Welcome aboard, Donnette! My family has cruised to the ports in the Western Caribbean plenty of times, and one of my favorite spots is Grand Cayman island.
There, you can experience Dolphin Discovery. This is where I'd highly recommend that your 17-year old and 8-year old join you for a dolphin swim. You'll also get some time to walk across the street to explore the Turtle Farm. It's such a neat spot where you can learn about the conservation efforts for the sea turtles, see a wide variety of sea life and even get in the tank with baby sea turtles. What an experience! It's something we'll always remember and we have some priceless photos of our time there.
I also always recommend a dolphin swim over a dolphin encounter. For the small additional cost, your family will have so much more interaction time with these gorgeous creatures and you'll enjoy it very much. Here at Dolphin Discovery, they offer the
Dolphin Extreme Swim and Turtle Farm adventure. Not only will you get to pet and kiss the dolphins, but have more free time to swim with them and experience a belly ride across the water! My daughter can't stop talking about her dolphin swim experience that she and I had a few months ago. I am excited for your family!
Plus, if Dad and the 2-year old want to join you, they can pay a reduced price to join the
Dolphin Observer and Turtle Farm adventure so they can tag along for all the fun. They just won't get in the water with the dolphins, but will still experience all the rest of the fun during the day together as a family. I hope those ideas help as you continue planning, Donnette!