Caribbean Explorer II: Is late boarding possible?

[Hintermann]

I am considering on the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard cruise in April 2016, but because it will be part of a longer holiday, my schedule is a bit tight. I want to join the cruise that starts out of St Maartens on Saturday 16th April 2016 - the already published Explorer Ventures schedule confirms that it is a St Maartens starter week. The problem is that I can only catch the Saturday afternoon AA flight out of Miami and this does not land in St Maartens till 21:30 hours that night. By then the Caribbean Explorer would have sailed out of port but will presumably moored for the night somewhere not too far off. Will they allow me to join the boat late Saturday night (probably around 23:00 hours) and if so, how do I get to the boat? Is there a local speedboat taxi or similar service?

 

[donhealy]

The date is a ways off! But I would call Explorer Ventures directly. Depending on location they can delay sailing or allow a tender to bring you to the boat. You got to pay for the tender.

 

[KeithG]

In my experience the boat makes a night crossing to Saba the first evening. It does not do any dives in st maaartens. So a water taxi will not likely work so well. You may be able to fly to Saba and join the boat the next day? You would probably miss the 2 morning dives.

Check with the office. They may have suggestions.

 

[Hintermann]

Thanks giffenk. I checked with the office and you are right. A later arrival in St Maartens on Saturday limits me to a Sunday morning flights to Saba and I will not only miss 2 or probably 3 dives, it will all be rather hurried and confusing.

I have therefore thought of an alternative plan. This involves leaving Miami by the earlier flight to St Maartens on Saturday so that I arrive on time to catch the boat. I need information about that too but as that bit is not related directly to the liveaboard, I have asked it elsewhere.