Do you still have to pay for snorkeling if you have your own equipment?

[cathie]

We'll be cruising again in February & wondering if you still have to pay to snorkel if you have your own equipment. Saving the 25.00 per person would be great since you can get your own for about 8.99 @ Wal-Mart. It's a lot more sanitary too. Thanks for any info! Cathie

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

No, you can snorkel for free with your own equipment. I agree that this is the way to go, if you ever plan on snorkeling again. They do want you to wear a vest, but they'll provide this free of charge.

Enjoy!

 

[BearFan]

If you choose to go on a DCL snorkeling excursion you will have to pay the say amount as those who don't have their own equipment. The same goes with diving excursions. We were going to bring our own equipment and go snorkeling and diving last Dec with an excursion until we found out that it was the same price. You can always go by yourself at port and of course at Castaway Cay you can too but there you'll need to also wear the orange vests they provide(no cost). My DH had a forescent yellow shortie wetsuit on at CC and they still made him wear the vest. He was truly blinding to the naked eye!
One thing about the stingray city excursion, we brought our own snorkeling equipment (glad we did, just for sanitary reasons alone)but we were not told that you can't wear fins or even booties. Wish we had known earlier so we didn't carry them with all day.

LMS

 

[cathie]

Thanks for the info. about the snorkeling @ CC. Knowing that they let you use the vests for free is great! Hope to see you all @ CC!! Cathie

 

[Poohbush]

BearFan,

I know you said no flippers or booties for the stingray. Are aqua shoes considered booties? Do you just have to be bare-footed for this excursion?

Thanks,
Tina

 

[MarkRG]

YES, unless you have a foot injury, you are required to go barefoot for the stingray excursion. It's to prevent you from stepping on them. Don't worry, the sandbar is nothing but sand, and very easy to walk on.

 

[justmestace]

MarkRG....Have you done any of the other snorkel excursions in Nassau, like Caribbean Queen or the Catamaran Sail? If so, do they make you wear the life vests also? We found them to be miserably uncomfortable, and you can't put your face down far enough to see anything....this was at CC and Blue Lagoon. We have snorkeled open ocean in Belize, Honduras, Curacao, Bonaire and various locations in the Bahamas, and Disney was the first time we were required to wear a vest. Hoping the other excursions don't. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[BearFan]

I have to echo what MarkRG said about the stingrays. Thinking back on it, the rays stand a very good chance of getting hurt and something unfortunate could happen to a guest if they were in a defensive posture. The sand is extremely soft there although, where we were, 5'1" amd the water was nearly up to my neck. The swells were pretty good, too. I swallowed a whole bunch of sea water trying to stay above the waves. All things considered, I would definitely do it again. It was an awesome experience!