anyone did stingray with Capt Marvin?

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vanessa25

Guest
Hi! This is my first cruise so I wanted to do alot of research about the best shore excursions. I've heard several things about Capt Marvins, anyone booked through them? We will be on shore from 7-4 so i wanted to do the 2.5 hr excursion. Also, I was worried about time I wanted to do the morning shift from 8:30 to 10:30 but since this is my first time I have no idea how long it takes to get off the ship, find Capt Marvin's, etc. Please help!
 
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grammiel

Guest
We did a tour with Captain Marvin in Feb 2005. It was excellent. Don't know how long it will take you to get off the ship. Didn't take us long. We were on the Norwegian Sun. Our tour with Captain Marvin had only eight people on it with two guides and a videographer. Lots of personal attention. The groups are usually larger but not nearly as big as any of the cruise ships excursions.
 
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Sea_Cucumber

Guest
Hello,
We did the stingrays with them last December and loved every minute of it. My husband did not realise till we got to their 'boat' that we would be travelling on a catamaran - far nicer than the crowded rust buckets we saw moored either side of it and out at the sand bar. They motored out to the sand bar - as we layed on the nets over the water and snoozed in the sun, then they sailed back - just perfect.
The two man crew were friendly and helpful and their photographer was nice too. As for stingrays - awesome!
We did the 9.30 trip, it was not hard to find their 'office', they will provide you with easy clear directions when you book the trip. Well worth the money - and far, far cheaper then booking onboard. They dropped us off in town afterwards, leaving lots of time to wander around, shop and eat.
Take disposable underwater cameras, we got great pictures of us and the rays - though we also paid for their pics too (you can see it on the digital screen before you decide) it was worth it we got a CD with the pics a few weeks later and the pics are really nice - clear and the color are really vibrant - a great screensaver!
Go for it - we are still talking about that idyllic day 6 months after the cruise and will probably do it again when we are there this December too.
 
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floridaheidi

Guest
My daughter and I did Stingray City with Captain Marvin's and they were GREAT!. We were sailing on RC and had booked the 8:30 tour with Captain Marvin. You will need to be on the stairwell about 20 minutes before they make the announcement that the tenders are running - that will insure that you are on the first tender to shore. Don't wait until they announce the tenders are running or you will have a 45 minute wait to get ashore. Captain Marvins is a few blocks walkk to the left down the street you come to once you get off the boat. Once at Captain Marvins they take you to their boat docks by air conditioned bus. It is very clean and safe and the boats are great. We only had about 20 people on our boat. It's so much fun and we saw all the RC excursion boats off in the distance with hundereds of people packed on the boats - yuk!.
 
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vanessa25

Guest
Thanks for the great tips, I'm a huge worry wart so your responses helped ease me somewhat. I'm so glad I waited and did not book through the cruiseline!
 
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ready2cruz

Guest
My husband and I did the stingrays with Capt Marvins in Aug, 2004. It was wonderful!! We got off the ship early and made the 8:30 trip. We lucked out actually, because on the Conquest, we were supposed to be on a ship sponsored excursion to be on the first few tenders, but we slid through! There were probably 15 or so in our group and we had a blast! You don't want to miss it!
 
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CODNERZ

Guest
We did this March 2006. Awesome!!! Captain Marvin way better then cruise tour, only 12 people on catermaran- Best! 30.00 each for stingray and snorkel.But we waited 2.5 hours to get back on ship due to high water and rough water and tender issues.6+ cruise ships docked and 90 degrees waiting in lines.Cruise ship left 3 hours late. Bad bad sunburn!!! I had spf 60 and got so fried it keep us from the next day port. Stringrays are in missdle of ocean, and lots of sun rays!!Felt good at the time-becareful!I peeled in places I didnt know got sun!!

Stephanie and Wendy
 
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Cruizer

Guest
CODNERZ Wrote:
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> We did this March 2006.
>

Stephanie and Wendy -

This is the second post of yours where you talk about March 2006 as though it was in the past. 2006 is next year.
 
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CSTEEVER

Guest
I know this is late to answer the question but wanted to post for people looking. Our party of 19 did the stingrays and snorkeling with Captain Marvin. It was great! They were really personable, he played music for us on the way back, and they were great with our 9 kids we had on board. We have done the tour thru carnival and it cost more, plus we would not have been able to take our 1 year old on the boat with our group, and with Captain Marvin you got an extra stop for snorkeling. All in all the best for your money.
 
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SuperMommy

Guest
I have did the excursion with Captain Marvins!! They were the best ever. It was a long line at check in but once we got checked in and on the bus it was all smooth. My girls were 3 and 5 at the time and the crew really helped us out with them. They encouraged them right into the water with their tiny snorkel equipment.

THe best part was seeing the cruise ship excursion way across the way all crowded together trying to snorkel and feed stingrays. We had about 20 people total on our boat. I highly recommend this to anyone.
 
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