simbrooks
Regular Member
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Orlando, Fl
Posts: 377
I think the options we have (depending on length of trip for discounts) are Carnival, Princess and Norwegian, i think all of them offer some kind of packages, i understand you can book your own, but i was wondering how the ones offered through the cruise lines were. Do they offer nitrox, give you some room or have they been cattle boat type operations? If you dock at a port, how long do they give you to explore on land or do other day excursions like diving? Again this is all in the future, just trying to get an idea of how people have found experiences with these types of operations.
I have done dives while cruising, and I can tell you that if you are looking for a "good" dive and don't want to worry about details, then Go with the cruise line dives. They are more money too. It will most probably be a "cattle boat" if it is any size cruise ship, with the exception of Windstar cruises as they have thier own boat and capacity is very limited. Dives will be shorter then if you go out on your own. The Dive operators are just there to make money on off the pod people, so they are usually not interested in showing you the best dive for the money. I have never seen Nitrox offered off a cruise ship trip. If you are interested in a "great" dive, Nitrox, Cheaper, then I reccomend you make your own arraingement ahead of time.
Each cruise line, and city will have different arrival times, and departure times, some do not arrive at a convinient time to make a connection with a dive op. I think they do that on purpose so you have to dive with the cruise lines. If you do book your own, make sure who'll be picking you up, or if you have to go to them. Make sure there will be enough time to get your dives in and still make it back aboard in time. Get a E-mail address just in case the ship changes it's itinerary, as they often do once your at sea, and you have E-mail for a fee on board so you can change or cancel if the need arises. You will not have much time after a dive to see things or shop from what I have experienced. You get off as early as possable (IE first tender) and go get your diving in. that way you can maximize your time after for getting back or seeing a bit around town. It find that the cruise ship trips are very generic, and quite often do not go too far from the ship. If your a new diver that might be what your looking for. I will not use the ship unless I have to. And BTW, If your planning on stopping in Belize, save your money. Diving from Belize City is not worth it, unless all you care about is getting wet. It's too far to the good reefs to be practible.