Princess excursions -- HAL excursions: cost?

[DRS/NC]

I'm considering my 1st HAL cruise (on Prinsendam). How do the HAL shore excursions compare to Princess price-wise? I can 'explore' them on the HAL site, but can't get the prices w/o booking.

 

Thanks

[Daisyloo]

I'm considering my 1st HAL cruise (on Prinsendam). How do the HAL shore excursions compare to Princess price-wise? I can 'explore' them on the HAL site, but can't get the prices w/o booking.

 

Thanks

 

They are very similar in price and content. I think you have to be booked on a cruise and sign in to your account to see the availability and cost for the excursions on your sailing.

The biggest difference is that on HAL if you book your excursion prior to your cruise, you pay for it on your credit card at that time. Princess, you reserve the excursion but the charge goes on your onboard account. Both ways have their pros and cons.

Edited January 15, 2014 by Daisyloo

[emeraldlake]

You should be able to get into this website and find excursions and prices.

http://www.princess.com/learn/excursions/index.jsp

[DrivesLikeMario]

IME, Princess' shore excursions are generally much more reasonably priced than many others. I can't compare them to HAL with any recent experience though. I can tell you for sure that they are a lot cheaper than Celebrity's excursions. Hope you enjoy your cruise! :)

[DRS/NC]

Yes, I can see the prices on Princess -- I've booked them for years (elite). But was hoping to see the costs on HAL -- no luck.

 

Thanks for the info about pre-paying on HAL.

[Pam in CA]

The biggest difference is that on HAL if you book your excursion prior to your cruise, you pay for it on your credit card at that time. Princess, you reserve the excursion but the charge goes on your onboard account. Both ways have their pros and cons.

Another big difference with HAL shore excursions is that once onboard, it's far more difficult to cancel an excursion. They don't refund unless the ship misses the port or there's a medical reason. You can cancel and book another tour in the same port. Princess is far more flexible and "forgiving."

[Steviewonder1]

If you join your Roll Call Board for your cruise you may find groups of people that have organized Private Excursions that do the same thing or some better than what Princess has at a greatly reduced price and the groups are smaller (read that as 8-12 instead of a Heard of 45). YMMV.

[caribill]

The biggest difference is that on HAL if you book your excursion prior to your cruise, you pay for it on your credit card at that time. Princess, you reserve the excursion but the charge goes on your onboard account. Both ways have their pros and cons.

 

Not sure what the cons are with not having to pay in advance.

 

I know some people like to not have a big bill at the end of a cruise, but if that is the case, one can "gift" oneself onboard credit equal to the cost of the desired excursions, effectively paying in advance.

 

What cons do you see with the Princess method?

[Daisyloo]

Not sure what the cons are with not having to pay in advance.

 

I know some people like to not have a big bill at the end of a cruise, but if that is the case, one can "gift" oneself onboard credit equal to the cost of the desired excursions, effectively paying in advance.

 

What cons do you see with the Princess method?

 

With HAL we would buy one excursion at a time, maybe one a month or so to spread out the costs. It just made it easier to budget. With the Princess excursions there is a big bill at the end of the cruise. Not a big deal, just different and for some people not as desirable. The end result is the same, just different ways of getting there.

[DRS/NC]

Thanks, folks. I've decided that the HAL cruise is just too expensive for this solo senior. I'll be doing a land trip to Ireland -- not as convenient or relaxing as a cruise, but more contained cost-wise.