Atlantis submarine tours to end on St. Thomas

[sludgemixer]

Hey guys, just read this article from the USVI Daily News, online edition.

 

Atlantis submarine tours to end on St. Thomas

By TIM FIELDS

Thursday, March 5th 2009

 

 

ST. THOMAS - After 20 years in business, Atlantis Submarines (St. Thomas) Inc. will cease operations of its submarine tour on May 31, citing economic hardships and high overhead costs. "We're just not making it," Gary Cram, the company's general manager, said Wednesday afternoon.

The popular tour takes passengers 80 feet below the water's surface to explore the coral reefs and sea life surrounding St. Thomas. The Atlantis Adventure's tour is one of the staple local tours that cruise ships and hotels have highlighted for years. In 2004, Princess Cruises selected the company as its C.R.U.I.S.E. Shore Excursion of the Year saying the tour provided cruise ship passengers with a positive and memorable experience that effectively showcased St. Thomas as a premier destination.

Cram said that 25 employees will lose their jobs when operations cease.

 

The company will continue to operate its catamaran tours on St. Thomas, which are doing well, he said. The company's other submarine tours in Hawaii, Guam, Grand Cayman, Aruba, Cozumel, and Barbados are "feeling the pinch" but will remain operational, Cram said.

[Joyce From Yardley]

Hey guys, just read this article from the USVI Daily News, online edition.

 

Atlantis submarine tours to end on St. Thomas

By TIM FIELDS

Thursday, March 5th 2009

 

 

ST. THOMAS - After 20 years in business, Atlantis Submarines (St. Thomas) Inc. will cease operations of its submarine tour on May 31, citing economic hardships and high overhead costs. "We're just not making it," Gary Cram, the company's general manager, said Wednesday afternoon.

The popular tour takes passengers 80 feet below the water's surface to explore the coral reefs and sea life surrounding St. Thomas. The Atlantis Adventure's tour is one of the staple local tours that cruise ships and hotels have highlighted for years. In 2004, Princess Cruises selected the company as its C.R.U.I.S.E. Shore Excursion of the Year saying the tour provided cruise ship passengers with a positive and memorable experience that effectively showcased St. Thomas as a premier destination.

Cram said that 25 employees will lose their jobs when operations cease.

 

The company will continue to operate its catamaran tours on St. Thomas, which are doing well, he said. The company's other submarine tours in Hawaii, Guam, Grand Cayman, Aruba, Cozumel, and Barbados are "feeling the pinch" but will remain operational, Cram said.

 

Hi,

 

We took this tour & have lots of wonderful memories. The photos taken come up from time to time on our screen saver.

We booked this tour via Royal while on the cruise ship the Empress of the Seas. We paid a few $'s more booking it this way but got to take an earlier tour instead of booking at the Atlantis Submarine shop & going later in the afternoon.

Times are changing & since we have been going to the same group of Islands/Countries for some time now. We are cutting back on some of the excursions that we are taking. I'm sure others are doing the same, & the reason this is now coming to an end. It wasn't cheap but well worth the money.

 

Safe Travels & Enjoy your cruise.

 

Joyce & Of Course Harvey

[sludgemixer]

Looks like we'll miss the tour in STT. However, I am considering the tour in Grand Cayman in December 2009 as we have already made other reservations for our April visit. Does anyone have comments this tour in GC?

[michiganian]

Wow, I hadn't heard that and I took that tour on March 3, 2009 (only two days before the announcement). It was a very expensive tour so I'm not surprised to hear that.

[sludgemixer]

I am planning to do this in Grand Cayman, did you think the tour was worth the cost?