Jump to content

omeinv

Members
  • Posts

    1,944
  • Joined

Everything posted by omeinv

  1. It takes several hours for a deposited cruise fo move from "offer" to "Booked" status. When it does it will move from the "Courtesy Hold" to "Upcoming Cruises". Look at it in the Courtesy Hold section, and you should see your deposit credited. Harris Denver, CO
  2. For Puerta Vallarta, all I can give is a place to avoid, Vallarta Adventures. Otherwise, there are may operators there, but I haven't dived there myself. I was scheduled to dive in Huatulco in April of 2020. Something came up to cancel the trip, but I was very impressed by the communication with Huatulco Dive Center (https://huatulcodivecenter.com/). In several trips to Puntarenas, CR, I've learned there's really no diving close enough to the port to be feasible. In Cartegena, I was very pleased with Buzos de Baru. They arranged to meet us in the boat at a dock close to the port, so it was super easy. The diving was better than I expected there. (https://buzosdebaru.com/en/) Harris Denver, CO
  3. @NavyCruiser In all these ports (and almost everywhere), you're better off booking your own dives than going through the ship's excursion. Even if the price were the same (Spoiler: the ship excursion is more expensive), the experience is better booking directly. The ship excursion is always paying the operator less than a private customer would pay, and you're paying more. The difference is the cruise line's share. Consequently the operator is going to run the dives in the least expensive way possible, meaning choosing sites that are close, and time-limiting dives. They then hope to recover profitability by volume - booking a lot of divers. This generally means large groups. Finally the dives have to be geared to the poorest diver. Aruba is a perfect example of this. The cruise lines use the operator Red Sail, which is the very definition of a "cattle boat" dive operator. Happy Divers Aruba is $140.00 for the two tank boat dive with all equipment provided. Maximum 6 divers on the boat. (https://happydiversaruba.com/) For Bonaire, go with VIP Diving (https://vipdiving.com/). They're not cheap (Their "cruise passenger package" is $199.00, for 2 dives including all gear), but you really do get a lot for the price. If you're nitrox certified it includes nitrox, and you'll get to choose which sites you want to dive. You'll also see a good portion of the island Because of the time they take, allow all day for this. You'll get the most for your money if you do some looking in advance at what sites you would be interested in There is a ton of information on line about Bonaire's dive sites, or for about $20.00 you can get the Reef Smart Bonaire Guide which is excellent (https://a.co/d/b1eH8vv). The guide at VIP will ask if you have sites you'd like to dive, and if you have choices, they will take you there. If you don't they'll do their best to find you good sites based on your stated interests and abilities. Be aware, that due to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, they are strongly discouraging divers from diving both the south and north sites on the same day, so you'll be asked to choose either both sites north, or both south, of Kralendijk. Pro Tip for VIP: the 100 CF tanks are available, and they don't charge extra for them. Ask for them, and get 20% more air=20% longer dives. For Curacao, go with Hans Pleij at CURious2Dive (https://www.curious2dive.com/en/). For a very reasonable price you'll get two dives out in the Caracasbai/Director's Bay area. He offers port pick-up and return; and will take you lionfish hunting if you desire. Nitrox is available, for an extra fee. Likely worth it depending upon which sites you dive. Harris Denver, CO
  4. Puerto Rico is a special case. Puerto Rico is a named exception written into the law. Puerto Rico is a US territory so San Juan is a US port but the PR exemption allows a cruise line to sail from the US mainland and end in Puerto Rico (or vice versa) and not violate the PVSA. This is the only US port to US port itinerary that is excluded from the PVSA (no distant foreign required). Harris Denver, CO
  5. While it was a perhaps an interesting diversion for those aboard Harmony, you and your ship are considered heroes right now in Cozumel. The fishermen and their dog had been the subject of a broad search after being overdue. This is the automatic translation from the Cozumel News FB post: Harris Denver, CO
  6. No, this usually happens. They show up in the points history before the total gets added. Probably later tonight or tomorrow. It will reflect the correct number of points and adjust your tier if necessary. Harris Denver, CO
  7. I concern myself with the points (obviously) and there's no chance they'll increase my tier. Celebrity successfully "Gamified" this promotion. I can't imagine any type of advertising that would get more successful engagement for the cost to Celebrity. Witness this 329 page thread that lights up every time a new webinar is released. Harris Denver, CO
  8. I've often noticed that a lot of the people that have nothing good to say about Celebrity are certainly anxious to get the extra points. Harris Denver, CO
  9. It looks like they're coming today (Friday, Jan 12). The five points are showing in the points history on my account, but not yet in the total. This has happened before, and usually updates after a few hours. Harris Denver, CO
  10. You were advised correctly. During the sailing, the accounting transfers to on-board, and shore side can't access any of it. This continues until a few days after to conclusion of the sailing, when the ship closes out the sailing, and the records go back to shore-side. There is no reasonable way for a party not on the ship to add OBC to a passenger's account mid sailing. Harris Denver, CO
  11. @tnm6217 Yes, those sites list ships without regard to any actual effort to sell ships. It’s not an actual case of the ships being offered by Royal Caribbean Group, and nothing to concern anyone as far as their cruise plans. Harris Denver, CO
  12. I imagine Celebrity's legal team is quaking at the thought of going up against an attorney who's clients have decided to file their case in the District Court of Cruise Critic. Harris Denver, CO
  13. I’m a scuba diver, so I’d I’m going to take over on a cruise ship stuff has already gotten pretty real. 😁 Harris Denver, CO
  14. Seems like on most tours the bus driver either gets arrested, or walks off the job half way through the tour; necessitating one of the tourists from the ship having to take over operation of the coach. You wouldn’t want to be stranded in some foreign land just because you couldn’t step in to the breach. 😂 Harris Denver, CO
  15. @BOB999 is correct, the cruise visitor tax is in the taxes and fees, and is $10.00, not the higher amount charged for other visitors. Also the marine park fee is not charged for single day visitors. Harris Denver, CO
  16. Generally, I would allow 4.5 hours to be back off the dive boat from the start time. This can get longer if you’re somewhere with extended travel from the marina to the dive sites, and wouldn’t include time from the ship to the dive shop. If you use 8:00 am as a scheduled time, here’s how it breaks out: 8:00 am paperwork and gear fitting, getting on the boat. 8:30 boat actually gets underway, gear assembly and dive 1 briefing en route to first site. 9:00 in the water 10:00 out of water, change tanks, surface interval, briefing for dive 2. 11:00 dive 2 in the water Noon out of the water, gear disassembly en route, cleaning and paperwork at the shop. Harris Denver, CO
  17. Neither island is known for particularly challenging diving. I think the reefs are healthier in Curacao, and from your post I'd say it would be your better choice if you can only dive one of the two. I'd recommend you contact Hans Pleij at CURious2Dive. He'll pick you up and return you to the port,and you could ask to do a drift dive from Director's Bay to Tugboat beach. You'll see a lot of interesting things there; the old surf nets at Director's bay, the sunken tugboat, and then the pier where (currently) there's a drill rig in for service. (https://www.curious2dive.com/). If you decide on a Aruba, there's a wreck there that's interesting for its history, the Antilla (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Antilla_(1939) It's hardly a challenging dive, but it's always enjoyable. for Aruba Jeffrey Kost at Happy Divers Aruba can set you up. (https://happydiversaruba.com/). Harris Denver, CO
  18. It's a 750 ml bottle, and it's been reduced to one per adult passenger. Guests are not permitted to bring alcoholic beverages onboard; with the exception of embarkation day when each guest (of legal drinking age) is permitted to bring onboard one (1) 750 ml bottle of wine (which are subject to a corkage fee) per guest. A corkage fee does not apply to guests with the Classic Beverage Package or Premium Beverage Package. Harris Denver, CO
  19. Usually it's a sold out cruise that causes this. Harris Denver, CO
  20. At the earliest, the points will credit on October 14. Since the period to watch the video ends today, it may be the points will credit on November 14. Also - as it seems you may not be clear - you'll get 3 Captain's Club points for 30 Power Up points. Harris Denver, CO
  21. Not if it's a/the bottle given by Celebrity. Harris Denver, CO
  22. You can indicate that you have a special occasion pre-cruise. Your stateroom attendant can also make these things happen. However, being Concierge Class, you could also contact the Concierge as soon as possible after boarding, and they can likely arrange for whatever you like. If you post which ship you're sailing, someone here may even have an on-board contact. Harris Denver, CO
  23. Yes, I definitely recommend Happy Divers Aruba. Jeffrey will take care of you. Harris Denver, CO
  24. Should have been "whine" dispensers. 🙂 Harris Denver, CO
×
×
  • Create New...