Swimming with dolphins at Blue Lagoon in the Bahamas!
Even though swimming with dolphins was one of my later adventures (I did it on my very last cruise), I still wanted it to be one of the first experiences I shared because I love love loved it so very much. I think growing up, most girls dream of swimming with dolphins. I don’t know when or how it was instilled in me that swimming with dolphins would be a magical experience, but here we are 27 years later, and I was determined to make this dream become a reality.
Side note to introduce the person who went on this amazing adventure with me: Sharene is one of my fellow Americans, a native of Florida. She’s one of the Playlist dancers on the ship, and she is absolutely incredible onstage. I would know because I went to see the shows so often that I noticed even the slightest changes. Your eyes are immediately drawn to her when she’s performing.
Sharene and I had been talking about going to swim with the dolphins for a long time, and if I hadn’t extended my contract an extra month, we would have gone without going on this amazing adventure, so kudos to Carnival for asking me to extend. I’m eternally grateful. Sharene tried to act like she wasn’t going to come though. Y’all, I woke up late on the day of the excursion, and I saw her in the elevator. She got off on the deck before me and said “Have fun,” and I was too tired and miffed to say anything. Then I get to where the excursions meet, and I’m about to panic because no one from the Shore Excursions desk is there to give me my ticket. I wander out of the Mikado lounge, and Sharene is there filming herself for a vlog and talking about how she tricked me. Y’all. I mean, I was going to go swim with dolphins by myself if I had to, but we had been talking about it forever, and I would have come back to that ship salty (in more ways than one) if she had ditched me.
Okay, now that that story is out of the way, I had the most incredible time swimming with the dolphins. We went to this private island called Blue Lagoon in Nassau in the Bahamas. We took a 20-minute ferry ride to this beautiful island that I wish I could have gone to more often. Even if you don’t go to the island for an excursion, I would recommend just going to the island and enjoying it. It’s so beautiful, and you can get floaties for free, which is a treat. To me, at least.
Sharene and I swam with the female dolphins (males and females have to stay separate because of hormones and all). The two we hung out with were Gussiemae and Laguna. We started with petting them and feeling their teeth. Then we all took turns posing for pictures, including giving them kisses and hugs. Those sweet girls. Such heartbreakers.
Next, we got to start actually swimming with the dolphins. The dolphins were instructed to flip over on their back, and we had to grab onto their flippers as they pulled us along. It happened to fast, but it was definitely a mini thrill.
This next part was my favorite part. In turn, we each had to lie on a paddleboard and hold our feet out. One of the dolphins then came and pushed one of our feet and we rode in the water in a giant U. It was so much fun.
After our excursion, we took advantage of the beach. We had a couple hours to kill before we needed to head back to the ferry and get back on the ship. Sharene made fun of me because I was a bit whiney trying to climb over rocks in order to get to this pretty part of the beach. I was wearing flip flops and was not prepared for this adventure. I’m glad she made me climb over the rocks (in spite of the sign that said not to. Whoops.) and explore the beach more. I’m telling y’all, it was worth the climb. It was absolutely gorgeous.
If you’re ever in Nassau, I highly, highly recommend exploring Blue Lagoon. Besides swimming with dolphins, you can also swim with sea lions or stingrays, go on the inflatable obstacle course, rent kayaks, ride segways, etc. Also, if you just want to go to a beach, Blue Lagoon is so beautiful. I can’t recommend it enough.
