2009 Scuba Cruise

[Sailfish]

2009 Scuba Cruise Aboard the Ruby Princess

November 4-14, 2009

 

I will be leading a Cruise Critic group cruise next year aboard the Ruby Princess Eastern Caribbean Voyager on November 4, 2009 and thought I would post the information here. This will be Cruise Critic's 4th annual Scuba Cruise, and although we will be offering a dive package for the certified scuba divers in the group, this group cruise is open to non-divers as well.

 

We will be offering an optional dive package to the certified scuba divers in the group in all but one of our ports of call. You can dive in Princess Cays through the cruise line if you want on your own. A custom two tank group dive package will be available in St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua. I will be escorting the divers off the ship; transportation to and from the dive operation will be included. Although I do not have a limit on the number of non-divers, we will have room for only 16 divers in each port of call. You can dive in each port, or choose to dive in only a few - it's up to you.

 

This group cruise was only recently transferred over to Cruise Critic, so the group forum and member cruise info is still in the works. Johna, our group agent at CruCon will be handling our booking. If you would like a brochure, please email me, the group leader, and I will attach it to my reply. You will have to contact the group agent at CruCon for pricing information.

 

Please scroll through the posts for more group cruise specific information and don't hesitate to email or to post your questions!

 

Thanks.

[Sailfish]

Many of the emails I hve been getting have to do with questions about the diving and the ports of call on the 2009 group cruise, so here is some input. First off, the voyage starts off in Fort Lauderdale and calls on Princess Cay the next day followed by a day at sea. Then we visit five ports of call in a row that include St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Antigua. The cruise ends with two days at sea in a row before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

Although I have been to both Barbados and Antigua, I have never been diving there, so I can’t comment on the quality of the dives. Both St. Kitts and St. Lucia are among the best dive destinations in the Caribbean, and recommend you definitely dive in both of these ports. Divers in the group are not obligated to dive in every port of call. In St. Lucia, the plan is to head south over to the Pitons and dive Superman’s Flight, an awesome drift dive along a wall with views of the abyss. The diving in St. Kitts will also be among the best dives of the week, so I am really looking forward to going back there.

ShoreTrips will again be coordinating our dive package; you can expect to pay around $550pp in addition to the cruise if you dive in each port of call. I have not yet negotiated our dive package, so the cost could be slightly less. The routine onboard the Ruby Princess will be the same as this year's scuba cruise on the Emerald Princess – we’ll meet up in the Piazza in the morning, disembark together and go diving. Our pre-cruise meeting will take place on day three, as that will be our first full day at sea. Group amenities will include $100per cabin in shipboard credit as well as a group cocktail party. If you plan to use FCC’s to book this trip, you’ll get some bonus shipboard credit as well as a reduced deposit.

We will have a group forum up and running soon at Cruise Critic where I will post and update our group and dive information, including the dive boat list.

Please don't hesitate to email us for a brochure.

Suzi

[Sailfish]

The Dives

 

Saturday, November 7, 2009

St. Thomas

St. Thomas will be our first dive port of call and an early one at that! The dive operation will pick up the group at the port (they will either send a bus or the dive boat if there is room to pull in), after everyone in the group has gone through the mandatory US Immigration passport check on the ship. We are scheduled to arrive in St. Thomas at 7am, so the dive group will be among the first groups to walk through with their passports. After putting away travel documents, the group will assemble in the Piazza and disembark the ship – by then it will be close to 8am. After a short visit to the dive shop to take care of some paperwork (if we arrive by bus) at Bolongo Bay, we will go diving. We should be done with our two tank dives around 12:30pm; the dive boat will take us back to the ship afterwards. As we remain in St. Thomas until 6pm, you’ll have time to grab lunch and check out the island for a few hours.

I plan to request that the dive operation take us to French Cap, weather permitting. French Cap (on the south side) is an uninhabited island approximately 6 miles south of St. Thomas. Because it is unprotected waters, the seas must be relatively calm for us to dive there – all the more incentive to get an early start! In 90 feet of water this is one of the few places you will see Black Durgeons & huge schools of Sennet. Lobster are in abundance here, as are any number of the larger game fish, hog fish & permit, just to name a few. Dive operations usually do both dives on French Cap, with a shallower dive to 60 feet on the northwest side of the island. On the second dive we should be treated to a swim-through that has a nice cathedral ceiling you can actually surface into.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

St. Kitts

We will arrive in St. Kitts around 7am, and walk off the ship and over to the dive boat that will be docked in the marina about a block away. The diving in St. Kitts is great no matter where we go. There are a number of wreck dives here that might be worth considering. Another popular dive site is a two square-mile coral atoll known as Monkey Shoals. Situated in the channel between St. Kitts and Nevis, the open water allows for visibility of up to 100 feet. I don’t have a preference, but if you do, please speak up well in advance of the cruise so that I can let the dive operator know.

You can expect to be back on the ship in time for lunch, but as the ship sets sail at 4pm, you’ll probably only have enough time to shop for tee shirts at this port.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Barbados

The ship will dock in Barbados at 9am – finally, a chance to sleep in! By now the debarkation process should be a piece of cake – meet in the Piazza and walk off the ship.

The dive shop in Barbados is walking distance, so we will be heading there as a group and boarding the dive boat around 10am. Most of the dive sites are 10-20 minutes from shore, near the south and west ends of the island. One option will be to dive the SSS Stavronikita, rated as one of the top 10 wrecks in the Caribbean. This is a 365ft Greek freighter that was deliberately sunk to form an artificial reef. The Stavronikita lies in 120ft of water with the stern at 100ft and the bow at 70ft. Here are two dive videos for you to watch to get an idea of what to expect:

SSS Stavronikita Dive Video Part One http://barbados.org/barbados_videos_view.htm?source=WexmwweOnmU

SSS Stavronikita Dive Video Part Two

http://barbados.org/barbados_videos_view.htm?source=CG8JnQJIagE

I don’t really have a preference as to a dive site, so I would encourage you to surf the web and let me know what you find in advance of the cruise so that I can let the dive operator know. We will probably be done with our dives around 2:30pm so you’ll have a couple of hours to go shopping before having to be back on the ship at 5:30pm. I wouldn’t venture too far, though.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

St. Lucia

We will call on St. Lucia at 8am, walk off the ship and meet up with a dive shop employee who will transport us by dinghy or bus to the dive shop. I have requested that we go south (weather permitting) to the Pitons and dive St. Lucia’s premier dive site. Besides it being a scenic boat ride, you will be amazed when you see the Pitons both above and below the water. Our first dive site will be Superman’s Flight – an awesome drift wall dive – followed by a shallower dive at the Anse Chastanet reef. These by far are going to be the best dives of the week.

Because it will probably take us a little over a half an hour to get to the Pitons after we get to the dive shop, you should plan to devote the day in port to diving and nothing else. The ship sets sail at 6pm so we should have enough time to pick up some Piton’s Beer in the liquor store by the pier and a few knick-knacks.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Antigua

Antigua will be our last dive port, and again the plan is to make an early exit at 8am. We will be picked up at the port and transported to the dive shop which is 30 minutes away. Although it has a well-developed tourism industry, Antigua is not particularly known for its diving. In part, because Antigua is set on a shallow bank so most of the diving is shallow. I am going to request that we head to a site called Sunken Rock, just off the coast where Eric Clapton built his new house for our second dive if we happen to be in the area. Actually, I don’t really have a preference, but I was told its one of the better dive sites in Antigua. It’s a rock pinnacle in about 50 feet of water and makes for an interesting dive. Here is a partial list of dive sites in Antigua, and I’d love to get your input:

http://123scubadive.com/Antigua/index.htm

The ship will be departing Antigua at 5pm. Given we will most likely be diving on the other side of the island, I wouldn’t plan much for the afternoon. We should be back on the ship no later than 2pm.

[Sailfish]

There are pros and cons to a dive vacation that's also a cruise. However, most divers, after doing one, tell us they had a good experience. Princess Cruises does an exceptionally good job in combining excellent dive ports with a low key, less structured cruise experience. Thanks to anytime dining, you can call the shots as to when to eat and with whom. The Ruby Princess has comfortable staterooms and excellent amenities as well as a great spa.

 

If your idea of the perfect dive vacation is doing multiple dives per day (like you can on a live aboard or a vacation to Bonaire), and your goal is to dive a lot, a scuba cruise is not for you! You will have the ability to do up to 10 dives while on the cruise. You should plan on the dives being somewhat more conservative than what you would do if you dove with the same dive operation day after day. That said, we do make every effort to customize our dives to meet the needs of both the novice and more experienced diver.

 

The reality is a dive vacation combined with a cruise is not for everyone. As I have said before, the diving tends to be more on the conservative side, as each dive operator we see gets only one chance to dive with you. Unlike a land based dive vacation where you can dive and get to know the place fairly well when you are not in the water (which is what makes going to a new dive destination so interesting), you will have to choose between diving in a port or touring the surrounding area as there isn't enough time to always do both.

 

As is the case with most vacations, there are pros and cons to take into consideration before deciding to join us. How much you spend on your cruise accommodations in large part depends on the type of stateroom you select. Diving in the ports of call is not included, therefore, you will want to budget around $550pp (give or take few dollars) if you plan to dive in each port. Although most of your meals and entertainment on the cruise is included, there is the additional cost for drinks and anything else you buy on or off the ship. If your ideal vacation includes diving multiple tanks every day along with a few night dives then this scuba cruise is probably NOT for you. A scuba cruise will 1) give you a brief introduction to the ports of call, 2) give you a taste of what diving is like there and 3) help you decide if it's worth a return visit.

 

One issue that comes up a lot and needs to be addressed has to do with transporting gear. When you vacation at a land based dive resort, you generally are allowed to leave your dive gear on the boat, in a nearby dive locker or shed or in a hotel room a few steps away. Diving while on a cruise requires more muscle and creativity if you bring your own dive gear (which is recommended), as you will be transporting your gear off the ship, into a cab, then a dive boat and finally hauling your wet gear back onto the ship.

 

But combining a dive vacation with a cruise does have benefits - so much so, that more and more divers are taking cruises - just ask PADI and the cruise lines! I have been leading cruise groups since 1994 and have found Princess to be among the most dive-friendly cruise lines out there. That's not to say I don't lead dive cruise groups on other lines. But Princess tends to visit more dive friendly ports of call, offers an upscale yet casual atmosphere, and is willing to work with dive groups like this one, to insure members have a positive experience.

 

Like an all inclusive dive resort, this cruise aboard the Emerald Princess will include all your meals but no soda or alcoholic beverages (I have yet to go to a dedicated dive resort where alcohol was included). Unlike dive resorts, you will find the food quality and the choice in dining venues to be far superior. With Princess' Personal Choice Policy, you can eat anytime, anywhere. Casual dress is the norm. with more entertainment choices at night that include M.U.T.S. (big screen Movies Under The Stars), production type shows, illusion and comedy acts, a disco, nightly lounge entertainment and one of the largest casinos afloat.

 

It's true there are two Formal Nights - one is scheduled for the second or third day of the voyage and one towards the end of the voyage. Formal nights with Princess are more low key thanks to Anytime Dining, but the expectation is for everyone involved to dress up. Much of the formality associated with Formal Night - lining up to meet the Captain and attending a structured cocktail party determined by your dining time - has been done away with by Princess. Instead, bars in and around the main lobby areas of ship on multiple floors serve free drinks for about an hour, around 6pm and 8pm.

You don't have to participate; a lot of people pass on the free alcohol that's served the first Formal Night (a creative cruise line ploy to get you to dress up). Although the formal restaurants on the ship will require you to play dress-up on both Formal Nights, there are a number of casual dining venues that don't require you to play along.

 

Compared to other cruise lines, where your dining choice is to eat early or late, Princess offers you more freedom to eat when you want, where you want. You can still get a more traditional cruise experience, where you are assigned a seating time with the same people all week long, if you prefer.

 

Many people who have spouses and family members who are non-divers, young kids in need of daycare or babysitting find a cruise to be the perfect "compromise". Non-divers will find lots to do on the ship and in each of our ports of call. No one says you have to dive in each port (though you will find that most divers in the group probably will). You can do a little research and figure out in which ports you want to dive, and see the sights with your loved ones on days you don't. The ship provides free daycare during the day up through 10pm and optional babysitting for a fee later on. Parents find this an invaluable service, as it allows them to bring their little ones along, leave them on the ship while in port, and return knowing they have been safe and cared for.

 

My husband and I are in our 40s, and have logged close to 200 dives each. We still very much enjoy going to dive resorts; but as we get older, we no longer have the desire to spend all day and night diving. We like the upscale cruise experience that Princess offers. We enjoy going out to dinner, taking in a show, listening to music or going out to a movie at night. Having state of the art workout facilities at our disposal is also a huge plus.

 

Accommodations on a cruise ship tend to be comfortable, but small, and compact unless you get a suite. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for; the size of you stateroom will probably be smaller than a hotel room at a dive resort. Most people don't spend much time in their stateroom, and find them to be more than adequate. The room steward will clean your room every morning and turn down your bed each evening. There is free 24 hour room service (you need to tip, though) and if you get a room with a balcony, you will have a place to dry out your scuba gear.

 

Let’s face it, when you are looking at spending this kind of money for an 10 day vacation, it's important to know what's in it for you. Please don't stop here - I strongly recommend you do your own research.

[cruzegirl]

Suzi,

I'm so excited to see the info. here. Can't wait to do this cruise. Many new ports too. Looks like fun. :D

[Sailfish]

Great News!

 

The Scuba Cruise is ready to book - ahead of schedule. Please feel free to visit the Member Cruise Website here at Cruise Critic for more information. One word of caution about pricing: please call Johna at CruCon!

 

If you have not already heard, travel and cruises in particular have been hit hard by the economy here is in the US. Although prices have now been posted and made public for this group cruise, please make sure you call CruCon, as those reflected on this website do not include regional discounts or promotional offers. If you are a Captain's Circle member, holding FCC's, or have a "member's only" offer, you will want to call to get the best price. Don't forget, CruCon wants you business! Feel free to shop around and find your best price; then call Johna and give her a chance to meet or beat your best offer. Remember, every cabin in the group gets $100 shipboard credit and a one hour open-bar cocktail party - a nice bonus indeed!

 

I strongly urge you to pay attention to pricing these next few months, as it's also possible that rates will go down even more. A simple phone call to Johna, our group agent may mean an even bigger discount if you notice a trend.

 

If you have any questions, let me know.

 

Good Luck!

 

Suzi

[Middleager]

Wished I could go. I have school age kids, so during school year we are "tied down".

 

But I've been doing cruise diving for a few years and really enjoy it. I dove is some of the ports, and can share some experience.

 

In St. Lucia, the pitons are quite a ways south from the cruise port. Last time we used Dive Fair Helen. They picked us up in a smaller fast boat to take us to the dive shop. Some people got gears, we did the paperwork, then it's still quite a ways to the pitons. Figure >45min if you go directly from cruise port to the pitons. We did the Superman's Flight, and it was a nice drift dive.

 

The second dive was also quite good, and I felt a slight thermocline there.

 

 

In Antigua, the best diving is in the south, near English Harbour (with Nelson's Dockyard). We did a snorkel/diving combo at Pillars of Hercules, and Stingray Alley.

 

In Barbados, we did the Stav wreck. It was quite nice. But it is dark, as it gets deep. The Stav is a medium to advanced dive, I don't think it's suitable for beginners. The second dive we did was not far from Sandy Lane Resort (where we did have a SI break, and many people snorkeled there and saw many turtles).

 

 

In all of the places we went diving/snorkeling, we also arranged island tour right after. In St. Lucia, it will require at least 2 hrs to drive back leisurely while stop and seeing the scenery. In Barbardos we went to the east coast and saw the very different rugged scenery. In Antigua, we toured Nelson's Dockyard a big, then Shirley's Heights, to the east for Hell's Gate/Devil's Bridge, etc. If there are several people together, you can arrange for a mini-van to take those interested to the land tour. For the $20-40/p, each land tour was quite worth it.

 

Sailfish, applause to you. It takes a lot of work to organize something like this. It sounds like a good trip. I'm sure people will enjoy it.

[bruce-r]

Wished I could go. I have school age kids, so during school year we are "tied down".

 

Same for us, that and DW is a teacher and says the district won't let her take unpaid time off for vacation. :(

[Loves_Dogs]

Tied down here too. Wish one of these dive cruises would be when school is out. My cruisin pal, who is also my dive buddy happens to be my son who is in college. Never took him out of school for any vacation and certainly am not taking him out in college (it is too expensive).

[Sailfish]

When I coordinate these scuba cruises, I have to take into consideration a lot of factors, but pricing and the number of group amenitiy points assigned to the sailing take center stage. Meaning, the more points a group sailing has (determined by the cruise line) the better the group perks. A week or two into the month of November (for example), and our rates go up significantly and instead of $100 per cabin of shipboard credit and a free coctail party, we'd get a bottle of wine and nothing more!

 

That's not to say I wouldn't generate interest, but my groups depend on all the non-divers that book the cruise, as I have to limit the number of certified divers in the group to no more than 16 in each port (often less). So the more attractive I can make the cruise (i.e. pricing and perks) the more non-divers I get in the group. And a larger cruise group means better clout with onboard management; who extend priority tendering to the group when needed, the free use of the conference room and help with the mandatory ID check in St. Thomas, for example. Last cruise on the Emerald Princess this past November we had over 100 people in the cruise group and a total of 20 divers - but no more than 16 ever dove in each port.

 

Because our days revolve around diving, the dive group doesn't interract all that much with the non-divers in the group except those associated with the divers. The number of divers in each port depends on the size of the dive boat we can charter, so often our dive groups are less than 12; not everyone dives in each port of call, and dive boat sign-ups are on a first come first served basis. This year, we had to get a second dive boat in one port of call (Grenada) to accommodate the group, as the dive boats could only accommodate 10 divers.

 

I also work in education as a district administor, but as I am no longer in the classroom, I can take time off outside of our normal school year calendar - though our district follows a modified year round schedule, giving kids and teachers time off in early NOV.

[Sailfish]

Our group booking is now open and ready for reservations. For more information, please stop by our group forum, which is also up and running!

 

Thanks.

 

Suzi

[Sailfish]

More info about the Dive Package:

The 2009 Scuba Cruise Dive package consists of five two tank dives in our ports of call. The only port we do not offer group dives is in Princess Cays, the cruise lines private island in the Bahamas**. We work with a company called ShoreTrips based in Wisconsin; our dive coordinator there is Liz. Pricing and details concerning the dive package will be made public by February 1, 2009. Until then, check back here for periodic updates concerning the group dive package.

 

ShoreTrips will be developing a special group page for our divers and will post pricing and instructions on how to go about purchasing the dives at their site. This information will be emailed to the divers signed up to dive and posted at the group forum here at Cruise Critic. Divers must add their names to the dive boat list and then contact the group leader (that's me) - no exceptions. Divers can purchase their dives at any time, however, most tend to wait until closer to our summer dead line.

 

Once the group page at ShoreTrips has been established (By Feb 1, 2009), divers can log onto www.shoretrips.com, establish an account and purchase their dives anytime before the deadline (which is expected to be in late summer '09). Once your payment has been processed (it can take up to three days) you will received a link for a dive voucher (one per port of call) via email; you must print it out and take it with you on the cruise.

 

You can expect to pay an average cost of around $100 per port of call. At this time, I do not have prices, but the cost to dive in some ports will be a little less, while in others, a little more. You do not have to dive with the group in each port of call. We recommend you do some research and determine which ports you want to dive if you have to choose. Then add your name and your buddies (if you have one) to the dive boat list. Instructions are posted there, but if you prefer, feel free to email me, the group leader, and I can do it for you. You also do not have to have a buddy; most years we get other single divers and the odd man out, can always pair up with the dive master.

 

We will have a mandatory pre-dive orientation meeting on the ship the first full day we are at sea, and we will go over disembarkation and other important information as it pertains to diving in each port of call. If you dive with the group, it will mean getting up early! We will post information about every port of call at our group forum, and email all group members a cruise planner prior to the voyage that will outline day by day, all group activities. I'd be happy to share the 2008 Scuba Cruise's group planner with you - please email me and I'll attach it to my reply.

 

If you are not familiar with ShoreTrips, I recommend you visit their website. You are also welcome to contact Liz with any questions you might have (their toll-free number is at the website). As soon as our group web page is ready to go, I will post a link here as well as email the link to the divers on the dive boat list.

 

Please feel free to post any questions about the dive package here. Hope this helps.

 

Suzi

 

**If you would like to make arrangements to dive in Princess Cays, please let Suzi, the group leader know. Though we do not usually get enough people together, it's possible to do a one tank dive through the shore excursion department on the ship; the cost is over $100 and in our opinion, not worth it. But if you're interested, please let us know. __________________

[CruiseLunatic]

Hi Suzi,

This looks great, is at a time we usually go, and have already looked into this cruise. One issue however. Due to timeshare trade options we have, we have no choice but to book with another TA. Is this a problem and would it hamper activities with this group and the diving?

Matt

[Sailfish]

Hi Suzi,

This looks great, is at a time we usually go, and have already looked into this cruise. One issue however. Due to timeshare trade options we have, we have no choice but to book with another TA. Is this a problem and would it hamper activities with this group and the diving?

Matt

 

That's a great question. Only people who book the cruise through Cruise Critic's Official group cruise booking agent - Johna at CruCon - can dive with the group. No exceptions.

 

I get a lot of emails regarding this issue; unfortunately, because this is a Cruise Critic sponsored group cruise, only people booked into the group are able to dive with the group. We limit the number of divers in each port, charter our own dive boat and as the group leader, escort and dive with the group in each port of call. We include other group perks for our members as well.

 

I know sometimes you are locked into using a certain agency, especially when you want to use time share credits or points, so I can sympathize with your situation. But rules are rules.

 

Good luck!

 

Suzi

[Sailfish]

December 2008 Dive Boat Update

 

I will periodically post updates here at the Scuba Forum regarding our dive package sign-ups. If your are interested in joining the group, I recommend you keep track of the Dive Boat List at the group forum for the most up to date information. Just remember to always reference the most recent posting!

 

Please note that group members can add or delete names off of this list at any time up to the due date, which will be in summer of '09. Please also note that people occasionally experience health related problems or scheduling issues, so we often see one or two spaces free up closer to the sail date. Remember, to insure your space on the dive boat, your name must be on the list prior to purchasing the dives. Once the dive boats fill up, we will have a waiting list. I do not recommend you deposit the cruise if you are a diver interested in diving with the group, and there's no room on the dive boat! Please add your name to the port specific waiting list and contact me, the group leader soon there after.

I will periodically post cruise inventory updates at our group forum; Princess usually allows us to add to the group fairly close to the final payment deadline, if there are staterooms left in the group's cashe. I will notify everyone on the waiting list when their names have moved over to the dive boat list - that's when you will want to book the cruise. Once your name is on the dive boat list, you will be guaranteed a space on the dive boat.

 

As of December 27, 2009, we have space for only 5 divers left. It's possible once I hear back from the dive operators next month, we may be able to add in a couple more divers, given we can split the group onto two dive boats. We have lots of cruise inventory space on the Ruby Princess available to the group, so this does not affect the non-divers in your party.

 

Remember, all divers must notify me by email after booking the cruise if you want to dive with the group. Please feel free to add your name to the dive boat list at the group forum - the directions on how to do this are posted, but it's simply a matter of cutting and pasting the most recent list to a new posting and adding you name and your buddy's (if you have one).

 

Here is the most current list of divers scheduled to dive with the group. As always, please don't hesitate to contact me, your group leader, if you have any questions. Suzi

 

 

 

Saturday, November 7, 2009

St. Thomas

 

1. Mike R

2. Suzi R (Group Leader)

3. Carla M

4. Madlyn

5. Debbie J

6. Ken

7. Buddy

8. Cheryl

9. Bill

10. Andy W.

11. Larry M

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

 

 

Sunday, November 8, 2009

St. Kitts

 

1. Mike R

2. Suzi R (Group Leader)

3. Carla M

4. Madlyn

5. Debbie J

6. Ken

7. Buddy

8. Cheryl

9. Bill

10. Andy W.

11. Larry M

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

 

 

 

Monday, November 9, 2009

Barbados

 

1. Mike R

2. Suzi R (Group Leader)

3. Carla M

4. Madlyn

5. Debbie J

6. Ken

7. Buddy

8. Cheryl

9. Bill

10. Andy W.

11. Larry M

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

 

 

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

St. Lucia

 

1. Mike R

2. Suzi R (Group Leader)

3. Carla M

4. Madlyn

5. Debbie J

6. Ken

7. Buddy

8. Cheryl

9. Bill

10. Andy W.

11. Larry M

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

 

 

 

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Antigua

 

1. Mike R

2. Suzi R (Group Leader)

3. Carla M

4. Madlyn

5. Debbie J

6. Ken

7. Buddy

8. Cheryl

9. Bill

10. Andy W.

11. Larry M

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

[Sailfish]

The following information deals with the most frequently asked questions regarding our group dive package. For more dive package information, please visit the group forum or email Suzi, the group leader.

1. Do I have to book the cruise through CruCon to dive with the group? Why would I want to?

Yes, to dive with the group, you have to book your cruise with CruCon Cruise Outlet. The dive package in our ports of call is the main perk we offer to the certified scuba divers in the 2009 Cruise Critic Scuba Cruise aboard the Ruby Princess. As this is an official Cruise Critic Group Cruise, only bookings made through CruCon are considered part of the group. We make arrangements to charter one or two dive boats (depending on the size of the boat and the number of divers scheduled to dive) in each port of call, and do so to benefit the divers in the group. No other divers from the cruise are allowed to dive with the group.

 

We negotiate transportation to and from the dive operation, when necessary and divers are escorted off the ship by the group leader who also dives with the group, every day we are in port. Though we work hard to negotiate a price that's less than what you would pay on the ship, the benefits to diving with the group are: 1) No Surprises - members dive together all week, so you get to know one another; 2) No hassles - members are escorted off the ship by the group leader every day and transportation to and from the dive shop is included when necessary, though in many of the ports of call, we simply walk to the dive shop or dive boat; 3)Canceled port guarantees - if we can't make it to any of the ports of call, you get a 100% refund. If the port order changes, or we go to a different port, the group leader on the ship can usually make arrangements to dive elsewhere; 4) Group Amenities - all cabins get $100 to spend on the ship in the form of shipboard credit and a one hour group-only open bar cocktail party; 5) Social - members usually come away having made new friends.

 

2. Who are the other divers that will cruise aboard the Ruby Princess in 2009?

 

Some are returning Scuba Cruise Alums, while others find out about us through links on the internet. A few travel with non-diving spouses or friends while others come with their buddies. We have a nice mix of singles and couples; the vast majority are well traveled, experienced divers. Most in the dive group are professional people between the ages of 35-60 (give or take a few years). For most, this won't be their first cruise, though we often see people new to cruising. Nearly all will travel with their own gear.

 

3. Who coordinates the dive package?

 

Suzi, the group leader, works with Liz at ShoreTrips to put together our annual Scuba Cruise dive package. In 2009, we will dive in five ports of call; all will allow enough time for us to dive two tanks in each port. Pricing and details concerning the dive package will be made public by February 1, 2009.

 

ShoreTrips will develop a special group page for our divers and will post pricing and instructions on how to go about purchasing the dives at their site. This information will also be emailed to the divers signed up to dive and posted at the group forum at Cruise Critic. Divers must add their names to the dive boat list and then contact the group leader - no exceptions. Divers can purchase their dives at any time, however, most tend to wait until closer to our summer dead line.

 

4. How do I purchase the dives?

 

Once the group page at ShoreTrips has been established (By Feb 1, 2009), divers can log onto www.shoretrips.com, establish an account and purchase their dives anytime before the deadline (which is expected to be in late summer '09). Once your payment has been processed (it can take up to three days) you will received a link for a dive voucher (one per port of call) via email; you must print it out and take it with you on the cruise.

 

If you have other questions, please post a reply to this thread or email the group leader.

 

Thanks.

 

Suzi

[CruiseLunatic]

Hi Suzi,

Thanks for the reply. I must say it does look wonderful for divers and certainly a good deal. I wish our circumstances were different. Again, thanks for the information and I wish everyone a great trip.

 

I will keep an eye out for any similar group cruises in the future. They look like a great time.

 

Matt

[Sailfish]

Our group forum has been updated with more information; here is a sampling:

 

 

Link to a Free Web Dive Log Book

 

Passport Resources

 

 

Staying Healthy While on the Cruise

 

Ruby Princess Cruise Reviews

 

 

Selecting A Stateroom

 

 

Nintendo Wii Fit Game Onboard Princess Cruises

 

 

January 2009 Dive Boat Update

 

 

Scuba Diving Tips: Make That Tank Last Longer

 

 

Caring for Scuba Equipment

 

 

Pre-Cruise Diving in Fort Lauderdale

[patti627]

The following information deals with the most frequently asked questions regarding our group dive package. For more dive package information, please visit the group forum or email Suzi, the group leader.

1. Do I have to book the cruise through CruCon to dive with the group? Why would I want to?

Yes, to dive with the group, you have to book your cruise with CruCon Cruise Outlet. The dive package in our ports of call is the main perk we offer to the certified scuba divers in the 2009 Cruise Critic Scuba Cruise aboard the Ruby Princess. As this is an official Cruise Critic Group Cruise, only bookings made through CruCon are considered part of the group. We make arrangements to charter one or two dive boats (depending on the size of the boat and the number of divers scheduled to dive) in each port of call, and do so to benefit the divers in the group. No other divers from the cruise are allowed to dive with the group.

 

We negotiate transportation to and from the dive operation, when necessary and divers are escorted off the ship by the group leader who also dives with the group, every day we are in port. Though we work hard to negotiate a price that's less than what you would pay on the ship, the benefits to diving with the group are: 1) No Surprises - members dive together all week, so you get to know one another; 2) No hassles - members are escorted off the ship by the group leader every day and transportation to and from the dive shop is included when necessary, though in many of the ports of call, we simply walk to the dive shop or dive boat; 3)Canceled port guarantees - if we can't make it to any of the ports of call, you get a 100% refund. If the port order changes, or we go to a different port, the group leader on the ship can usually make arrangements to dive elsewhere; 4) Group Amenities - all cabins get $100 to spend on the ship in the form of shipboard credit and a one hour group-only open bar cocktail party; 5) Social - members usually come away having made new friends.

 

2. Who are the other divers that will cruise aboard the Ruby Princess in 2009?

 

Some are returning Scuba Cruise Alums, while others find out about us through links on the internet. A few travel with non-diving spouses or friends while others come with their buddies. We have a nice mix of singles and couples; the vast majority are well traveled, experienced divers. Most in the dive group are professional people between the ages of 35-60 (give or take a few years). For most, this won't be their first cruise, though we often see people new to cruising. Nearly all will travel with their own gear.

 

3. Who coordinates the dive package?

 

Suzi, the group leader, works with Liz at ShoreTrips to put together our annual Scuba Cruise dive package. In 2009, we will dive in five ports of call; all will allow enough time for us to dive two tanks in each port. Pricing and details concerning the dive package will be made public by February 1, 2009.

 

ShoreTrips will develop a special group page for our divers and will post pricing and instructions on how to go about purchasing the dives at their site. This information will also be emailed to the divers signed up to dive and posted at the group forum at Cruise Critic. Divers must add their names to the dive boat list and then contact the group leader - no exceptions. Divers can purchase their dives at any time, however, most tend to wait until closer to our summer dead line.

 

4. How do I purchase the dives?

 

Once the group page at ShoreTrips has been established (By Feb 1, 2009), divers can log onto www.shoretrips.com, establish an account and purchase their dives anytime before the deadline (which is expected to be in late summer '09). Once your payment has been processed (it can take up to three days) you will received a link for a dive voucher (one per port of call) via email; you must print it out and take it with you on the cruise.

 

If you have other questions, please post a reply to this thread or email the group leader.

 

Thanks.

 

Suzi

Hey again, Suzi!

How was your 2008 cruise? Weather ok? We just got back from a cruise on the Celebrity Constellation, got in 10 dives. Dive St. Helen (in St. Lucia) was fantastic, and we did the Pitons and Superman's flight.

We're going on the Island Princess on a Panama Canal cruise in mid-March. The only real diving is in Aruba. Do you have a good dive shop to recommend?

[Sailfish]

Hey again, Suzi!

How was your 2008 cruise? Weather ok? We just got back from a cruise on the Celebrity Constellation, got in 10 dives. Dive St. Helen (in St. Lucia) was fantastic, and we did the Pitons and Superman's flight.

We're going on the Island Princess on a Panama Canal cruise in mid-March. The only real diving is in Aruba. Do you have a good dive shop to recommend?

 

Last year's scuba cruise (in Nov 08) was great - we also got in 10 dives. Aruba was not the best of the 5 ports where we dove (Bonaire and Dominica were amazing), but it was okay. No matter that the visibility was around 50 feet, it was the first of five ports of call and a good place to start off the week. We dove with Dive Aruba, who picked us up at the port. The dive operation recently lost their boat, so 16 of us ended up on a smaller than normal boat; we saw the front page newpaper article about some storm that whipped through weeks before our arrival and we all understood their situation. The dive masters and dive shop staff were nice and very knowledgeable. They took us to a reef and an airplane wreck - rather conservative and probably would not have been my first choice, given our group of very experienced divers. But for the first two dives of the week, it wasn't a bad choice, and our underwater photos and videos turned out a lot better than expected.

 

I don't know too much about the dive operation, as this was our first time diving in Aruba. I can tell you that when of our divers left behind her prescription dive mask, they were kind enough to drop it off at the pier so she wouldn't have to take a cab back to the dive shop. That was very considerate to say the least. I also found them to be professional.

 

Have fun in Aruba!

 

Suzi

[Sailfish]

Hi Everyone:

 

We are down to three spots on the dive boat list in four ports, and four spots in St. Thomas. I will be posting a waiting list once the dive boats in the ports fill up, but would encourage you to look into the cruise if you are interested in diving with us, as space is becoming tight.

 

It's still too early to predict how many cancellations we will get - we usually see one or two spots in the ports of call open up closer to the sailing.

 

If you have any questions, please email me.

 

Thanks.

 

Suzi

[Sailfish]

February 2009 Newsletter

 

I hope the February Newsletter finds you well. We have plans to go up to Reno for Super Bowl Sunday, and I will have a week off of school February 16-20, 2009 – our annual “President’s Week” vacation break. As of yet, we don’t have plans to go anywhere, but you never know! This month’s newsletter includes a dive group update, a progress report on the dive package and some important information regarding your dining preference to name a few. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

 

Dive Group Update

 

We are approaching critical mass with regards to dive boat numbers. Though we technically have room for only 1 diver in all ports of call (2 open in St. Thomas), cruise stateroom availability remains good. There is no limit on the number of non-divers in the group.

 

If you are not yet confirmed on the cruise and would like to dive with us, please DO NOT book the cruise unless you can add your name to the dive boat list. Only those on the dive boat list can purchase the dives. It’s still early in the booking, and we frequently see one or two cancellations, so it is recommended you add your name to the waiting list now and email me, the group leader. When space becomes available, I will let you know. I remain in contact with all the divers on the list, and am the first one to know when someone cancels. However, since there is a $50 cruise cancellation penalty imposed by the booking agent at CruCon, it’s best to hold off booking the cruise until you hear from me and know for sure you can dive with the group.

 

Dining Preference Update

 

Please let Johna, the booking agent know your preference for dinner. If you want a set reservation in the Traditional Dining room, you must make your preference known ASAP – it’s always best to do so at the time you book the cruise. Unfortunately, these requests are not always honored, due to the number of passengers requesting a traditional dining seating time. Every effort will be made to confirm your request; the sooner you make it the better your odds.

 

The next best thing to reserving a table every night in the Traditional Dining Room is one in the three or four Anytime Dining Rooms. If you are interested in doing so, please let me know. As the group leader, I will reserve and confirm this for you on the ship, but I need record of your request, so you MUST place your name on the list at the group forum or email me at your earliest convenience.

 

We already have one table for 10 on hold at 8pm; it’s not a problem for me to request additional tables at this seating time or for 6pm. The deadline to sign up for this is around the time the final payment on the cruise comes due.

 

Group Activities

 

If you have not already been by the group forum to check out the Cruise Planner, I’d like to encourage you to do so. Although I try hard to not over-do it when it comes to group activities, we have included a few this year.

 

A one hour group cocktail party with an open bar will be added to the list of group activities, but right now no date or time has been scheduled by the ship. I made note of this in the group cruise planner for Sunday, November 8th – St. Kitts. But it’s not confirmed yet and could change. We are also looking at doing a Poker Crawl; has anyone ever done this before? I have never done this sort of thing, but I am willing to give it a try. If you have any comments, let me know, as I can use all the input I can get.

 

We will also set a side some time for the group to get together to view and download dive photos – we have this tentatively scheduled for the group cocktail party for Tuesday, November 10th – St. Lucia. Traditionally, my husband and I have hosted this in our in our cabin, but during the last Scuba Cruise, it became obvious we need a larger venue. I am thinking of reserving the conference room, but I’d also like to continue the party atmosphere we have grown to love when we do this. Therefore, we are looking to do a wine tasting party in the conference room – so please plan to bring a bottle of wine to share. Unfortunately, our balcony cabin just isn’t big enough any more to comfortably accommodate everyone in the group.

 

Dive Package Update

 

I spoke with Liz Gonzales, our dive group coordinator at ShoreTrips on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 who gave me a brief update on how our dive package was coming along. I had a hunch she was behind schedule; she said ShoreTrips was experiencing higher than normal sales volume, so she’s been swamped. She did, however, assure me that we would have pricing and details ready to post by Monday, February 16, 2009. She told me she though she would have the info before then; we’ll see.

 

That said, I wanted you to be aware of my communication with her and what I told her per our member’s input. Several people in the group came forward to make suggestions, and I included them in an email I sent to her earlier in January. I also included some information I was able to get regarding pricing, so that she is aware of what the cruise line charges and what you could do were you to make arrangements on your own (you’d have to add in cab fare in some ports for a more accurate cost analysis). Here is that email I sent her:

 

Hi Liz:

 

I thought I would find out how things are going with the 2009 Scuba Cruise Dive package - if you recall, our package was going to be set up by Feb 1, 2009 – less than a month away at this point! As you communicate to the individual dive operators, here is some information that might come in handy. You are welcome to either forward this info directly to the dive operation (to save time) or cut and paste the info into your email correspondence. However you decide to communicate this information is up to you.

 

I am in need of prices and how many divers each dive shop will be able to accommodate as soon as possible. The attached dive boat list (which is filling up fast this year) will have the port location, a calendar and a list of people already signed up for the cruise who plan to dive with us. Remember, we wanted to make available the dive package information to the group by the beginning of February.

 

General Group Info

 

The divers signed up to dive with the group are going on the November 4, 2009 Scuba Cruise aboard the Ruby Princess. The vast majority will be diving with their own gear. Nearly all are AOW (advanced open water) certified and all are experienced divers. Quite a few are past scuba cruise alums and most will dive in each port of call.

 

Dive Boat Size & Numbers

 

As you can see, it's only January, and I already have a full list of divers! Though I am trying to limit the number of divers to only 16, I would only have room for one or two more divers, so I need you to find out how many divers we can accommodate in each port of call asap. Most important is the size of the dive boats. We don't have a problem with one large boat or two small ones.

 

Dive Package

 

We would like the dive package to 1) include the cost of diving as well as round trip transportation to and from the dive operation and/or dive boat, when necessary. To save on cost, 2) the dive package should not include a lot of special extras, such as tours, resort time, etc. The ideal dive package will include transfers when needed, two tanks of diving, water or soda - snacks or lunch is okay. People who need rental gear can opt to do so on their own. Our goal is always to be among the first off the ship in the morning and to return within 4 or 5 hours - in time for lunch or some shopping in port before the ship's departure. We'd rather come back to the ship than spend time at a resort afterwards.

 

We realize that in some instances where the dive shops and/or dive sites are further away, the entire day will be devoted to diving. This is fine, as all dive operators seem to understand our situation with the cruise. But it must be made clear (especially in St. Lucia) that all we want is to go diving.

 

Cruise Line Prices vs. ShoreTrips.com vs. On Our Own

 

It's important to understand that group members often will compare the cost to dive on their own, with what the cruise line is charging and what our cost will be through ShoreTrips. Because diving is an expensive sport, the cost to dive in every port can add up quickly. In the past, ShoreTrips has always come in a little less than what the cruise line has been charging, so of course, that is the expectation. Though not always the cheaper choice, when compared to going it on your own, I am able to sell the dives through ShoreTrips thanks to the cancellation policy, your wonderful customer service and the online webpage you set up for the group, making the booking process hassle free for all involved.

 

Here is a run-down on the cost to dive in Feb 2009 with Princess Cruises and what I can do on my own for comparison:

 

St. Thomas $129 (on our own $100)

 

St. Kitts Not Offered by the Cruise Line (on our own $90)

 

Barbados $99 (on our own $97)

 

St. Lucia $159 (on our own $90)

 

Antigua Not Offered by the Cruise Line (on our own $90)

 

The purchase deadline for my group will be August 15, 2009. When you have time, could you send me a copy of the cancellation policy - if it's the same as what is posted on line, that's okay. I am going to assume what prices we are quoted will be locked in.

 

 

Dive Site Requests

 

Saturday, November 7, 2009

St. Thomas

 

St. Thomas will be our first dive port of call and an early one at that - we arrive at 7am, go through US immigration and then we disembark. If we go with the same dive operation as in '08, Andre will do his best to send the dive boat out to get us. Otherwise, we will need a bus.

 

We would like to request that the dive operation take us to French Cap, weather permitting. French Cap (on the south side) is an uninhabited island approximately 6 miles south of St. Thomas . Because it is unprotected waters, the seas must be relatively calm for us to dive there. The group should be experienced enough to dive there, but we will understand if he's concerned, as this will be our first dive of the week. If we aren't able to go there, we would prefer to dive a nice reef and NOT dive any wrecks while in St. Thomas (we did that this year). All the wrecks are beginner dives in shallow water, and although the group was okay with the two dives, this year, we'd like something different. Remember, we will have many of the same members with us.

 

Sunday, November 8, 2009

St. Kitts

 

We will arrive in St. Kitts around 7am, and walk off the ship and over to the dive boat that will be docked in the marina about a block away if it's the same dive operator we dove with in '07. The diving in St. Kitts is great no matter where we go, so we have no preferences here.

 

Monday, November 9, 2009

Barbados

 

The ship will dock in Barbados at 9am. Although we don't have a preference in Barbados, one option will be to dive the SSS Stavronikita, rated as one of the top 10 wrecks in the Caribbean .

 

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

St. Lucia

 

We will call on St. Lucia at 8am. I would like to request that we go south 30 minutes (weather permitting) to the Pitons and dive St. Lucia ’s premier dive site, Superman’s Flight – an awesome drift wall dive – followed by a shallower dive at the Anse Chastanet reef. In '07, there was an issue with the dive operator wanting to charge the group a very high fee for the dives, which included a special tour and resort visit. Please note that we are interested in diving ONLY. Also let the dive operator know we will have had 6 dives under our belts by then, if they seem a little concerned.

 

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Antigua

 

Antigua will be our last dive port, and again the plan is to make an early exit at 8am. We have no preference as to dive sites here, but would prefer to dive a reef rather than another wreck.

 

Thanks for all you do for my group!

 

Suzi (aka) Sailfish

2009 Ruby Princess Cruise Critic Scuba Cruise

Dive & Group Coordinator

 

 

Information for Non-Divers

 

There is excitement I can sense when I visit Cruise Critic’s Roll Call forum for our November 4, 2009 sailing. Please stop by the Roll Call Forum when you have time to share planning ideas and input on what you plan to do while on vacation. I know they would love to make your acquaintance!

 

As I work with Liz at ShoreTrips to put together our dive package, I am also planning to add a few shore excursions for the non-divers in the group. I’d love to get your input as to your preference. We generally find that the non-divers in the group enjoy exploring the ports together while family and friends who dive with the group are away. If you let me know what you would like to do – shopping or snorkeling for example- I can see if others in the group would like to join you. In the mean time, I will have Liz add a couple of tours to our group page at ShoreTrips. It too should be ready to go later in February.

 

We are seeing more and more cruise line reviews come our way from Ruby Princess past passengers. The vast majority of reviews have been very positive. We will continue to post the most recent reviews, so be sure to stop by the group forum when you have time. Though hyperlinks have been embedded in this Newsletter, if you are unable to access the webpage’s by simply double clicking on them, here is the URL to the group forum that you can cut and past into your address bar:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=547

 

Though much of the information at the group website centers around scuba diving, as more and more port information becomes available, please watch for port specific info to be posted at the group forum. Please do not hesitate to post your questions! If you run across some interesting information, please bring it to our attention by posting it at the group forum.

 

Currently, we have new or updated information posted at the group forum that might be of some interest to you.

 

Ruby Princess Group Cruise Planner

 

Reserved Group Dining in the Anytime Dining Room - Early or Late Sign-Ups

 

Poll: Group Activity: Poker Cabin Crawl - We Want YOUR Input!

 

Group Activity on Princess Cays: Volleyball

 

Specialty Restaurants & Unique Gourmet Activities Aboard the Ruby Princess

 

 

Conclusion

 

That’s it for now. This Newsletter will be posted at the group forum; please be sure to check out our monthly updates for the most recent group information. If at any point you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email me at scubacruise2009@yahoo.com.

 

Happy Valentines Day, by the way!

[Sailfish]

We finally got our pricing on the dives squared away. Prices reflect round trip transfers from the ship on a private group charter. In St.Lucia, we are heading down to the Pitons.

 

Saturday, November 7, 2009

St. Thomas SOLD OUT

$117 per diver/ 2 Tank Boat Dives

Free Rental Equipment (BCD, regulator, tanks, weights,)

Dive Boat Maximum: 13

 

Sunday, November 8, 2009

St. Kitts

$106 per diver/ 2 Tank Boat Dives

Equipment Rental Extra

Dive Boat Maximum: 16

 

 

Monday, November 9, 2009

Barbados$126 per diver/ 2 Tank Boat Dives

Free Rental Equipment (BCD, regulator, tanks, weights,)

Dive Boat Maximum: 16

 

 

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

St. Lucia

$110 per diver/ 2 Tank Boat Dives

Equipment Rental Extra

Dive Boat Maximum: 16

 

 

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Antigua$138 per diver/ 2 Tank Boat Dives (Price Pending might be less)

Free Rental Equipment (BCD, regulator, tanks, weights,)

Dive Boat Maximum: 16