Hi there, Diane!
Ahoy and welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel and thank you for stopping by with your question about your Disney Cruise Line vacation next year!
You are looking at what will definitely be an exciting (and very memorable) excursion when you visit the Bahamas! My boys participated in a dolphin encounter when we cruised to Cabo San Lucas last year and they still talk about it!! When your online check-in and onboard booking window opens, you will be able to see the exact departure times for the different excursions as well as the duration of each of the excursions. Depending on which
dolphin encounter you choose (there are a number of different ones - and each a little different) and the departure time available will help determine whether or not you will be able to make it back for an early lunch. Looking at them, it appears that most of them are at least 4 hours in duration, so it may be a bit of a challenge to get back to the ship for an early lunch. But, rest assured, food will be available onboard throughout the afternoon if you don’t make it back until after noon! The buffet lunch at Cabanas typically stays open until 2 or 2:30PM each day and the quick serve options by the pool are available throughout the day…and you can always opt to call in for
Room Service (the club sandwich is delish), too!
Diane, if you haven’t yet marked the date when your onboard booking window opens, go ahead and do that now – 75 days prior to sailing for first-time Guests, 90 days prior for Silver
Castaway Club members, 105 days for Gold Castaway Club members and 120 days for Platinum Castaway Club members – so that you will be ready when the clock strikes midnight (EST) to book your onboard fun!
Happy Sailing!
Stephanie