Somebody PLEASE help me!!

[MeghanJ]

Hey everyone!! As you can see below, my next cruise will be upon the Carnival Valor in March 2015. I REALLY want to book an excursion through Carnival which is called, "Two Island Snorkel & Beach Safari by FastCat". Everything sounds fabulous--except the excursion ends at 4:30--CUTTING THAT A BIT CLOSE, as the ship leaves at 5.

 

Now on the plus side, it is a Carnival excursion--but on the negative, it ends at 4:30, but we're supposed to be back on the ship at 4:30, although it doesn't sail until 5--this is making my worrying husband say, "NO WAY!!"

 

My question is--have any of you booked this excursion?? Was there any issue at ALL getting back on the ship? I don't want to be a pier runner--or worse--left behind!:eek: Thank you for any help you can give us!!:rolleyes:

[cbCRR]

If it is booked through Carnival, they won't leave you.

[jsfromsc]

If it's a Carnival excursion, you should have no problems. If Carnival doesn't think you can get back on board on time, then you probably will not be able to select that excursion. But the only way you can know for sure is to contact Carnival, not Cruise Critic. See if you can get put through to the shore excursion people. If they do let you book it, they will not leave until you're back on board. That's their rule. Their excursion, they're responsible.

Edited June 24, 2014 by jsfromsc

[momof4boys]

If it is a CCL excursion the ship will wait for you if the excursion runs late. Don't worry. Enjoy your trip!!

[sjcruiser]

Nothing to worry about if its a Carnival/ship booked excursion. As noted, they'll wait for you if you're running late. Enjoy your cruise.

[cb at sea]

Book it, if that's what you want! Ship's excursions are totally fool-proof.

[Budget Queen]

Any cruiseline booked excursion WILL get back to the ship on time. Otherwise, they would NOT be offering it.

 

Is this tour out of St. Thomas? IF so, I just took this a week ago, fact is, it is only ONE snorkel location that is pretty good. The other is a so so beach, nothing special, and you have to wade to the beach, going into water up to mid chest/neck, no dock. Little shade, if that's of interest. Hardly worth the stop. Rum punch was free flowing with all you wanted, however.

[MeghanJ]

If it's a Carnival excursion, you should have no problems. If Carnival doesn't think you can get back on board on time, then you probably will not be able to select that excursion. But the only way you can know for sure is to contact Carnival, not Cruise Critic. See if you can get put through to the shore excursion people. If they do let you book it, they will not leave until you're back on board. That's their rule. Their excursion, they're responsible.

Thank you for your reply!! I had to call my TA, as that is what you have to do if you use a TA. She did say that she called Carnival, but there was not a morning excursion time for this particular excursion, but she said if the excursion is purchased through Carnival, we should be good. That was her opinion--which is good enough for me. But as I said, I need to talk my husband into it. That is the problem. He worries more about these things than I do, which in one way I appreciate--but in another way I say--LIVE A LITTLE!!

[OCruisers]

Book the excursion you want thru Carnival. No way it will leave you. We were two hours late getting back from a ship's excursion and the ship was right there waiting for us. :D

LuLu

[MeghanJ]

Book the excursion you want thru Carnival. No way it will leave you. We were two hours late getting back from a ship's excursion and the ship was right there waiting for us. :D

LuLu

It is so funny how two different people will have a different response--mine was, "There you go! Let's book!!" and my husband's response is, "How the HELL were you 2 hours late??!!"

 

See this is WHAT I am dealing with--I am TOTALLY comfortable with this excursion, but my DH is not. LORD HELP ME!! :o

[63galaxie]

It is so funny how two different people will have a different response--mine was, "There you go! Let's book!!" and my husband's response is, "How the HELL were you 2 hours late??!!"

 

See this is WHAT I am dealing with--I am TOTALLY comfortable with this excursion, but my DH is not. LORD HELP ME!! :o

 

Because Carnival contracts with these vendors, Carnival,guarantees they will not leave you behind. There's been incidences where a vendors vehicle or boat has broken down, or their vehicle got stuck in traffic, etc. Tell your husband no worries.

 

BTW, that's why it costs more to take a shore excursion through Carnival. You're paying for peace of mind.:D

Edited June 24, 2014 by 63galaxie

[Aplmac]

Because Carnival contracts with these vendors, Carnival guarantees they will not leave you behind.

There's been incidences where a vendors vehicle or boat has broken down, or their vehicle got stuck in traffic, etc.

Tell your husband no worries.

 

BTW, that's why it costs more to take a shore excursion through Carnival.

You're paying for peace of mind.:D

I'd book it now...

and then check with the Shore Excursions desk on board

as soon as possible after boarding the ship

just to double-check with them that things will go smoothly.

 

If at that point you/husband decides to chicken-out, I'm sure they'll offer a refund.

 

But as everyone has already said, CARNIVAL-issued tours are guaranteed to wait for you.

 

 

Besides...getting back to the ship at 4:30-ish still leaves a half-hour of wiggle room.

 

_________________________

And then later in the evening

you guys can ease the tension with this kinda fun, near the Casino

 

[YOUTUBE]y04VDCyKN1s[/YOUTUBE]

.

Edited June 24, 2014 by Aplmac

[092306]

We tend to book the majority of our excursions through Carnival for this reason. You can be in port and enjoy without worry that something will happen to delay you.

[Vitality08]

It's been my experience that one of two things happen:

 

1) When it says it ends at 4:30 that's the time they will have you back. Basically, you won't be leaving the beach or snorkel location at 4:30 and then have to travel. All travel time is factored in.

 

2) The excursions get back earlier than posted because they all seem to give you time to shop in the port area.

 

I think you'll be fine. But even with a TA, I think you can call carnival and discuss an excursion. Just tell them you haven't booked yet but saw this excursion you think you may like.

[sparks1093]

It's been my experience that one of two things happen:

 

1) When it says it ends at 4:30 that's the time they will have you back. Basically, you won't be leaving the beach or snorkel location at 4:30 and then have to travel. All travel time is factored in.

 

2) The excursions get back earlier than posted because they all seem to give you time to shop in the port area.

 

I think you'll be fine. But even with a TA, I think you can call carnival and discuss an excursion. Just tell them you haven't booked yet but saw this excursion you think you may like.

 

I agree with number 1 above- that's the time you will arrive back at the pier, not the time you will start heading back. We took an excursion in Freeport and arrived 20 minutes after we were supposed to be onboard. The ship was on the radio to the bus asking when we would be back. I think we were the last group onboard.

[Badfinger]

It is so funny how two different people will have a different response--mine was, "There you go! Let's book!!" and my husband's response is, "How the HELL were you 2 hours late??!!"

 

See this is WHAT I am dealing with--I am TOTALLY comfortable with this excursion, but my DH is not. LORD HELP ME!! :o

 

If you are that comfortable, just go by yourself.

[K&P Luv2Cruise]

On the flip side of the coin...

 

We were at our last port of call on the 15-day Miracle re-po cruise in March 2013. There was a family who were on a Carnival excursion, and were going to be late getting back...unfortunately, the tender boats in Cabo would not/could not transport the family to the ship after a certain hour (we were to set sail @ I think 5, and we waited a little while for them), so Carnival put them up in a hotel room in Cabo, and flew them into Long Beach...they were escorted to the ship by Customs officials, re-boarded there and then they packed to disembark with the rest of us.

 

They gained a day and a half in Cabo, but had no change of clothes, no access to their medications etc. until they re-boarded in Long Beach.

 

So, moral to the story is...Yes, a Carnival excursion will wait, but if you are relying on local tender boats to get you back to the ship, they may not be able to get you there due to local restrictions.

[marshhawk]

IF this is a Carnival excursion, they will not leave without you.

IF you wanted to wait, you can book the excursion once you board the ship (they leave a few spots open for all excursions)

IF your husband in nervous about the timing, and knows he wont be left behind, maybe he is nervous about something else.

However, if it something you REALLY want to do, then book it. And have a great time!

[suziqz007]

Show your hubby this page on the Carnival site.

 

It states: "Don't let potential changes to ship itinerary or delays getting back to the ship interfere with your fun. We take care of all the details and wait in port for the return of all Carnival excursions."

[Homosassa]

Please note: The ship will wait if the harbor master grants permission for the ship to be late leaving the dock. However, there will be times that harbor master will not grant permission for various reasons and the ship will leave as scheduled.

 

If that happens, Carnival will make sure that you rejoin the ship as soon as possible in another port.

[OCruisers]

Show your hubby this page on the Carnival site.

 

It states: "Don't let potential changes to ship itinerary or delays getting back to the ship interfere with your fun. We take care of all the details and wait in port for the return of all Carnival excursions."

 

The above is true! Hope it will set your DH's mind at ease.

Edited June 24, 2014 by OCruisers

[MeghanJ]

I'd book it now...

and then check with the Shore Excursions desk on board

as soon as possible after boarding the ship

just to double-check with them that things will go smoothly.

 

If at that point you/husband decides to chicken-out, I'm sure they'll offer a refund.

 

But as everyone has already said, CARNIVAL-issued tours are guaranteed to wait for you.

 

 

Besides...getting back to the ship at 4:30-ish still leaves a half-hour of wiggle room.

 

_________________________

And then later in the evening

you guys can ease the tension with this kinda fun, near the Casino

 

y04VDCyKN1s

 

.

Thank you so much for your advice of booking it and then speaking to Carnival as soon as we board if we are still worried about the timing.

 

We always are back on the ship hours before the boat sails--hence the nervousness on part of my husband. As I noted, I was wondering if anyone has taken the excursion and had any issues with it. It does not sound like anyone had issues with the excursion, and that you all believe we "will be fine" if we book the excursion. Thank you for your swift responses. I do believe I have an excursion to book!! ;)

[MeghanJ]

Thank you the page so show my husband! That is also very a very helpful response!

Edited June 25, 2014 by MeghanJ

[Cruise, J.D.]

Please note: The ship will wait if the harbor master grants permission for the ship to be late leaving the dock. However, there will be times that harbor master will not grant permission for various reasons and the ship will leave as scheduled.

 

If that happens, Carnival will make sure that you rejoin the ship as soon as possible in another port.

 

Yep. There is no absolute guarantee the ship will wait. Read the ticket contract. :)