What gear should I bring on a cruise?

[nereas]

It is certainly possible to rinse gear well enough in the shower, though it is easier if the shower is roomy. Also helps to have someone helping, handing stuff in and out. Takes longer but I think you can do a better job in a clean shower than a brackish rinse tank. You can always rinse it again when you get home.

I always use the bath tub, if there is one, or the shower if there is not.

 

[DiveMaven]

IF you can find a hose up on deck, the water that flows from it is saltwater.

Have you ever been in the pool/hot tub on a cruise ship? Salt water!

The water that came out of the hose on our ship was fresh water. Pools and hot tubs were salt water.

 

[MichelleA]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I was talking to my boyfriend last night and he said that he was going to bring most of his gear anyways. I'll bring mine, too. I will definatly feel more comfortable wearing my own BC especially. Thanks again

 

[jmichaels]

Most of the boats have a FW rinse area at the dock just for this purpose. I have brought my own gear on all cruise dives. Would not do it any other way.

 

[divematt]

I think you and I have different standards of gear care.

You're right, I take my time to clean it well, wherever I am. I wouldn't call dipping it in a dirty freshwater tank that has been used all day by other divers any better than flowing fresh water out of a shower head. As I said, if you take the time and are patient, it can be done.

I also don't put filthy rental regulators in my mouth. I don't wear rental wetsuits that everyone else has pee'd in. And, I wear the bc that I'm used to, that I know doesn't leak. But I see from your earlier post, you don't take that equipment on your cruise ship dive travels which means that you must rent it.:no

To each his/her own!

 

[diveborg]

Have you ever been in the pool/hot tub on a cruise ship? Salt water!

That might be true with some cruise lines, but it is not true for all of them. Disney, Princess, and HAL all have freshwater swimming pools/hot tubs. When we cruised Royal Caribbean, the pools were saltwater, but I'm not so certain that that is still true.

In response to the OP, take all your own gear, rinse it as best you can either in your shower (or tub if you have one) or in the ever present showers on deck around the pools.

 

[tedtim]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I was talking to my boyfriend last night and he said that he was going to bring most of his gear anyways. I'll bring mine, too. I will definatly feel more comfortable wearing my own BC especially. Thanks again

Make sure you book ahead if you can, otherwise you might be shut out of the diving. Last cruise we went on there was no provision to book ahead for the excursions. By the time we got onto the boat (late flight arrival) the diving excursions were fully booked. My gear spent the entire cruise in the gear bag.

OTOH, if you are taking a cruise, then just take a credit card. If you want to go diving, I would suggest a live aboard.