LindaSSF

I called HAL yesterday afternoon to look into this sale while my DH was out - potentially a surprise for him. Yes - an additional $200 over what we had currently booked.

I asked the HAL agent how the additional $800 for us would work since we've already booked nearly all our excursions. She thought OBC, but couldn't promise that since the sale was pretty specific about credit for excursions.

I booked the sale anyway. Lo and behold, it appeared lumped in with the rest of our OBC. We can always find SOME excursions to put it against, perhaps even canceling & rebooking some if they aren't wait listed, but it is a steal if it straight OBC.

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If you opt for Curaçao (which is wonderful shore diving), give Hans at CURious2Dive a call. Fabulous valet diving in groups of 4 or less per dive master. He will pick up & drop off at the dock.

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The whole package is 2 boat dives, one of which is a bit of a throwaway dive for checkout. The second dive makes up for it, though!

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I can tell you that there is very little in Martinique unless you speak French or go with limited ship tours. The only dive shop in the port went bankrupt last Fall.

Diving in Curaçao is far better than Aruba. Always choose Curacao- Curious2Dive there is fantastic & will pick you up at the docks. Definitely concierge diving!

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They use Dive Friends - the first is a check out dive prior to entering the marine park. You will do 2 boat dives off of Klein Bonaire.

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Thanks for the report! We've booked with Dive St Kitts for later this year. Kenneth's Dive Center in St Kitts had been highly recommended on the scuba board, but nobody there would answer our inquiries.

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It was a hard decision not to book a Neptune this time, but we are saving for a private yacht charter to SCUBA dive in the Turks & Caicos in May 2016. We're keeping our eye out in prices for up sells... :-) DH is so fond of breakfast in the Pinnacle!

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Does unlimited laundry include dry cleaning, or is that a separate charge? We are in a Signature suite instead of a Neptune for the first time this Fall, barring an upsell or upgrade.

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The cruise lines still require each company offering excursions to carry a high level of liability insurance for more than just the actual diving. Insurance is less expensive when strict criteria which would limit potential liability is followed.

I've had one shop answer - only after a friend translated to French for me. Before that, nothing. Unfortunately, the shop is almost 1 hr by cab, only 15 min by boat, but they won't pick up from a ship.

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Thanks! The only possible shop we found was thru the Scubaboard, & it went bankrupt in October. We may consider a snorkel & sail with the ship there.

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On our Noordam trip over Thanksgiving 2014 (a 10 day cruise), there was no suite luncheon. :-(

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It is odd - I've seen seniors swim circles around others. I wonder if it is insurance driven?

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The "island" is a low sand spit. Some beach, some rocks to walk along to get back. Depth ranges from 15 - 400+ ft where the wall drops off. It is a short swim off the beach.

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We went out on our balcony by 4:45 AM to see all the ships waiting on the approach to the locks. We entered around first light. Watch all the way in - on the right is the old French canal channel. It looks like the harborage canal behind our house in FL. Simply amazing what was eventually accomplished! Look to the left & see the new, wider canal!

You can request panama buns with your room service breakfast. We sat on our aft wrap around balcony & took it all in!!!

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Drift diving or snorkeling is normally from point a to b with markers (ie dive flag) for safety or a boat following you for pick up.

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If you are asking if you can start snorkeling at Klein Bonaire & drift back to Bonaire - not really recommended, in part due to boat traffic. You are not visible if you are snorkeling between the two!

We did a 2 tank SCUBA trip to Klein Bonaire while friends took the water taxi there to snorkel. They said it was the best snorkeling ever. They took the water taxi back when done. Nothing there on the island, so bring water or snacks if you need it.

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Which "Klein"? Curaçao? Bonaire.

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We've stayed at the Hyatt Place. Standard, predictable, nice rooms that you find at all Hyatt places. It is a cruise hotel, so mornings can be a little hectic.

They have a hot breakfast that can be crowded, but decent selection & room to sit to eat in back rooms as well as the lobby area. Staff are well scripted to be helpful - some with more sincerity than others. :-)

The Italian restaurant next door is pricey but very good. Close to a variety of restaurants, Publix & Total Wine for last minute "stuff". 2 1/2 blocks to Ft. Lauderdale Dive Shop if you need last minute snorkel or SCUBA gear you forgot to pack - ask me how I know!

For the price, it is nice. Embassy Suites is right next door and in the same price range if you find one is full.

We are staying at the Riverside for the first time this coming Fall. Love older, boutique hotels in trendier areas!

Try Ft Lauderdale Dive - in the shops in front of Publix, near the entrance to the port.

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We will be on a cruise that stops in Martinique for a day. We will have our dive gear with us & would love to dive here. Unfortunately, I can't find much about diving here, and there are no dives offered by our ship.

Has anyone dived Martinique who can recommend a dive operator? French is not one of the languages that we speak, so we're looking for a DM who can give at least a basic safety briefing in English.

We are both experienced divers with PADI AOW certs.

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It is a shop thing - for their contract with HAL. Other dive shops don't write it into their HAL contract. I actually asked about that. They were trying to avoid frail elders who would have trouble getting into & out of their boats.

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Yes - you are part of the herd with a DM in front & back. They really didn't spend any time pointing out anything particular, so I wouldn't call them guides. They were very helpful if you wanted to hand up weights & tanks before going up the ladder!

The first check out dive was 40 min. The second dive was 50 min. I started with 2800 psi and ended with 1900 first dive, and 2900 psi start for dive 2 with 1600 to finish. We certainly didn't dive the air we had. Max depth was 66', though the wall dropped off far deeper.

I would have preferred to hop off the doc for the weight check rather than have a short dive over sandy bottom. Felt like a waste of the short time we had.

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Following this discussion - we will be at st Kitts, Barbados, St Maarten, st Lucia in Oct 2015. I'm starting to research pvt dive ops now. :-)

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MonDreamr1, who did you dive with in Barbados? Would you recommend them? Would you go back?

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