Got a cruise line question

[SticksDiver]

Ok can some one tell me how royal carribian works on dive gear,,Like can you bring your own and can you bring your tanks, or do you got to use theres ,And do thay fill them on the ship,And I'm in florida if that matters with the ships

 

[Whatgoesdown]

Bring your own gear, call up dive shops in your destinations ahead of time and arrange dives/tanks. It is cheaper and you will be treated a lot better.

 

[HappyFunBoater]

I've recently looked into this. I'm on a Royal Caribbean cruise over Christmas to the Western Caribbean.

If you look at the excursions, you'll see that there are scuba trips with and without equipment. With equipment means they give you everything, including tanks, fins, mask, snorkle, BC, weights, regulator, etc. I don't know if it includes a wetsuit. Without equipment means they give you only tanks and weights.

Therefore it's clear that you can bring your own equipment. I'm certainly bringing mine.

I'm fairly certain that you can't bring your own tanks, plus I doubt you'll want to. You'd have to haul them to the dive shop to be filled, and then to the boat. In Belize, you end up taking two boat trips, stopping at an island for gear. Hauling tanks around would be a major pain.

Plus I have friends that cruise and dive often, and they've confirmed my understanding.

TT

 

[redhawktwo]

I brought my own gear minus weights and tanks, rented them from the dive operator. The ship doesnt have a place too fill the tanks, least I didn't find one.

Hope this helps..

 

[HowardE]

I've been on several cruises, and have NEVER seen a place to get fills on the ship.

If you do go on a dive excursion through the ship, it will most likely be an unaffiliated company. You won't be using the cruise line's gear.

I was actually surprised to see in several instances, that the shore excursion/dive trip booked with the cruise line was actually cheaper than calling ahead to dive ops in the area of where your ship will make port.

Have you ever been on a cruise? You won't really have much room to store scuba tanks in your room. Your best bet is to take your BC or BP/W whatever you use, mask, and fins. Don't bother taking weights or a tank.

Have Fun!

 

[ItsBruce]

I've done lots of cruises and lots of dives from cruises. What has been said above is accurate. If the ship offers a dive, I do it rather than booking my own. It avoids problems if the ship arrives late or the dive isn't over before the ship plans to leave. Feel free to wash your gear on deck. There will be fresh water showers by the pool. DO NOT BRING A DIVE KNIFE. You will have trouble getting it aboard after the dive.

ON A RELATED NOTE: Plan on overeatting. Since food in the dining room is free, order multiple entrees if they look good. On lobster night, order two right off the bat. You're going to love cruising. My third one this year leaves for western Mexico on 12/19.

 

[JRScuba]

Always bring your own gear. Leave weights and tanks at home. Dive boats supply
weights and tanks. Rental gear leaves alot to be desired.
Cruise ship dive excursions cost more and are crowded.
Set you dives up by searching the internet.
Dive operators will acommodate your port arrival.
I try not to eat to much before diving. What goes in,
must come out. 1 is ok, 2 is a REAL prblem.

Here are some dive operators.
Grand Cayman -- Off The Wall Divers www.otwdivers.com
Great dive operations. Very attentative. It is like
diving with your best friend. Can't say enough good things about them.
Cozumel - Aqua Safari Search the internet for their WEB site.
Nice operations. Better then others I have been on.
Personal preference though.

Good Luck and Dive SAFELYeyebrow

 

[mike_s]

I brought my own gear minus weights and tanks, rented them from the dive operator. The ship doesnt have a place too fill the tanks, least I didn't find one.

Hope this helps..

A couple of the larger/newer Royal Caribbean ships offer scuba lessons
while on the trip, but this is on the bigger/newer ships that I think
do the 7 day cruise circuit. I'm sure they have a compressor for tanks
if they're doing the class, but I doubt that it's open for public use.

You really don't want to hassle with carrying tanks on board. They
are very likely going to get damaged, or knocked over, which could
damage the valve, etc.

I doubt they'd even let you bring tanks on if they knew you had them.
A compressed cylinder accident wouldn't look good to their image
on the news, so they'd shy away from letting anything like that on board.

 

[HappyFunBoater]

Regarding the comment about not bringing a dive knife, is that true? Or just a concern?

This isn't an airplane. I assume that they use real knifes in the dining area, and not those little plastic ones that break.

Has anyone really had a problem with bringing knifes onboard? Heck, it's just a little snub-nosed, 4" blade.

TT

 

[Cobra852]

Yes the dive knife is an issue. I've brought my own equipment on cruises before less my knife, weights, tanks and i've never had an issue. I've seen other divers coming back with us have their knives taken from them at security. They were given a receipt and told to pick it up when they exit.