Is Carnival really strict on recommended ages for there shore excursions?

[Keetje]

We're going on a Carnival cruise in July to Cozumel and I want my children to swim with the dolphins. I wanted to book that directly with Dolphin Discovery because they allow my 4 year old to have the Dolphin Encounter. If I book through the ship it says 5 years old. My problem is now that I will loose $500 if the weather is bad. Dolphin D. will give you a gift certificate but I am going to live at the other side of the world and will not be cruising at least for the next 5 years. With 3 children it wil costs us $$$$! Has anyone ever took his child on an excursion while the child was maybe a year younger then what the Cruise line shore excursion said? I know that they can check the papers but maybe they will allow it anyway? Everybody who sees her thinks she is 5 already. It is the same encounter only there's one year difference!

I hope that somebody can help me out here!

__________________

 

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[Fourseventeen]

You think its safe? My 22 year old wife was a little nervous around these large animals. Wonder how a child at 4 or 5 would be around those things?

[Keetje]

I don't think she will be scared and I am with her during the encounter. If she doesn't like it I certainly will!

[Naomi John]

We're going on a Carnival cruise in July to Cozumel and I want my children to swim with the dolphins. I wanted to book that directly with Dolphin Discovery because they allow my 4 year old to have the Dolphin Encounter. If I book through the ship it says 5 years old. My problem is now that I will loose $500 if the weather is bad. Dolphin D. will give you a gift certificate but I am going to live at the other side of the world and will not be cruising at least for the next 5 years. With 3 children it wil costs us $$$$! Has anyone ever took his child on an excursion while the child was maybe a year younger then what the Cruise line shore excursion said? I know that they can check the papers but maybe they will allow it anyway? Everybody who sees her thinks she is 5 already. It is the same encounter only there's one year difference!

I hope that somebody can help me out here!

 

I actually asked John Heald via his blog about age limits on some excursions. He said he would get back with me, no answer yet. If I get one I will let you know. I have an 8 year old who wanted to go horseback riding and do the dolphin swim, but according to Carnival, she was too young.

[Traveler353]

I don't think she will be scared and I am with her during the encounter. If she doesn't like it I certainly will![/quote]

 

Wow, that's cold mom.:eek:

[Fourseventeen]

LOL :eek:

[SingingPixie]

I wouldn't worry about it- the weather would have to be really bad for you to miss port in Cozumel. It's not a tender port where even moderately high seas could cancel a call. Basically, unless there is a hurricane you'll make it to Cozumel.

[NoraBelle]

We're going on a Carnival cruise in July to Cozumel and I want my children to swim with the dolphins. I wanted to book that directly with Dolphin Discovery because they allow my 4 year old to have the Dolphin Encounter. If I book through the ship it says 5 years old. My problem is now that I will loose $500 if the weather is bad. Dolphin D. will give you a gift certificate but I am going to live at the other side of the world and will not be cruising at least for the next 5 years. With 3 children it wil costs us $$$$! Has anyone ever took his child on an excursion while the child was maybe a year younger then what the Cruise line shore excursion said? I know that they can check the papers but maybe they will allow it anyway? Everybody who sees her thinks she is 5 already. It is the same encounter only there's one year difference!

I hope that somebody can help me out here!

__________________

 

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My 6yo daughter and I did this last August. There is absolutly nothing scary about it. There was a mother and a 2yo that was with us and the 2yo loved it!!!! Don't understand why Carnival says they have to be 5 years old. I hope that you decide to do it. Enjoy your vacation. I love Cozumel.

[Keetje]

The saleswoman at Dophin Discovery told me that the weather will be great in july so I shouldn't be worried. So I booked but I asked for a 10 am Encounter because of the departure of the ship and she booked us for 1pm! I told her earlier that 1pm was not good for us but she did it anyway! I think she charged my creditcard already. If she told me that she only had 1 pm for the Encounter then I wouldn't have booked for 5 persons. My other 2 children will be swimming with the dolphins (at 11 am) and she has to watch and do nothing. I regret it already to have made reservations. I just want them all to have an interaction with a dolphin! I did a swim in Cuba and Curacao and it was amazing! To be continued....

[Terpnut]

I wouldn't worry about it- the weather would have to be really bad for you to miss port in Cozumel. It's not a tender port where even moderately high seas could cancel a call. Basically, unless there is a hurricane you'll make it to Cozumel.

It doesn't take a hurricane for the cruise lines and private operators to cancel many or most of their excursions. The last time we were there a few years back, it was very rainy, and they cancelled all the dolphin swims, scuba, snorkeling and most water-related excursions. All it takes is any weather or sea condition that results in "not-so-calm" waters, so cancellations in Cozumel are not as rare as you think.

The saleswoman at Dophin Discovery told me that the weather will be great in july so I shouldn't be worried. So I booked but I asked for a 10 am Encounter because of the departure of the ship and she booked us for 1pm! I told her earlier that 1pm was not good for us but she did it anyway! I think she charged my creditcard already. If she told me that she only had 1 pm for the Encounter then I wouldn't have booked for 5 persons. My other 2 children will be swimming with the dolphins (at 11 am) and she has to watch and do nothing. I regret it already to have made reservations. I just want them all to have an interaction with a dolphin! I did a swim in Cuba and Curacao and it was amazing! To be continued....

Obviously she's a very good saleswoman, but seriuosly, how can she possibly know what the weather will be like in July in the heart of hurricane season?