Snorkel Equip. Question

[pdarrah]

We are going on our first DCL cruise this fall (Oct23 - Western) and plan to bring our own snorkle equipment. (DH & I snorkled during several vacations about 8-10 years ago - just checked our stuff and it is still OK. Also bought a set for our DS5 and am teaching him in the pool.)

My question is: Do we need to pack and lug along our fins? If we do any excursions, then I think we can use the fins they have, but I am not sure about "do it yourself" stuff. Right now, I am thinking we will do a Stingray city trip at Grand Cayman (maybe Capt. Marvins) I haven't made a decision about Cozumel - if we go to Chankanab park, does anyone know if we could rent just the fins? How about at Castaway Cay - do they have just "fin" rental or do they charge you for the whole kit?

I just hate the thought of all the space and weight fins will take in our luggage!

Pamela

 

[AnnMorin]

We rented full sets for two cruises and just fins for number three and just skipped fins all together for number four. Frankly unless you are doing a whole lot of swimming I personally don't even see the neccessity for fins. When we snorkle we go at a relaxed pace and I can paddle along just fine without them - it makes getting in and out of the water much easier!!
Anyhow at CC the price for fins was cheap only like 5.00 and captain marvins at that time (can't swear to it now) gave us fins for free as gear was part of the package price. I personally would not bother to pack them.

 

[pdarrah]

Thank you for the information! Unless someone else posts a compelling reason to bring them, I don't think we will bring them. At least, not the adult ones. If there is room, I might bring DS5's since he is small and we may not be able to find any in his size. If I do, it is still a LOT less to fit in the luggage than the 2 pair of adult fins!

Thanks,

Pamela

 

[prymsu]

Usually it depends on what we have planned. If we are going to go through a company for an excursion that includes all the equipment, then we don't take them unless we are going to be going to beaches on our own to snorkel. There are lots of places to just rent the fins.

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

We brought only snorkels and masks and we were fine without fins. The water seemed extra salty in GC and we were surprised by how buoyant we were and how easy it was to swim and hover by the reefs. The snorkel area in CC is very large and spread out and that was probably the only place I could have used fins.

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

We've never taken our fins on our western cruises. Most places we've snorkeled were either beach entry or very calm, so it wasn't a problem. As long as you're not snorkeling in open water you should be fine without them.

 

[justmestace]

Just like Mike said, if you aren't going open-ocean, you can get by without them. Castaway Cay has them for you, and the DCL excursions have them.
If you're going to snorkel own your own, and plan on swimming out very far, you'll wish you had them. You just need to figure out where you'll be.
We snorkeled the adult beach at CC w/o them and had no trouble there, either.

 

[absame]

If you want fins, I would bring them along for the little ones. We're leaving in ten days and I emailed ahead to our excursions and they suggested bringing fins for small children -- they have some, but cant guarantee they will have the right size