Mid-Atlantic Bottom Feeders Cruise? [Archive]

peterj424

April 9th, 2008, 04:08 PM

I was thinking of organizing a cruise or vacation for all of the bottom feeders out there. Would anyone be interested in something like this? If I get enough positive responses I'll look into rates, dates, etc.

Thought it would be fun to do a group cruise or vacation somewhere tropical!

If you're interested either leave me a message here or send me a private message.

emcbride81

April 10th, 2008, 02:26 PM

Heck, I would do it...any excuse to go south is a good one for me.

ChainSaw0069

April 10th, 2008, 08:43 PM

Depending on the dates Im interested.

Fathomer

April 11th, 2008, 09:48 PM

I might consider it. Timing and location are important.

telemonster

April 11th, 2008, 10:03 PM

What about a get together in Hampton Roads sometime this summer? Even if it's just for food or brew...

emcbride81

April 12th, 2008, 06:20 PM

What about a get together in Hampton Roads sometime this summer? Even if it's just for food or brew...

That would be cool too...get a dive in the AM and some beer in the PM...pretty much sounds like my perfect day!

peterj424

April 15th, 2008, 08:49 PM

Depending on the dates Im interested.

Well the dates are whenever we all want. We only need to book 8 rooms to qualify for a discounted group rate on a cruise. Whenever the people that are interested want to go we'll go. What do you think some good dates are? Where would you guys all like to go?

I knew we'd get some response. I think this would be a really fun event. We've had 150 people view this post so there is definitely some interest. Let's hear from you Bottom Feeders if you're interested in being in on the planning of the cruise!

WVDiver

April 16th, 2008, 01:49 PM

Wow, not very often someone offers to take you on a cruise. Count us in. Can't beat free. Woot, Woot. I can take off anytime just make a date. Just one thing......can we do a live a board instead of a cruise, the diving is so much better?

LetterBoy

April 16th, 2008, 01:53 PM

Sweet Peter you are the best!! FREE CRUISES ROCK BRO!!!!

peterj424

April 16th, 2008, 09:08 PM

Sweet Peter you are the best!! FREE CRUISES ROCK BRO!!!!

Wait till my wife hears that I offered to take the entire mid atlantic region on a free cruise...haha

It won't be FREE but I've just recently realized the power of groups when booking vacations! We all do it - why not save some dinero?

WVDiver

April 17th, 2008, 07:01 AM

:rofl3: :D

Now that we've had a bit of fun at Peter's expense, :D let's get down to business. We (the wife and I) are always interested in a great dive travel package. Nail down a time and place and we will certainly consider it.

Are we talking this year or next? How about an idea about where? A week, 10 days, 2 weeks, what? The liveaboard was a serious consideration.

If you are going to the Invasion maybe we can have a live discussion with you there.

emcbride81

April 17th, 2008, 10:56 AM

If we could get a deal on a liveaboard, that would rock. Also, we could look into ..VRBOŽ is Vacation Rentals by OwnerŽ Vacation Homes Rentals by Owner (http://www.vrbo.com) This is a good place to rent nice vacation home that sleep 10-16 and the cost is usually better than a hotel. Somewhere like Bonaire or Curacao would be be cool. Nothing like nice shorediving!

WVDiver

April 17th, 2008, 11:39 AM

Either of those suggestions would be fantastic to me. We have been to Bonaire and would love to return and Curacao is one we have talked about doing.

peterj424

April 21st, 2008, 11:05 PM

Just an update to everyone - I am currently negotiating with Buddy Dive in Bonaire. If that sounds like something you may like or think I'm completely off, speak now or forever hold your piece.

divengolf

April 22nd, 2008, 08:53 AM

I'm interested depending on dates.

WVDiver

April 22nd, 2008, 09:31 AM

emcbride81

April 23rd, 2008, 12:02 AM

LetterBoy

April 23rd, 2008, 09:26 AM

My other half is not as interested now that we would have to pay for it :(

TEASE ;) ;)

emcbride81

April 26th, 2008, 08:01 PM

Any details....come on man don't leave a brother hanging!!!!

peterj424

May 5th, 2008, 09:16 PM

I've been talking with Buddy Dive and they haven't been as good at negotiating their rates as I had hoped!

I'm still working with them to get the rates down a little bit more!

In the mean time - My wife and I have organized a Friends and Family cruise. It is a 7 day cruise on the Carnival Valor heading to the Exotic Western Caribbean (Belize, Honduras, Cozumel and Grand Cayman). We have 2 cabins remaining that we have reserved at the group rate ($610 per person for an outside cabin, $670 per person for a balcony). Leaves Miami on Aug 31 and returns Sep 7. Less than $100 per person per night.

If you're interested at all let me know. We don't HAVE to sell these, but I figured at this rate I would offer it up to my fellow Bottom Feeders as a peace offering for biting the big on on the Buddy Dive trip!

bvmjethead

May 6th, 2008, 01:02 AM

My wifes birthday is in late October.

I'm game for a cruise or a liveaboard or a trip to Bonaire or Bora Bora.....

:D

emcbride81

May 21st, 2008, 12:15 PM

Well, since Bonaire didn't work out my wife is going on an all girls cruise at the end of October. I am going to head down to Ft. Lauderdale at that time to get in some dives...a boat dive or two, but I am thinking mostly shore dives at Lauderdale by the Sea. If anyone wants to go, let me know.

offthewall1

May 26th, 2008, 08:44 AM

It's a great idea... shops do it all the time... the problem is getting people to couch up deposits far enough in advance so you don't lose your shirt...

Don't book a thing if you aint got that moolah!

mksmith713

June 2nd, 2008, 01:31 PM

I'd consider a "spring break" '09 Western Caribbean cruise out of Tampa.
Already doing Roatan for the second time this year and money is getting tight.

mksmith713

December 29th, 2008, 10:19 PM

Bump this thread....hope to get it to take off.......

ChainSaw0069

December 29th, 2008, 10:30 PM

Still sounds good. Im heading to Florida towards the end of Feb. Vencie then the Palm Beach / Fort Lauderdale area. Maybe even the Keys. Im looking for warmer waters.

mheaster

December 30th, 2008, 11:31 PM

Just an update to everyone - I am currently negotiating with Buddy Dive in Bonaire. If that sounds like something you may like or think I'm completely off, speak now or forever hold your piece.

Last time we went to Bonaire our dive club booked airfare through Air Jamaica and called their group rates dept and got air fares significantly reduced but it required paying for all the tickets as a single purchase which makes everyone else using credit cards to have to plan ahead and combine all of them.

telemonster

January 5th, 2009, 11:50 AM

Interesting. How about a Mid Atlantic Bottom Feeders meet-up once in a while, so that way we can get to know each other before booking a trip?

Fly Girl

January 8th, 2009, 03:23 PM

Pls keep me in the loop on developments. I'm a shift worker, and I get back-up every couple of months so I pretty much have to take my vacations then. I do get weekends off every other month, so I am totally open to a local dive and brew day-weekend as was proposed (although I don't drink much, especially if I'm diving, I still like to live with the allusion that I am a party girl). Please let me know. Anne

ChainSaw0069

January 8th, 2009, 04:08 PM

Telemonster, we should have a meet and greet. We could set this up at a reasturant or meet at Lake Rawlings when the water is a few degrees warmer. What areas are people from and how far are they willing to travel for a meet and greet? We could set up meet and greats and rotate the locations.
Im still game for a cruise. One of my friends is doing one in April that goes from Miami to the Keys to Belize or some route like that. I can see what it cost and maybe set one up for next April or May. Warm Waters in the Winter Time.

Fly Girl

January 8th, 2009, 04:12 PM

I think a meet and greet would be good, especially since it is "off-season," and I can't do much else but train right now. I'm in Alexandria and would probably have a few friends that would also be interested. Lake Rawlings or VA Beach sounds good. Since Alexandria is fairly central to both the Maryland and Hampton Roads areas, if you want to meet around here, let me know, and I can set something up. Fredricksburg might be a good meeting area for a day trip for all, but I don't know of any diving around there. Let me know.

ChainSaw0069

January 9th, 2009, 09:28 PM

Lets set up a meet and greet in the VA beach area for starts. Im 2 hours north but would be willing to drive down. Flygirl would you want to pick a date or post 2 see which is better for everyone and a place to meet.

I can set up a meet on Kent Island, East side of the Bay Bridge if anyone is interested.

ChainSaw0069

January 9th, 2009, 09:31 PM

A co worker of mines wife is a travel agent. I have asked her to set up a cruise for 2010. I should have some dates and an agenda in the near future. She has set some up for our fire department and the rates were good. I will post more as soon as I get the info.

Fly Girl

January 10th, 2009, 08:24 PM

Weekends in February are pretty much good for me except for 14-16 Feb (Federal Holiday). Someone in VA Beach should probably "host"(i.e. find a place that will let us hang out and drink adult beverages), but I can help with logistics. I'm trying to work out getting dry suit certification for mbwilliam and me, so if someone can tell us where we can get dry suit cert in one weekend in the VA Beach area on a weekend other than 14-16 Feb, this would mean two of us would come.