FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Do I need a passport to cruise in the Caribbean?
A: Yes. And a passport will take time to order, so take care of this early.
Q: Does my personal information in my reservation have to be identical to my passport information?
A: Yes.
Q: Do I need to be scuba certified to dive with the group in the Caribbean?
A: Absolutely yes. DON'T FORGET YOUR C-CARD!
Q: What if I am
newly certified, or a
very experienced scuba diver?
A: All certified divers are welcome. We ask that you dive safely within your comfort zone and that you are courteous to divers of different experience levels. We are not interested in "aggressive diving." Most experienced scuba divers will agree, the most enjoyable dives are at a slow and relaxed pace. We will most likely dive deeper than 60 feet in some locations, and may also explore some wrecks and swim-throughs. That does not mean that you must follow or participate if you are not comfortable. In some cases, we may able to split the group by ability upon request... but this is not guaranteed. We plan to dive with local dive masters, who are generally very watchful and safety conscious. Lastly, if our planned dives do not meet your needs, please feel free to book your own dives independent of the group in each port. Honestly, our last group was quite diverse, and for the most part, it all worked out very well. If you have other questions please contact us, and join our scubacruise group forum on yahoo once you have made reservations. See link at the very bottom of the home page.
Q: Why ShoreTrips for diving and other shore excursions?
A: You are free to make your own arrangements ashore and still take advantage of the pricing and amenities offered as a member of the cruise group.
ShoreTrips is a well-established reputable tour company. Dives and shore excursions booked through Shore Trips are typically less expensive than comparable offerings by the cruise line, but of course, the tours are not necessarily identical. Aside from price, booking in advance through ShoreTrips provides a degree of insurance that may not be offered by a local tour company or dive shop.
- Tours canceled 11 days prior to the tour date will be fully refunded.
- If the ship cancels a port (sad, but it happens sometimes) notify ShoreTrips promptly for a full refund.
- If a tour is canceled due to unsafe conditions, or other reasons as determined by the tour operator, notify ShoreTrips promptly for a full refund.
- No-shows, and late cancellations due to "illness" or other reasons are NON-refundable.
Again, booking the group cruise does not require that you also utilize ShoreTrips. If you have local contacts or prefer to book through Carnival, that is perfectly OK. It's your vacation.
Q: Why are the dives in St. Lucia arranged by Dive Fair Helen?
A: A number of our divers had expressed concern about the cost of the ShoreTrips Scuba Diving/Beach excursion in this port. To be honest it looked like a nice all day excursion. We have researched several other local dive shops and have negotiated a complete dive package with "Dive Fair Helen" that should be very convenient and better meet the needs, and budgets, of the majority of our divers. Dive Fair Helen has accommodated several requests regarding our group, including a reasonable cancellation policy for our cruise group members, which is available upon request. Please read Dive Package Info for more details.
Q: I already booked this cruise through another agent or directly through the cruise line, but I am paying more. Can I cancel my cruise and rebook into the Scuba Group to get the lower price and/or the $100 shipboard credit?
A: The answer is YES. But you first have to confirm it is worth canceling and rebooking into the group. There shouldn't be any penalty from Carnival for canceling your original booking, as long as you are doing so 70 days or more before the sailing. But some agencies do impose a cancellation penalty, so make sure this won't happen to you and is worth your while.
Q: Do I have to be a diver to join the group?
A: NO, everyone is welcome. But you will not be able to dive with the group, or go out on the dive boats, unless you are a certified diver.
Q: What group activities are planned?
A: Entirely at your option to attend, we will most likely have a sail-away get together. The group party will be sometime mid-cruise and will offer an open bar, likely shared with other groups. Otherwise, we ask that the scuba divers gather one time for a short pre-dive coordination meeting.
That's it. Of course, everyone in the group is invited to join any impromptu events, and there are plenty of planned activities on the cruise ship by Carnival.
Q: Why can't I call CruiseQuick?
A: CruiseQuick is a very reputable, high volume, web-based cruise travel agency. They offer excellent prices and do so, in part, by minimizing overheads. If you encounter any problems with your booking for this group cruise, please contact the group leader for assistance. (See Contact Us.)
Q: I need to cancel my cruise. How do I do that and what are the penalties?
A: Contact the group leader for specific instructions. Here are the rules and penalties.
CANCELLATION POLICY (These are penalties paid to Carnival. CruiseQuick does not impose any additional penalty.)
$0 per guest penalty for cancellations made before Final Payment due date.
$300.00 per guest penalty for cancellations made within 70 - 30 days prior to sailing.
50% of the total rate per guest penalty for cancellations made within 29 - 8 days prior to sailing.
100% of the total rate* per guest penalty for cancellations made within 7 days of sailing as well as “no shows” on the day of sailing.
