Diving While on Cruise

[Jaeger62]

Here is the news story on the Sand Dollar dive boat sinking in Cozumel.

Cruise passenger recalls ‘shock’ as Mexican tour boat filled with water — then, chaos

Yeah, I decided from the beginning that we were booking no excursions through the ship.

I've been to Mahahual and Cozumel (3 times) so know the drill. Cozumel is way too easy to get around on your own to book anything through the ship.

 

[Skittl1321]

Cozumel is way too easy to get around on your own to book anything through the ship.

I think this responds to your own initial concern
"The problem is, I'm the only one who can really get everybody around the island in the morning for breakfast, some walking around, and off to a beach club. "

Trust that your family can do it, and find yourself some GREAT dives. You're going to have plenty of family time on the ship and in other ports.

/And this comes from the person who was ditched in multiple ports so my travel companion could go dive.

 

[gr8jab]

Many people have had different experiences and good reasons to do what they choose regarding diving excursions. Take my feelings as just one data point. Plus, I know this is not exactly addressing the OP question.

I copied my own previous post for you here:

My experience diving through official cruise ship 'excursion':

1. meet in random cruise ship lounge
   1. wait for missing passengers who overslept
   2. wait while forgetful diver runs back to room for mask/snorkel/sunscreen
2. wait for tender (or maybe dive op boat)
3. boat(and maybe bus) from ship to dive shop
   1. fill out paperwork, and more paperwork
   2. wait for same forgetful diver to find missing c-card, but then call PADI
   3. wait for half of the divers to find the right size rental fins/BC/wetsuit
4. load on the boat and fight over weights, get stuck with 3 5lb bricks
5. listen to forgetful boast about all the many dives they've done
6. go to the easiest (and usually most boring) available dive site
7. get in the water and float around in the waves waiting for everyone else to get wet
8. descend and then wait at the bottom while ms/mr forgetful go back up to add some weight
9. dive for 30 minutes, then surface because forgetful sucked all their air
10. get back on boat with 1500 psi in tank
11. and so on... and so on...

In truth, this is a combination of experiences at multiple locations from several cruises. I'm exaggerating some, for comic value, but not a lot. I've had much better luck booking direct.

 

[Skittl1321]

Many people have had different experiences and good reasons to do what they choose regarding diving excursions. Take my feelings as just one data point. Plus, I know this is not exactly addressing the OP question.

I copied my own previous post for you here:

My experience diving through official cruise ship 'excursion':

1. meet in random cruise ship lounge
   1. wait for missing passengers who overslept
   2. wait while forgetful diver runs back to room for mask/snorkel/sunscreen
2. wait for tender (or maybe dive op boat)
3. boat(and maybe bus) from ship to dive shop
   1. fill out paperwork, and more paperwork
   2. wait for same forgetful diver to find missing c-card, but then call PADI
   3. wait for half of the divers to find the right size rental fins/BC/wetsuit
4. load on the boat and fight over weights, get stuck with 3 5lb bricks
5. listen to forgetful boast about all the many dives they've done
6. go to the easiest (and usually most boring) available dive site
7. get in the water and float around in the waves waiting for everyone else to get wet
8. descend and then wait at the bottom while ms/mr forgetful go back up to add some weight
9. dive for 30 minutes, then surface because forgetful sucked all their air
10. get back on boat with 1500 psi in tank
11. and so on... and so on...

In truth, this is a combination of experiences at multiple locations from several cruises. I'm exaggerating some, for comic value, but not a lot. I've had much better luck booking direct.

Well, it wasn't in Cozumel, but I'm going to add to your list from my husband's experience in Roatan.

Unclip fin to climb ladder. Take off fin and hand up. Don't realize "helpful" DM unclipped other side of fin, so fin strap is now sinking and not attached to your fin. Have to borrow ****** fins for 2nd dive due to "helpful" DM who didn't tell you they were unclipping your gear.

 

[deepsea21]

Cozumel is perhaps the most cruise-friendly port in the world. The rest of your group will have no problem grabbing a taxi to a beach club. As you stated, you got roped into this trip so it isn't your responsibility to take care of everyone. I agree, all should eat breakfast on the ship. Your 7AM and 5PM arrival and departure times are problematic for most dive ops I know that offer AM and PM dives because it takes forever to get off the ship for an AM dive and making it back by 5PM if you did an afternoon dive will be a risk not worth taking as the ship is leaving with or without you. Perhaps others know of some dive ops that can meet your schedule but as far as I know Blue Angel is the only one that you can realistically fit it with plenty of time to spare on both ends. Blue Angel isn't my dive op, I dive with 3P's but they can't meet your AM schedule and provide the margin of safety you need for their PM dives. Lots of people dive with BA. BA isn't a top 10 dive op by this forum's standards (although a few here love the place) but I think BA will certainly beat ANYTHING the cruise line may offer in terms of price and will deliver a dive experience that is superior to what the ship's preferred dive op will offer.

 

[DiverN2H2O]

You stated 7:00 am that is most likely the docking time. It will probably be 8:00 or a little later before they open disembarkation.
Even then they give priority to early scheduled “ship” excursions.
You would probably best be served by a 10:00 am dive trip.
Just my thoughts.

 

[Skittl1321]

Whenever we dove with cruisers with Alison, as well as when we've been cruisers, the time to leave the marina was usually pushed to 9 am. We generally didn'thave to wait longer than that, though she does hold her boat for them.

At least with Carnival (4 cruises with them), the published port time is tthetime they allow you to get off the ship, not the docking time. We found you have to be ready right away though, because another ship docking might mean they stop disembarking passengers from your ship.

For a non tender port, priority to ship excursions is a non issue. Many don't even meet that early. Somewhere like Belize it makes a difference.

 

[jonhall]

At least with Carnival (4 cruises with them), the published port time is tthetime they allow you to get off the ship, not the docking time. We found you have to be ready right away though, because another ship docking might mean they stop disembarking passengers from your ship.

One of the better bits of info I've come across that one definitely needs to know if booking directly with a dive op.

 

[FreeFlyFreak]

You could single handedly give "cruise ship divers" a good name.

 

[Kohanbash]

If you book from the cruise lines directly they offer sales multiple times throughout the year. With Royal Caribbean I often see up to 30% off which is then inline with booking direct with dive shops.