Should book excursions before cruise

Tips for booking a shore excursion princess cruises. Nov 21, 2019 we are on the celebrity solstice departing december 2. Something i get asked quite often is whether or not cruisers should book shore excursions with their cruise line or independently through thirdparty tour companies. Ive booked a cruise for my girlfriend and i to go on for our honeymoon. From guided tours to resort passes, or even helicopter rides to glaciers, you can book a number of tours through the cruise line but should you book. Every year, millions of vacationers flock to ports like miami, fort lauderdale, orlando, tampa and others for the privilege of spending a week or two bobbing around in the caribbean blue but when many cruisers reach the caribbean, theyre disappointed. It can range from highly adventurous things like parasailing to the laidback walking tours of the port. If they meet and depart from alongside the ship, as the cruise line tours do, theres no reason not to book them. Shore excursions term and conditions carnival cruise line. Nov 17, 2014 9 things you should know before booking your next cruise by sherry laskin, contributor nov. Should i book a shore excursion with the cruise line. Should i book excursions before going to punta cana. Booking shore excursions independently vs booking through the.

The primary benefit of booking excursions through the cruise line is that they guarantee your return. Should you book a shore excursion on your own and save a few dollars or through your cruise line. Guests can book a shore excursion by visiting the shore excursion desk onboard during their cruise. But if you make your own arrangements, you run the risk of missing the boat should something go. Should you book your cruise excursions with your cruise line. You will have a guaranteed seat for a relatively good price. Shore excursions are optional, guided tours in a cruise ships port of call. You can book your shore excursion with cruise personalizer from approximately 180 days before travel, and up to 5 days before you depart. There are definitely pros and cons to booking yourself vs. Enjoying your caribbean cruise with or without booking shore excursions.

You can book directly with the cruise company, or you can go through a travel professional or travel agency that can help organize everything for you, including pre and postcruise accommodations, airport transportation or city tours should you decide to extend your stay in your port city. That answer actually depends totally on whom you speak with, and for many, the reality of things couldnt be more farther from the truth. If the designated contact person on a shore excursion order must cancel their cruise booking and the remaining guests who are sailing would like to retain the shore. Guests who do not meet all of these criteria will be able to prebook activities, but will not be asked for payment at the time of booking. Should i book excursions before i go, or wait until i am there. Nov 25, 2018 yes, i just wanted to mention it since the majority of posts i have seen here on cruisecritic regarding the shore excursion credit, have stated that you can not book the shore excursions yourself online if you want the credit when on board, you have to call ncl and book the shore excursions through them. Normally the cruise lines will allow you to book your desired excursions as soon as your cruise fare is paid in full, which in some cases can be as much a 3 to 4 months before you sail. Some cruise lines charge penalty fees for canceling shore excursions onboard or within 24 to 48 hours of the port call, so you might want to wait to see how the weather is or how you like the line. Once your cruise holiday has started you can always book excursions on board. On a cruise are shore excursions cheaper if you wait to. In most cases you can book till noon the day before the actual starting date of the excursion. Do you book shore excursions through royal caribbean or on your own. You have a couple of options when it comes to shore excursions you can book through the cruise line or book through a third party company like cruising excursions. Dec 24, 2015 enjoying your caribbean cruise with or without booking shore excursions.

An excursion is simply a tour you book for the time you are in port. That is right if you book third party and do not make it bake to the port and onto your ship on time it will not wait for you. Dont wait too long to book if you want a guaranteed seat. Jul 15, 2009 we are going in august, on a 7 day cruise to mexico on carnival splendor, to cabo, puerta vallarta and mazatalan. With this information, you should have the tools to make an informed decision and pick a great shore excursion before you set foot on your ship, leaving you more time onboard to enjoy the cruise. However, booking direct is also the most expensive option. The access office works in partnership with our shore excursion department who will assist and advise you directly of your options. We offer an exceptional range of great value shore excursions to suit all ages, interests and abilities. Apr 21, 2017 4 royal caribbean features you should pre book here are 4 royal caribbean cruise features worth prebooking which can help firsttime cruisers for that cruise vacation. Booking shore excursions independently vs booking through. What shore excursion research benefited you the most. Firsttimers guide to shore excursions cruise critic.

Cruise lines will almost always charge a bit more than booking a similar or sometimes exact same tour elsewhere. The caribbean is, by far, the quintessential cruise destination. They are the best way to enhance your cruise experience by allowing you see and do more in the places you visit. If you opt for a cruise line excursion and you know very well which one to choose, book as early as possible.

Secrets of cruise ship shore excursions revealed cruise. We really want to do the b2b2b, all air, hotel and private excursions planned for a fabulous trip now we go back and forth from maybe we should cancel to maybe we should hang on and hope things are better. Is it better to book shore excursions through your cruise ship, or should you arrange port activities on your own, independently of your cruise line. One of the best parts about going on a cruise vacation is the variety of available shore excursions. Mar 15, 2010 you can book it before you leave or onboard before you arrive. The downside to booking excursions through the cruise line are primarily cost and options. Should i book shore excursion from the cruise line. Should you book your cruise excursions with your cruise. I already had to dig pretty deep to afford it because im a student. Dec 06, 2019 there are several ways for cruise guests to book a shore excursion with certain pros and cons.

To ensure you get to enjoy the port adventures excursions you want, we recommend you make reservations as soon as your cruise reservations are paid in full and you have entered into your advance booking window your advance booking window is determined by your castaway club membership level, as specified below. Say, something should go array on your excursion and you cant get back to the boat before departure. Jul 12, 2018 shore excursions watch this before booking booking shore excursion with the cruise line, through a third party or on your own is always an interesting topic. The only time i book far in advance is if it is a limited amount of guest like the helicopter to a glacier and then dog sled ride in alaska. Book too early and you risk paying through the nose. Your advance booking window is determined by your castaway club membership level, as specified below.

But book too late and youre limited in your cabin selection or may miss the lowerpriced cabins altogether. Travelers looking for a fast and easy way to check off a handful of items from their bucket list can rest assured that with princess cruises, they will see and experience all the world has to offer. We are on the celebrity solstice departing december 2. Aug 26, 2014 lots of us like to take each day as it comes, but thats not the best approach if you want to book a tour sponsored by a cruise ship. With the exception of spa services, other pre cruise purchases do not sell out. Most excursions can be booked both online or at your resort, however. Here are some insights that might prove useful, should you choose to book excursions the next time you go on a cruise. Shore excursions watch this before booking booking shore excursion with the cruise line, through a third party or on your own is always an interesting topic. Sometimes, popular shore excursions sell out before the ship docks, but i suspect that doesnt happen very often, anywhere. Ive had very good and very average experiences with both. How early or late should you book a cruise to get the.

Some cruise lines charge penalty fees for canceling shore excursions onboard or within 24 to 48 hours of the port call, so you might want to wait to see how the weather is or how you like the lines tours before booking all of your excursions. As a general rule, though, its a good idea to book indie excursions that provide morning departures and are due back well before your ship departs and that confirm the guarantee in writing. In the event of a cruise booking cancellation before the 24 hour cutoff window, a full refund will automatically be posted to the original credit card used to pay for the order. What to know about booking cruise excursions before you board. Guests with disabilities should email the access office for assistance with accessible shore excursions. During your cruise you will get lots of information and advertisements on shore excursions. Ive heard that if you wait until the last minute then the cruise ship will offer much better prices and deals on stuff. Can we just get off the ship and book or should i book before we leave with viator or cruise one. Shore excursions watch this before booking youtube. The most popular excursions sell out before the ship sets sail. But i am not sure if its cheaper to book ahead on carnival website or wait on board ship to book because sometimes they offer. But if you make your own arrangements, you run the risk of missing the boat should something go off schedule. If they meet and depart from alongside the ship, as the cruise.

With more than 100 years of travel experience between our team its no surprise that since we began, our portfolio of shore excursions has grown in the thousands. To ensure you get to enjoy the port adventures excursions you want, we recommend you make reservations as soon as your cruise reservations are paid in full and you have entered into your advance booking window. I have cruised before and we have done excursions, but always booked when we were on the actual cruise and booked early becaue they sold out fast. Most of the time i book cruises only a month or two out. Every year, millions of vacationers flock to ports like miami, fort lauderdale, orlando, tampa and others for the privilege of spending a week or two bobbing around in the caribbean blue.

With one cruise cancelled with a fcc to use we dont want to end up with more fccs if we dont cancel before final payment. Is it better to book excursions on a cruise, before you go. Most cruises are about both the fantastic onboard experience as well as the ports of call you visit. Nov 22, 2019 as a general rule, though, its a good idea to book indie excursions that provide morning departures and are due back well before your ship departs and that confirm the guarantee in writing. Lots of us like to take each day as it comes, but thats not the best approach if you want to book a tour sponsored by a cruise ship. What to know about booking cruise excursions before you. I typically book excursions a day or two before the port. Should i book my excursions online or once i arrive in. I am disappointed in the excursion options with celebrity. I am interested in the bar crawl, possibly the pirate cruise depending on their vegetarian food options and definitely some snorkeling boat tour. Is it better to book excursions on a cruise, before you go or. After you book your cruise, youll have the ability book excursions as well. The primary reason to book a shore excursion before your cruise is not necessarily to lock in a discount, but to reserve a spot.

Booking shore excursions independently vs booking through the cruise line. The best way to book shore excursions is to research and plan ahead to get the most out of your vacation money. Top 15 alaska cruise tips every traveler needs to know for 2019. The main reason folks book shore excursions through their cruise line is for convenience and the fact that they wont get left behind. Jul 06, 2011 next the cruise line tells you that booking your shore excursion months before your cruise, eliminates the need for you to waste time during your cruise in standing in line and shopping at the cruise excursions desk, only to get the skimpy, or unpopular cruise excursions selections that are left available. Im interested in the shore excursions but i want to get the best price i can. These local companies often run tours for smaller groups. This question is a bit tricky so i have highlighted some of my reasons to book shore excursions with your cruise line as well as when it is a good idea to go third party. Yes, after you make the final payment on your cruise, you can prebook your shore excursions directly with the cruise line or online with.

On a cruise are shore excursions cheaper if you wait to book. How to book shore excursions on your cruise vacation usa today. You may view and purchase available shore excursions once youve reserved a cruise, received your cruise reservation number, and have made at least one payment toward. Near the reception you can find a shore excursion desk. The longer you wait, the higher the price and the lower the availability. But i am not sure if its cheaper to book ahead on carnival website or wait on board ship to book because sometimes they offer discounts. Please select your cruise line, cruise ship and departure date to start booking your shore excursions at discount rates that are lower than the cruise lines. Should i book my shore excursions on my own or through the. Customers rate cruising excursions average score 4. Do i need to book shore excursions in the caribbean. Mar 09, 2010 i have used cruise line shore excursions and have arranged my own through a private operator. Its worth checking prices however because there have been a few occasions weve found cruise lines.

You may view and purchase available shore excursions once youve reserved a cruise, received your cruise reservation number, and have made at least one payment toward your cruise. Should you buy precruise purchases now or wait to buy it. You can book it before you leave or onboard before you arrive. Getting the delicate balance right on booking a cruise can be tricky. Once your cruise holiday has started it will be more difficult to stay in contact with local companies. Guests may also visit cruise planner to purchase excursions before they cruise. Ticketed passengers who 1 purchased the cruise in us dollars, can dollars, gbp or euros, and 2 do not have a shore excursion, dining or entertainment reservation on record prior to june 29, 2011. You can book local excursions at local prices through shorebee. There are several ways for cruise guests to book a shore excursion with certain pros and cons. We are going in august, on a 7 day cruise to mexico on carnival splendor, to cabo, puerta vallarta and mazatalan. With shore excursions, tours are limited to a certain head count and as a result, popular choices can sometimes sell out. I am not always sure what pages are the real company and what are.