re; dving in st thomas and martin--carribbean princess

[smallgee]

Anyone have any tips on diving on April 13 carribbean princess?

Should I book my own dive or use cruise dive excursion.

[bruce-r]

Anyone have any tips on diving on April 13 carribbean princess?

First, join the roll call for your sailing to see if there are any other divers on your cruise with you.

Should I book my own dive or use cruise dive excursion.

You didn't give enough information about yourself for me to make a recommendation either way.

 

To help you make your own decision, I wrote this a while back:

 

We get this asked from time to time, so I thought I'd just give my opinion as to what I think are some reasons a person might want to use the ship's dive excursion or make their own arrangement, so here goes

 

The way shore excursions work is that the cruise line contracts with companies at each port of call to provide the shore excursions the sell on the ships. In most cases, you can make your own arrangements and cut out the cost the cruise line adds to the trip.

 

Pros of making your own arrangements, at least for diving:

• usually cost less
  
• not limited on bottom time, dive your own profile
  
• can choose a smaller boat which will be less crowded
  
• can have a voice in decided the dive site
  
• smaller operator, more personal service
  
• better choice for more advanced divers
  
• you can shore dive if you want, which is much less expensive and not dependent on someone else's schedule. Grand Cayman is especially good for this.
  

 

Cons:

• more work for you to make plans, get to the meeting place
  
• ship won't wait if you are late, but being late is highly unlikely
  

 

Going with the ship's excursion

Pros:

• easy planning
  
• gear is often included
  
• good choice for the once a year cruise diver
  
• you get to dive with other people from your ship
  
• ship will wait if you are late ( this does matter to some people)
  
• easier logistically at some ports, especially Belize, or if you arrive in port too late for the morning dive boats from private operators
  

 

Cons:

• Usually cost a bit more, sometimes a lot more
  
• usually larger boats which can usually mean more people, but not always
  
• usually predetermined dive sites
  
• usually bottom times are predetermined, or everyone has to surface when the first person is low on air.
  
• dives are often follow the leader type dives, which is especially annoying for advanced divers or photographers
  

 

I hope this will help others decide which to choose, as there is no one right answer for everyone, every time.

 

[gmcrow]

Pretty much agree with bruce-r, but we also factor in the port and the age of the passengers on any give cruise. Our complete discussion is at http://cruisedivers.blogspot.com/search/label/shore%20excursions

[smallgee]

Thanks for the tips.

I am an experienced diver but will be diving with my wife who is a novice so I thought booking with the cruise ship will probably be best.

We went to the roll call so maybe will find some advice there as well.

Thanks alot

Michael