SeaWorld Orlando announced Tuesday that guests can pay extra to take a Killer Whale Up-Close Tour.
The new 60-minute tour includes an educational spiel from killer whale trainers, meeting the whales and a personal interaction with one of the whales.
SeaWorld’s trainers will share stories and information about the killer whales and discuss their healthcare and feeding habits. Participants will have the chance to try their hand at a session with the whales alongside a trainer.
The Killer Whale Up-Close Tour begins at 9:45 a.m. daily. Space is limited to 20 participants and reservations are required. Prices start at $79 per person.
The tour was announced a day after upcharge experiences were added to Discovery Cove, where visitors can pay an extra $85 to swim with sharks or $45 to feed the stingrays.
They are the latest in SeaWorld’s collection of educational tours, that are added to the price of admission. The park offers a Dolphin Up-Close Tour, Penguin Up-Close Tour, and the Behind-the-Scenes Tour, which takes guests backstage for a look at the park’s animal rescue operation.
Declining attendance and revenues along with protests from animal rights activists have forced the park to transition its animal entertainment shows to educational interactions.