PAcruiser19372

Wondering if the boats are approximately the same number of passengers as Spencer’s. Any significant differences or just a different option of about the same with good reviews as well?

We had 9 people from our roll call the first time and 8 a couple months ago. I only had 6 people from our roll call originally but JR had told me if I got two more for a total of 8 he would give us a private boat. I was able to get two more people from our roll call so it worked out perfect.

Never used JJ's. We used Joe Knows Tours in St. Lucia our last two times there. They take a speedboat ride out to the volcano and mud bathes, the advantage there is you get there before the buses and other people driving there from the cruise port. They are 5 star rated on Trip Advisor.

St Lucia is on our cruise in January but there are several other ports with great snorkeling. Is snorkeling good in SL? Can anyone compare it to snorkeling in Bonaire, Cozumel or some other good places? Since we're snorkeling in several other ports I don't want to waste time and money if it isn't good.

 

I've also read about the mud baths. What tour would do you recommend going on to do this? Or is it worth it? Are you herded in the bath with a bunch of other people?

 

Anything else you recommend on SL or should we stay on the ship and rest that day?

We used Joe Knows Tours in St. Lucia our last two times there. They take a speedboat ride out to the volcano and mud bathes, the advantage there is you get there before the buses and other people driving there from the cruise port. They are 5 star rated on Trip Advisor. I thought the snorkeling there was just OK while some folks rave about it. Good luck!

Another alternative that no one has mentioned is Joe Knows Tours. They also offer the speedboat ride both ways to the mud bathes, the falls, local restaurant on the beach for lunch, swimming and snorkeling. I've done them twice and had JR for our guide. They are 5 star rated on Trip Advisor, an excellent day!

I get on the ship I turn my phone off I throw it in the safe don't touch it again till we get back to original port

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Forums mobile app

I'm with you, I do the exact same thing!

What's wrong with a sign that says "No lifeguard on duty, swim at your own risk". Done everyday at apartment complexes and other places.

From my experience you're already snorkeling in 3 of the best ports with Bonaire being the best. You can add Barbados to the list, especially with the chance to snorkel with the turtles. Some people rave about St. Lucia, I've only snorkeled there a couple of times and while they were OK, did not surpass the other ports and was just there in April and had multiple encounters with jelly fish!

if you've never done any SCUBA b4

 

it is a good idea to take a look at the PADI medical questions b4 ...

 

https://www.padi.com/sites/default/files/documents/padi-courses/2.1.5%20rstc%20medstate%20v201.pdf

 

In general, any YES answer will require a doctor's clearance ....

Thanks Capt., yes, I I've already looked at and printed out the form. Appreciate the heads up on that. My blood pressure is excellent (of course it is, I take meds for blood pressure :)) I do see a cardiologist once a year so had planned on having him review the medical form. My wife has been on me to make sure I get his blessing. Thanks again for the heads up.

I haven't dove with the Dive Bus, but I've seen them while diving Curacao. They do get good reviews, but I think you'll be better off with Hans, as you'll be receiving a much more personalized experience. With the Dive Bus, you'll be one of enough people for a bus. With CURious2Dive, if you're not getting absolute one-on-one, you'll be be one of no more than a group that goes in a small truck.

 

When you talk to Hans, tell him Harris from Denver says "hi". You can email him at: Curious2Dive@gmail.com.

 

Harris

Denver, CO

Thanks again Harris, that's all I need to know! I'll drop your name when I email him.

Steve,

 

I have a good answer for you either place. For a discover dive, my first choice would be to go with Curacao. I can strongly recommend CURious2Dive (www.curious2dive.com). Hans Pleij there will take great care of you. he provides port pick-up and return and prices are quite reasonable. I would expect that a Discover dive there would be at the Tugboat site, which is a great site for your introduction as there's lots to see. The only down side - and I don't think it's much of one - is that it would be a shore dive.

 

If you want a boat dive, then Aruba would be my answer, and you can talk with Jeffrey Kost, at Happy Divers Aruba (www.happydiversaruba.com) is another great dive operator. Aruba has a lot of good shallow sites; but I really believe Curacao would be the better experience. Jeffrey also provides port pick-up and return, and also has reasonable prices.

 

Either way you'll have a great experience I'm sure.

 

Harris

Denver, CO

Thanks, I was hoping you would see this and respond Harris. Ironically I was snorkeling at the Tugboat in April and saw scuba divers while there. Curious2Dive was on my short list as well as The Dive Bus. You can just never tell from what you read online as most of the post are from experienced divers. I'll contact Hans to get the necessary info, although we won't be back until next April. BTW, what are your thoughts on the Dive Bus?

I've been snorkeling for a few years now on cruises and really enjoy it. I'd like to take the next step and try a "discover" scuba class. I'd seen one on a web site while online but the website has changed and I never book marked it so not sure who it was. Anyway, we'll be on a cruise next April visiting the ABC islands. I'm already booked on a snorkel excursion in Bonaire so looking to find a company in either Aruba or Curacao. I'm 60 years old and will never become certified so just looking for that first experience that will satisfy my curiosity and maybe be a first of many dives, who knows. Would anyone be able to recommend a company on either of those islands for that first "discover" scuba dive? Thanks, Steve

While on Serenade last month I had to ask at the lifeguard desk by the pool deck how long they had been using lifeguards as I had not recalled this on previous cruises. His response to me was this was a new maritime law that all cruise ships with pools must have lifeguards by a certain date or they had to fill their pools in. Whether this is true or not I have no idea, just passing along what I was told.

I can't say whether you have a pole in your JS or not but it does look like you are right under the main pool area. I know when we were on Enchantment and had a JS on deck 8 we did have a Pole and were underneath the pool deck as well. There was noise above when staff was moving carts and chairs around. Bothered me enough to complain about the noise that guest services gave me a $200 credit. I'm the kind of person who rarely complains but hearing things moving above the ceiling must be my kyyptonite and had to make my displeasure known. That was some time ago but I can tell you I did learn my lesson and do not book a cabin with public areas above or below me.

Hi Erica, thanks for the review, interesting to read your opinion of things, had to agree with most of them. It was good to meet you and your husband after all the months chatting on Cruise Critic. We originally had a Celebrity cruise scheduled for next April but when we got back I cancelled it and booked another on Serenade! Basically the same itinerary we just did however we're stopping in Bonaire instead of Barbados on this one. Thanks for keeping things moving on the roll call and all your input on here. Take care, Steve and Sharon.

You are correct, cruises on a cruise line only accrue points on that cruise line.

Thanks Bob! I knew it wouldn't take long .

I may not be phrasing this right but I'll go ahead and try. My understanding is that if you're say a Diamond member on Royal that you're also the corresponding category on Celebrity but that while on Celebrity you do not accrue additional points towards your RCI status. Can anyone confirm or explain? Thanks!

We bought 2 for a cruise last spring. I debated whether to take my regular mask and snorkel. I wish I had. My husband liked his. I liked mine for about 5 minutes. Then I began to feel claustrophobic. I never felt like I could get a good deep breath. Leonard liked that he could attach the GoPro to his mask. However being on top of the water we got a lot of pictures that were neither above water or below water. And with the red filter on it was a pointless exercise. We eventually took the camera off the mask.

 

Some people swear by the full face, but I'm one of the minority that hated it. You just have to try it and see if it's for you. If you have a regular mask and snorkel I would take them, just in case.

 

Sherry

We bought ourselves two Triborgs last year for Christmas and had a similar experience. My wife loved hers, I was like you, I had it on but felt like I could not get a full breath. I went back to the boat and used the regular snorkel masks the boat provided. When we got back to shore i bought a traditional mask and that is what I use now. Sent the other one back, one wife loved it, me not so much.

I personally feel like it's geared to please everyone of all ages. They feed you breakfast at a huge dining area over looking the water and you can eat lunch and snacks all day and drinks as well. There's several beaches with little cove areas to hang out in and then the snorkeling. You can even do snuba diving as well (I really wish I would have done this the day we were there...it was an awesome place to snorkel and I can imagine how great it would have been to snuba there).

 

 

Yes, they do have the waterpark for the kids and also a zip line and other games to play like beach volley ball and stuff, but still, there's plenty there for everyone. :)

Thank you Mitsugirly, that's just the info i was looking for. Going to book it thru RCI now.

DePalm is an amazing place for anyone wondering. The snorkeling was great and everything there is to do there is wonderful. We spent the entire day there and loved it. I highly recommend it. HERE'S my review with a link to pictures.

As my wife and I are 60 and 70 I'm curious if this is geared more for younger people? We do like to sit on the beach, swim and snorkel so would appreciate your opinion.

This is what I have as well.

I just received my shorti fins this weekend. They seem to fit fine except that about an inch of my heel sticks out over the bottom. My wife tried hers on also and hers fit fine also and her heel also sticks out over the bottom. Is this true for you folks who have the Cressi Palau also that your heels stick out about an inch or so over the bottom?

Thank you, I'm thinking you're probably right, haven't had a chance to check into it yet but that's my next step!

Thanks for the reply, by my own I was thinking bus or taxi. I've taken the bus the opposite way to Eagle or Palm Beaches before but never the other way. I'll look into the DePalm website and check out their transportation.

We'll be in Aruba in the spring on a cruise and normally enjoy the beach. Was thinking about doing Depalm Island and wanted to know if this is doable on your own. Does a taxi or bus go to the ferry? How often do the ferry's run. As usual don't want to risk missing the ship. we normally do excursions on our own and RC offers a four hour trip there to Snuba but this seems like a place that I'd like to spend more than four hours. Any help with ideas welcome. Thanks!

We did Calabaza in 2016 and are booked with them again in 2018, excellent operation and only take out 12 people, they do have two cats though. Swimming with the turtles was awesome so glad my wife (a nervous one in the water) got to experience the turtles. When we snorkeled over the wrecks she choose to stay on the cat. Lunch in a nice calm cove was excellent and we just swam around in the calm water after lunch. Your husband could give the turtles a try and if he's uncomfortable could always just sit it out on the cat and watch. Good luck with whatever you wind up doing.

OK, now that I have my own snorkel mask I guess the fins are next and the short fins certainly I have my attention. After looking at a couple of the links I noticed there are some with the adjustable strap in the back or the full heel back for lack of a better description. Is there a preference among those that have used either or maybe even both? With my limited experience I've probably had better luck with the adjustable strap but would like to hear what others have experienced. Thanks!