Zuiderdam Cruise Questions

[Deep68]

We have just booked up a cruise on the Zuiderdam on Aug 21st in an SS cabin. It was a last minute decision!
We have a red eye from California arriving at 6:30am on Saturday 21st in Fort Lauderdale.
Any idea what we can do or how we can kill a few hours where we can go before embarkation?
Also what is the earliest it is worth getting to the port to board?
How much is a taxi from the airport to the port?

Also has anyone got any good input on shore excursions for
Key West
Cozumel
Grand Cayman
We quite like to do our own thing! Also my husband scuba dives so any good operator recommendations would be good.

Thanks

[spcl4cs_gal]

The terminal at FLL opens between 11 and 11:30am on the day of embarkation and, with the line up starting prior to that, I would get there no later than 10:30. It was out the door and around the corner when I left the terminal at 10:30 on July 17.

By the way, you're on my cruise...welcome! :)

[Joedog]

If you look back a day or 2 you will find many reviews of the Zuiderdam and should have a number or your questions answered.

[MandyGirl]

In Cozumel, we went with Eagle Ray Divers (http://www.eagleraydivers.com) and highly recommend them. Chellie (the wife) is from Arkansas and very friendly. We were first-timers, and Antonio was spectacular - especially when calming my nerves when I almost chickened out. There were other divers on our boat with certifications who went with a different guide. The marina could scare you away if you like lavish stuff - it is a working marina. However, everything seemed just fine including the SCUBA gear.

In Grand Cayman, we took a day sail with http://www.cayman.org/crosby/ and it had three stops for snorkeling. We were only snorkeling that day so I did not research dive operators.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

Taxis cost between $12 - $15 from airport to pier. It is a short ride. There is nothing at the pier for you to do if you go there early.

If you decide to rent a car for a few hours to tour around the area, there is only one draw back to that - you have to return the rental car to the airport where you picked it up as there aren't any car rentals down at the pier.

Have you considered finding a hotel where you could book a room for a half day? There are some that allow this. We have never done this but I had read on some of the boards where some people have done it. If you don't get an answer on this board, you might want to consider posting your question on the general board.

:)

[npeters]

We have just booked up a cruise on the Zuiderdam on Aug 21st in an SS cabin. It was a last minute decision!
We have a red eye from California arriving at 6:30am on Saturday 21st in Fort Lauderdale.
Any idea what we can do or how we can kill a few hours where we can go before embarkation?
Also what is the earliest it is worth getting to the port to board?
How much is a taxi from the airport to the port?

Also has anyone got any good input on shore excursions for
Key West
Cozumel
Grand Cayman
We quite like to do our own thing! Also my husband scuba dives so any good operator recommendations would be good.

Thanks

You should check out the Port of Calls boards for each of the ports. There are some very good suggestions for shore excursions and how to book them. What I did was go to the HAL website and see what excursions they offered, then used these boards to research which independent vendors others have used and/or googled via the web. If you have a question that's not been covered, just start a new thread. Everyone is so eager to share their experiences.

My hubby and I are on this cruise too. You should check out the Cruise Critic Roll Calls board. The 8/21/04 cruisers have started a thread. There are a few of us coming from California. In fact, someone else is taking a redeye too. Maybe you can exchange ideas.

The shore excursions (all through independents) I've got scheduled are: Snuba in Key West in the am, then wander around via the conch trolley or bone shuttle; the Royal Swim with the Dolphins in Cozumel (a good website is www.cozumelinsider.com); and a stingray city+2 snorkel stops with land tour in Grand Cayman.

See you on board!

[npeters]

Oh, also, there's another cruiser on our roll-call thread that also scubas. She may have great ideas about scuba. Also, I found a lot of info by using the "search" tool. Plug in "Fort Lauderdale" or "Scuba" and see what pops up. Tons of info! Good luck!

[divinggirl]

Deep68--

I think nepeters was referring to me:)

I am on your sailing and dive as well, my husband will not be on this cruise so I am diving solo :( However, I have booked dives in both GC and Coz. I am diving with Deep Blue in Coz, the 8:30 AM dive, and with Neptune's in GC, they're pushing their morning dive back to 9:30 AM in case we get delayed tendering. The websites are:

www.deepbluecozumel.com (http://www.deepbluecozumel.com/) It's $65 for a two tank and then another $2 for the marine park entry fee

www.neptunesdivers.com (http://www.neptunesdivers.com/) It's $85 for a two tank (I know it's alot but that whole island is at least $80 for a two tank, and these people come highly recommended)

I have already booked and confirmed with Debbie at Deep Blue and Casey at Neptunes. They both have max 8 divers per boat, and I've got an inside scoop on at least where NOT to go in both places.

I am very excited about this and if your husband wants a buddy, I'd be more than willing, as a little birdy (SeaRanger) told me that in GC you can also walk up to this shop by the tender pier and rent a tank and do a shore dive, if you've got a buddy!!

Good Luck!!
Nikki

[Deep68]

Thanks all for the feedback I am going to followup on all your suggestions.:) :cool:

[Deep68]

DivingGirl,

My hubby may be interested in a Diving buddy to shore dive in GC. We are still working on planning all shore excursions at the moment as we only booked our trip a couple of days ago. He has approx 90 dives in his log book. How many dives have you been on?

Thanks for your input.
Donna

[divinggirl]

I have about 60 logged, and some in quite trecherous conditions :rolleyes: If your husband is interested in doing boat diving there is no dive excursion offered in GC through HAL, so any diving is self-initiated. If he only wants to shore dive, I'd be happy to be his buddy, as I said, but we'd have to stay kind of shallow b/c that would be my third (and maybe fouth) dives of the day!

I am also doing the 8 AM one tank on HMC.

If you go to this sailing's roll call we've arranged a meet the first sea day, I can't remember where off the top of my head, maybe the Crow's Nest? I'll be there, so if he still wants to meet up we can do it then. If not, no problem...

Nikki