Ruby Princess Cruise Critic Group Cruise

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I am leading a dive group aboard the Ruby Princess this November; thanks to an overwhelming response, the dive group is pretty much sold out. But we still have good stateroom inventory left in the cruise group so anyone interested in cruising this fall aboard the Ruby Princess may want to look into this Eastern Caribbean voyage.

 

We are an official Cruise Critic group, and our information is posted among the member cruises website at Cruise Critic. Though the focus of the group is scuba diving, we always get a significant number of non-divers booked on the cruise. Everyone (including the non-divers) receives the same group benefits that include $100 per cabin shipboard credit and other nice perks. Our pricing is very competative in that the booking agency, and Princess will usually honor regional promotions and other special offers. So at the very least, it's worth making a phone call to see if our group agent can meet or beat your best offer.

 

The dive group's focus obviously is scuba diving in each port of call. To insure quality, we limit the dive group to no more than 18. However, the same limits do not apply to the cruise group. All group members enjoy optional low key social activities in the evening and on days at sea, but we respect our members privacy and try hard to not over-structure vacation time with too many group activities.

 

If you'd like more information about this group cruise or simply want to research your upcoming Ruby Princess cruise, please visit our group forum here at Cruise Critic. We now have our group brochure and dive package information posted on line as well. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

[Sailfish]

Please visit our group forum here at Cruise Critic or our webiste for more information.

 

About the annual Cruise Critic Scuba Cruise

 

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 a Princess Cruises 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 50% non-divers. To insure a quality dive experience, we must limit the number of divers in each port of call to no more than 16-18 in most ports of call. People who book a Cruise Critic Group Cruise do so usually for the following reasons:

 

 

• “No Hassle” Diving
  
• Competitive Group Cruise Pricing
  
• Group Amenities - $100 per cabin shipboard credit
  
• Free Dive DVD
  

All Scuba Cruises tend to be low key and focus on diving. You are free to do your own thing – dive with the group everyday, when it suits your schedule, or not at all.

 

Our dive package includes round trip transportation to and from the dive operation (when the dive shop or boat is not by the peir), a group leader on the ship who escorts and dives with the group, and quality two tank boat dives in five ports of call. We also offer two shore excursions at an additional cost to the non-divers in the group.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information at scubacruise2009@yahoo.com.

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2009 Scuba Cruise Departs Fort Lauderdale on November 4, 2009[/url]

 

Are you looking for a unique itinerary that will take you to ports of calls seldom visited by ships departing from Fort Lauderdale? If so, we have an awesome itinerary on a brand new ship! The 2009 Scuba Cruise aboard the Ruby Princess will call on St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Antigua. We welcome both divers and non-divers on the cruise!

 

Cruise Critic’s 4th annual Scuba Cruise will set sail on November 4, 2009. If you are a certified diver, we offer an optional custom dive package put together for the group by ShoreTrips that will include two tank dives in St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Antigua. Not a diver? Not a problem; many non-diving group members sail with us every year and enjoy the special group benefits!

 

Please visit our group forum at Cruise Critic for pricing, dive package information and available space on the 2009 Scuba Cruise!

[Sailfish]

I got a few emails yesterday asking about our group activities. We publish a group cruise planner every season and email it to all our members just prior to our sailing; it contains both ship sponsored activities as well as those planned by us for the group. As our group requests are confirmed by the cruise line, they are noted in the group cruise planner, which is constantly updated at the group forum. Our members like to know in advance of the cruise what they can look forward to, so this is posted at the group forum and I would recommend you take a peek as well.

 

We work very hard to achieve a nice balance between group activities and things our members wish to do independent of the group. Unlike a lot of cruise groups, our focus is scuba diving so we understand the need to not over structure evenings and days at sea. Though many in the group do get together at night for dinner and nightly entertainment or to watch football under the stars, some prefer to spend time with family and friends while on the ship. Many of our non-diving members prefer to do their own thing much of the time.

 

The non-divers in the group are always invited and encouraged to attend all our group functions. We offer two reasonalbly priced Snorkel Shore Excursions and encourage those in the group not diving to plan some fun things to do together in our ports of call; quite a few do, while others simply prefer to be on their own.

 

We always begin our dive season with the annual Bon Voyage Party & Champagne toast prior to the life boat drill; a little cheesy, I have to admit, but a tradition. Because many of our members are Scuba Cruise Alums, it's a reunion of sorts for some and a chance for everyone to make new friends. All divers in the group are required to attend the Pre-Dive orientation meeting the first full day at sea (which is on day three), but until then, those interested in playing some beach volleyball on Princess Cays can join us on day two.

 

This is but a small example of how we structure our group activities and hope this helps shed some light on our group. Please don't hesitate to contact me, the group leader, if you have any questions.

 

Thanks.

 

Suzi

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Introducing the 2009 Scuba Cruise Website

 

 

http://www.scubacruise.vpweb.ca/

 

Though we have a hyperlink to the site at our Member Cruise webpage here at Cruise Critic, here is the link (below the photo) to make finding it a little easier.

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

What can a non-diver expect from a Scuba themed cruise group?

 

We literally have two groups in one; the dive group and the rest of the people booked into the cruise group. On port days, the dive group meets up early in the morning and heads off the ship to go diving. The non-divers pretty much do their own thing during the day, however, we offer two optional snorkel boat shore excursions to our non-divers in St. Kitts and Antigua.

 

Though there are a few group related activities planned for the evening, we try not to schedule too many things, so our group members are free to do their own thing. All group members, divers and no-divers alike, are invited to all group activities and receive the same group perks, such as shipboard credit and our mid-cruise open bar cocktail party.

 

As a non-diver, you won't really notice a difference in your cruise whether you book the cruise through the cruise line or your own agent or through CruCon, except you're over-all cost will be less, since you'll get $100 per cabin of shipboard credit in addition to a competative rate as well as some value added perks.

 

We make every effort to connect with our non-divers, but many choose to do their own thing much of the cruise.

 

What is the average of the group?

 

Our annual Scuba Cruises attract two groups of people: 1) divers and their active non-diving friends and spouses who are generally in the 30-60 year old range. Most are busy professionals, who work full time and tend too not actively participate on computer message boards such as this one (with a few exceptions). 2) non-divers who are active participants here at Cruise Critic. They tend to be youngish retirees and very experienced cruisers who enjoy life and live actively. You can expect a 40% diver to 60% non-diver ratio.

 

We seldom see kids in the dive group, though they are welcome if they are certified. Occasionally we see kids among the non-divers in the group, but since the November 4, 2009 sail date is during school here in the US, I doubt we'll get any in the group again this year. On last year's voyage in November on the Emerald, there were a total of 25 kids aboard the ship -20 were under the age of 7 and nearly all were from Australia and New Zealand. I really felt sorry for the two teens (siblings) from the UK!

 

What kind of Cruise Experience can I expect from Princess?

 

Like her sister ship the Emerald Princess (home to the 2008 Scuba Cruise), the Ruby Princess is big, the interiors are tastefully decorated in an understated elegance. Staterooms are comfortable and well put together with large closets. It's a new ship with an upscale feel to it; you'll find quality furnishings and beautiful art work everywhere, but it's not fancy or opulent.

 

Anytime dining on the Emerald worked very well. We had a group last year with confirmed dining at 6pm in the Traditional diving room who raved about the service. The food was given high marks by the members of the group. Since Princess is known for its consistency, I expect a similar experience this year.

[Sailfish]

We now have color brochures available. Please email the group leader with your mailing address if you would like one.

 

Thanks.