Caribbean4me Posted March 19, 2014 #1 Share Posted March 19, 2014 We booked 2 snorkel excursions on through RC in St Maarten and Barbados on upcoming cruise. Do we need to take our own snorkel mask for these? I do plan on buying my own mouthpiece but was not sure about the mask. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSCruiser Posted March 19, 2014 #2 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Its pretty certain that if an excursion includes snorkeling, the equipment will be provided. I've been on many of these on various islands and this has always been the case. Of course you are always welcome to bring your own stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyberTag Posted March 19, 2014 #3 Share Posted March 19, 2014 All of the snorkeling excursions we have been on supplied all of the equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncfes Posted March 19, 2014 #4 Share Posted March 19, 2014 It's part of the price you pay on the excursion. Most give you mask, snorkel, flippers.... drink tickets... My only wonder is how well they clean them from person to person...... yuck Uncle Fester sailing for Las Vegas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krev Posted March 19, 2014 #5 Share Posted March 19, 2014 They have big buckets of disinfectant that everything goes into. You can also bring your own if you like, we bought a cheap mask and snorkel at Walgreens in San Juan, works great. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean4me Posted March 19, 2014 Author #6 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Thanks everyone... this was a lot of help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom.Terrific Posted September 4, 2014 #7 Share Posted September 4, 2014 We're considering a snorkel excursion in Belize on our next cruise, and we'd want to take our own gear. While we have masks and snorkels, we don't have fins. We're still fairly new to snorkeling, and I'm wondering if we'll need fins to keep up with the group. What have your experiences been? Take fins or no? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinCruise Posted September 4, 2014 #8 Share Posted September 4, 2014 They should have fins to borrow. Most people won't have any gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinman66 Posted September 4, 2014 #9 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Most tours will supply gear with a snorkel trip as they don't expect people to have brought their own Stopped taking my own a long time ago Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted September 4, 2014 #10 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Be sure to use the fins too because you can run into currents that can be tough to swim against without fins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeagoingMom Posted September 4, 2014 #11 Share Posted September 4, 2014 We're considering a snorkel excursion in Belize on our next cruise, and we'd want to take our own gear. While we have masks and snorkels, we don't have fins. We're still fairly new to snorkeling, and I'm wondering if we'll need fins to keep up with the group. What have your experiences been? Take fins or no? Thanks! Use fins. A few kicks with fins will get you where you need to go without much energy expenditure, and they are useful for keeping you in place when you want time to observe things closely. Snorkeling without fins could be an exhausting proposition, and there are no advantages to not using them. I have never been snorkeling where anyone, from the guides to the rank beginners, did not use fins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3dog Posted September 4, 2014 #12 Share Posted September 4, 2014 As stated previously, all ships snorkel excursions will include the equipment. You may, however, bring any portion of your own equipment (mask, fins, or snorkel). If you have inexpensive slip-on fins or cheap mask, don't bother taking them, as you will haul them around for little benefit (you will be able to get ones that will fit on all excursions). If you are concerned about germs and have your own snorkel, feel free to bring it, as it won't take up much room, and should be easy to clip on to an excursion mask. Or you can go to a dive shop and get just the mouthpiece and request that it be put on your snorkel. If you have a good dive mask and snorkel, by all means bring them, as they won't take up that much space in your luggage and you will enjoy them more than the excursion masks (I have a prescription dive mask, so it goes with me even if I am only snorkeling). Fins, however, often take up a lot of space, so only take them if you are they are quality fins that you are accustomed to wear (I only take mine if I intend to dive or do lots of snorkeling, and am not taking much in clothing - which isn't needed if I am doing lots of diving and snorkeling). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marci22 Posted September 4, 2014 #13 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Bring your own. They do soak all the snorkels in big buckets of disinfectant, but when I looked at one of them, there was accumulated black gunk inside of it. ymmv! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rummenroman Posted September 4, 2014 #14 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Bring your own. They do soak all the snorkels in big buckets of disinfectant, but when I looked at one of them, there was accumulated black gunk inside of it. ymmv! I can attest to this. And what is really in the water for disinfectant? Does it actually kill anything the previous user may have? I wouldn't chance it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom.Terrific Posted September 4, 2014 #15 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Thank you all for sharing your insight. We'll decided to take our own masks and snorkels because we're confident of fit, function, and sanitation. And we'll use their fins. Belize is going to be awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rufferto Posted September 4, 2014 #16 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Some ships have dive shops where they sell the equipment. I ended up buying a dive mask on board the Allure. I bought it because it fit me so well- absolutely no leaks! The suction on the facemask was so strong it actually takes effort to lift it off my face, yet it remains very comfortable. Every other mask I ever had before then eventually developed cracks and leaked. For those that are reluctant to use the snorkel tube provided by the tour for hygienic reasons, you can check out one that might be in stock on board ship. It is a travel snorkel tube. It is not made of rigid plastic but is made of rubber that can be rolled up into a compact spiral which can almost fit in your pocket. I did not buy one though I did find it interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjb317 Posted September 4, 2014 #17 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I have started bringing my own equipment. Whenever I have used the snorkel provided, I have developed sores in my mouth that last for about a week. Not sure if it is from the disinfectant used or what, but since I've done this, no more sores. I rarely use fins on a ship's excursion as the ones we've done have consisted of staying in a fairly small area and I have a pretty strong kick without them. Sherri:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeagoingMom Posted September 4, 2014 #18 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Some ships have dive shops where they sell the equipment. I ended up buying a dive mask on board the Allure. I bought it because it fit me so well- absolutely no leaks! The suction on the facemask was so strong it actually takes effort to lift it off my face, yet it remains very comfortable. Every other mask I ever had before then eventually developed cracks and leaked. For those that are reluctant to use the snorkel tube provided by the tour for hygienic reasons, you can check out one that might be in stock on board ship. It is a travel snorkel tube. It is not made of rigid plastic but is made of rubber that can be rolled up into a compact spiral which can almost fit in your pocket. I did not buy one though I did find it interesting. Hmmm...too bad they don't make collapsible or roll-up fins! It's the fins that take up room in our luggage. (Yeah, I know they make short, stubby "travel fins" but they just don't look like they are worth bothering with.) I love having my own fins -- I have had problems with other fins cutting into (well, rubbing raw) my Achille's tendon because of poor fit. That's why I bring my own now. Of course another option would be for me just to bring dive boots to wear under the snorkel excursion's fins.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trev71 Posted September 5, 2014 #19 Share Posted September 5, 2014 It's part of the price you pay on the excursion. Most give you mask, snorkel, flippers.... drink tickets... My only wonder is how well they clean them from person to person...... yuck That is why I bought my own mask and snorkel. for 35$ and they work great i do use their flippers they provide since they take up way too much room in my luggage :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted September 5, 2014 #20 Share Posted September 5, 2014 We booked 2 snorkel excursions on through RC in St Maarten and Barbados on upcoming cruise. Do we need to take our own snorkel mask for these? I do plan on buying my own mouthpiece but was not sure about the mask. Thanks. On every snorkel excursion we have ever taken through the ship ALL snorkel equipment was provided by the operator. LuLu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creepella Posted September 5, 2014 #21 Share Posted September 5, 2014 I find the "rental" snorkels usually have really stiff mouth pieces that make my mouth very sore. I went to a dive shop and got a higher end one with a soft mouth piece. It really makes a difference when you are in the water for an hour or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matj2000 Posted September 5, 2014 #22 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Whats the difference between using a snorkle. And silverware, glassware, plates, linens, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trev71 Posted September 5, 2014 #23 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Whats the difference between using a snorkle. And silverware, glassware, plates, linens, etc. I eat with my hands and use my soda cup on my cruise. :eek: I personally like my own set, It really has nothing to do with germs, I used the rental ones once and the mouth piece was chewed and the mask didnt fit that good over my fat head. Ive used my own set a few time this summer around my area too. So it was worth it for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeagoingMom Posted September 5, 2014 #24 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Whats the difference between using a snorkle. And silverware, glassware, plates, linens, etc. HOT water! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erniesband Posted September 5, 2014 #25 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Whats the difference between using a snorkle. And silverware, glassware, plates, linens, etc. Silverware etc. is going through a dishwasher at a temperature of 130 -170 degrees F. Linens the same thing washed in hot water up to 150 degrees. Kills most common bacteria. Snorkeling equipment that I've seen on excursions sit in a primordial soup of all the users saliva and whatever else is on them with some dish soap or "disinfectant" thrown in. I carry my own gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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