Ducky22

We have always gone with Cozumel H2O in Cozumel.  They have been fantastic.  Unfortunately they are a boat dive outfit, so not the most helpful information.  You could always email them about renting tanks or ask them about doing a check to make sure they include time / opportunity to do one if you change your mind and do the boat thing.  Sorry I can't be of more help.

I have also gone with Pro Divers at St. Kitts and had a lovely time.  They took us to an area with an underwater vent, and another area with a lot of crusing sharks.  Was a great time.

As for Tortola, I've only been there once, but Blue Water Divers BVI was excellent.  I saw my first reef squids with them!   I can't say which is better, honestly I would dive both 😁

I'm fairly sure there are other operators in Nassau. Last time we were there in Nov 2018 we went with Bahama Divers - https://www.betterinbahamas.com/scuba-diving/private-2-tank-dive-wreck-reef-all-inclusive/

They were decent, but the water was surprisingly chilly at that time of year.  They are located just across from Atlantis more or less, so just down the road from the usual port location.  I agree with bruzin though, the diving is pretty meh on the north side from what I've seen.  I've never been in Nassau long enough to head over to Stuart Cove's though so I don't really know what the more southerly side would be like.

What's the new Cozumel option?  We've always gone with Cozumel H2O, but always nice to have a backup if they are full....

I second VIP dive on Bonaire, they were fantastic to work with.

I would also throw out The Dive Bus on Curacao. - http://www.thedivebus.com/ -  They have a great reef to walk into.  Downside is no pick up, you'd have to take a taxi.  Though the way Harris talks up CURious2Dive, we may try them next time we hit the ABCs in April.

Thank you so much!  That is exactly the kind of information I was looking for.  Always good to have a mental idea of what needs to get done so we don't lose ourselves in the stress of disembarkation. 

Question as I can't find it in the search, is there anyone who has traveled to the US from another country to cruise HAL and then required a test to get back home?

HAL has the following on their site (https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html?fbclid=IwAR19VRq2uot_HON9jeuEQxT3h8UO1PoWm6JpJ5FgMbDtrJtSsxc4HZUMBag)

If my home country requires proof of a negative COVID-19 test result for re-entry following my cruise, will Holland America Line administer and cover the cost of the test?

But I would like to know if anyone has experience with how/where/when this testing works.

Do they plan the test times based on flights home, as disembarkation times were previously?

How long after arriving at the testing facility will the tests be administered? Is it generally a quick process?  (I see that I wait up approx 60 minutes for results, but is there a long wait time to get to the person administering the test?)

As the testing is "outside the terminal" did you have to deal with luggage or wait for shuttles to get to another location?

If we have a transfer- to-airport shuttle can they pick us up from the testing facility? (is the testing done in/close to the customs location? or far?)

Will it be only HAL passengers testing? Or will we be mixing with passengers from other cruise lines whose ships may have lesser Covid precautions?

Just trying to get an idea of what happens from anyone who has gone through it.  I realize this only applies to those flying out of the US after and not the typical US citizen, but hopefully we have some friendly cruisers from other countries on this board who can answer how it works.

Ooof, that would not be pretty.  we have the 9/19 and 9/26 weeks on the Liberty booked now.  With the 9/19 Liberty being moved to the Independence, and getting the "bonus" day, the Independence gets back after the first (9/26) sailing of the returned Liberty.  I think we're gonna have to see if we can move our 9/26 Liberty to the new 9/12 Independence.  I'll be really sad if we can't get our same room for both cruises 😞

So for those (like us and @HicksRA) booked on the 9/19 Liberty (now Independence) cruise, that SEEMS to be the last cruise for the Independence out of Galveston.  The C&A person we talked to couldn't see the 9/19 cruise or anything after that for the Independence, but could see the other Independence cruises in Galveston through 9/11.  We're  gonna wait until June 8th when they actually move us from the Liberty to the Independence which will hopefully unlock the Liberty and Independence cruises around that date and get our back-to-back situation ironed out.

I would hope not too because the Independance gets in 1 day AFTER the Liberty leaves.  We're on hold with C&A to ask.

Got the same e-mail in relation to the 9/19 Liberty Cruise... the worst part is we booked back to back and we have NOT gotten an e-mail about the 9/26 Liberty Cruise and the 9/26 is still bookable online!  Which... cool, except the new 9/19 Independence cruise added an extra day (normally, awesome), but that means we'd get back into port the day AFTER our back-to-back on Liberty left!  We're calling now, but hold times are crazy pants right now.

Anyone sailing out of San Diego see if GE kiosks are there yet?

I imagine that is unlikely since half of the more heavily used FL terminals don't have any support for GE, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.