Islandbear

We will be in Grenada for three days after our cruise. July 27th 2019.  

I noticed that there are no other ships in port and I was wondering if things would be closed up, since we are not in season and there are no BIG ships in port? 

Thanks

I would love to go to a Dive shop but the closest one is an hour and a half away so it would be a day off work and a three hour drive.  That's just not in the cards.

My local eye doctor recommended ordering a Promate Pro on-line.

Heading to the Grenadines on Sail Windjammer next month.  My son has a -325 -350 prescription and I want to get him a RX Mask.  any recommendations.

Should I order a -325 -325 or a -350 -350?

Has anyone had a good experience for a Brand?

In Grenada the Grand Anse has OK shore snorkeling from the Coyaba Hotel to the left to Morne Rouge. This is casual snorkeling from shore, but the more you swim the more you see. There are plenty of resort hotels and snack shops along this stretch of beach for drinks and food.

An underwater video posted to YouTube Tuesday captures portions of a coral reef being obliterated by a cruise ship’s anchor and chain in mere seconds, a stunning contrast to the estimated centuries it took to grow.

This is very sad.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/video-shows-anchor-destroying-reef_5669a146e4b009377b23fed0 :mad:

It would be nice if people who say they love snorkeling would stop recommending dog biscuits and cereal for feeding fish. Fish feeding destroys reefs and promotes aggressive species. Just Stop Feeding Fish!

Don'r Feed Reef Fish ANYTHING!:cool:

In St Kitts there is a nice beach by the Marriott a narrow spit of land with a nice reef. Be careful of the currents.

If it were me I would just tell the guys at the dive shop just what you told us. They have heard it before. If it is a good shop they will have entry level gear that will not break the bank but also will not leak. Buy a Mask and Snorkel.

Now depending on you ports you should do a shore dive without fins and a charter with the fins supplied.

If you let us know what ports you are hitting we can recommend a good shore dive and which island is worth a charter. Not all islands have shore dives. but most have a snorkel charter that is worth the money.

As a beginner in your 50's you deserve to pay a little to insure a great experience.

try the money bar in Cozemel

With these options go for #1. Have a great time.

I can't believe that I just got sucked into a 4 year old post.:D

First how bad is your vision?

If you just need reading glasses +1-+1.5, the magnification in the water will counter act that.

I am slightly nearsighted -1.75 in both eyes. Again I do not use a prescription mask. I have rented them but with my eyes they do not make that much differance.

I would recommend that you take the first snorkeling trip you can book and rent gear. Relax and enjoy the experience. If you like it (and you will) then do it again and again and again. I snorkel every stop on a cruise if I can. Then you can decided what gear you want to buy.

There is much better snorkeling to be found on St John's than Trunks Bay. Salt Pond to the far East. Leinster Bay next to the Sugar Plantation on the north. A walk in, but a great island (Watermelon Cay) in the bay to swim around. My favorites are Maho, Whistling Cay, Turtle, and Cinnamon all close together.

Get a little further into the island and reap the benefits. You can take a taxi, or snorkeling Charter.

Even better DON'T FEED THE FISH! This is not an aquarium, the fish do not need your food, and feeding them is very bad of the reef environment.

You should also consider the Panasonic DMC TS4 Lumix. It is under $300 and is rated one of the best all round point and shoots out there. We have used it on the Colorado River and Snorkeling all over the Caribbean. Why have one camera for water and another for land when this one is great for both.:)

I hope you have a great trip and get hooked on snorkeling!

I think that pennacamp is just better snorkeling and an hour drive is a lot easier then a two and a half hour ferry ride each way to the dry tortugas. They will have to drive right by it come and going to key west.

St Thomas - Coki Point Beach:)

Good choice for you to start at. But, take your time and learn to enjoy water and swimming. You might live to love snorkeling!

Have a great trip. Don't over think it. 90% of snorkeling in the Carib is safe and pleasant as long as you can swim. You don't need hundreds of dollars worth of professional equipment, until you decide to take it up as a sport.

Here are my favorite TIPS: 1. Don't feed the fish. It is bad for the reef. 2. If you can afford a new Camera buy a $200-300 point and shoot underwater camera. It will become you favorite all around camera. 3. Use colored electrical tape to mark the tops of your snorkels. Makes it easy to find "your people" when snorkeling popular spots. 4. Slow down, relax your breath and ENJOY!

Best snorkeling in the keys is http://pennekamppark.com/ Great open water snorkeling and worth the cost of a boat trip. Otherwise you need to get to the dry tortugas Fort Jefferson, which is a whole day event.

Don't forget you can buy directly from Diamonds International, Adiamor, or Blue Nile on line. They all have web sites with the same prices. You don't have to travel to Belize.

Do check to make sure that the diamond is GIA or AGSL certified in writing before buying. Many Diamonds in the Caribbean are sold with an EGL (European Gem Lab) certificate. so, a One Caret J-VS1 EGL rated stone might be worth $500-1000 less than a One Caret J-VS1 GIA stone. That is how they can sell a certified One Caret J-VS1 diamond for less! :cool:

Know what you're buying before you pay.

From MSNBC

Bed bugs on cruise ships?

Question: I’m getting ready to go on a cruise, should I be concerned about bed bugs there? --Debbie

Answer: Because we know that bed bugs are an increasing problem (some would call it an epidemic), it is prudent to inspect any location away from home where you are planning to sleep. Inspect your cabin thoroughly, looking for signs of bed bugs prior to unpacking. Look behind the head board if possible, and inspect your mattress. There is no need to tear the room apart, but a close look at the mattress seams and inside the cabin drawers prior to putting away your clothes should become part of your traveling routine.

Editor's note: Dateline did receive some e-mails with anecdotes from cruise ship goers who say they were bitten.

USA TODAY:

Cruise Log reader jgibson60 has raised the issue in recent days in the Cruise Log's Forum, saying he just got back from a major, mass-market ship on which he discovered bed bugs in his cabin.

"I discovered my unauthorized bed mates on Friday, after returning from an excursion-filled day," jgibson60 writes in the forum thread. "I wanted to lie down and nap before changing for dinner, and as I put my head down on a pillow, I saw (one) tucked in a fold of another pillow. OMG!"

Executive Travel Magazine:

Sep 6 2010, 8:02 AM EDT | Post edited: Sep 6 2010, 8:02 AM EDT

Just returned from a cruise on the NCL "Spirit". I am loaded with bed bug bites. I haven't complained to anyone at NCL as yet but the wierd problem is that I have bites only on my forearms, and thighs and legs. I'm guessing that I got the bites while sitting in one of the cushy chairs in the theater or at one of the bars. I wore shorts and tee shirt and since my wife had no problems, I must assume I didn't get the bites in our bed, which by the way was in the upper deck with a balcony; definitly not the cheap seats.

A quick google search came up with hundreds of hits. There is no way that if hotels have them that cruise ships wouldn't.

First off never listen to anyone who says thay got it appraised at 2 or 3 times the purchase price. Gold is Gold and Diamonds are Diamonds. They don't change price during an airplane flight.

There are no license laws for jewelers doing appraisals. They can put down whatever they want. Ask your jeweler what he would buy the piece from you for and watch the price fall.

The biggest thing to look out for when buying diamonds in the Caribbean is "European" grading of the stones. Most stones sold in America are GIA and the best are graded by AGL. An EGL (European Gem Lab) stone graded VS1 is worth 17%-21% less than a GIA VS1 stone. When you are talking thousands of dollars that is a big hit.

Buy a nice ring to remember your trip, but buy good jewelry at a store you trust.

I wish the cruise lines would send a couple of ships to smaller islands instead of always going to the big ports that everyone has done a million times.