Kararu - Cheng Ho - Don't Believe the Website - Part II

[GoorglinGeorge]

I have sent these observations to Stein Zahl, General Manager, Kararu Dive Voyages. It will be interesting to see if he responds. It would be even better if he were prepared to provide a point-by-point response.

In my report I did not mention a few other items.

1. Cockroaches - oh, well these are common enough on boats.

2. Food. Quite often the food was very spicy and I am a person that enjoy spicy food. I observed that one guest was virtually limited to eating rice for lunch and dinner. It did not matter that several guests said they did not like nor want spicy food.

3. The Dive Compressors. These sit at the bow of the boat. Unfortunately when they are running the exhaust runs from the bow to the stern of the boat since almost always the boat is pointed into the wind.

Hergen kept stressing the "romantic" aspect of this boat. I would prefer dive managers and a company that acknowledges shortfalls.

As I see from some of the posts on this thread I am not alone in my experiences with this company.

 

[kararu Dive Voyages]

Dear Divers,

My name is Stein and I am the General Manager of Kararu Dive Voyages. I would very much like to make a couple of comments to the story "Kararu - Cheng Ho - Don't Believe the Website"

First of all this story is full of simply wrong information the boat on and the described happenings.

Secondly this was written by a George Allen, which certainly was never part of this cruise at all. This story is written by a person who does not want to show his real name.

Fact is, George Allen send the same mail to all participants of this cruise.
Fact is, cruise participants also have no idea of who this person is
Fact is, that ALL other participands does not recognize happenings described by Allen
Fact is, ALL other participants on this cruise had a great trip
Fact is, I can prove that we can prove that George Allen never did this cruise
Fact is, I can prove that other cutomers had a very good trip.
Fact is, this mail is not even close to represent the truth.

As you all know, no Liveaboard boat is ever going to be perfect, things can, and will sometimes go wrong. However, this mail by George Allen is not even close to the truth and seem to be nothing but an attempt to damage our reputation.

All, are of course welcome to contact me for clarification on this issue, I will behappy to answer your questions.

Best regards, Stein

 

[ronscuba]

Wow. I am going on a group trip in April with Kararu on the Cheng Ho. Hopefully this is a matter of misunderstanding and not blatant lying by either party.

People tend to post both negative and positive reviews. The internet is a powerful medium and I think the truth will come out.

 

[Russ Stoddard]

I was on this trip. The person who has initiated this forum sent all of the other divers an email that contained the same information that has been posted here. This person used the name "George Allen" although no one by that name was aboard the Cheng Ho. Anyone who is too cowardly to use their real name should not be trusted or believed.

My experience was great, and as far as I know, no one else complained about their trip. I have yet to be on a perfect dive boat, but the comments expressed in this thread are malicious. I look forward to my next trip with Kararu, and, no, I do not have any affiliation with the company.

 

[Bali Diver]

@Russ that's very strange how did he know all your emails of divers from the boat or when you were on the boat did someone not of this name get all your email address.

Yep there is no such thing as a perfect dive boat.

 

[bodiver13]

I was on this trip. The person who has initiated this forum sent all of the other divers an email that contained the same information that has been posted here. This person used the name "George Allen" although no one by that name was aboard the Cheng Ho. Anyone who is too cowardly to use their real name should not be trusted or believed.

My experience was great, and as far as I know, no one else complained about their trip. I have yet to be on a perfect dive boat, but the comments expressed in this thread are malicious. I look forward to my next trip with Kararu, and, no, I do not have any affiliation with the company.

I have doubt about George's report from the beginning, how can one had so many string of bad luck and no good things whatsoever in this kind of LOB.. I personally can't think of any LOB that can make me MUCH happier if the kind of Cheng Ho and Kararu can't provide me..

Sorry George, I think even if there are some truth to the story, i sense that they were somehow exaggerated.. maybe your standard of a good quality and service is somehow different than mine..
I do not side with Stein of Kararu here, since I don't know if he is the real GM of Kararu talking here..

Hopefully as Ronscuba said we'll just wait for the truth to comes out..

Cheers,

 

[GoorglinGeorge]

Instead of Mr. Stein addressing the who he should address the what. Water, food, etc. Many people are willing to accept whatever they are given vice expecting a level of service and product.

 

[Live_in_Sin]

well, never dived on this boat so I cannot comment on, but I dove with other boats in Indonesian water and I wasn't quite happy about the condition of some boats & quality of service for the price they charged.... Read GG's other posts like Eco diver / thalassa and his comment is very resonable.....so maybe it's not total BS. maybe he was unhappy about the quality vs the amount he paid ????
if I am on LOB of more than US$350 / day, I would expect Aggressor, P Hughes' boats level of boats & sevices . ....definitely plenty of hot water & fresh dry towels after each dive!!

 

[bodiver13]

hi George,
if i may ask how much did you pay for the trip? Just to make a analysis about cost vs level of service.
you can PM me if you want. THANKS.

Cheers,

 

[GoorglinGeorge]

Bodiver,

11 night trip
Twin cabin - $325 x 11 = $3,575
Port Clearance - Bima - $150
Fuel Surchange - 11 Nights - $150
Airfare - RT Bali-Bima - $230

There was $200 charge for Nitrox.

I don't think $325 is low rent.

My facts about the boat and what happened are straightforward. There are others who have already noted previous experiences with Kararu.

As with all forums and posts they are but a resource.

George