Miami Seaquarium
Miami Seaquarium
3.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
On a 38-acre tropical paradise with spectacular skyline views lies a South Florida attraction like no other. Welcome to Miami Seaquarium®, a place where dolphins walk on water and killer whales fly through the air. Where sea lions delight children of all ages and endangered sea turtles and manatees find a safe haven. Enjoy a world-class marine-life entertainment park with eight different marine animal shows and astonishing daily presentations. You've heard the mysterious legends and fascinating facts about dolphins, one of the world's most magnificent marine mammals. Now, you can have a hands-on experience with one of these amazing animals at Dolphin Harbor, the new home to our dolphin interaction programs at Miami Seaquarium.Miami Seaquarium® is a place of inspiration, education - and fun!
Duration: More than 3 hours
Does not meet animal welfare
guidelines
Tripadvisor does not provide bookings for this experience because it does not meet our animal welfare guidelines.
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See what travelers are saying
- mom2221414 contributionsDolphin interaction and shows are good but that is itThe dolphin odyssey experience was great, the trainers were fantastic. The sea lion show was awesome as well. The rest of the park seems deserted and it’s creepy since so many areas are blocked off and it’s showing serious signs of age. We were there on a Friday and it was dead. Here are the reasons I gave it 3 stars instead is 5: The price inconsistent.. It seems the staff is not all on the same page for pricing for the observer tickets to watch the dolphin experience. Online it said the price was $49.95. However I was having technical difficulties and it wouldn’t let me purchase with the dolphin odyssey tickets. When we got to the park, the general admission was discounted to $19.99, but the dolphin observer ticket was $59.99. Ouch! So I paid it because I had two minors doing the dolphin experience. Then I get back to the experience area and they sell the people with general admission an observe ticket for $10.70. So total these people are only paying $30- half the price that I paid. My other complaint is the food staff. They seemed irritated that they were inconvenienced to wait on people. Also i used my $5 coupon and after reviewing my receipt found they only took $1 off. Not a deal breaker but irritating. Then I waited 30 minutes for my food only to find the lady didn’t give the order to the cooks. It wasn’t even busy as I was the only one there. Also, there was only one cleaner fish left. We had been here in 2019 and there was a tank full I’d probably hundreds. Not sure what happened to them all. Just sad. I’m writing this review with still hopes that the new owners will turn the place around and do some updates. It’s a cool place to have this and it has potential, needs some TLC and someone to get the staff trained and excited.Visited July 2023Traveled with familyWritten July 30, 2023
- Katty Sean M36 contributionsSad afternoonThis place is a shell of its former glory. Many of the exhibits were closed. Many are not wheelchair accessible, which made it very difficult since we had our grandmother with us. We were there on a sunny Saturday afternoon and the place was a ghost town. It is sad what has happened to this place. We had fun, but there is much work that needs to be done here.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 9, 2023
- Keenan and RileyAlaska3 contributionsVIP Tour - Wonderful Experience!Miami Seaquarium was such an incredible experience. We were greeted by friendly staff upon arrival and a very easy ticketing process. Prices for the park and the VIP experiences were very reasonable. We had tickets for the VIP tour. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and kind. From being kissed by a harbor seal, feeding stingrays, and accompanying a trainer to practice tricks/behaviors with the dolphins, it was phenomenal to be so close! The aquarium staff take very good care of the animals and practice eco-friendly business. Plus, our guide timed our tour very well as we were able to spend time with the animals at no rush, complete the program, and still have time to see all of the shows and educational conversations around the park. The VIP tour also included professional photos with all of the animals you meet. They came out lovely! There were tons too and were all sent to us in a digital format for no additional charge. If you want printed versions, those were cheap too. Going to the Miami Seaquarium at this time of year (during the off season) is ideal - there is little to no crowd, you can take your time, and you don't feel rushed. On the map, there are several food options that are only open during the season. We went to the Manatee Bay Cafe and the food was a lot better than we were expecting with a variety of options. The only criticism that we had was the gift shop - it was large with hardly any good souvenirs. Usually we buy just postcards but they did not have any! Great for all ages!Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 23, 2023
- Mama Bear1 contributionDolphin experiences great, park underwhelmingThe park is deceptively small and had few attractions. The website made it seem like there was more to it than what was actually there. Many attractions were closed (about half of the small aquarium tanks, playground area pirate attraction was gone, just two very small playsets). Tried to get into the seal show but seating filled up too fast and we weren’t going to wait another four hours for the next one. You can see everything there is to offer in about 1 1/2-2 hours. I will say that my son and I did the Dolphin Odyssey experience and my husband and daughter (7 yo) did the Dolphin Encounter and those were five star experiences. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting and interacting with the dolphins and the trainers were awesome.Visited January 2024Traveled with familyWritten January 4, 2024
- Marek1 contributionMeeting dolphins in MiamiWe had a great time today. All the staff was really enthusiastic and kind. The encounter with dolphins was just amazing. Its a great experince to stroke such a lovely animals while led by a brilliant guide with many interesting stories and all background gossips. Thank you very much ❤️.Visited February 2024Traveled with familyWritten February 9, 2024
- CowleasowNottingham, United Kingdom350 contributionsA well-presented park with plenty to see and do.I took a bus from Miami out to the Seaquarium midweek. Not many visitors which was ideal as it was quite easy to get around the park and attend all the shows. A couple of the exhibits were closed due to renovation but there was still plenty to see. There is quite a variety animals and they do appear well looked-after except for the 2 manatees in the Manatee Exhibit pool - they really should be given a better place to spend out their time (can't be released due to injuries).Visited March 2023Traveled soloWritten February 29, 2024
- Ruth C1 contributionAmazing Seaquarium ExperienceWe are from the west and were excited to go to the Miami Seaquarium. We loved the dolphin and seal shows. The trainers love the animals and you can clearly see their dedication and care for them. We also chose to do a dolphin experience and got to engage with a dolphin. The best part of the whole day, so incredible! Again, the trainers and managers were so genuinely loving towards all the animals. They love their jobs. They are talented. We were impressed with their professionalism and protocols in place for animal care. And those qualities really enhanced the experience for all of us. The day also inspired my son and got him watching the 1960’s Flipper movies/shows. He loved watching Flippers world record holding 15ft jump at the seaquarium show!Visited March 2024Traveled with familyWritten March 15, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
4,555 reviews
Excellent
1,274
Very good
1,267
Average
971
Poor
494
Terrible
549
June K
Fall River, MA21 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Granddaughter wanted to ride a dolphin $269 for 30 minutes then was offered photos they took during the 30 minute experience for $150. Very few animals and almost nothing was open when the zoo opened. We went on a Monday and got a $10 discount... that was because nothing was open until after 2. The stingray feeding took 5 minutes, the manatee docent couldn’t answer any questions and customers service said Mondays were slow so they didn’t open a lot. This is a small aquarium/zoo with limited types of animals and few of those they have. VERY Disappointing!
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi June, we're sorry to hear that your visit to our Park was not up to your expectations. We use a third party company to capture our guest's experience, and they offer a variety of photo packages for guests to choose from. We value your feedback and have shared it with management.
Written January 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Debra H
16 contributions
Mar 2022
I took my 10 year old grandson for a trip here and we were not disappointed. There are so many beautiful animals here to see and touch. The day was topped off with a dolphin adventure. I unfortunately booked the wrong one and had I had the ability to print out my tickets from home, I would have noted the error but they do not offer that. So we had the encounter instead of the Odyssey, we able to get in to the water part way and pose for expensive photos but not get all the way in and swim with them as I had hoped to do. The experience was still very good and worth doing. The pricing for their photos are not reasonable for what you get, a scan code to print them out at home yourself. Each person has to pay for their photo session so the price doubles if there were 2 of you and you can not pick and choose what you want to just take for $49, well, $98 for both of our digital prints we have to still print out somewhere. As we already knew, the whale is now gone from the venue but the price of the admission remained the same though the biggest feature is gone. I do understand that they have a serious need for financial gain to keep the entire place going and the animals all kept safe and healthy but the price should have been lowered. The dolphins performed very well and were great fun to watch how beautifully they can jump and splash. All the birds and other animals also were a lot of fun so all in all, we had a very nice time. This was a good adventure for all ages.
Written March 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with a review of your experience. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
Written May 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rob
West Sussex, UK714 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
I wish I had read the recent reviews for this place, by US standards the facilities were very poor and the cost of entry nearly $50 does not constitute value for money. The entire aquarium looks very tired and dated and could do with a complete refurb. Food outlets were average and could not even get an ice cream according to the vendor after queuing for a long time. Save your money and visit other attractions, it looks as though this place could be closing soon unless they get there act together.
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thank you for your review. Admission pricing funds the daily care of our marine animals to ensure they receive the best nutrition and medical care available, as well as supports our conservation efforts in the community. However, we frequently offers discounts on admission to allow as many guests as possible to experience the park. We value your feedback and have shared it with management. Please visit our website to view our offers, or send us a message to further discuss.
Written February 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jeanette B
Loveland, OH65 contributions
May 2021
Overpriced, run down, most of the fish tanks were empty. One parrot had no body feathers. The pizza was overpriced and dry. We saw two families in the cafe throw away their chicken strips uneaten, looked dry and unappetizing. The French fries were good. It cost $124.31 plus $10 parking to just get in for two adults and one child. The wale/dolphin show was good. The bathrooms were clean. The water play area not open, the play area was too sunny and play equipment was hot...should have some shade. Do not waste your time or money. We feel sorry for the animas that have to live there.
Written May 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meranda M
1 contribution
Feb 2020 • Family
We are from Alaska and were in Miami for a short amount of time, we decided to go to Miami Seaquarium and we weren't disappointed. We had a great day here!!! The exhibits had a decent amount of sea life, lots of displays with information about the creatures and the rescue stories, the admission fee was fair for what they offered. We did the "Shark and Stingray Interaction" and had a great time, the guide was very knowledgeable, we were in the water for a decent amount of time feeding and petting the sharks, stingrays and eel. There were well stock souvenir shops and a food concession stands. Lots of interactive exhibits where you can feed the birds and animals or pet the manta rays. We loved our day at the aquarium. After the aquarium there is a beach just 5mins away by foot that we walked to and another 8mins away is a restraunt that we ended the day at
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thank you for your review. Our new exhibit, Discovery Keys, is one of our favorites! We're glad to hear you enjoyed your visit to our Park and took advantage of everything we had to offer. We hope you visit us again during your next Miami visit!
Written February 26, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
elizabeth b
Miami Beach, FL183 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
As a Miami native, I remember going to the Seaquarium and enjoying the day at Key Biscayne. I remembered the show of Lolita, as a child and getting splashed and soaked.
To my dismay, the seaquarium is a shell of what it used to be. Very little marine life, most food vendor stands are closed and it is completely rundown.
We went to the Lolita show and it was awful. They made us wait outside for 25 minutes to get seats and it was scorching outside.
The show was awful. It was basically a 10 minute infomercial with very little interaction with Lolita. You just basically see her swim and they have 2 poor dolphins as sidekicks that do one leap only.
Everyone exited the show saying how awful it was. We left right after the show. We were so disappointed.
Bottom line, very expensive and very disappointed.
To my dismay, the seaquarium is a shell of what it used to be. Very little marine life, most food vendor stands are closed and it is completely rundown.
We went to the Lolita show and it was awful. They made us wait outside for 25 minutes to get seats and it was scorching outside.
The show was awful. It was basically a 10 minute infomercial with very little interaction with Lolita. You just basically see her swim and they have 2 poor dolphins as sidekicks that do one leap only.
Everyone exited the show saying how awful it was. We left right after the show. We were so disappointed.
Bottom line, very expensive and very disappointed.
Written July 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BeaneJada
3 contributions
Feb 2022 • Family
Wow, I’ve been planning this visit for over a month now and I’ve had issues with placing my order online and receiving the discounted price. I kept calling, getting the run around and finally informed the manager Diana that it says clearly online that I get a discount for weekday prices. When I asked her to honor the 20% off or she would be falsely advertising instead of resolving the situation, she asked me what page I was looking at online, and then proceeded to change the entire website to not give me a discount. I am beyond disgusted by this dismal behavior. If she had just said, I can’t, I would have gladly bought my ticket but this has been the worst customer service experience I’ve ever had.
Written February 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee
Taunton, UK5 contributions
Sep 2022
Truly disappointed.
You pay nearly $50 per person, you then have to pay $10 to park, inside hardly anything was open for drinking and eating.
There is nothing on the site to suggest the killer whale show is not on? But now looked at the reviews on here would of realised the show hasn’t been on for ages, yet the killer whale is still front and centre on the brochure you are given, dolphin shows DONT last any where near what is advertised and they just repeat the same routine.
Having been to many sea show type parks around the world with my now grown up children I can honestly say this park is the WORST I have been to, it looks like no one cares, and also staff seem like they can’t be bothered, I will NEVER return to this park and would advise anyone else not to go..
You pay nearly $50 per person, you then have to pay $10 to park, inside hardly anything was open for drinking and eating.
There is nothing on the site to suggest the killer whale show is not on? But now looked at the reviews on here would of realised the show hasn’t been on for ages, yet the killer whale is still front and centre on the brochure you are given, dolphin shows DONT last any where near what is advertised and they just repeat the same routine.
Having been to many sea show type parks around the world with my now grown up children I can honestly say this park is the WORST I have been to, it looks like no one cares, and also staff seem like they can’t be bothered, I will NEVER return to this park and would advise anyone else not to go..
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shair C
2 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
Overpriced, basic, money grab, outdated, avoid.
My experience at the Miami Seaquarium's Dolphin Encounter was highly disappointing. The first issue was the exorbitant cost, which left me feeling like I'd overpaid for what turned out to be a very basic encounter. To make matters worse, they seemed determined to squeeze every last dollar out of visitors. From the pricey parking to the expensive tour and the cost of photos and videos, it felt like a relentless money grab.
When I tried to capture memories with pictures and videos, I was met with strict regulations and high fees for the privilege. This made the experience feel more like a cash cow than a genuine opportunity to connect with these magnificent animals.
To add to the frustration, there were no towels in the showers, which was an unexpected inconvenience. It left me feeling like the Seaquarium hadn't been renovated or improved since the 70s, and the outdated facilities were a major letdown.
In summary, my visit to the Miami Seaquarium's Dolphin Encounter was a regrettable experience. It was overpriced, failed to deliver a meaningful encounter, and seemed more focused on separating visitors from their money than providing a memorable experience. I'd strongly recommend looking elsewhere for a more worthwhile and modern aquatic adventure.
My experience at the Miami Seaquarium's Dolphin Encounter was highly disappointing. The first issue was the exorbitant cost, which left me feeling like I'd overpaid for what turned out to be a very basic encounter. To make matters worse, they seemed determined to squeeze every last dollar out of visitors. From the pricey parking to the expensive tour and the cost of photos and videos, it felt like a relentless money grab.
When I tried to capture memories with pictures and videos, I was met with strict regulations and high fees for the privilege. This made the experience feel more like a cash cow than a genuine opportunity to connect with these magnificent animals.
To add to the frustration, there were no towels in the showers, which was an unexpected inconvenience. It left me feeling like the Seaquarium hadn't been renovated or improved since the 70s, and the outdated facilities were a major letdown.
In summary, my visit to the Miami Seaquarium's Dolphin Encounter was a regrettable experience. It was overpriced, failed to deliver a meaningful encounter, and seemed more focused on separating visitors from their money than providing a memorable experience. I'd strongly recommend looking elsewhere for a more worthwhile and modern aquatic adventure.
Written November 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda D
Vestal, NY44 contributions
Apr 2021
We had a wonderful time here. Not sure why all the negative reviews. I think it is people who didn't do a dolphin swim. That is the main reason to go here. The park is small, yes, but we enjoyed the flamingos at the entrance, watching the manatees be fed, the bird show, dolphin show, seal show and killer whale show. There was plenty to do for the day. There were no lines but we went at park opening on a Monday. We did wait awhile for pizza and ice cream however.... We had booked the dolphin experience which starts at noon. My advice is to go at park opening and check-in, then you can go to all the shows and just be back by 12:15 pm. It was $150 each for my 7 year old and I to have the dolphin experience. We were on a platform that was 3 feet in the water and didn't actually get in the water to swim. The trainers there were fabulous. We have done this previously in Dominican Republic and I have to say this was much better. Why? Because the two of us got our own trainer, our own platform and our own two dolphins, Samantha and Star! We had an incredible, full 30 minutes with them and could choose what we wanted to do. My daughter really liked playing ball with the dolphins. I would suggest going now, during pandemic times because I don't think being alone with the dolphins will last. In Dominican, we were in a group of 10. This was so personal and we could ask any questions we wanted, and pet and play with the dolphins to our hearts content. My daughter said it was the best day of her life!!!
Written April 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Garrice C
Upper Marlboro, MD
When swimming with the dolphins do they supply life jacket or can i purchase my own to swim with them? Or is required that you need to know to swim to interact with the dolphins?
Hola buenas noches, el show de las ballenas aún está disponible o ya lo quitaron? Gracias
Tricia C
2 contributions
I'm in shock that anyone would support this place. They treat the orca and dolphins terrible and the conditions they live in are just abusive. I even heard the orca is in such a poor environment that they were taken to court to get her removed but she's still there living in inhumane conditions. Disgusting!
catmando386
Abilene, TX177 contributions
I agree. The facilities are way to small.
Do they accept mobile payments inside the park ? Like apple pay or google pay.
Prols
Lake Mary, FL177 contributions
I don't know. We used cash and a credit card. Sorry.
Anonymous
36 contributions
What is included with general admission
FloridaMG
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida37 contributions
All the shows and exhibits, including the Touch Pools and Tropical Wings exhibits. There's plenty to do. Also, at additional cost: some direct interactive experiences such as Dolphin Encounter and Odyssey, Sea Trek Encounter, Traines-for-a-Day and VIP tour. The Miami Seaquarium website lists the showtimes, prices and special discounts (FL residents, Annual Pass, Smart Day Prices, etc,). You can also find discount coupons on the Seaquarium website and Group-on.
Jairo A
Sabaneta, Colombia96 contributions
Cual tiquete recomiendan para ir un solo dia, cuantas horas dura este paseo en familia?. No es muy claro que show incluye el ticket de un dia, agradeceria su ayuda viajo en un mes.
No recomiendo este lugar, es muy costoso para lo que presentan, y si cancelan los shows, no le retornan el dinero
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Claim your listingMiami Seaquarium - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Miami Seaquarium
- Hotels near Miami Seaquarium:
- (2.46 mi) Hotel AKA Brickell
- (2.65 mi) Hampton Inn & Suites Miami/Brickell-Downtown
- (2.38 mi) Fortune House Hotel
- (3.21 mi) Marriott Stanton South Beach
- (2.41 mi) Four Seasons Hotel Miami
- Restaurants near Miami Seaquarium:
- (0.01 mi) Wendy's
- (0.02 mi) Manatee Bay Cafe
- (2.42 mi) CRAFT Brickell
- (2.61 mi) CRAFT Key Biscayne
- (2.68 mi) Fulano
- Attractions near Miami Seaquarium:
- (0.00 mi) Jurassic Vr Park
- (0.18 mi) Rickenbacker Bridge
- (0.17 mi) The Wetlab
- (0.35 mi) Historic Virginia Key Beach Park
- (0.35 mi) Bluepoint SUP