By: Hailey Kanipe, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Let’s face it... Vacations can be expensive! My husband and I recently took a Carnival cruise to Amber Cove (Dominican Republic) and Bimini (the Bahamas) aboard the Carnival Elation. Before our cruise, I sifted through excursion options, trying to decide whether to spend the extra money or not. Ultimately, I saw an excursion which included opportunities to interact with dolphins, sharks, and sea lions, and thought “What the heck! It’s our anniversary trip. We deserve to have some fun!” Fast forward to our trip...
Upon arriving in Amber Cove, we met our tour guides just past the main entrance to the port. We signed liability forms and were given wristbands to identify which tour group we were in. No more than twenty minutes later, our groups boarded a shuttle bus for transport to Ocean World. Once there, we were greeted by Flamenco dancers, and our guides explained the general itinerary for the day.
Ocean World is nestled on the edge of the ocean, about a 10 minute ride from the cruise port. While much of the entertainment areas are man-made, the designers of this location used the beach to create a natural habitat space for the animals who live there. Ocean World includes a beach area, waterpark area, swimming pools, snorkeling area, and habitat spaces for dolphins, nurse sharks, a variety of tropical birds, and sea lions. Visitors can also enjoy shopping with local artisans, dining (including some tasty cocktails), and an area devoted to changing rooms, showers, and locker rentals.
Our day began with a dolphin excursion. About ten families were escorted to a private area inside a marina, where we stood on a platform. The dolphin trainer greeted our group, and guided us through interactions with a young female dolphin. We were able to hug, pet, feed, and kiss the dolphin, and watch as she performed tricks and stunts for treats. During each animal encounter, a photographer snapped endless photos of our interactions. After the encounter, families who had paid for just the dolphin encounter were released to enjoy the rest of Ocean World on their own. Four couples remained in our group for the remainder of the day.
Next up was the sea lion encounter. This was our favorite! We took silly photos as we smiled, stuck our tongues out, and petted two female sea lions. Then, we sat on the edge of a pool as the sea lions swam by, splashed us with water, and allowed us to pet their front and back fins. This encounter ended with a fun dance and bow from our new favorite water mammals!
Before our next animal encounter, our guide escorted us to the dining area and bar for a lunch break. The cost of our excursion included a hamburger, spaghetti, chicken tenders, french fries, and a non-alcoholic drink. Additional food options and alcoholic beverages were available for an additional charge. My husband and I ordered frozen alcoholic cocktails, which were delivered to us in large coconuts and pineapples. Our drinks were only $9 a piece!
After lunch, we visited the bird sanctuary area of Ocean World. There were toucans and parrots to see from a short distance, among many other tropical birds. You can also walk into the love bird habitat, and feed the small birds at no extra charge. We fed and petted the twenty or so birds that landed on us, and took some great pictures together with our new feathery friends.
Next, it was time to rejoin our group and meet the sharks! During this time, four nurse shark trainers entered the habitat pool and secured one shark each. One visiting couple was paired with each trainer/shark pair. Our trainer discussed with us the anatomy of the nurse shark, and allowed us to pet and feed our shark. Afterward, the trainer moved the shark onto our laps for a photo. Then, our group was given snorkel masks and allowed to swim with the nurse sharks in their habitat!
We couldn’t leave without taking a few minutes to do some shopping! At the completion of the excursion, each group was given the opportunity to review pictures taken by the professional photographer throughout the day. My husband and I bought the largest photo and video package to commemorate the fun we had at Ocean World! Our package included 81 photos and two full-length videos of our animal encounters for $69. We then walked around the indoor shops and outdoor market-style vendors tables before boarding the bus to head back to the port. After the excursion, we had about an hour and a half to walk around the shops at the port before we had to get back on the ship.
Overall, I would say that this is the most fun my husband and I have ever had on vacation together! Our group spent about one hour with each animal, which was perfect. We only wish we had a little bit more time to explore the beach area and snorkeling reef. However, we have already discussed returning to Ocean World to visit again in the near future!
For more information about this excursion, visit https://www.carnival.com/shore-excursions/amber-cove/dolphin-sharks--sea-lion-adventure-445128.
Please reach out to Hailey, an agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels to plan your next vacation or you may contact Marvelous Mouse Travels.
