Pre-Arranged Tours Question

[Luvmesomeme]

When you pre-arrange private tours do you prepay? If so, what happens if that port stop is cancelled for some reason? Has anyone had a problem with a refund?

[Clarea]

When you pre-arrange private tours do you prepay? If so' date=' what happens if that port stop is cancelled for some reason? Has anyone had a problem with a refund?[/quote']

There's no universal policy. This would be dependent on the policies of each individual tour company.

[Luvmesomeme]

Thank you Bob.

[nicoleinwi]

When we did a private tour in Roatan, we paid once we arrived.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

As stated above it is up to each private tour company whether you pre-pay or not. Most we are booked with for our upcoming B2B collect payment at the end of the tour. If not, they have a written policy that they will refund the tour if it is cancelled due to weather or if the ship cannot make it to port. We make sure of that before we book. Reputable guides live or die based on reviews here on CC and also on TA, so will stand by their policies.

 

If a ship excursion is cancelled for any reason the refund will show up on your ship board account while you are still on board.

[Luvmesomeme]

Thank You Nicoleinwi & Ginny. I have never booked a private excursion but was considering it and just wondered what the process was like.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Thank You Nicoleinwi & Ginny. I have never booked a private excursion but was considering it and just wondered what the process was like.

 

Just be sure your guide has been used with good results many times by people who cruise so you know he or she is sensitive to the need to get you back to the ship on time. Most guides recommended repeatedly on the Ports of Call Forum on this board are pretty safe. When you contact the guide ask him about his refund policy if he requires payment up front. Be sure to e-mail your guide a few days before leaving on your cruise to confirm your tour, pick up times, etc and bring along a copy of your e-mail(s) with his contact information with you.

 

We will do both private and ship tours depending on the situation at each port and on what we are planning to do that day, although the vast majority of our tours are private. As of yet, we have never had a problem with a private guide. Have fun on your cruise!

[OttoCal]

When you pre-arrange private tours do you prepay? If so' date=' what happens if that port stop is cancelled for some reason? Has anyone had a problem with a refund?[/quote']

 

Many independent tour operators that I have seen have a policy that if the ship does not make the port that day, any pre-paid deposits are refunded.

 

You should check with each tour operator, as they each have their own policy. I currently have on the same upcoming cruise- a totally pre-paid with PayPal tour, one with a credit card as a deposit, but a request to pay in full in cash at the start of the tour, and one with a 50% deposit and the rest due in cash at the end of the tour, and one 'maybe we can have a tour, but only if we get 10 people signed up'.

 

Be sure to reconfirm before you go, ask where to meet (usually go past the Royal Caribbean excursions meeting points), and if you have to go outside the secure port area or not. It varies by port and is NOT always obvious. We have almost missed tours because we couldn't find the meeting point.