Diving on RCCL

[patrickusaf08]

Hello I am not new to cruising, have over 70 nights on RCCL alone with other lines in there as well. I am curious if RCCL will recognize my NAUI certification? This will be my first time diving on a cruise line and my family and I are doing the typical RCCL easter stops of St marten St Thomas San Juan and Labedee. My father suggested I go on a dive since I just got my certification, and have been to the same old beaches so much to the point I normally find a shady spot and just take a nap. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bdklein]

I don't have an answer for you, but have you posted this on Cruisecritic.com? Might get more info there.

 

[patrickusaf08]

no ill most likley tell my travel agent(parents) to call RCCL and get the official word. This would be my first time diving with a cruise line and im hoping since its a 10 day in february that it will be filled with older people like it normally is im 26, normally the older people stay away from adventure sports and by older i mean 60 and up.

 

[CT Sean]

I'd be shocked if they don't. there only requirement has always been "a valid C-card". RCCL doesn't run the dive trips anyway, they contract out to local dive shops (at least on the RCCL dive excursions I've gone on).

 

[EL Pistoffo]

They should. A NAUI C-card is just as valid as PADI. They are no small organization by any means.

 

[diversteve]

For St. Thomas you might consider booking direct with Admiralty or Blue Island. Both are probably less than the cruise excursion and will pick you up off the WICO cruise dock. If RCCL docks at Crown Point Marina, you can walk to Blue Island.

Scuba Diving in St. Thomas at USVI Dive Center | Admiralty Dive Center
Blue Island Divers - Cruise Ship Divers

 

[patrickusaf08]

Ya I have thought of the booking with a private contractor(non ship) but I really do not want the headache or the worry of the ship leaving with out me. I have been on multiple cruises that the ship pulls out with not all passengers on the ship. If you take a cruise sponsored ship they are responsible for getting you back to the ship or having the ship wait on you.

---------- Post added October 5th, 2013 at 06:02 AM ----------

For St. Thomas you might consider booking direct with Admiralty or Blue Island. Both are probably less than the cruise excursion and will pick you up off the WICO cruise dock. If RCCL docks at Crown Point Marina, you can walk to Blue Island.

Scuba Diving in St. Thomas at USVI Dive Center | Admiralty Dive Center
Blue Island Divers - Cruise Ship Divers

I am not sure where we would dock. I know some ports RCCL now use different docks esp for Oasis and Allure because of the water depth they need. Im not sure if it is in Thomas or Marteen that the docks are different

 

[Brewone0to]

Do you really believe that the agencies are comparable.
..... Runs for bunker and flameproof suit.

 

[Altamira]

Dive ops associated with RCCL as well as other cruise lines accept NAUI and other certs for dive excursions. I have seen every type of cert card shown on ship's excursions, including Jr. OW. Never have seen anyone turned down with a valid cert card. Enjoy your dives. Many on this forum distain the cruise lines' excursions, but i have not had a bad dive yet. Some better than others of course, but not having to worry about ships departure may well be worth a possibly shorter dive and a slightly higher cost.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

I just recently took a Western Caribbean Cruise and I booked all four of my excursions (3 dive and one land based) on my own with independent ops. If your willing to take the time and use recommended ops and plan things, it is definitely a better deal in both quality and usually price as well. My whole trip went perfect without a hitch.