porsche060
Registered
- Messages
- 52
- Reaction score
- 0
Thinking of Blackbeard or Explorer Ventures. Anyone comment on the differences between the 2?
Cruise Idea for NYE
- Thread starter porsche060
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
- Messages
- 26,272
- Reaction score
- 5,883
- # of dives
- I'm a Fish!
Blackbeards seems like camping at sea. You share a common sleeping area belowdeck.
Even the least expensive Explorer trip - CEX1 out of the Bahamas - has a mix of 2 bunk private rooms with attached bathrooms - the five cheapest rooms share. And the boat has an outdoor covered deck with bar, a sundeck and an eating area.
I've never been on Blackbeards, but I'd guess there's a higher level of personal attention on an Explorer boat also. Especially when Blackbeards is under sail.
For the price difference, it's what I'd do if I was looking for an inexpensive trip. And since Blackbeards moved operations to Freeport, Grand Bahama, I doubt there's much savings in flight costs vs. CEX1 out of Exuma. When they were located in Florida, it might've been worth the difference. You do save $500 or more Blackbeards vs. Explorer 1 but to me it's not worth it. My buddy is on CEX1 this weekend so PM me for details in a couple weeks.
For what you'll pay for the trip plus flights etc. you might want to look into Nekton also. A good part of the year their boats leave out of Ft. Lauderdale so a cheap flight there (or to Miami) might be a better deal. Nekton out of Ft. Lauderdale, all taxes, fees etc. cost us $1995pp. last summer. And our flights from Phx. were $159 more. Nekton has bigger suites than CEX1 also, two separate beds - not upper/lower bunks -with a sink and ensuite bathroom/shower per room. If you want to dive Belize, there are a couple Nekton trips right after the 1st of the year that sell for $1495. I'd do that before I'd do CEX1. But the flights are likely more.
Some of the bigger bunks front onto the galley also, that must be really private...not. Everything is communal - the three heads, the ONE shower etc.
From what I've read you pretty much live out on deck when not diving.
Even the least expensive Explorer trip - CEX1 out of the Bahamas - has a mix of 2 bunk private rooms with attached bathrooms - the five cheapest rooms share. And the boat has an outdoor covered deck with bar, a sundeck and an eating area.
I've never been on Blackbeards, but I'd guess there's a higher level of personal attention on an Explorer boat also. Especially when Blackbeards is under sail.
For the price difference, it's what I'd do if I was looking for an inexpensive trip. And since Blackbeards moved operations to Freeport, Grand Bahama, I doubt there's much savings in flight costs vs. CEX1 out of Exuma. When they were located in Florida, it might've been worth the difference. You do save $500 or more Blackbeards vs. Explorer 1 but to me it's not worth it. My buddy is on CEX1 this weekend so PM me for details in a couple weeks.
For what you'll pay for the trip plus flights etc. you might want to look into Nekton also. A good part of the year their boats leave out of Ft. Lauderdale so a cheap flight there (or to Miami) might be a better deal. Nekton out of Ft. Lauderdale, all taxes, fees etc. cost us $1995pp. last summer. And our flights from Phx. were $159 more. Nekton has bigger suites than CEX1 also, two separate beds - not upper/lower bunks -with a sink and ensuite bathroom/shower per room. If you want to dive Belize, there are a couple Nekton trips right after the 1st of the year that sell for $1495. I'd do that before I'd do CEX1. But the flights are likely more.
Similar threads
