Is luxury important in a cruise?

[Shasta_man]

I think the question is more that it's not really that expensive when you look at the costs covered(assuming you are talking about a liveaboard). When you consider a room, three meals a day plus access for snacks, all you can drink except booze, eliminating your transportation to get to the dive shop, typically five dives available a day which alone would add up to some cash, some boats that just open the pool for diving as much as you can do, zero commute for getting to the dive site, having just twenty steps from your room to your dive skiff/restaurant/living room, the ease of diving (put your suit on, get on the skiff, they carry your camera, dive, get off the skiff, shower off, repeat), the things you get to see by being on the ocean and at different sites every day all day and night, no mosquitos because you're away from land, not usually having to deal with the part time diver screwing up the boat time, avoiding island time schedules for every dive.

 

[Rick Murchison]

... except booze ...

Unless they've changed their policy, Blackbeards includes beer, wine & rum in the price.

Rick

 

[SeaHound]

Interesting insights. Need your thoughts on this one:

Whats the big deal with people not wanting to share bathrooms? I mean we jump into the sea which is a living toilet for so many species. All the ocean creatures do #1 and #2 in it on a daily basis. We come out of that beautiful toilet and dont wanna share a bathroom with a fellow human being. WHY WHY WHY???

 

[ptyx]

Interesting insights. Need your thoughts on this one:

Whats the big deal with people not wanting to share bathrooms? I mean we jump into the sea which is a living toilet for so many species. All the ocean creatures do #1 and #2 in it on a daily basis. We come out of that beautiful toilet and dont wanna share a bathroom with a fellow human being. WHY WHY WHY???

The only thing I can think of is seasickness. If half of my boatmates spent their time puking in the head, I'd want my own for sure

 

[Rick Murchison]

The only thing I can think of is seasickness. If half of my boatmates spent their time puking in the head, I'd want my own for sure

Uh, do not puke in the head.
Any questions?
Rick

 

[Damselfish]

It's not a sanitary thing to me, it's convenience and privacy. It's not wanting to wait, or to cart my stuff to the bathroom each time instead of just having it there, and especially it's not wanting to get dressed and leave the room at night.

 

[ItsBruce]

Interesting insights. Need your thoughts on this one:

Whats the big deal with people not wanting to share bathrooms? I mean we jump into the sea which is a living toilet for so many species. All the ocean creatures do #1 and #2 in it on a daily basis. We come out of that beautiful toilet and dont wanna share a bathroom with a fellow human being. WHY WHY WHY???

Why? I have no clue. But, I am absolutely certain I do not want to share a bathroom (called a "head") on a dive boat. That goes double if I have to share it with people who use it while wet from diving.

On further reflection, I have no real problem with crawling out of my bunk in the middle of the night and peeing over the rail (unless we are in a harbor where it is not allowed). But, I cannot bring myself to visit a head that is wet from wet gear and then returning to my bunk.

 

[Wookie]

Unless they've changed their policy, Blackbeards includes beer, wine & rum in the price.

Rick

We do too. (not rum) (unless you ask)

 

[TSandM]

It's not sharing the bathroom that's the problem . . . it is, as someone already said, having to haul everything to the bathroom and back, and trying to find a time to take a shower where you aren't inconveniencing someone who's just gotten out of a dive and DESPERATELY needs to pee.

On this three day trip, I just accepted that a full shower wasn't going to happen, and as long as I could wash my hair (which I could do in the deck shower) I was okay with it.

 

[mjh]

Like others we have done a fair amount of live-aboards, from basic to luxury. Our deciding factors in order are....

1. How many people does the boat take. I prefer boats that take 16 or less. The less the better. 10 is about perfect.
1a. Length of trip. We love 10 days plenty of diving.
2. How many dives per day? Minimum of 4 with no cap on bottom time. If they do 5 great, open dive deck even better, solo diver program Fantastic!
2b. Will they let us dive our own pace. As amateur photogs we move very slowly.
3. Reviews and Reputation. A poorly maintained boat or unmotivated crew can ruin a trip. Plus good dive guides can be the difference from seeing pygmy seahorses or not.
4. Have to agree with the private bathroom. When you are doing 4-5 dives a day, eating, drinking I don't want to be in a queue for the loo.
(For us camera friendly boat is also important with a decent camera room, charging stations and camera friendly crew. Can be another reason rooms can be important if you are doing all your camera work in there)

In general you get what you pay for!