Greetings, Bill, and welcome to planDisney! It won’t be long before you’re soaking up the magic on your Eastern Caribbean cruise. There are some great shore excursions to choose from.
I understand the excitement about the opportunity to snorkel with majestic sea turtles and other marine life. Unfortunately, the age minimum for the
Aquatic Snorkeling with Sea Turtles excursion is firmly set to seven years old, so your daughter wouldn't be able to sign up. The age restriction is in place for the safety of both the Guests and the wildlife.
I found some excursions that may work as alternatives, though! Check out the descriptions and the "Know Before You Go" section to see which of the following adventures feels best for your family, based on experience and comfort level.
- Castaway Catamaran Sail & Snorkel to Shipwreck Cove (ST29): The minimum age for this St. Thomas excursion is five years old. It includes 90 minutes of snorkeling after a catamaran ride. You may see turtles!
- Caribbean Sea Safari, Snorkeling and Beach Tour (ST46): The minimum age for this St. Thomas adventure is five years old. It includes 60 minutes of snorkeling, and you may see turtles in this one, too!
- Castaway Ray's Stingray Adventure (C13): While not turtles, you and your daughter could feed, touch, and snorkel with stingrays in Castaway Cay! The minimum age for this excursion is also five years old, and it seems like a really unique experience.
- Sapphire Beach, Snorkel, Swim, and Island Drive (ST74): If you love snorkeling, this could be a great option, and it's open to all ages. You'd take an open-air taxi to a beautiful white sand beach in St. Thomas and have 2.5 hours to snorkel and relax.
There are plenty more
exciting port adventures you can explore. Look through the list and search for ones that would be open to you and your daughter.
Don't miss Pelican Plunge when you're at Castaway Cay. It's for kids who are at least 38 inches tall. There's a platform in the bay that has two waterslides and a giant bucket that dumps water. Complimentary life jackets are available for the kids.
You can also
rent snorkel equipment at Castaway Cay. I did this during my last visit, and it was amazing. The good news, too, is that rentals are available for Guests ages five and older (when accompanied by an adult). Snorkeling in the lagoon was a highlight for me. There are so many surprises to discover under the water. I don't want to spoil it, so I'll just say I think your family will really enjoy searching for all the treasures in the area.
Bill, I hope one of these excursions will be a happy substitute for the experience you were initially looking to do. If you think of any other questions between now and embarkation day, please reach out – we're always happy to help here at planDisney!
Anchors aweigh,
Kriss