Cruise Lines

[JAMIE MCG]

What do you take on the Cruise ship, bare minimal, or full gear.

Thanks Jamie

 

[tstormdiver]

Last year when I took a cruise, I took only mask, fins & snorkel, but then again I was a freshly minted diver & had no other gear at that time. If it were today, I'd take everything except the tanks & weights as I'm now accustomed to my gear & know how to use it.

 

[Web Monkey]

What do you take on the Cruise ship, bare minimal, or full gear.

Thanks Jamie

Everything but tanks and weights.

They generally have rental gear available, but it's a crap-shoot as to the quality, fit and maintenance history.

Also, the rentals don't include things you might want to have, like an SMB, light or air-horn.

Terry

 

[DiveMaven]

I agree with Terry....everything but tanks and weights. The whole reason we bought gear quickly after certification was a planned cruise to the Caribbean. Heard far too many horror stories of rental gear in Mexico and on Caribbean islands to risk my life on renting. After seeing some of the gear, we were thrilled to have brought our own.

A balcony cabin on a cruise ship really helps with storing and drying your wet gear, though we found that cruising and diving don't really mix well (too much hassle and luggage). Now when we want to cruise, we simply book a liveaboard...have 2 booked currently.

 

[drl]

Depends on how much I'll be diving. If I'm sneaking a dive into an otherwise non-diving trip, I would just take my prescription mask and fins, maybe my reg if I had room. If I'm doing any amount of diving I take all my gear. Yes, it's a pain in a tiny bathroom (if you have a balcony you can dry it there), but I like having my own if possible, knowing that it will fit and be well maintained.
I think if I were planning to rent I might invest in a skin. Putting on a rental wetsuit over bare skin is gross (you know what folks have been doing in them...)

 

[truck1]

What do you take on the Cruise ship, bare minimal, or full gear.

Thanks Jamie

I take every everything except tanks and weights and lately my dive knife.Ive had too many issues with cruise lines with it.I would rather dive my own gear,which I know the history of than play russian roulette with someone elses.Also, there is the hygenic issue like posted earlier.

 

[HappyFunBoater]

Full gear, minus tanks. But I tend to dive a LOT on cruises and will therefore be subject to tons of rental crap. If I was diving only once, then maybe I'd leave it at home - but probably not.

And I left my dive knife at home last time. I'm not sure it was necessary, but I didn't want to end up having it taken away.

 

[HappyFunBoater]

And get a balcony room so you have a place to let it dry. Dive gear tends to spread out and cover every horizontal surface in such tiny rooms.

 

[ItsBruce]

I take a bcd and wetsuit only if I've got a balcony. Otherwise, I take mask, fins, booties, snorkel, regulator/computer and saussage.

 

[diveborg]

Everything except the snorkel because I'm going diving, not snorkeling.