Turks & Caicos Explorer II

Together with the Aquatic Adventures team, the Turks & Caicos Explorer II liveaboard offers you memorable Silver Bank humpback whale snorkeling tours during the months of January through April each year.

The liveaboard's heavy keel and Naiad stabilizers aid in providing stability during your 7 night cruise. Guests are accommodated in 10 tastefully decorated staterooms across 3 decks aboard the 124 ft / 38 m aluminum mono-hull liveaboard. Each stateroom has their own private bathroom. The 2 VIP staterooms and the 2 forward Main deck staterooms also feature TV/DVD players.

A variety of cuisine is offered showcasing the best fresh local ingredients, including meats and fish. Dining is either in the air-conditioned saloon or on the open air deck where you can enjoy the cooling sea breezes. The Turks & Caicos Explorer II provides guests with a number of social areas including a TV/DVD entertainment center in the saloon. There is also a large sun deck complete with open air shaded seating, BBQ, sun loungers and wet bar for your complimentary cocktails.

The Aquatic Adventures team collectively have over 25 years of humpback whale tours experience and you can benefit from their wealth of knowledge during your Silver Bank liveaboard cruise. Their specifically designed whale watching tenders, 'Escort' and 'Challenger' have environmentally conscious engines that limit noise to maximize successful whale encounters and minimize underwater disturbance. After your in-water whale encounters (floating at the surface and waiting for the whales to approach you), you can enjoy a warm water shower on the dive deck. Photographers can rinse camera equipment in the fresh water tanks and prepare gear on the dedicated camera tables in anticipation of the next awe-inspiring humpback encounter.

The Turks & Caicos Explorer II ticks all the boxes for a week long cruise in comfort and style with an experienced team. It is also a Green Fins (marine conservation) member. They will bring their vast knowledge to bear and provide you with the amazing opportunities for sightings and interactions during your humpback whale snorkeling safari in the Dominican Republic.

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Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, alcoholic drinks, experienced English-speaking guides, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Restaurant meal on final evening, whale sanctuary fee (US$ 450 per person per trip), port and fuel surcharge (US$ 450 per person per trip). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (USD cash only).

Optional extras: Wetsuit rental (US$ 40 per person per trip), snorkelling equipment. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: Many US airports have direct flights to Puerto Plata International Airport in the Dominican Republic. The major airlines include US, American, Continental, Delta, Spirit and Jet Blue. Map of the Caribbean Sea.
The boat docks at the Ocean World Marina, Puerto Plata. Boarding is at 17:00 hrs on Saturday for 22:00 hrs departure to Silver Bank. Return to dock is at 16:00 - 18:00 hrs on Friday. Dinner is taken in a restaurant onshore. Check out is by 08:30 hrs on Saturday morning. The crew will help you arrange your onward travel to the airport or nearby hotels.

Diving Environment: There is no scuba diving on these Silver Bank snorkeling trips, where all snorkeling activity is conducted from the liveaboard tenders. Normally there are 2 whale runs each day, lasting 1.5 to 3 hours each. Other creatures that may put in an appearance here include dwarf sperm whales and Atlantic sailfish plus dolphins: bottlenose, spinner, Risso's and Fraser's. Water temperatures during the January to April period are 78-80°F / 25-27°C for which a 3 mm wetsuit and full foot fins are recommended.

Non-diver rate: All guests are non-divers on this snorkeling trip.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): Single travelers may choose to share a stateroom or pay a supplement of 100% of the published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: None.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): None.

The Turks & Caicos Explorer offers guests 10 staterooms each with a private bathroom and individually controlled air-conditioning. The VIP and Main deck staterooms feature picture windows and the Lower deck staterooms have portholes for natural lighting. The 2 VIP staterooms have queen beds and are on the upper deck. There are 5 Main deck staterooms. 2 feature twin beds and 3 have convertible twin / queen beds. Twin upper and lower beds are in the 3 Lower deck staterooms. Adapters are not provided, guests are advised to bring their own.

All the liveaboard staterooms have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 11 / 12 - hot water