Turks & Caicos on Explorer Ventures

[alphawhite1981]

Hi all, my husband and I are planning a liveaboard trip on the Explorer Ventures to Turks and Caicos to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary during the week of Aug. 27th - Sept. 3rd, 2011. Just wondering if there is anyone else on this forum that might be going that same week and also if anyone has ever done a liveaboard there at this time of the year. If so, what can we expect as far as fish life, hurricanes/weather? We have been advised to get trip insurance & checked out DAN (since we are members) & found it to be pretty expensive. Is this really necessary & if so, is there a cheaper option? We're still trying to get over the expense of transfers, we've read & been told to expect to pay around $40 each way for up to 2 people, YIPES!!! We might consider selling everything & moving to T & C & start a shuttle/taxi service ourselves
Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[diversteve]

It should be $40/two if you use EV's local driver. On Sat. afternoon we were met by an EV crew member - we went to Salt Mills for lunch 1st, the driver took our luggage to the boat. We did the trip last May. It's also going to cost you $10pp each way to go to Grace Bay for dinner on Friday night.

For Arrivals on the Saturday of Boarding: Though transfers are not included in the package, you will be met at the airport by a local driver who will be aware of the boat’s location. Due to tides, weather conditions and her size, the vessel’s weekend location and schedule is tide-dependent, and she may be located either in Caicos Marina or anchored offshore. If you are not met at the airport and are unsure where to meet the boat, simply ask your cab driver to call the boat’s cell phone number or VHF Channel 16 and ask for instructions. Cab fares can vary but generally are $36 each way for up to 2 people and $18 for each additional person. This can also vary depending on the time of day. If you arrive on an early flight, you’ll be given the option to stay at the airport restaurant to relax or to go to the shopping/restaurant area called Salt Mills (this is a few dollars more than a direct taxi ride to the vessel). In either case, the driver will deliver you to the vessel around the 3 pm boarding time. The marina where the vessel docks does not have any amenities available. Since you may be picked up by dinghy at a beach, you will be more comfortable if you wear sandals or deck shoes and either shorts, or trousers or pants that can be rolled up. If delayed call

There's nothing near the marina where Explorer docks so if you forget something stop for it. Otoh, it docks next to the police fleet so leaving your gear up on deck that night wasn't a problem either..lol. The marina is so shallow they have to wait for high-tide to leave w/o scraping the bottom - for us that was 4AM.

 

[Doc]

There is trip insurance which compensates your expenses if the trip itself goes wrong, including hurricanes and situations regarding your personal self and fitness to dive. DAN and many others sell this.

There is also personal (secondary) medical insurance, many people buy this from DAN.

Should you buy either? Certainly the DAN Medical coverage is worth having, examine the levels of coverage, and understand that all such are secondary to your primary insurance.

Travel insurance? Gee, golly gosh, my crystal ball is off line right now, but in terms of Atlantic/Caribbean storm season.... you're right at the start of it in August, so you can Google it and see the probabilities for the area in question vs. the time of year.

Do you feel lucky?

In terms of the cab ride, airport to dock transfer fee, if you say it's $40 for two people, that would likely be $5 for a local person.. it's a six mile trip, after all. Too bad that the liveaboard isn't arranging a group transport at a set time before departure.

Nothing about liveaboards is cheap... from start to finish. You pay for what you get, just hope you get what you pay for.

At their pricing of $2500 - $2900 per person, with nitrox and "fees" (tip not included), I see what you mean.

 

[Doubler]

I use Dive Assure which is travel and dive insurance. Going during the time frame you are going is Prime Hurricane Season so getting trip insurance is an absolute must. Yes the insurance is expensive, costs me around $800 for 2 for a year (Multiple Trips) You can also get single trip which is cheaper. You really need to get past the cost, it is cheap, real cheap if you ever had to use it. You will probably have close to $6000 invested before the trip, hurricane comes in, trip is cancelled and you are out 6 grand without the insurance. We were on a trip to Belize where this diver got bent, went to the chamber but didn't have insurance because "It was too Expensive" She didn't leave the Island until the 15k was paid, I don't know but I think $800 is cheap. My 2 cents.

 

[didi440]

Trip insurance seems expensive until you have to use it. A couple of years ago, my family of nondivers and I were going on a "regular" cruise, until I wound up in the hospital with infectious colitis right before the trip. The $600 we paid for the insurance covered the cost of the cruise and the plane tickets and a couple of other expenses, which was about $12000.00 for 4 people. I shop trip insurance between DAN, Dive Assure, AAA and a couple of other places but always purchase it. You are headed right into hurricane alley at the peak of hurricane season in the Atlantic. While I am sure that Explorer will make every effort to assist you in case of cancellation, if you get stuck in Turks and Caicos because of weather, you might very well be out of pocket for hotel rooms and food, along with a change of flight to get back home. Trip insurance will help offset those expenses, as well as help to cover the cost of the original trip.

 

[RJP]

We're still trying to get over the expense of transfers, we've read & been told to expect to pay around $40 each way for up to 2 people, YIPES!!!

If you're arriving in T&C on the same day the boat boards EV will pick you up at the airport and take you to the boat. Same thing after the trip.

 

[Shasta_man]

You have a tough road ahead with going to the Caribbean islands if $40 is scaring you.

it's just a drop in the trip bucket.

 

[baitballer]

As someone who lives in the TCI I would not book a holiday to come here in August or September without hurricane insurance. It is the peak time of year for them. We do not get hit very often but three in the last five years is more than enough thank you!!

I also have to agreed with Shasta man with his comments, if the $40 for a taxi is worrying you, when you look at the price of things on island you maybe in danger of having a heart attack!

 

[alphawhite1981]

Thanks all for your input. I realize taking any sort of trip has it's expenses, especially when you add diving to the mix. I guess we're spoiled having been to Bonaire numerous times where it seems like you get the most 'bang for your buck'. We did notice on line there is a shuttle service (The Gecko Shuttle), is anyone acquainted with this? We are thinking of staying a few days before boarding the EV & thought it would be fun to get out and see different parts of the island, which is why the price of cab fare was such a concern....no biggy if we were just planning on arriving/departing & paying each way.

 

[baitballer]

The Gecko bus closed down about two years ago I'm afraid!