Ocean World and general HIGH INFLATED PRICING

[Pib]

Originally Posted by Malibook

Expensive and overpriced are subjective terms relative to each individual.

The price is a critical consideration for many and the perceived value is paramount to most.

Whether or not Ocean World has a viable business and fantastic return on investment was not the point of the OP.
Customers care about what they are getting for their money.
Investors care about the ROI and profits/losses.

So who knows the price?

Somebody will be here soon to correct me if I misremember, but we paid US$35.00 per adult (or was it US$50.00?), the tot and the baby were free. It also included a all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. That was good too.

[Robert]

I think you will find it's US$35. I was at Ocean World last week, a world class attraction in my opinion and well worth the price.

As for videosilva, "WHAT A JOKE".

[Lambada]

Our Puerto Rican friends were there over Easter at Ocean World. They had a wonderful time. They are very savvy, observant people. They didn't even mention the price so it couldn't have struck them as exorbitant, because when they did find prices over the top.......they told us!

[Chris]

Originally Posted by videosilva

WHAT A JOKE Ocean World and the DR turned out to be.

The country was beautiful climate wise and the colors ocean were amazing. The people were not so amazing, I was GAUGED,RIPPED,ROBEED in any direction I turned.

Perhaps you should have consulted the members of this board before you entered the DR Joke... Does nothing for anyone to complain afterwards. How prepared were you for visiting a different country? And when last did you check the prices for similar excursions in your own country?

[Escott]

I agree with you and was thinking about the same thing about this new guy who evidently came to a country foreign to him not knowing what to expect nor how to act and react. Now he is crying in his soup I guess because he probably thought he was in Florida.

Had he come here before he went to the DR he could have done his homework and had a nice vacation instead of wandering around like a goat in the forrest and gotten eaten

[Conchman]

For everybody's information, admission to Ocean World is US$55 (there is currently a special of US$35 for residents with cedula) and includes the following:

1) Bus transfers from nearby hotels (small surcharge for Sosua/Cabarete/Luperon/Rio San Juan)

2) Lunch Buffet (drinks extra)

3) Snorkelling in the Tropical Reef Pool (includes equipment)

4) Sea Lion/Shark shows

5) Rainforest/Tiger Pool/Bird Aviaries

6) Beach area with lounge chairs

7) Observation of dolphin encounter/swim programs

Available for upgrade/purchase:

Sea Lion Encounter $45 inside park or $70 including admission*
Dolphin Encounter $75 inside park or $100 including admission*
Dolphin Swim $120 inside park or $145 including admission*
Shark Encounter $35 only available inside park

*Admission is basically $25 if pre-purchased together with one of the premium programs above

Ocean World normally has a guest service representative at the gate for people who walk up, the security guards are not trained to answer guests inquiries.

[sweetdbt]

IMHO the package deals which include "encounters" for $70 to $75 are a value. You pay through the nose for that stuff elsewhere. On the other hand, the basic admission of $55 seems a bit steep, although not so bad if you are in a non-AI hotel and don't have a car, so you would fully benefit from the lunch buffet and hotel transfers. For the cedula-holders at $35, a real bargain.

[rellosk]

Conchman, thank you for the very clear and informative posting of the rates and activities.

[snowqueen]

I think considering the amount of work required prior to construction and the construction itself, it is well priced. I would prefer to see prices listed in pesos though. US price tags don't do much for Canadian or English travellers and I'm sure there are misinterpretations of the exchange between the different currencies.

That said, I was very disturbed to see how OW looks from Costambar. As far as I am concerned, the huge sign on the ocean side is a blight on the landscape. I am also not supportive of a tourist attraction that confines beautiful creatures meant to be free. It is also my understanding that humans carry different fungi that many of these creatures cannot tolerate, and that touching them can result in them becoming quite sick. No matter how fabulous I hear it is, I will never darken their doorstep. I love the Florida law that forbids touching, chasing or harassing dolphins in any way.

And as for DR being a joke, I hope that that was just a poor choice of words.

[videosilva]

I'm of Portuguse background and the language was NOT a barrier. The guard specifically said we needed an invitation to continue to walk in that direction of the road.

The import thing is a STUPID statement ! We import to Canada from Japan,China etc. The U.S Dolllare this is a SHAM plain and simple. Wow, the DR must be the ONLY place in the world with tourims ( imagine that). In Canada we pay canadain in U.S. Americain in Portugal Porutuse etc. etc. etc. Not in the DR RIP OFF CAPITAL OF THE WORLD !

I understand some thing imported will be priced higher that is COMMEN KNOWLEDGE !

Here is an example. A plastic 2inch parrot thing, here I belive its either one for a dollar or two for a dollar. In DR I WAS FRIGGEN ASKED $25.00 US WHAT A JOKEEEEEEEE !

DO you belive its just me ? Ask the other 20 or so couples I spent 9 days with of their opinion. The running joke was " HOW MUCH YOU PAY AMERICAN" ! That inedeed my friend was FACT !