Royal Caribbean

[easyrider003]

I am going on a cruise to Nassau and Cococay on May 12-16. I know I have posted different threads about where I was going. I was unable to cruise with carnival and Royal Caribbean was cheaper than the other trip my gf and I had planned. I booked the cruise this morning so its official . I have two options, to dive Nassau or at Cococay. Which would you do? Nassau appears to be better from what I have seen on youtube,but again which would you prefer? Thinking of going through the cruise line just for the fact that if the dive boat breaks down,the cruise ship will not leave us. Have you ever booked through RC and if so what was your experience?

 

[DivingPrincessE]

I can't really help you with your question...but my mom and I are avid cruisers and Royal Caribbean is much better than Carnival. We are cruising with Carnival again in March only because it was half the cost of the Royal Caribbean ship with the same itinerary. You lucked out, and your going to love RC! If your ship has Chops restaurant, you have to cough up the $20 each and eat there one night. It is amazing. The usually do Lobster in the main dining room on the last night, so just make sure not to eat at Chops on your final day.

 

[RAWalker]

Reserve both dive excursions. Excursions on cruise ships regularly get filled or cancelled. reserve both and decide on which you'd rather take if all goes well cancel the other after you have confirmation that the 1 you want will take place. Or better yet take both

 

[easyrider003]

I actually went on the same ship and same destinations about ten years ago,that I am going on again. I had me mind set that I was going on a cruise this year. My parents have been on cruise with carnival for the last 3 years and every year I have been unable to get off work. Now if I am not mistaken all the food,except for chops, is already included in the price of the cruise right? I absolutely loved the cruise the last time I was with Royal Caribbean. Anyways, I can't wait to go, I now have an underwater camera so hopefully I can get some good pics and will post about how the trip went.

 

[TravisD]

Cococay is basically a shore dive. They tow you out to the reef from shore with a Jetski. The dive staff will basically be the cruise activity directors from the boat that you're cruising on. Less options as far as reef goes, but you end the dive right there on RC's private beach/island and can just hang out and enjoy the beach (including snorkeling).

Nassau is going to be a boat dive, so more reef options (both good and bad), and more time taken busing to Stuart Cove's and back.

I agree though with RAWalker though - do both if you can! Especially if you're schelpping gear on the cruise, might as well get as much use out of it as you can. It probably also depends on what you want to do - were you looking forward to spending time in Nassau (shopping, bars) or looking for something to kill time there? With Cococay it's really not a big decision since you'll be there all day anyway, so might as well dive then hang on the beach and enjoy the picnic.

 

[easyrider003]

How deep are the shore dives at cococay? I have always been told too have a dive buddy and have always dove that way, but what would the chances be of finding a dive buddy for a shore dive since you are not already on a boat with divers and is this something that maybe like my gf can do while snorkel and I dive beneath her? Never done any shore diving.

 

[TravisD]

I don't recall the depth -- we ended up having to skip ours since I was sick. I believe it's pretty much a guided dive though - you can almost certainly insta-buddy on a dive like Cococay.

No idea how far out they take you vs. a comfortable snorkeling distance. Since this is something you can sign up for on the boat (at the risk of it being full), this would be something to ask at the activity desk. Since (when we went) it was the activity desk running the diving and snorkeling tours they should be able to give you a good answer.

Do a search here on Cococay -- I'm pretty sure there's some threads on it -- look at the bottom of this thread for a few.

 

[BurBunny]

How deep are the shore dives at cococay? I have always been told too have a dive buddy and have always dove that way, but what would the chances be of finding a dive buddy for a shore dive since you are not already on a boat with divers and is this something that maybe like my gf can do while snorkel and I dive beneath her? Never done any shore diving.

At Cococay, you won't be permitted to do an independent shore dive outside the ship's excursion, no matter if you have a buddy or not. It's the ship's dive or nothing, as they're the only provider of tanks on the island.

I'd likely opt first for Nassau, then Cococay, but both through the ship, as in Nassau most likely you won't have another option to book Stuart Cove's independently due to the time logistics involved.

 

[deepstops]

Based on your dates and that you didn't mention Key West, I'm guessing you're on Sovereign OTS running from Port Canaveral (Majesty OTS does the same run except they add Key West)

You'll have a good time, Sovereign just got a major upgrade about 14 months ago and is in great condition.

And I agree with the other posters, book both if possible.

Regardless of what others tell you, you CAN book the Nassau excursion directly with Stuart Cove and save about $35. You just tell them you need to be picked up at the cruise ship docks (but do NOT mention you are actually arriving on a ship). If I'm not mistaken, Sovereign stays in Nassau until pretty late (1am?) at night so you could dive four tanks in Nassau if you wanted to.

Make sure you join Royal's Crown & Anchor Society because once you cruise with Royal, you'll be coming back.