ship excursion/indep excursions

[hollon]

We have 1100.00 in obc w/ two cabins booked on the Coral/Alaska, question is we usually go w/ northstar trekking or orca enterprizes, and chikoot charters, will the excursion listed under the princess website use these companies for the same tour or do you think the tour will be different? We really liked the tour company listed above - thanks

[Colo Cruiser]

We have 1100.00 in obc w/ two cabins booked on the Coral/Alaska, question is we usually go w/ northstar trekking or orca enterprizes, and chikoot charters, will the excursion listed under the princess website use these companies for the same tour or do you think the tour will be different? We really liked the tour company listed above - thanks

 

 

We have found that they do in fact use main stream tour companies.

Not sure if the one you list is used by Princess.

[Thrak]

We have 1100.00 in obc w/ two cabins booked on the Coral/Alaska, question is we usually go w/ northstar trekking or orca enterprizes, and chikoot charters, will the excursion listed under the princess website use these companies for the same tour or do you think the tour will be different? We really liked the tour company listed above - thanks

 

Rather than wondering or asking Princess (where you likely won't get an answer) you could always check with the companies directly and ask them if they have an agreement with Princess to provide tour services. I'm pretty sure that, by asking the companies directly, you will be able to get the information you want.

[Northender]

Don't quote me, but I do not think Chilkoot works with Princess. At least they did not back in 2012.

[PatriciaF]

Don't quote me, but I do not think Chilkoot works with Princess. At least they did not back in 2012.

 

Ask the company--or just look on their website. If they are used exclusively by the cruise line(s), they will say cruise ship passengers will need to book through their ship.

[Colo Cruiser]

Ask the company--or just look on their website. If they are used exclusively by the cruise line(s), they will say cruise ship passengers will need to book through their ship.

 

Thats not always true either, we have booked a private tour before when the Co was also running a Princess tour.

[caribill]

If they do the ship's shore excursions, the excursions will usually be much more crowded than an independent excursion they may offer.

[Thrak]

If they do the ship's shore excursions, the excursions will usually be much more crowded than an independent excursion they may offer.

 

The ship-sponsored excursion will probably be more expensive as well.

[smslms]

The ship-sponsored excursion will probably be more expensive as well.

 

The ship sponsored excursion will definitely be more expensive. I have several private tours organized for a cruise next Spring. In one instance the private tour will visit two more venues, last two hours longer and cost $70 vs $199 through Princess.

 

I can however understand why one might take a Princess tour occasionally if one has some substantial OBC.

[satxdiver]

One positive for using ship tours is if the tour travels a long way from the ship or returns just before the ship sails. The ship will wait for the return of all their tours before departing while not so with independent tours. Twice we have taken the ship tour to the Yucutan from Cozumel and returned both times 30 minutes late. The ship waited for us to board before departing which they did when the last pax were aboard.

[caribill]

One positive for using ship tours is if the tour travels a long way from the ship or returns just before the ship sails. The ship will wait for the return of all their tours before departing while not so with independent tours.

 

I have yet to read (but I may have missed them) any posts by those who took independent tours and missed the ship because the tours did not return on time.

 

The posts I have read have been about passengers who lingered in shops or bars too long.

[pompeii]

We had the same situation on our Panama cruise in March. We had about $900 in OBC, so we left enough to cover tips and some incidentals, cashed the rest in at the casino and used it for our independent tours.

[hollon]

If you have obc left on your account, but from a TA, do you get that money refunded or back on your credit card?

[Stevesan]

CNBC Reviews The Business Side Of Cruising

 

CNBC’s “Money” aired a one-hour program “Cruise Inc” July 3, 2009.

Featured ship: Norwegian Pearl.

The narrator sailed a seven-day, four port, W. Caribbean cruise.

He interviewed the ship’s officers and crew from Captain on down, as well as a corporate executive VP officer at home office.

 

I took away a few interesting numbers, some that we frequently speculate about:

 

Pearl sailed with 2200 pax, 92% capacity. Goal is 104%. Pax & crew totaled 4000.

 

On board spending accounts for 25% of revenues.

 

The cruise line takes 20% of Art Auctions and 50-60% of Shorex. On average about two- thirds of pax purchase one shore tour, one-third of whom prebook on line.

There were no numbers reported for other outside contract venues such as the casino or spa.

 

Beverage department breaks even at $7.25 p/pax p/day.

 

Diamonds International at Roatan realized $200k revenue in 6 hours. The cruise line shares in that, but no mention of percentage.

 

Stewards make ~$2500 p/month (quote from steward). Ten-month contract.

 

I suspect each cruise line has it’s own targets, but they’re probably not very different from NCLs.

 

There’s a specific goal for every department. This cruise missed its shorex takings due to weather, but the spa benefited and came in 68% over.

Each department head is daily aware of revenue taken vs the goal. For example, the beverage department knew it had to make up $22,000 going into the last day.

They did. This cruise was a financial break even, primarily due to low pax load.

 

NCL ate a $100M loss in Hawaii venture. Started w/23 ships, only 1 remains.

 

Market share shakes out at: Carnival 50%, Royal Caribbean 30%, Norwegian 10%.

 

17% of Americans have cruised, @ 51,000,000.

 

Ship must report norovirus outbreak when 3% of are afflicted.

[caribill]

NCL ate a $100M loss in Hawaii venture. Started w/23 ships, only 1 remains.

 

I believe they started with 3 ships in the Hawaiian market.

[Colo Cruiser]

I believe they started with 3 ships in the Hawaiian market.

 

I agree 23 is a little steep. :eek:

Edited July 26, 2014 by Colo Cruiser

[SadieN]

I have yet to read (but I may have missed them) any posts by those who took independent tours and missed the ship because the tours did not return on time.

 

The posts I have read have been about passengers who lingered in shops or bars too long.

 

 

Recently (within the month) pax wee stuck on top of one of the glaciers due to fog.

Ship tour pax were taken care of, others had to fend for themselves to get back to the ship.

[luv2snrkl]

Princess does use Northstar Trekking for their helicopter & glacier treks. Princess's price is a little more than booking with Northstar direct, but surprisingly not too much more.