Cruise Ships?????

[ItsBruce]

I've always been quite happy with dives I've booked throgh the ship...and I've done plenty. The advantage is that the dive does not leave without you if the ship is late. And, if the ship must divert for weather, etc. you get your money back.

 

[wetrat]

I had a blast booking dives through Norwegian Cruise Lines last spring. I did two dives in Cozumel, two in Roatan and two in Belize. Plus, I just love hangin' on cruise ships. In Coz, they separated us by experience level, so I was on a six-pack with five advanced divers.

John L.

 

[Super]

My experince on a cruise ship dive was November of last year. Royal Carribean Cruises. It was a single tank dive at their "private island" stop over. A little disorganized, as at the set up area, we basically had a feeding frenzy over which tanks were available. Me and my instant dive buddy ended up with the smallest tanks while the smaller divers got the biggest. Needless to say, we were the first out of air! But surprisingly, just by about 3 minutes which made me feel a little better.

They towed us out to the start of the dive by hanging on to a sled behind a jet ski. Now that was fun!! The viz was low. 10 to 15 feet because of a recent storm, which wasn't bad to me as I usually dive quarries and lakes anyway. Depth maxed out at about 40 ft, and we did dive through some "valleys" and saw a lobster and a few neat corals but as an above poster stated, they were pretty banged up reefs and hardly any fish to see. But remember, the viz was low.

Add to this, it was my first salt water dive so I was stoked anyway. I would have dove in 1 ft viz just to say I had a salt water dive!! LOL.

They did forewarn us that the viz was bad and we would get a refund if we wanted. A couple of experienced divers did back out. I do believe though that different cruise lines offer different levels of diving excursions and a little homework will go a long way.

If you're looking for that great Caribbean dive, you may be better off arranging a dive through a local dive shop where the ship docks up for that day.

Having said all this.....it was still a highlight dive for a beginner diver and I'll always remember it.

 

[Scuba Brad]

I've taken a few NCL trips and loved the diving. I've gone back later and gone to the same spots and had a blast. I guess to each his own.

Happy Diving

 

[Don Wray]

Yes, I took my basic open water while aboard the Grand Princess. It was a very extensive class though and took up most of the time both while on board and on the excursions. They send you your study materials ahead of time, you turn in your knowledge reviews on day 1. On day 2, we spent 8 hours in the class room. Day 3 and 4 in the pool and did one open water dive in Playa Del Carmen and 3 dives in Cozumel. There wasn't any time for sight seeing but the course was great. They supplied all the equipment, paid for all the cab and diving fees, and got you back to the boat on time. I think it was $359 all inclusive. My instructor is now on the Carribean Princess and did a thorough job. Search for New Waves and it will give you the info.

 

[all4scuba05]

Did the Carnival Valor in January. Belize, Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Grand Caymen.
However I booked with the local dive shops. I'm risky that way. Better dives if you ask me. But if you're worried, then book with the ship. It will cost more, but atleast you won't be underwater wondering if you'll make it back to the ship ontime.

 

[divekraz]

I've been on 4 Royal Caribbean cruises that offered dive excursions on 1-2 days of the 1 week cruise from 1-3yrs ago. I've found them to be disorganized, possiblitiy of being cancelled and over priced. I usually book them on my own and have a much better time. Windsurf has a excellant diving program. They have 4 divemasters on board, New equipment, and do a checkout on the first day out in the pool. Out of the 5 days of excursions offered you could go diving on 4 days. The dive shop boats picked us up and dropped us of directly from the Windsurf on all but one trip when a ship tender brought us to the dock of the dive boat. All operations were very good, we even got to do a shark feed in Roatan which was fantastic. This was the best combination of dive option and land tours I've every had on a cruise.

 

[shellim123]

Where are you going on your cruise? I just got back from a carnival cruise and dived in Barbados and Aruba!

 

[suedownunder1]

Cruise ships always double the Dive price so they can pay the middleman AKA tropical tours ,paridise shore excurions Elc. Its always better to book your own dives that way you can meet the Dive shop Crew and see the gear.

 

[archman]

Double the price? Always?