Pre booking shore excursions

[Packman1000]

I saw today that if I book a shore excursion on HAL, my credit card is charged immediately. Other cruise lines I have been on didn't do this - they just put it on the shipboard account. So my quesiton is - how long in advance does one need to book excursions? Or can you just book once on the ship? I think I understand the cancellation policy, but I don't want to pay 2 months in advance for shore excursions if I don't need to.

[canadianbear]

It's a personal choice-if you think the excursion is very popular, it's best to book it ahead of time. We like the fact that we can pay for excursions ahead of time so when our final bill comes on the cruise ship it doesn't include excursion costs so doesn't sticker shock my husband?!! :D

 

If you would rather take the chance and book on the ship, you can do that too. Some excursions are wait listed by the time you get on the ship and some times before even-just be prepared to not be disappointed if you can't get it because you didn't book it ahead of time.

 

Hope that helps a bit.

[Krazy Kruizers]

HAL has charged for excursions upfront for years.

We prefer to book our shore excursions as soon as possible. There have a few times when we got on a ship and people were complaining about certain excursions already sold out.

[simonpjd]

The other alternative is to book ashore when you arrive. On Zuiderdam in Alaska last month we could have booked all the excursions we did on the quayside at a lower price. Yes you are taking a chance but it can save quite a bit - they are not cheap are they.

Having said that we booked well in advance and it certainly made it easier and cut out any stress.

[kazu]

I prefer paying for my shore excursions in advance, let's me budget & not have such a huge hit on my on board account. Each to their own.

 

You can certainly wait until you are onboard to book. Some of the 'limited' or very popular can be sold out before you board. Other times not. Just depends upon the itinerary and how many are doing ship's tours.

 

The other thing you can do is watch the shore excursions - if you see one is 'wait listed' and it is one you want, book it. Your card will not be charged until they have room. Sometimes they can book extra buses on and, at least you will be near the top of the list.

 

My rule of thumb is if I REALLY want a certain shore excursion, I will book it on line to make sure that we have it.:D

[kyriecat]

Besides HAL, I've only sailed on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. All three of them require full payment at time of purchase for shore excursions. If you decide to cancel an excursion, they refund your payment.

 

If there is a shore excursion that is really popular (check the ports of call boards and see what's recommended) or that you REALLY want to do, then you should probably book it in advance. Cruiselines have some spots reserved for people who want to book onboard, but the quantity is limited so you might miss out.

 

If you have 2 or 3 excursions that you might want in a port and don't really care which, then I'd wait to book until you get onboard. At least one of them will probably still have openings.

 

There are probably independant vendors who offer similar or better tours than the cruiselines, if you are interested in doing a little research. Some of them require pre-payment but others take your money after the tour. In most cases, they are cheaper than the cruiseline tours and have fewer people. There are plenty of recommendations for vendors on the port of call boards.

[eh2zed]

You might as well book as early as when you know what sights or experiences you are interested in. This avoids the disappointment of it getting sold out before you act.

[oofroggie]

I always book my "must do" ones early on line then I don't have to worry about a sell out

[Packman1000]

Thanks for the responses. We book most of our excursions with private vendors, but could not find what we were looking for in one port. I'll go ahead and book it online now, knowing that if we change our mind prior to 3 days before we sail, we can get a refund.

[IRL_Joanie]

Thanks for the responses. We book most of our excursions with private vendors, but could not find what we were looking for in one port. I'll go ahead and book it online now, knowing that if we change our mind prior to 3 days before we sail, we can get a refund.

 

You can cancel once on the ship also!!

 

If you cancel an excursion 48 hours or more before you will get back the full amount paid.

 

If you cancel 24-48 hours before the excursion you will get 90% back.

 

If you have cancel with less than 24 hours notice, depending on the reason; i.e., medical, accessibility or weather (due to let's say electric wheelchair or scooter usage in rainy weather), you can talk to the Shore Excusion Manager and possibly get 100% refunded (happened to me this month.)

 

Joanie

[tcook052]

I'll go ahead and book it online now, knowing that if we change our mind prior to 3 days before we sail, we can get a refund.

 

That's what I usually do for all my top picks with the undecided ones to be left until I board the ship.

[califgary]

I saw today that if I book a shore excursion on HAL, my credit card is charged immediately. Other cruise lines I have been on didn't do this - they just put it on the shipboard account. So my quesiton is - how long in advance does one need to book excursions? Or can you just book once on the ship? I think I understand the cancellation policy, but I don't want to pay 2 months in advance for shore excursions if I don't need to.

 

I think if you know what excursions you want, purchase ahead of time for a couple reasons:

1) HAL charges when you reserve, thus allowing you to pay in advance and not have a heart attack when it comes time to review your account at the end of the cruise.

2) The lines at the shore excursion desk always seems LONG

3) You get the excursion you want without the risk of waiting and maybe having your choice sold out before you can reserve.

 

Just my 2cents!

[Amuse Bouche]

But I wanted to mention something I just found out and didn't know, and haven't seen mentioned on here.

If you prebook your excursions, PG, gifts, online, they count to cruise day credits! You get one for each $300 spent, and only a maximum of one for each day of cruising. I received 6 additional credits on my last 7 day cruise, and I wasn't sure why, as I thought it was just for purchases, and that would have been a whole lotta drinks!! ;)

 

Onboard Spending Bonus Effective with cruises on or after September 18, 2009, one bonus cruise day credit will be granted for each $300 in eligible onboard purchases. This is calculated on the combined folio charges for all guests on the booking, regardless of who signs each charge and who pays the bill. There is a limit of one bonus day for each day sailed, and 3rd and 4th guests on the same booking do not earn the onboard spending bonus.

 

Are any onboard charges excluded from the onboard purchases bonus?

All casino charges, cash advances, Future Cruise deposits, and associated fees are excluded. All other onboard purchases including Hotel Service Charge, Beverage Service Charge, taxes, pre-booked shore excursions and all gift items purchased online or through Ship Services count towards bonus cruise day credits.

 

It specifically says pre booked excursions. Maybe this is incentive to pre-book online?? Would you not get that credited to your cruise day credits if you booked excursions last minute on the ship??

[jtl513]

Would you not get that credited to your cruise day credits if you booked excursions last minute on the ship??

Yes, you would.

[sail7seas]

But I wanted to mention something I just found out and didn't know, and haven't seen mentioned on here.

 

If you prebook your excursions, PG, gifts, online, they count to cruise day credits! You get one for each $300 spent, and only a maximum of one for each day of cruising. I received 6 additional credits on my last 7 day cruise, and I wasn't sure why, as I thought it was just for purchases, and that would have been a whole lotta drinks!! ;)

 

Onboard Spending Bonus Effective with cruises on or after September 18, 2009, one bonus cruise day credit will be granted for each $300 in eligible onboard purchases. This is calculated on the combined folio charges for all guests on the booking, regardless of who signs each charge and who pays the bill. There is a limit of one bonus day for each day sailed, and 3rd and 4th guests on the same booking do not earn the onboard spending bonus.

 

Are any onboard charges excluded from the onboard purchases bonus?

All casino charges, cash advances, Future Cruise deposits, and associated fees are excluded. All other onboard purchases including Hotel Service Charge, Beverage Service Charge, taxes, pre-booked shore excursions and all gift items purchased online or through Ship Services count towards bonus cruise day credits.

 

It specifically says pre booked excursions. Maybe this is incentive to pre-book online?? Would you not get that credited to your cruise day credits if you booked excursions last minute on the ship??

 

 

Any spending you do before you board the ship is counted toward days credited for your Mariner account.

 

Those days count toward 2*, 3* and 4* Mariners Levels but they do not count toward Medallion Awards. Only actual days aboard count toward Medallion Awards.

 

 

[pms4104]

But I wanted to mention something I just found out and didn't know, and haven't seen mentioned on here.

 

If you prebook your excursions, PG, gifts, online, they count to cruise day credits! You get one for each $300 spent, and only a maximum of one for each day of cruising. I received 6 additional credits on my last 7 day cruise, and I wasn't sure why, as I thought it was just for purchases, and that would have been a whole lotta drinks!! ;)

 

Onboard Spending Bonus Effective with cruises on or after September 18, 2009, one bonus cruise day credit will be granted for each $300 in eligible onboard purchases. This is calculated on the combined folio charges for all guests on the booking, regardless of who signs each charge and who pays the bill. There is a limit of one bonus day for each day sailed, and 3rd and 4th guests on the same booking do not earn the onboard spending bonus.

 

Are any onboard charges excluded from the onboard purchases bonus?

All casino charges, cash advances, Future Cruise deposits, and associated fees are excluded. All other onboard purchases including Hotel Service Charge, Beverage Service Charge, taxes, pre-booked shore excursions and all gift items purchased online or through Ship Services count towards bonus cruise day credits.

 

It specifically says pre booked excursions. Maybe this is incentive to pre-book online?? Would you not get that credited to your cruise day credits if you booked excursions last minute on the ship??

Additionally ... I spoke with the Mariner Society people back in June 2010 and learned that, except for exclusions cited above in your post, any expenditures against a given booking number count for spendiing days. The Mariner lady explained that the cost of any gifts purchased for you by friends, family or whomever also count for spending days. So, if anyone gifts you a wine package, spa treatments, Pinnacle dinners, etc. that all counts.

[Amuse Bouche]

Thanks so much for all of your help everyone!! I had planned on booking a few excursions while under way, as I haven't decided yet. I loved getting the extra 6 days and didn't want to waste any on this next cruise!!