Cruise Critic Scuba Cruise Aboard the Solstice 6/20/2010

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2010 Scuba Cruise Aboard the Solstice

Back by popular demand, the fifth annual Cruise Critic Scuba Cruise will be heading back to the Western Caribbean in 2010! This 7 night voyage aboard the luxurious Solstice will depart from Fort Lauderdale on June 20, 2010 and call on the ports with some of the best diving in the Caribbean: Cozumel, Roatan, Grand Cayman and Costa Maya! It combines the luxury of a Celebrity cruise with the best the Caribbean has to offer divers and non-divers alike.

 

We will be offering a 2 tank dive package in each port of call for the certified scuba divers in the group. Not a diver? Not a problem; as a group member, you'll get to participate in all group shipboard activities and maybe even get an opportunity to try our Discover Scuba Program.

 

For more information, please visit our Group Forum here at Cruise Critic:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=616

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Itinerary

Day 1

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Depart 4:30 PM

 

Day 2

At Sea

 

Day 3

George Town, Grand Cayman

Tendered

Arrive 7:00 AM

Depart 4:00 PM

 

Day 4

Cozumel, Mexico

Docked

Arrive 9:00 AM

Depart 6:00 PM

 

Day 5

Costa Maya, Mexico

Docked

Arrive 8:00 AM

Depart 6:00 PM

 

Day 6

Roatan, Honduras

Docked

Arrive 8:00 AM

Depart 5:00 PM

 

Day 7

At Sea

 

Day 8

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Arrive 7:00 AM

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The 2010 Scuba Cruise aboard the Celebrity Solstice is being sponsored by Cruise Critic. Five million visitors strong, Cruise Critic is a critically acclaimed interactive community comprised of avid and first-time cruisers who enjoy the fun of planning, researching and sharing their passion for cruising. No other single resource covers the world of cruising as thoroughly as CruiseCritic.com. Cruise Critic’s world-renowned editorial staff offers objective cruise reviews, features, ports of call profiles and destination stories not to mention, group cruises. The Cruise Critic message boards are the most active in the world. Since its inception in 1995, Cruise Critic has earned the status of being the most influential cruise site on the Web, and an innovator of consumer-oriented cruise travel news.

 

Cruise Critic utilizes CruCon Cruise Outlet to handle the cruise booking for this group cruise. CruCon’s agent, Johna, deals directly with the Celebrity Group Coordinator to accommodate our group’s booking. All group cruises are open to members of Cruise Critic, their families and friends. You do not have to be a certified scuba diver to book this cruise. Typically, Cruise Critic Scuba Cruises consist of about 30% divers and 70% non-divers. To insure a quality dive experience, we must limit the number of divers in each port of call to no more than 12 this year.

 

All Scuba Cruises tend to be low key and focus on diving, but non-divers are welcome. We include everyone booked into the group (through CruCon) in all our shipboard activities.

 

All group members receive a cruise planner prior to the voyage outlining the activities scheduled for the group that include a Bon Voyage Party on embarkation day and other get togethers. There will be a pre-dive orientation meeting the first full day at sea for all the certified scuba divers scheduled to dive with the group, a group photo shoot, impromptu gatherings and underwater photo download parties on select nights. Members will also have the option to order group tee shirts, usually available 30 days prior to the sail date.

 

Useful Information for Divers New to Cruising

 

There are pros and cons to a dive vacation that's also a cruise. However, most divers, after doing one, tell us they had a good experience. Celebrity does an exceptionally good job in combining excellent dive ports with an upscale cruise experience. The Solstice has comfortable staterooms and excellent amenities as well as a great spa and gym.

 

If your idea of the perfect dive vacation is doing multiple dives per day (like you can on a live aboard), a scuba cruise is not for you! You will have the ability to do up to 8 dives while on the cruise. You should plan on the dives being somewhat more conservative than what you would do if you dove with the same dive operation day after day. That said, we do make every effort to customize our dives to meet the needs of both the novice and more experienced diver.

 

The reality is a dive vacation combined with a cruise is not for everyone. As I have said before, the diving tends to be more on the conservative side, as each dive operator we see gets only one chance to dive with you. Unlike a land based dive vacation where you can dive and get to know the place fairly well when you are not in the water (which is what makes going to a new dive destination so interesting), you will have to choose between diving in a port or touring the surrounding area as there isn't usually enough time to always do both.

As is the case with most vacations, there are pros and cons to take into consideration before deciding to join us. How much you spend on your cruise accommodations in large part depends on the type of stateroom you select. Diving in the ports of call is not included, therefore, you will want to budget around $400pp (give or take few dollars) if you plan to dive in each port. Although most of your meals and entertainment on the cruise is included, there is the additional cost for drinks and anything else you buy on or off the ship. A scuba cruise will 1) give you a brief introduction to the ports of call, 2) give you a taste of what diving is like there and 3) help you decide if it's worth a return visit.

 

One issue that comes up a lot and needs to be addressed has to do with transporting gear. When you vacation at a land based dive resort, you generally are allowed to leave your dive gear on the boat, in a nearby dive locker or shed or in a hotel room a few steps away. Diving while on a cruise requires more muscle and creativity if you bring your own dive gear (which is recommended), as you will be transporting your gear off the ship, into a cab, then a dive boat and finally hauling your wet gear back onto the ship.

 

Combining a dive vacation with a cruise does have benefits - so much so, that more and more divers are taking cruises - just ask PADI and the cruise lines! I have been leading cruise groups since 1994 and have found Celebrity to be among the most dive-friendly cruise lines out there. That's not to say I don't lead dive cruise groups on other lines. But Celebrity tends to visit more dive friendly ports of call, offers an upscale yet casual atmosphere, and is willing to work with dive groups like this one, to insure members have a positive experience.

 

Like an all inclusive dive resort, this cruise aboard the Solstice will include all your meals but no soda or alcoholic beverages (I have yet to go to a dedicated dive resort where alcohol was included). Unlike dive resorts, you will find the food quality and the choice in dining venues to be far superior. Please note there are two Formal Nights;you don't have to dress up on formal nights but 99% of people do.

 

Many people who have spouses and family members who are non-divers, find a cruise to be the perfect "compromise". Non-divers will find lots to do on the ship and in each of our ports of call. No one says you have to dive in each port (though you will find that most divers in the group probably will). You can do a little research and figure out in which ports you want to dive, and see the sights with your loved ones on days you don't.

Accommodations on a cruise ship tend to be comfortable, but small, and compact unless you get a suite. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for; the size of your stateroom will probably be smaller than a hotel room at a dive resort. Most people don't spend much time in their stateroom, and find them to be more than adequate. The room steward will clean your room every morning and turn down your bed each evening. There is free 24 hour room service (you need to tip, though) and if you get a room with a balcony, you will have a place to dry out your scuba gear.

 

Let’s face it, when you are looking at spending this kind of money for a 7 day vacation, it's important to know what's in it for you. Please don't stop here - I strongly recommend you do your own research. If you would like a Scuba Cruise Brochure or Dive Package Brochure, please do not hesitate to email me, Suzi, the group leader at scubacruise2010@yahoo.com. You can also access our brochure online - simply use the link in my signature.

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Please stop by our group forum if you have questions. We have cruise reviews of the Solstice posted there, information on diving in our ports of call as well as other user friendly input concerning the cruise.

 

You can also download our group brochure and obtain pricing information.

 

Good luck!

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Cruise Booking Update

 

Our group inventory of balconies is now sold out - you can still book a balcony at cruise line rates. If you plan to do this, please make sure you tap into regional promotions and other discounts that can significantly reduce your over-all cost - our group agent can help you with this.

 

As we have only very limited space left, I would like to encourage you to contact or group agent asap if you are a diver.

 

Thanks