jawfish
Club Web Master
Dominica is also a "new" stop for Carnival Cruises, perhaps this may be changing the way things operate. Lots more timed schedules if that is the case.
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DontLieToMe:Just returned from a week in Dominica. Stayed at the Fort Young Hotel and dove with Dive Dominica.
Dive Dominica. I had read that they were a good outfit. No limits on dive times, etc. Not true. Every dive limited to 60 minutes. They pushed for short surface intervals. All dives 15-20 minutes from their shop. They refused to go to any of the better sites that were a bit further out. No assistance on the boat or in the water. We have 10 dives for each of the three members in our family. They refused to allow us to use some of the dives from our daughter. Avoid this operation.
Fort Young. Arrived and they said - you know we are doing construction! They did not tell us they were doing major construction fom 7 AM to 8 PM every day - Christmas and New Years included! No offer of compensation, nothing.
Dominica is a pretty island but the diving was very poor. Many people were nice but too many negatives to go back to this island.
pilot fish:I stayed at Fort Young last May for week and was unimpressed with it. It was OK but not something to rave about. I also dove with Dive Dominica, they manintain a dive shop on the hotel property, one tiny rinse tank, and was also sort of unimpressed. It was OK but not great. I have no recollection of shortened BT or short surface intervals. I do remember that I liked the reefs and the diving in general. Each day we were picked up at FY hotel and taken by Castle Comfort to pick up one or two divers, then off to Scotts Head to dive. Castel Comfort looked like a dive mill, short on comfort and high on crowds of dive groups. I'm told, if you want comfort, stay elsewhere. I dont know that to be a fact but it's what I heard from other divers here in the States. Heard that the manager there caters to groups only and overlooks/ignores single divers or a pair of divers.
At a small managers cocktail party we were at the General manager told us that they were about to start a major construction project, new pool and more apts, so that must have been under way when you were there. I can fully appreciate your displeasure at not being told that when you booked. That is major unfair. They should compensate you in some way for that, at least a reduced room price. Vacations are meant to be quiet and comfortable, not listening to jackhammers. In our first room, first night there, we were in a room right under the outdoor terrace where breafast is served, and all we heard was chairs and tables being moved across the floor, at night to set up for morning breakfast, and ealry while breakfast was going on. We went to the front desk and asked to be moved to a quieter room, which they did. At the GM's dinner party the manager gave us a free dinner for our inconvienence. I mention that because they will do something if you bring it to their attention, I think.
I think your opportunity for compensation of some short should have been done while you were there, not now. I would still write them a letter and see what they say. You have every right to be upset.