Jan 2011 Cruise Critic Group Cruise: 14 days aboard the Grand Princess!

[Sailfish]

Jan 2011 Cruise Critic Group Cruise

14 days aboard the Grand Princess!

The 6th annual 2011 Cruise Critic Scuba Cruise will usher in the new year in style aboard the Grand Princess on January 3, 2011! This is a divers dream come true! Sailing though paradise for 14 days is an experience you will never forget!

 

We will set sail from Fort Lauderdale on Monday, January 3rd and call on 9 ports of call Not a diver? Not a problem! We see to it that all our non-divers always have a great time! We will be offering group shore excursions, parties and other activities in which divers and non divers in the group can participate. Divers, especially those with an interest in underwater photography, will especially appreciate the a la carte dive package which will include wreck and wall dives.

 

This two week cruise will call on Grand Turk, St. Vincent and Curacao. We will also return to favorites like Barbados and St. Kitts. In all, we will be visiting 8 islands with excellent diving.

 

Pricing

 

Johna at CruCon Cruise Outlet is Cruise Critic's group agent and will be happy to answer any questions you may have about pricing and availability by dialing 800-493-6609.

 

You can book this cruise using FCC’s!! Please call for best pricing - prices change often, with new promotions, resident and senior discounts, so it's always best to contact Johna for the most current prices. Dive package and non-diver shore excursion information will be posted at the Official Group Forum at Cruise Critic.

[Sailfish]

14-Day Caribbean Collection on Grand Princess

 

Day 1 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 3 - At Sea

Day 4 - Aruba (diving)

Day 5 - Curacao, Netherlands Antilles (diving)

Day 6 - At Sea

Day 7 - Grenada (diving)

Day 8 - Barbados (diving)

Day 9 - St. Vincent, St. Vincent & the Grenadines (diving)

Day 10 - St. Kitts, St. Kitts & Nevis (diving)

Day 11 - St. Thomas, USVI (diving)

Day 12 - Santo Domingo (Beach day)

Day 13 - Grand Turk (diving)

Day 14 - At Sea

Day 15 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

[Sailfish]

Information for Non-Divers & Families with OW Certified Kids

 

Non-Divers are always a welcome addition to our group. They receive all the same group cruise amenities the divers do, and are welcome to participate in all our shipboard activities. Only certified scuba divers can dive with the group, however, non-divers in the group often get together and enjoy group sponsored shore excursions or go ashore together. There will usually be one or two snorkeling opportunities during the cruise where non-divers can join the divers aboard the dive boat.

 

Most of the non-divers who cruise with us are usually connected to the dive group; they tend to be non-diving friends who might accompany a couple who dives, a non-diving spouse or significant other or family members who simply aren't certified. We also meet many people who book into the group with no intention of diving; they are folks who enjoy being part of a cruise group and book though Cruise Critic's Member Cruise's Agent to take advantage of our group amenities. Regardless of why they booked, ALL group members (defined as cruise passengers who booked through CruCon, Cruise Critic's official booking agent) receive:

 

• Invitations to all shipboard Group Activities & Parties
  
• $85 Onboard Credit per stateroom
  
• Group Sponsored Shore Excursions (at an additional cost)
  
• 2011 Scuba Cruise DVD
  

Children are always welcome on the cruise, but please note that most of our shipboard group activities at night are for the adults in the group only. The Grand Princess has an excellent kids program. If you are a diver with kids, you can usually leave young children on the ship in the kid's club while you dive with the group; but please verify the availability of such a program before booking the cruise or purchasing your dives - program policies can change, so better safe then sorry!

 

We occasionally get entire families of divers on the cruise - mom and dad with (usually newly certified) teens in tow. Please keep in mind we require at least one adult over the age of 18 to buddy with any minor (under 18) who is planning to dive with the group. Anyone diving with the group regardless of age must be fully open water certified. Though we require most divers to have 50 or more logged dives, we always include a few ports with easier dives. Please contact the dive group leader for input before booking the cruise if you are planning to dive with your kids. A Scuba Cruise is perfect for a family who wants to dive together! You and your kids probably won't want to dive in every port anyway, so you'll find the variety of things to do on this port intensive cruise a lot of fun for everyone.

 

There will be 9 ports of call, with diving possible in 8 of them. Most divers pick and choose the ports they plan to dive, however we occasionally see a few divers who dive in every port. I predict most divers in the group will choose to dive in 4-6 ports of call, which will leave lots of time in port to spend with loved-ones and friends. Divers need not worry about the non-divers they leave behind. We offer a few group sponsored shore excursions in the best dive ports for the non-divers in the group.

 

Please don't hesitate to contact the Group Leader or visit the Group Forum for more information.

 

Thanks.

[Sailfish]

Things You Need to Know BEFORE You Book this Group Cruise

 

The 2011 Cruise Critic Scuba Cruise aboard the Grand Princess will be sailing out of Fort Lauderdale on a round trip two week voyage in January. Because we realize that a two week dive cruise may not be for everyone, the information contained herein will go a long in helping you decide if such a cruise will be a good choice for you and your loved ones. The cruise combined with scuba diving is not going to be a cheap vacation - dive trips never are. However, this may be the perfect vacation for you if you are traveling with non-divers or simply want an alternative to a Liveaboard. If you are a scuba diver and want a vacation dedicated to diving, this is the cruise vacation for you! You will visit nine different islands in two weeks and have the ability to dive in eight ports of call.

 

The Cruise

 

The 2011 Scuba Cruise is an official Cruise Critic Member Cruise. Pricing information and available space can be had by contacting Johna at CruCon Cruise Outlet, the group agent Cruise Critic uses for all it's member cruises. Although pricing is available by visiting the Member Cruise page at Cruise Critic, it's recommended you contact the agent for the most accurate pricing information. Princess frequently offers resident discounts and other promotional offers that may further reduce the cost of your cruise. That said, you can probably plan on spending at least $1400pp (more if you opt for a decent cabin) just for the cruise.

 

The Dive Package

 

The dive package is in addition to the cost of the cruise; two tank boat dives will cost you anywhere from $100- $125. Group members are welcome to dive in all eight ports of call, or choose only the ones that interest them the most. We anticipate most of the divers in the group will dive in 4-6 ports of call; however, we know there will be several divers who will join us in every port where diving is offered.

 

The Dive Package is being put together for us by ShoreTrips; it includes round trip transportation to the dive boat and back to the ship. All group members scheduled to dive will be escorted off the ship by the group leader, who dives and returns to the ship with the divers. Detailed information about each port of call and the cost of diving in each port can be found at the Cruise Critic Group Forum.

 

The Group Members

 

Our group members consist of certified scuba divers and their non-diver friends and family. The vast majority are experienced divers with an interest in underwater photography. Each voyage has Scuba Cruise Alums as well as group members diving with us for the first time. The average age span of our divers is 30-55, give or take a few year on either end of the scale. They tend to be busy professionals usually with non-divers in tow who are looking for a dive vacation that everyone will enjoy. Non-divers have the opportunity to go snorkeling with the other non-divers in the group or to ride-along with the dive group is some ports of call (on a space available basis).

 

Group Activities

 

Since scuba diving is the focus of the cruise, we don't schedule too many group activities in the evening. There is a Bon Voyage Party on Embarkation Day, and a mandatory Pre-Dive Orientation in the morning on day two or three of the cruise. We are looking at possibly making arrangements to do an underwater photography workshop on a day at sea, since so many of our divers have cameras. We will schedule a wine tasting party/dive video in review one evening and several group night dinners that members can sign-up to attend.

 

Group Members tell us they appreciate having time to relax on their own and time to enjoy the cruise when they are not diving, so for that reason we keep the number of group activities to a minimum.

 

Final Consideration

 

Every year people ask how many divers can we accommodate. Because the size of the dive boat in each port of call dictates who can dive, it's recommended you check out the Dive Boat List at the Group Forum (remember to always refer to the most recent posting). All divers MUST add their names to the list in the ports they intend to dive. Only those divers on this list may purchase the dives. We do not have a limit on the number of non-divers booking into the group.

 

Please visit the group forum at Cruise Critic. It is where the group leader posts all group related information. Don't hesitate to email the group leader if you have questions.

 

Thanks.

[Sailfish]

Here is the 2011 Cruise Critic Scuba Cruise Dive Port Itinerary. As you can see there are eight ports of call where the group will be scuba diving. Though not all dive ports are suitable for novice divers, there will be several ports of call where anyone open water scuba certified can dive and these are noted. Though pricing and info is not yet available for Barbados and St. Kitts, hyperlinks to more detailed information about the ports we do have squared away are indicated.

 

2011 Cruise Critic Scuba Cruise Dive Port Itinerary

 

Day 1 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

 

Day 2 - At Sea

 

Day 3 - At Sea

 

Day 4 - Aruba - 2 tank boat dives - (Reef Dive, max depth 60ft-80ft - suitable for ALL divers)

Port & Diving Information: Aruba 1/6/2011

 

Day 5 - Curacao, Netherlands Antilles - 2 tank boat dives & unlimited shore diving - (Reef Dive, max depth 60ft-80ft - suitable for ALL divers)

Port & Diving Information: Curacao 1/7/2011

 

Day 6 - At Sea

 

Day 7 - Grenada - 2 tank boat dives - (Wreck Dive - max depth 120ft)

Port & Diving Information: Grenada 1/9/2011

 

Day 8 - Barbados - 2 tank boat dives - (Wreck Dive & Reef - max depth 60ft-80ft - suitable for ALL divers)

 

Day 9 - St. Vincent, St. Vincent & the Grenadines - 2 tank boat dives - (Wall Dive - max depth 100ft)

Port & Diving Information: St. Vincent 1/11/2011

 

Day 10 - St. Kitts, St. Kitts & Nevis - 2 tank boat dives - (Deep dives, swim throughs - max depth 60ft-80ft - suitable for ALL divers)

 

Day 11 - St. Thomas, USVI - 2 tank boat dives - (Reef dives, swim throughs - max depth 80ft - suitable for ALL divers)

Port & Diving Information: St. Thomas 1/13/2011

 

Day 12 - Santo Domingo (Beach day)

 

Day 13 - Grand Turk (Wall/Drift Dive - max depth 100ft)

Port & Diving Information: Grand Turk 1/15/2011

 

Day 14 - At Sea

 

Day 15 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

[Sailfish]

Our Dive Package Brochure is now ready to download. Please do not hesitate to contact me, the group leader, if you have any questions.

 

Suzi

[Sailfish]

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Q: Do I need a passport to cruise in the Caribbean?

 

A: Yes. And a passport will take time to order, so take care of this early.

 

Q: Does my personal information in my reservation have to be identical to my passport information?

 

A: Yes.

 

Q: Do I need to be scuba certified to dive with the group in the Caribbean?

 

A: Absolutely yes. DON'T FORGET YOUR C-CARD!

 

Q: What if I am newly certified, or a very experienced scuba diver?

 

A: All certified divers are welcome. A few dives we have scheduled require 50 logged dives or more, however, most dive sites are suitable for all levels. We ask that you dive safely within your comfort zone and that you are courteous to divers of different experience levels. We are not interested in "aggressive diving." Most experienced scuba divers will agree, the most enjoyable dives are at a slow and relaxed pace.

 

Q: I already booked this cruise through another agent or directly through the cruise line, but I am paying more.

Q: Do I have to be a diver to join the group?

 

A: NO, everyone is welcome. But you will not be able to dive with the group, or go out on the dive boats, unless you are a certified diver.

 

Q: What group activities are planned?

 

A: Entirely at your option to attend, we will be hosting a Bon Voyage Party at embarkation . We also have a few other activities planned - please refer to the group cruise planner at the group forum for more information.

 

Q: I need to cancel my cruise. How do I do that and what are the penalties?

 

A: There is a $50 per cabin cancellation fee imposed by CruCon Cruise Outlet. Please email Johna, our group agent at CruCon Cruise Outlet at johnan@crucon.com or call 800-493-6609. Please note that it can take up two credit card cycles to post a refund.

 

Q: What is the Cruise Line’s CANCELLATION POLICY (penalties paid to Princess Cruises)?

 

75 days prior to departure, no penalty

74-43 days prior to departure, loss of deposit

42-22 days prior to departure, 50% loss of cruise fare

21-8 days prior to departure, 75% loss of cruise fare

7 days or less, no refund

[Sailfish]

We have an 8min

on youtube - these are the underwater shots from the cruise. Thought some of you might enjoy it!

 

Thanks.