company and started a dispute. If you tell me it will be 3 months, fine, but don't string me along with 'the check's in the mail."
I would have loved to go to the mainland for the dolphin swim, but just too complicated with 8 people. Will just go to Paradise Beach instead.

[kpauley]

Originally Posted by kaylahszoo

I would have loved to go to the mainland for the dolphin swim, but just too complicated with 8 people.

Did you know Royal Caribbean is now offering the Dolphin Swim, not Royal Dolphin Swim, as a shore excursion at Puerto Adventuras which is Dolphin Discovery's other location? At least on my sailing they are. I didn't want to handle the transportation to the mainland, then to their facilities, and back on my own. I feel better knowing that RCL should be keeping track of the shore excursion and if there happens to be transporation issues, they'll be aware of it and hold the ship.

[Coolmama_1]

Originally Posted by solita

The dolphins from Dolphin Discovery are doing just fine over at Puerta Adventuras located between Calica and Tulum. The facilities are beautiful...very naturey. I am over there about once a week now...happy animals there.

Thanks for the update,.