2011 Scuba

Cruise
Dive Package
Brochure

* Aruba * Curacao * Grenada *

* Barbados * St. Vincent * St. Kitts *
* St. Thomas * Grand Turk *
 Aboard the Grand Princess
January 3, 2011

2011 Scuba Cruise Diving Itinerary

Dive Port *** Requires 50+ logged Dives Duration

1 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Depart 5:00PM

2 At Sea (Mandatory Pre-Dive Orientation) 10:00am-11:00am

3 At Sea

4 Aruba - 2 tank boat dives - (Reef Dive, max depth 60ft-80ft - suitable for ALL
Depart Ship at 8am
divers) Port & Diving Information: Aruba 1/6/2011

5 Curacao, Netherlands Antilles - 2 tank boat dives & unlimited shore

diving - (Reef Dive, max depth 60ft-80ft - suitable for ALL divers) Depart Ship at 7am
Port & Diving Information: Curacao 1/7/2011

6 At Sea

7 Grenada - 2 tank boat dives - (Wreck Dive - max depth 120ft) ***
Depart Ship at 8am
Port & Diving Information: Grenada 1/9/2011

8 Barbados (diving) – Pricing Coming Soon! Depart Ship at 8am

9 St. Vincent, St. Vincent & the Grenadines - 2 tank boat dives - (Wall
Dive - max depth 100ft) *** Depart Ship at 7am
Port & Diving Information: St. Vincent 1/11/2011

10 St. Kitts, St. Kitts & Nevis - 2 tank boat dives - (Deep dives, swim
throughs - max depth 60ft-80ft - suitable for ALL divers) Depart Ship at 8am
Pricing Coming Soon!

11 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands - 2 tank boat dives - (Reef dives,
swim throughs - max depth 80ft - suitable for ALL divers) Depart Ship at 7am
Port & Diving Information: St. Thomas 1/13/2011

12 Santo Domingo (Beach Day) Arrive 9:00AM

Depart 4:00PM

13 Grand Turk (Afternoon Wall/Drift Dive - max depth 100ft) *** Depart Ship at 12:00
Port & Diving Information: Grand Turk 1/15/2011 noon

14 At Sea

15 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Arrive 7:00AM

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Introduction
14 Night Caribbean Collection
2011Cruise Critic Scuba Cruise

The 6th annual Cruise Critic Scuba Cruise will usher in 2011 in style aboard the Grand
Princess on January 3, 2011! The cruise will depart Fort Lauderdale on a round trip two-
week voyage. If you are a scuba diver and want a cruise vacation dedicated to diving, this is
the ship for you! You will visit nine different islands in two weeks and have the ability to dive
in eight ports of call.

The dive boat charters in each port are exclusive to the 2011 Scuba Cruise Group. The dive
group leader, who dives with the group, escorts the group off the ship in each port. The dive
package includes round trip transportation (where necessary), two tank boat dives in each
port of call and in Curacao, unlimited tanks for shore diving at the dive operations house
reef afterward.

The cost of the dives is not included in the cost of the cruise. Each diver in the
group is responsible for purchasing the dives in the ports where he or she intends to dive.
The dive operators in each port of call are hand picked by the dive group leader; most of the
dive operators this year are the same ones Cruise Critic’s Scuba Cruise Group dove with in
2008! ShoreTrips is the online company we use to enable our members to book the dives
via the Internet. ShoreTrips has been putting together our dive packages for six years now.
The dives offered to our group through ShoreTrips are not the same as those available to the
general public at their website. Our dive package is negotiated specially for our group and
only dive group members will be on the dive boat in port.

All dives MUST be purchased in advance of the cruise no later than Friday, November 26 ,
2010. ShoreTrips has a 100% refund policy up to 11 days prior to diving in the event you
are unable to dive or go on the cruise. They will also refund 100% if we are not able to dive
because of weather conditions or the ship is not able to make it to the port. In addition to
this, if we experience an itinerary change, they will work on rebooking the dives in the new
port.

There will be a mandatory Pre-Dive Orientation Meeting the first full day of the voyage –
January 4, 2011 at 10:00am – on board the Grand Princess.

The Dive Group

All divers must be certified in order to dive in port with the group. Your certification level
and your experience, as well as how often you dive will be taken into consideration by the
dive operation and will ultimately determine where the group dives. We are more
concerned with the number of dives and how often you dive than your
certification level. Good air consumption and buoyancy control are a must. Some dive
sites we plan to go to require that you have a minimum of 50 logged dives and recent
(within the last three years) dive experience. These dives are noted in the dive port
itinerary with asterisks *** however, the vast majority of the dives are suitable for all levels
of certification.

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The divers who join us each year are typically ones who want to go to quality dive sites in
each port of call. The dive operators work with the group leader to take the group to dive
sites not normally visited by cruise ship divers. Many of our members are into UW
photography

Most group members come on the cruise with their own gear. If you don't own dive
equipment, you can usually rent gear for an additional fee. However, it's highly
recommended you come on the cruise with your own regulator and dive computer.
Please note that in some ports of call, if you don't have a dive computer, the dive master will
severely limit where you can dive and possibly limit how deep the rest of the group can go.

Dive Package
As of July 20, 2010, we have pricing for all dive ports, except for St. Kitts and Barbados; we
expect to have this information in the weeks to come. The hyper link for each pot of call will
take you to the Group Page at ShoreTrips with additional information.

Day 4 January 6, 2011

Aruba

$99pp

ARUBA 2011 Scuba Cruise... SCUBA...TWO TANK DIVE...1/6/2010

What's better than our one tank dive? Our two tank dive. One deep and one shallow.
Dive Boat Departure (Local Time): 08:45 AM (4 hrs)

Pricing: Per Person: $99.00 USD

Details:

We will be picked up at the port and transported in a van to Aruba Pro Dive, about 20
minutes from the ship. This will be our first dive port, and a good place to "get wet" and do a
buoyancy check. We dove with this dive operation in 2008. Although we don't have any dive
sites in mind, we are requesting to do two reef dives.

The dives here are generally more shallow, so newly certified folks are welcome to join us.
You won't see much in terms of current either. It's a nice place to begin the first of 8 dive
ports this cruise!

Day 5 January 7, 2011

Curacao, Netherlands Antilles

$105pp

CURACAO 2011 Scuba Cruise...SCUBA...2 TANK DIVE...1/7/2010

Curacao offers the best diving year round.
Dive Boat Departure (Local Time): 8:45am

Pricing: Per Person: $105.00 USD 09:00 AM (4 hrs)

Details:

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The dive operator is scheduled to pick up the group at the port and transport them to the
dive shop immediately after arriving in Curacao around 7am ship's time. The group will dive
from a chartered dive boat that will be equipped for two tanks dives. Afterward, the group
will return to the dive shop and have unlimited shore dives at their disposal for no additional
charge.

Like Bonaire, Curacao is also known for it's shore diving. You can expect excellent visibility
and two quality boat dives in addition to the dives you may do on your own from shore.
Since the group is scheduled to be in the water by 8:30am, you should easily be able to dive
two tanks from shore. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the beach. More
details concerning diving in Curacao will follow.

Day 7 January 9, 2011

Grenada

$107pp

GRENADA 2011 Scuba Cruise... SCUBA...TWO TANK DIVE...1/9/2010

Avoid the crowds at the known scuba sites and experience small numbers and rare wrecks.
Dive Boat Departure (Local Time): 09:00 AM (6 hrs)

Pricing: Per Person: $107.00 USD

Details:

The dive operation in Grenada is 30 minutes by cab from the cruise ship port. Just like all the
other ports of call where we are diving, transportation is included in the cost of the dive
package.

We are looking at diving a wreck here in Grenada; the Bianca C is one of our choices. The
Bianca C was a 600 feet long cruise ship traveling the oceans since 1949 last owned by the
Costa Line Genoa/Italy. On her last voyage in October 1961 while anchoring off St. George's
she caught fire after an explosion in the engine room. In a selfless response of the town all
passengers and crew but two members of the crew, burnt in the initial blow, were rescued
and taken care of by the hospitality of the Grenadiers. In failed attempt to tow the luxury
cruise liner to shallow waters, it sank to 160 feet where it lies today. It is possible to dive the
wreck right into the swimming pool at 130 feet as a no decompression dive.

Because of its size it is not possible to see her completely in one dive. The central structure
has been collapsed downward and to starboard. There are plenty of deck features to
explore, like the promenade decks. While moving forward you pass the davits overgrown
with elegant black coral trees, delicate hydroids and sponges. The top of the bow is at 90
feet and the foremast is still standing upright usually populated with large schools of fish
and circulated by barracudas, jacks and mackerels. Since sometimes strong currents floating
over her and because of the depth, it is a dive for advanced and experienced divers only.

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Day 9 January 11, 2011
St. Vincent & the Grenadines

$125pp

ST. VINCENT 2011 Scuba Cruise...CERTIFIED DIVERS...TWO TANK

DIVES...1/11/2010

Each dive destination has its own beauty. This one is no different and a little more exotic.
Dive Boat Departure (Local Time): 09:00 AM (3.5 hrs)
Pricing: Per Person: $125.00 USD

Details:

The dive operation is within walking distance of the cruise ship terminal. We arrive at 7am
and plan to get off the ship shortly thereafter. We expect to do wall dives in St. Vincent - you
can expect to go to a depth of around 100 feet during the first dive. Good buoyancy control
and air consumption are a must if you plan to dive with the group.

Day 11 January 13, 2011

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

$100pp

ST. THOMAS, USVI 2011 Scuba Cruise...SCUBA...TWO TANK SCUBA DIVE FOR
CERTIFIED DIVERS...1/13/2010
Any day you SCUBA dive is better than any day you don't.

Dive Boat Departures (Local Time): 08:00 AM (4 hrs)

Pricing: Per Person: $100.00 USD Ride along & Snorkel: $66.00 USD

Details:

We expect to be diving again this year with Andre. His dive shop is at the Bolongo Bay
Resort; in the past, the dive boat has picked up the group at Crown Bay, where the Grand
Princess is schedule to dock. This should be the case when we go in January, but if all the
slips are occupied, he's not able to pull in the dive boat and pick us up. In that case, we'll be
taking a bus or a van to the dive shop which is a 20 minute ride.

Day13 January 15, 2011

Grand Turk

$99pp

GRAND TURK 2011 Scuba Cruise... CERTIFIED DIVERS...TWO TANK

DIVE...1/15/2010
Enjoy a 2-tank dive in the lovely surroundings of this peaceful island.
Departures (Local Time): 12:30 PM (4.5 hrs)
Pricing: Per Person: $99.00 USD Snorkel along: $58.00 USD

Details:

We will end two weeks of amazing dives in Grand Turk; since we have only a half day in port,
we will do the best we can to make the most of our time there. The dive boat will be waiting
for us on the beach walking distance from the ship.

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Our plan is to do a wall dive, weather permitting. This will be a deep dive, and probably
among the best diving you will do this cruise. Unfortunately, a lot depends on conditions the
afternoon we are there, so lets keep our fingers crossed. We will most likely be diving in
some current.

The Grand Turk wall is one dive site I am looking at; visibility most often exceeds 100 feet,
and reef architecture is diverse featuring tunnels, archways, pinnacles, valleys and
overhangs. The diving we plan to do here is not suitable for beginners; underwater
photographers should have a ball.

How to Get Started

If you want to dive with the group, make sure your name is on the dive boat list at the group
forum – you can only gain access to the group forum by signing up at www.cruisecritic.com
. Unfortunately, you can’t view the information posted there unless you are a member of
Cruise Critic – it’s free and no personal information is required to join. If you prefer, the
group leader can add you to the dive boat list – just email her when you are ready.

Any person not on the dive boat list will have his or her transaction at ShoreTrips voided, as
ShoreTrips is provided with the dive boat list. The group leader gets notified by ShoreTrips
anytime someone is added to the dive boat manifest.

The next step involves a visit to the ShoreTrips’ website. Before you can purchase the dives,
you will need to establish a user ID and password. The nice thing about ShoreTrips is they
don’t require you to input a lot of personal information either; you simply click on the new
user icon on the left and enter in a user ID and a password. You’ll need this information
later to access your dive voucher once your dive purchase is confirmed, so please make
note of your user ID and password.

You can purchase the dives at any time; you can pay for one dive now and the others later.
Or you can pay for all the dives at once - it’s up to you!

Here is ShoreTrips cancellation policy:

You may cancel your ShoreTrips booking and receive a full refund up to 11 days
before the actual date of your ShoreTrips dive. At 10 days outbound, all trips
become non-refundable. To cancel a ShoreTrips Dive, log into
www.shoretrips.com with your User Id and Password. Then click on "View
Bookings" and click on the garbage can icon next to the booking. This will cancel
your booking and refund your charge card in full.

What to Expect After You Purchase Your

Dives
Within 48 hours, you will receive a confirmation email from ShoreTrips, and once your dives
are confirmed by the group leader, you will get another email with a link and directions on
how to access your dive voucher. You will need to print out a copy of this voucher and put it
with your cruise documents, and take it with you on the cruise. You will need the actual
voucher to dive in each port of call, so it is recommended you save a copy electronically that
you can access while on the cruise in the event you forget or lose it.

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If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the group leader.
Remember, all dive group communication is done via email, so if you have not done so
already, please email the group leader once you are confirmed on the cruise.

FAQ

Our scuba cruises are set up to dive in as many ports of call as possible. Many scuba cruise
members opt to dive in each port where diving is available, while some do so only in certain
ports, making time to spend with non-diving spouses and friends.

Each diver is responsible to book their own dives. The group leader will provide you with
secure online links that you must access on your own. The group leader keeps track of the
numbers on each boat.

1. If you had to pick the top 4 ports in which to dive, which would you most likely
select?

Curacao, Barbados, St. Vincent and Grand Turk. But the diving in all 8 ports is excellent.

2. Dive Operators

All dive operators are PADI insured, who generally cater to small groups. I will post
information about each dive operator at our group forum, so if you are not a member of
Cruise Critic, please sign-up.

3. How many divers are in a group.

We deal with dive operators who usually have the ability to accommodate everyone in the
group. Our request is to keep the group exclusive - meaning only group members and
approved passengers will be diving on the boat with us. Depending on the number of divers,
we may have one dive boat or two at our disposal.

4. Storing dive gear on the ship

We often get questions about storing scuba gear on the ship; there is no secure place on the
ship with easy access to store our dive equipment except in your cabin.

That being said, here are a few suggestions. First off, if it’s within your budget, book a
stateroom with a balcony. Besides providing extra living space, it's also the best place to put
your gear out to dry. It's so warm in the Caribbean, your gear will dry off in a couple of
hours. Dealing with wet gear after your dives is the biggest hassle - you just made life a little
easier by putting your stuff on your balcony to dry. No balcony? No problem! You can always
take your stuff out to the pool deck for an hour or two - in the hot sun, I guarantee it won't
take long for your stuff to dry out. Go with a friend, grab a cold one and relax!

5. Dive boat questions

We get a lot of questions and concerns about diving in the Caribbean mostly from newly
certified folks. They want to know how well equipped the boats are, how many divers will be
on each boat, and often express concerns about doing back-flip entries. All dive operators
will be PADI insured and have a solid safety record. Some dive operators will split us into
small groups of 6 divers per boat while others have up to 16 people on one boat. Often dive
boats are small open hauled boats (and yes, you will be asked to do a back flip entry).

A few dive operators have larger, more comfortable boats that can accommodate up to 12
divers. As a rule, you'll find storage space below deck, and all divers then make giant stride
entries. There are pros and cons to both types of boats. Personally, I prefer diving in smaller
groups. Doing a back-flip for the first time can be a little intimidating, but most divers, after
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doing a few, have no problems.

6. Questions about what to take & wet suits

The vast majority of divers travel with their gear. You will get weights and tanks from each
dive operator. You can also rent your dive BC, regulator, etc. for a small fee. I know with only
a 50 lb per bag limit, you have to really pack smart. Small rolling duffels that can be carried
onto the airplane work great for dive gear. Everything usually fits, except fins, which can be
packed in checked luggage. Travel or soft-backed BC's are a good choice when diving in the
Caribbean.

You won't be able to dive with gloves, so leave them home, and dive knives seem to make
ship security a little nervous. Thermal protection such as a lightweight wetsuit is a good idea
even when diving in the Caribbean, though a lot of divers make due without one. You can
expect water temps to be around 80 degrees which is considerably cooler than your body's
core temperature. If you have never been diving in warm salt water, remember you will
need to adjust your weights; remember it's better to have a little more than too little!

7. Sea sickness

If you are concerned, please remember to take what you need to avoid getting sick.

8. I will be traveling with non-divers and can't see diving in all ports of call. I
would like to dive in two or three ports only; will this be possible?

Yes. You are under no obligation to dive with the group. You can pick the ports where you
want dive with the group.

10. Will dive boats allow snorkelers to come along?

Some dive operations allow snorkelers to come along for an additional cost, as long as there
is room on the dive boat. Divers have priority, but we will let you know if there is room a
month or two before the cruise.

One thing to keep in mind is the dive sites we visit may not be good for snorkeling, since
some reefs and walls begin around 30-50 feet - a snorkeler at the surface may not see
much.

Useful Information for Divers New to

Cruising
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 does an exceptionally good job in
combining excellent dive ports with a low-key, albeit upscale cruise experience.

If your idea of the perfect dive vacation is doing multiple dives per day (like you can on a
live aboard), a scuba cruise is not for you! You will have the ability to dive in most ports of
call – a total of 8 two tank dives and some shore dives in Curacao.

The reality is a dive vacation combined with a cruise is not for everyone. 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. 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.
Dives are extra.

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Important URL’s:
Group Leader Information
Name: Susanne (Suzi) Rudek
Location: Sacramento, CA
Phone: (916) 712-6592
Email: scubadivingcruise@gmail.com

2009 Scuba Cruise Booking Information

Agent: Johna
Agency: CruCon Cruise Outlet
Phone: (800) 493-6609
Agency Website: http://www.crucon.com/
Email: JohnaN@CruCon.com
To Book Cruise, you MUST CALL CruCon

Cruise Critic Member Cruise Group Info

(You must be a registered member to view
Information posted at the group site)
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=637

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