blue lagoon excursion in nassau

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Blue Lagoon Island (Nassau): Full Review & Is It Worth It?

Blue Lagoon Island is without a doubt one of the most popular excursions for a cruise ship stopping in Nassau. Located just a few minutes by boat from the cruise port, Blue Lagoon feels a world away. Meanwhile, it offers lots to like, whether you’re looking for just a relaxing day at the beach or a day full of water activities, including getting up close with dolphins and sea lions. 

In short, no matter what you’re looking for, then the excursion could be for you. But is it worth it? And what’s it really like? We recently visited to give you a complete review of what you can expect.

Overview of Blue Lagoon Island

The best way to explain Blue Lagoon Island is that it’s like a cruise line’s private island, except independent. If you’ve ever visited a cruise line island, then you know that they pick out a perfect spot with clear water and white sand, and then build out facilities to cater to cruise passengers. That includes things to do, places to eat, and spots to relax.

That’s exactly what you can expect from Blue Lagoon, except that it’s not the property of any one cruise line. So no matter whether you’re sailing Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, or any other cruise line, you can visit the island.

The destination is located on Salt Cay — a barrier island that’s just northeast of Nassau. In fact, you’re only about 4 miles from the cruise ship dock.

When you visit, you’ll have any number of packages that you can purchase that include everything from just hanging out on the beach to swimming with dolphins. However, in general, you’ll arrive in the morning and spend 5-6 hours on the island at your leisure, eat lunch, and then head back to the ship in the afternoon.

So if you’re wanting a beach day, this is among your easiest and best options.

What’s Available to Do on Blue Lagoon

We’ve mentioned that there’s a lot to do and see on the island. While it’s not on par with a place like Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay, the entire family should find something to enjoy.

Note that for excursions, anymore more than hanging out on the beach is going to cost extra. This includes everything from renting a locker to taking a tour to hanging out with the sea lions. So you can book a simple beach day with lunch, or you can opt to include dolphin swims, Segway tours, and more. There is a booth to book anything you need once you arrive to the island.

Beach Day w/Lunch: The most popular (and least expensive option), is to simply have access to the beach. Blue Lagoon is actually located in a cut in the island, which provides a protected beach with water that winds through the area. There are also beaches on the exterior part of the island in the open water. (Price seen: $79 per adult)

Dolphin Swim: Want to swim with dolphins? One side of the park is home to trained dolphins, giving you the ability to hop in and swim with them. It’s an experience you can only get a few other places in the Caribbean (Price seen: $299 per adult).

There is also a dolphin “encounter” available, where you don’t swim with them, but do get in the water to interact (Price seen: $175 per person). Note that these prices also include the beach day.

Sea Lion Encounter: In addition to dolphins, there are also sea lions that you can visit. In our day there, we simply walked over and watched the sea lions for free. But you can pay to go and get in the water with them to get up close and personal. (Price seen: $199). Note that this price also includes the beach day.

Segway Tour: If you’ve never ridden a Segway, this is your chance. You can go on a “Segway Safari” tour that takes you all around the island on a guided tour. (Price seen: $50).

Aqua Park:  As you arrive at the island, you’ll see an area filled with inflatable obstacles, including items that you can climb and jump off of, rafts that you walk over to challenge your balance, and more. This is the Aqua Park and if you have kids, they will likely want to do it. (Price seen: $20)

VIP Areas: While there is lots of beach for everyone to enjoy, sometimes you just want a little more space and fewer people. In that case, there is a VIP upgrade that gives you access to a private areas (including three different beaches) and amenities for a little bit more. Here things are more relaxed and quieter. (Price seen: $65)

Beach Rentals (clamshells, snorkels, towels, lockers, kayaks): In addition to the more notable activities, there are also lots of rentals for a day on the beach. Whether you want snorkel gear, or a locker to put your items in, you can rent anything you need.

Bar Service: What’s sitting on a beach without a drink in your hand? There’s a bar on the island serving up tropical drinks, so you have have a pina colada while putting your feet in the sand. Prices are in line with what’s on the cruise ship. Expect to pay about $10-12 for a cocktail and $6-8 for a beer.

Shifting Tides Restaurant: Most excursions to Blue Lagoon include lunch. In the middle of the island is the Shifting Tides Restaurant. Here, there is a buffet-like spread that’s put out with burgers, dogs, chicken, and sides. It’s typically included in any excursion you take from the cruise ship.

Review: Our Day at Blue Lagoon Island

During a recent visit to Nassau, we booked a beach day with lunch at Blue Lagoon. So how was it?

The first thing we noticed is that the excursion seemed VERY popular.

Lining up on the pier to board the boat over to the island, there were seemingly dozens — if not hundreds — of passengers lined up. In fact, as the boat arrived at the pier to take us to Blue Lagoon, the first one filled up, meaning we had to wait out in the heat and sun for another boat to arrive.

The ride over was on an open-air powered catamaran. In total, the ride takes about 20-30 minutes and gives you a great view of some of the high-end homes on Paradise Island, along with Atlantis, the hotel that’s the most visible landmark in Nassau. (One suggestion is to get a seat on the lower deck to keep out of the sun, if possible.)

Arriving at Blue Lagoon, the boat enters a small cut in the rock among electric blue water. As the boat docks, you get your first view of the area, which is hidden away from the open water.

There, you see how the beach wraps around, and the rock creates a literal lagoon through the middle of the park. If you’re someone looking for a beautiful beach, this is it.

You also notice that you’re not alone in the park. In fact, during our stay it was not only passengers from our ship visiting, but passengers from all four cruise ships in port were there. The beach area closest to the pier was very busy and you had to wade through a crowd to finally get to the beach.

Stepping onto the island, the first thing we wanted to do was to get our bearings. So we took off on a walk just to see the island and what all is available. There we passed the bar, the rental/booking booth and the restaurant. Music was playing, the crowd was lively, and the atmosphere was definitely upbeat.

One thing we noticed is that it doesn’t take long from when you initially get away from the pier that the crowds start to thin out. Even with four different cruise ships in port, there was plenty of room to spread out as you got farther down the beach.

Another thing we noticed is that shade is hard to come by. There are some umbrellas available for you to use, but it’s only a few compared to the number of chairs. In fact, we found a quieter part of the beach and simply pulled a chair under a tree to give us some shade.

Heading out into the water, it’s hard to explain just how wonderfully clear it is. And because of the lagoon nature, it’s always calm even if the water outside the lagoon is more rough. The water never got too deep — no more than about six feet at the deepest point we found — while also offering a gentle slope for smaller kids.

After swimming for a bit, we simply relaxed under the shade, appreciating the chilled vibe that comes when you get away from the larger crowds. If you can’t relax in a spot like this where the beach and the water are picture perfect, then that’s on you. Then we hit the showers that are available for a quick rinse and decided to explore the other part of the island.

While one side of Blue Lagoon is for relaxing or playing on the beach, the other part is dedicated to the animals. This area had practically nobody in it, giving the vibe that maybe we were in the wrong spot. We did see some folks in the water with dolphins and also made our way to where the sea lions are kept, while seemingly no one was there. It was neat to be able to stand and watch the sea lions play on their own.

From there, we headed to grab a bite to eat for lunch. When you are standing in line at your ship to start the excursion, you’re given a wristband, along with a ticket for lunch. When it’s time to eat, you head to the restaurant, hand over the ticket and walk in.

While the restaurant has a full menu posted, what was served was a meal-line buffet. So hop in line and choose what you want to eat. Selections were classic buffet/beach food. There were hamburgers and hot dogs, along with grilled chicken, and then sides. Dining is open air in the restaurant.

How was the food? It is what you would expect from a beachy buffet. Certainly adequate and a nice treat when you’ve spent the morning in the sun and in the water, but nothing you’d write home about.

After lunch, we headed back to our shady spot on the beach for a repeat of the morning, enjoying the gorgeous sand and warm water until the call was made that our boat back to the cruise ship was now boarding. Your colored wristband given during the start of the excursion is your ticket back to the ship and each color band is given a different departure time to spread out the crowds.

By the time our ship was called, passengers from a couple of other ships had already departed, giving the island a bit of a more subdued atmosphere. From there, it was time to board and head back to the ship. By now instead of the buzzing atmosphere of excitement that the boat had when heading out to Blue Lagoon, it was obvious that everyone had been spending a lot of time in the sun and water. In fact, some people even caught a quick nap as we headed back to the port.

Final Thoughts/Is It Worth It?

When you picture visiting The Bahamas, you likely think of a white sand beach and electric blue water. Well, that’s exactly what Blue Lagoon Island offers for cruise passengers. As mentioned at the start, we thought of it as a private cruise line island, except it was open to everyone.

In total, we paid $79 for the excursion (but received a $50 discount from the cruise line for a total of $39). For that amount, the excursion lasted about six hours and included lunch.

There are definitely less-expensive ways to enjoy a day at the beach in Nassau, but they also won’t have the atmosphere, amenities, and activities that you’ll find at Blue Lagoon Island.

Between the swimming area that’s protected from the open water, the beach chairs, and facilities like showers/restrooms, there’s a lot to like even if you don’t opt for the things like the Aqua Park or the animal encounters.

In short, we had a great time at the beach during our day. The beach area could use some more umbrellas and shade, and in general it would be nicer to have a little more space for those days when four or five ships are in port.

Even so, those are smaller issues. If you want to enjoy the atmosphere that comes with a private island like the cruise lines offer, then Blue Lagoon Island will fit the bill in Nassau.

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I didn’t like the Raccoons were being held in a cage. Yikes. That’s terrible. And the Sea Lions and Dolphins, were obviously in held too, but I don’t like seeing animals held in captivity.

I didn’t see the raccoons. Sea lions/dolphins, yes. Honestly, I struggle with how to approach that as well. I never personally do excursions such as dolphin swims due to my feelings toward it. But what about if that’s just part of a larger experience?

This place is horrible. Way to crowded, not enough chairs or shade. The water smells like rotten eggs. Parts are closed down. The food is cheap and dried out. You only get one cup of a drink with it and water is not an option. We found 2 little outdoor showers that had little to no water pressure to get the smell and sand off you. Do not waste your money or time.

100%. We waited in the sun 104 degrees for over an hour waiting for boats. There were 100s of us from just the oasis of the seas, the staff was rude, the food was dog crap, the drinks were Kool aid and you recieved one small cup with the terrible lunch. It did stink of sulfur and eggs. Worst part of our trip without question

These dolphin exhibits are cruel. They are condemned worldwide for inhumane treatment of the animals. Do your research before supporting any animal exploitation exhibits. We must make a difference by not supporting mistreatment of animals

Thanks for the comment. I think that’s a valid point.

Do NOT book this excursion. The list of people complaining on our excersion was really long. You are throwing money away on this one. It is inconvenient, confusing and a waste of time. We waited in line for our 10am departure for an hour. The drinks on the boat were $17 each. Once you arrive you are shuttled to the beach and anything that is a tent is extra. The sand is full of tripping hazards with jagged rocks. Once we got to our place to relax it was nice. The water is about 2 foot deep and it was fun to play. The food is left open and was not tended to the hour we sat in the grill. Good luck with that. The dolphin interaction was about 5 minutes of fun. When leaving we arrived at the planned time and we could not fit on the boat. So we had to wait an additional hour and half. When you are dealing with little ones, it is something to consider as this is certainly something we would never do again.

Do I need to book ahead of time or at Port? We are doing a Disney Cruise.

Booked my day via the cruise line excursion desk once on the ship.

Can you take your own Sun shade tent to blue lagoon?

That I don’t know, but if it’s relatively easy to carry, I can’t see it being a problem. Even on a busy day in port there was open beach in many parts where even a large sunshade wouldn’t be obtrusive.

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Blue Lagoon Island Beach Day from Nassau

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Dolphin Encounters - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter

• Here's your once-in-a-lifetime chance to interact up-close with Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins on our magical Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter.
• Learn about dolphin natural history, training techniques, and ocean conservation in a short, interactive orientation before your encounter.
• Enjoy unforgettable moments like a dolphin kiss, hug and dance, all while standing on a waist-deep submerged platform.
• Afterward, relax at the breathtaking lagoon beach, with unlimited use of water toys, hammocks, picnic tables, and beach chairs.
• Capture your unique experience with professional photo and video, taking home priceless souvenirs of your time with these majestic creatures.

On this Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter, you can expect a once in a lifetime excursion experience that brings you closer to the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin than ever! On this Nassau excursion , not only will you see the Bottlenose Dolphin habitat, but you'll also learn information about dolphins and the ocean, too.

Your 30-minute program begins with an interactive orientation covering topics such as the natural history of dolphins, animal training techniques, ocean conservation and Watchable Wildlife Guidelines.

Once on the Dolphin Encounter float, you'll stand on a waist-deep submerged platform and experience a heart-warming kiss, a hug, a dance and opportunities to rub down the dolphin. Your dolphin trainer will combine elements of hands-on contact, education, fun, laughter, and adventure to make this an unforgettable Nassau excursion. While you enjoy your Dolphin Encounter and learn about their habitat, you will also be in the midst of one of the finest natural attractions in the Bahamas.

The professional photo and video staff on deck will be capturing your encounter, so that you will have a chance to purchase and take home an incredible souvenir of your amazing experience.

After your unforgetable dolphin encounter, enjoy a day in the sun. You also have use of the breathtaking lagoon beach area including unlimited use of water toys (unsinkable float mats, inner tubes and big boss noodles), hammocks, picnic tables, beach umbrellas, beach chairs and games. There are lockers on the beach side for an additional $5 US all day, changing areas and showers for use. Bring your cameras to capture amazing views from the observation areas of the Dolphin Encounters - amazing all-natural habitat, where you can see friendly dolphins and amazing sea lions.

Other water sports (paddle boats, aquabikes, kayaks, snorkeling gear, inflatable parks, and others) are available at an additional cost. Refreshing soft drinks, daiquiris, pina coladas, beer, wine, tropical drinks, mixed drinks, and a grilled lunch are also available for purchase at the Tropical Beach Bar.

The transfer to and from the island is included from the ferry terminal on Paradise Island. Guests participating in an animal encounter before 2:00 PM can return to the mainland on ferries departing the island at 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00. Guests booking animal programs at 12:30 PM may not have time to enjoy the beach. Guests on the 2:00 PM encounter only will have a special ferry that departs the island at 6:00 PM, and will not have beach time after the encounter, as the beach closes at 4:00 PM.

Please Note: Personal cameras, including cell phones or other electronic devices, are not permitted on the animal program platforms. Non-participants may observe those in their party who are taking part in a dolphin program. If you wish to stay and enjoy the island facilities, the observer should purchase a ticket for the Blue Lagoon Island Beach Day. If you wish to only visit the island to observe the Dolphin Encounter, there is a $25 US fee per observer for the ferry ride from Paradise Island to Blue Lagoon (if there is space available), and a $5 US fee per observer for the bus to the ferry (if there is space available). These observer fees are payable directly to the ferry and the bus, and no reservations are necessary.

At the program areas, you can take your own photos or videos from the public dock areas. Please be advised that an unobstructed view of all dolphin interactions is not guaranteed, and observers are not allowed on the platforms at any time. No exceptions will be made.

Blue Lagoon Island

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Visiting The Blue Lagoon Island, Bahamas

The Blue Lagoon Island in the Bahamas is a wonderful beach day excursion for families. It’s the perfect cruise port excursion if you are stopping in Nassau for a day! Here is a full review of our fun day at Blue Lagoon Island.

Visiting Blue Lagoon Island in the Bahamas

Blue Lagoon Island is a small, private island located just off of Nassau, Bahamas.

You can only get there by Ferry and there are no vehicles on this small island. Which makes it the perfect relaxing beach day when visiting the Bahamas.

They have animal encounters where you can swim with dolphins or sea lions. You can take a segway ride around the island or just spend some time being lazy in a hammock.

It’s a great combination of things to do for your kids and relaxing time for the adults. Combined with tasty local Bahamian food and drink.

Booking with Blue Lagoon Island

While we really did enjoy our day at Blue Lagoon Island, I do want to mention a not-so-great experince we had also.

We origionally booked our day at the Atlantis. They have a concierge that can book you directly on several tours around the Bahamas. We easily booked the night before and were instructed to arrive at the Blue Lagoon Island office at 9:15 am for a 10:00 am ferry ride.

We arrived right on time and were promptly told that our 10am ferry had been canceled and there wouldn’t be another one until 11 am. We didn’t really have anywhere else to be so we sat and waited.

Around 11 am, we were still waiting for the ferry to show up. The kids were getting bored and when I tried asking where the ferry was, no one knew. By then, a crowd of people was waiting… and not very happy.

The ferry didn’t arrive until about 11:30 (and we had been there since 9:15 am). So we didn’t arrive to Blue Lagoon Island until almost noon. And by the time we arrived, most of the lounge chairs where filled and we had a really hard time finding a place to lay out.

I talked to Blue Lagoon and they were neither helpful nor apologetic about the delays. We were lucky enough to be staying on Nassau, but had we been a cruise ship passenger I would have been REALLY upset about wasting half of my day.

Our Day at Blue Lagoon Island, Bahamas

After we finally boarded the ferry, we zipped across the blue water for about 30 minutes before arriving at Blue Lagoon. It was already about noon so the first thing we did was try to find some lounge chairs.

Because we were so late, this was really hard to do. But we did end up finding 2 chairs really far down the beach.

The beach area at Blue Lagoon is what really makes this place perfect for families. The majority of the lagoon is on a sandbar and very shallow. Which makes it great for kids to run and play on without it getting too deep.

There is one area that is quite deeper and that’s where you’ll find an inflatable water play area. Blue Lagoon offers life vests of different sizes so kids and adults can use them to swim to the inflatable area.

The Lagoon Area

If you have smaller kids than Blue Lagoon will be a GREAT place to visit. The lagoon is really shallow andyou can basically walk across the enitre thing to the other side. And as tide went out, it got more and more shallow as the day went on.

It left a ton of sand and beach area to run an play and crystal clear water to splash in.

But don’t worry if you have older kids, there is a deeper section to swim in by the inflatables if they want to snorkel or jump in the water.

Food and Drink

Blue Lagoon does not have very many food or drink options (okay, they technically only have one!) but what they do have is really really good.

As part of your day pass, you get a ticket for one pass through their buffet line. And I’ll be honest, I was REALLY suprised at how much food there was and how GOOD it was! Even the kids found enough to eat and not complain (for once!).

You also get a choice between fresh water , lemonade or fruit punch to go with your meal. And they say you only get one, but the nice guy at the drink station had no problem giving us refills.

As far as alcohol… there is a small bar where you can grab some drinks like local beer or Bahama Mamas (my never favorite drink!) . But beware… they are just like everything else in the Bahamas…expensive!

My Tip: bring some of your own water bottles with a little alcohol in them to save some money. No one checks! I put some Bahamas Coconut Rum in my Hydroflask and added some juice when I got to Blue Lagoon. That saved me a ton of money!

When we first arrived at Blue Lagoon it was right around noon and they line for the food buffet was insanely long. But we were smart and decided to just wait an hour and by 1 pm, we were able to walk right up and get anything we wanted.

Dlophin Experince at the Blue Lagoon

We did not partake in the dolphin experince becasue my daughter has already done this on a diffenrt trip andlets be honest, it’s pretty much the same experince anywhere.

It’s also very costly so probably not something we are going to do every time we travel. If we are going to interact with animals, it’s going to be a unique experience. Like when we held a sloth in Honduras , or swan with the pigs of Exuma.

We did walk down to the area and were able to watch the other guests interact and swim with dolphins (which was really nice because Atlantis charges you $35 just to view it) and it looked like a lot of fun.

Some other guest we talked to said they loved it and had a great time. So if swimming with doplhins in on your list of things to do, then visiting Blue Lagoon would be a good option.

Overall Review of the Blue Lagoon Bahamas

Spending the day at the Blue Lagoon was a really nice and relaxing time for our whole family. We enjoyed the beach area and the food was amazing. The kids loved the inflatables and shallow water of the lagoon to play in.

Overall, I’m glad we went and checked it out.

If you are staying in the Bahamas for several days, then I highly recommend you check out the Blue Lagoon for a day. It wasn’t the most exciting thing we did during our stay, but we did like it.

But if you are visiting the Bahamas on a cruise and only have one day to experience Nassau, I dont think the Blue Lagoon should be at the top of your list. It was, afte rall , a beach. And let’s be honest, there are tons of beaches around Nassau!

So if you are set on swimming with dolphins, then definitely book the Blue Lagoon day excursion. But if you are just looking for a good old beach day or some other more unique experience around Nassau, I would look elsewhere.

One thing I did really love about Blue Lagoon Bahamas is how beauctil the little island was. We took a small stroll and walked around to some other areas where there were noother poeple and the views were amaing.

It also made for some really good INSTAGRAM photo spots!

Here are some gorgeous photos of Blue Lagoon Island that’ll probably make you want to check it out!

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Jenny: Thanks for the great Atlantis Bahamas review, etc. we are going for 11-14 June and your review will help me maximize my time and save money. ☺️JSJ

Thanks for your excellent review which look very fair and together with other review I read ,some previous experience and a little big of common sense lead me to take a great decision (and smart ). I will never stay at Atlantis .

I loved reading your reviews. I loved the Bahamas when I went 2 years ago. I stayed at Atlantis Royal Towers. It was the most amazing place I have ever stayed at and enjoyed it very very much. So I found your review totally different than my experience. Blue lagoon island was great I did swimming with the dolphins which was amazing. Thanks for your review

Hello, Firstly, thank you for providing your take on travel! I’m leaving for Nassau in 10 days!! Given that Atlantis also has beach access and a dolphin experience on its property, would you say it’s a day trip to Blue Lagoon is worth it?

Oh absolutely! We did not do the dolphin experience at Blue Lagoon and still loved every minute of being there!

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Blue Lagoon Island Shore Excursion in Nassau Cruise Port

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All you must know about all the Blue Lagoon shore excursions (Shorex) on a cruise to Nassau port: overview, good to know, highlights, cruise line price comparison, how-to book, and map

By: Editor-in-Chief Updated: May 26, 2023

The Blue Lagoon Island excursion is on of the main attractions in The Bahamas, and just a 40-minute - 3 miles (5 km) - scenic boat ride away from the cruise port in Nassau.

Photo Courtesy of Blue Lagoon Management

The Blue Lagoon Island is, in fact, named Salt Cay but since it became a tourist attraction has become known by its main feature. is Many times, both cruise travelers and cruise lines refer to this excursion by the most sought after activity in the Blue Lagoon Island - Dolphin Interaction or Swim and Sea Lion Encounter. Check the Official Website of the Blue Lagoon Island

Blue Lagoon Island Tour - Highlights

The boat that takes the cruise traveler to the Blue Lagoon Island docks next to the Terminal in Nassau, a short 5 minuet walk-away. Most cruise lines offer a basic tour in which travelers can enjoy swimming in a pristine beach with crystal clear waters, relax on a double hammock, participate in activities like volleyball, beach soccer, aqua bikes, paddle boats, kayaks or guided snorkeling. Don't miss the Island Bar to enjoy umbrella drinks. A grilled picnic lunch may be included with this tour - always double check with your cruise line.

Dolphins and Sea Lions

The basic tour can be combined with other activities like the Dolphin Interaction or Swim, and the Sea Lion Encounter. Naturally, these combos have price increases but do not require additional time.

Blue Lagoon Video

Watch the under 2-minute video below to have a preview of what the Dolphin Encounters experience in Blue Lagoon looks like.

Good To Know

Activity Level: Minimal Activity | Light Walking Must Take: Swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, towel and a camera (waterproof preferably) - cash for incidentals. Change of clothes is advisable. Optional: Cruise travelers can combine a beach day with dolphin and sea lion interactions. Duration: Between 4 and 5 hours depending on cruise line. Restrictions: No Minimum Age Wheelchairs: Dolphin Encounters has waterproof wheelchairs for visitors with walking difficulties to interact with dolphins.

Cruise Line Price* Comparison

Considering that the prices of shore excursions to the Blue Lagoon may vary by sailing, it is advisable to check updates and specific cruises. Click on the following cruise lines links to check for updates: Carnival | Disney | Norwegian Cruise Line | Princess | Royal Caribbean .

Other Tours and Combos

Although the Dolphin and the Sea Lion Encounters are the most popular combos, the cruise travelers should look into other programs offered at the Blue Lagoon, like the Stingray Encounter, the Segway Safari Tour or the VIP Beach Experience.

Stingray Encounter

In this program, cruise travelers will safely interact with rays on a shallow platform, feel their silky smooth fins and have the opportunity to feed them. Minimum Age: 4 years old.

Segway Safari Tour

On this tour the cruise travelers will explore the Island on Segway, visiting unique sites, sandy beaches and seeing some of the animals that make this cay in the Bahamas a major highlight. Must Know: Children 12 yrs - 17 yrs must be accompanied by an adult with a paid Segway ticket. Minimum Weight: 100 pounds. Maximum Weight: 250 pounds. Pregnant women are not allowed to participate in this program. .

VIP Beach Experience

Watch the under 1-minute video below to have a taste of what a VIP Beach Experience looks and may feel like.

Getting There

The Blue Lagoon Island is a private property and only way to access is by their own boats. Naturally, only those booked on an excursions are allowed to travel to the island.

Blue Lagoon (Salt Cay) - Map

Shorex, Online or On Your Own

Although you may process direct bookings on the Blue Lagoon Island website, this is not possible for cruise travelers on Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line. Those cruising on these lines will have to book onboard with the Shore Excursions Desk or online with the Cruise Line.

Online Shorex Services

There are a number of online services that also offer different excursion packages to the Blue Lagoon Island. Prices vary and it is advisable to check what is offered on each tour.

IQCruising does not endorse or get paid to mention any of these services. IQCruising is just providing the information and you should be aware that you are solely responsible for booking excursions online with these third-party services. Viator | Shore Trips | Shore Excursions Group | Cruising Excursions | Shore Excursioneer | Tours By Locals

Direct Booking

Before deciding which is the best excursion for your and your cruising companions, whether it is better to book onboard or an online service, it is strongly advisable to check first if you can book directly with Blue Lagoon Island. Check the Official Website of the Blue Lagoon Island

Interesting Facts

The 1996 movie 'Flipper' by Universal Studios used three dolphins owned by Dolphin Encounter. Some of Blue Lagoon's dolphins also stared in the film 'Holiday in the Sun'. The H&M promo video 'Standing on the Sun' with Beyoncé was filmed in the Blue Lagoon.

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Shore Excursion Details

Blue lagoon dolphin encounter, beach day & snorkel, nassau, bahamas.

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• 5 hrs Estimate Duration

Cruise to Blue Lagoon Island on a sleek double-decker ferry for an up-close encounter with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins at an American Humane-certified facility. Upon arriving at the island, which is also known as Salt Cay, you will first learn about the characteristics and behavior of dolphins, such as how they communicate and use echolocation to hunt prey. Once in the water, you will stand on a waist-deep submerged platform that allows easy access to these highly intelligent marine mammals. A trainer will be on hand to recommend the best ways to interact with and touch the dolphins. You can expect an unforgettable experience as dolphins are naturally curious and social. During the two hours or so of beach time that follows, you might settle into a lounge chair and bask in the sun, take a refreshing swim, and snorkel in the turquoise sea. There are also shops in the Bahamian village nearby.

Need to Know:

Check out the, activity attributes, excursion type:.

Wildlife Tours

Activity level:.

• 3 Challenging

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Dolphin Encounters

Toll Free - 1-866-448-9535 | Local - 1-242-363-1003

Dolphin Encounter

*plus 10% Value Added Tax Includes round-trip transportation by large catamarans to Blue Lagoon Island

Dolphin Encounter Overview

In the Dolphin Encounter Program, you can expect a unique experience that brings you closer to an Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin than you ever dreamed possible! Not only will you see the all-natural dolphin habitat, but you will learn important information about dolphins and the ocean too.

On the floating Dolphin Encounter platform, you will stand waist-deep and experience a heart-warming hug, a dance and opportunities to give the dolphin much appreciated rub downs. Your dolphin trainer will combine elements of hands-on contact, education, fun, laughter, and adventure to make this an unforgettable experience.  

Our professional photo & video staff will be capturing your encounter so that you will have a chance to take home incredible souvenirs of your once-in-a-lifetime experience .

• TIME: Ferry and actual encounter times vary. A customer service representative will contact you ahead of your booked excursion to confirm your ferry departure and check in times. Your Dolphin Encounter time will be set the morning of and communicated to you at check in. Please contact our Reservations Department via phone Toll free: 1-866-448-9535 or Local 242-363-1003 or email [email protected] if you need to speak with us prior to receiving that call
• Shallow water interaction with the dolphins
• Great for all ages
• Meal included
• 25 min scenic ferry ride through Nassau Harbour
• Beach access

Inclusions:  

• Roundtrip ferry ride to and from Blue Lagoon Island.  
• Buffet lunch
• Access to powder white sand beach and calm and shallow lagoon
• Inner tubes
• Beach lounge chairs
• Fresh water showers and full restroom facilities
• Locker during your Encounter

Exclusions:  

• Ground transportation from hotel, or rental property
• Any food or drink not included with buffet lunch  
• Non-motorized watersports equipment and Aqua Park access
• Photos or Video of your interaction (can be purchased additionally)

What to Bring:

• Swimsuit, comfortable shoes or water shoes, towels, and cash or credit card for additional purchases .  

Know Before You Go:

• Program times are assigned the morning of and communicated upon check-in at the Welcome Center
• All guests are required to complete a WAIVER prior to check in. Parents must complete for all minors. Click here to complete and submit the digital waiver.  
• Provided life vests are optional for adults and mandatory for guests under 18 for the duration of the Dolphin Encounter.

Photo & Video:

• To ensure the safety of our animals and guests, personal cameras, cell phones, GoPros or other electronic devices cannot be brought onto the platform during the animal program.
• Our professional photo & video staff will be capturing your animal interaction that can be digitally sent to you following your session (additional fee). Be sure to stop at the Photo Lab to order these special memories of your once-in-a-lifetime experience before you leave Blue Lagoon Island.  

Restrictions:

• The Dolphin Encounter is open to guests of all ages. Ages 3 and under are free with a ticketed parent/guardian.  
• Guests ages 12 and under must be accompanied in the water by a responsible, ticketed parent/guardian participating in the Dolphin Encounter. Parent/guardian must be at least 18 years of age.
• Guests ages 13 to 17 must be accompanied on the island by a parent/guardian (with ticket in any program).
• Guests must have the ability to go up and down ladders to access the floating platform.
• No drones, scuba equipment or metal detectors are allowed on the island.  
• No outside food or drinks are allowed on the island.  
• Blue Lagoon Island reserves the right to refuse service to any guest under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drugs.

Cancellation Policy:  

• No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less than 24-hours prior to the booked program. Groups may require a longer cancellation period depending on size.
• No refunds will be issued for guests who do not meet the program requirements for age, physical fitness, maternity reasons or who violate company policies.
• Blue Lagoon Island reserves the right, under certain circumstances, to omit specific behaviors or interactions from the animal programs.

Accessiblity:  

• The Dolphin Encounter Program can accommodate people with special needs. Click here for more information.
• Guests using wheelchairs, scooters or other equipment to assist with mobility are asked to please contact our Reservations Department ahead of your visit so that our team is prepared to accommodate you. Call Toll free: 1-866-448-9535 or Local 242.363.1003 or email us at [email protected]

Book Your Experience Today!

Visit one of the top voted family attractions in the bahamas.

Dolphin Encounter, Waterpark,Beach & Lunch for All

• Grilled burger/chicken lunch including vegetarian option, refreshment drink and fresh fruit (one per person).
• Access to the inflatable Aqua Park, including beach games and activities, plus unlimited use of water noodles and inflatable water tubes.
• Transportation to the island.
• Free Wi-Fi.

Requirements & Restrictions: Children – 12 years and under must be accompanied in the water by a participating adult. Cameras, cells phones and other electronic devices are not allowed during the dolphin program. What to Bring: Debit/credit card for purchases (American Express ® is not accepted on the island). Good to Know: Children – 5 years and under are free. Transportation to the island is via a 35-minute, scenic boat ride. Guests booked on other Blue Lagoon tours may travel together on the same boat. Paddleboards, kayaks, clear bottom kayaks, water bikes and snorkel gear are available for rent. Facilities also include showers, lockers and changing rooms. Blue Lagoon Island is certified under the global American Humane Conservation program for the welfare and humane treatment of the animals under its care.