Booking private excursions or through Crown and lateness

[styme123]

Is it really true that if your late coming back from a Princess booked excursion they won't leave without you? If you book independent and something delays you, your out of luck, they will leave without you? We're going to Alaska this July and most of the Princess excursion are a bit more expensive than if we booked through private excursions. There are 7 of us going so that savings can be several hundred $'s. I was just reading on one of the other threads about people getting left at ports, now I'm a bit nervous:eek:

[idahospud]

Is it really true that if your late coming back from a Princess booked excursion they won't leave without you? If you book independent and something delays you, your out of luck, they will leave without you? We're going to Alaska this July and most of the Princess excursion are a bit more expensive than if we booked through private excursions. There are 7 of us going so that savings can be several hundred $'s. I was just reading on one of the other threads about people getting left at ports, now I'm a bit nervous:eek:

Princess waits for their own excursions. They have staff onshore at the bottom of the gangway with walkie talkies and are kept updated by the tour operators. We've witnessed the process dozens of times when tours are running late.

 

Just a couple weeks back our Princess excursion in Bilbao, Spain was an hour late getting back to the ship. They waited for our coach. A week before that our ship waited for a group on a very late ship excursion in Bonaire. But if you are on a ship excursion and then decide to run and do some shopping and are late, that can be a different story.

Edited April 29, 2016 by idahospud

[buchananglasgow]

On every cruise line they will only wait on there own trip excursion coming back. If you're doing an independent one and are late they will not wait for you. So if the car/van/bus you are on gets a puncture or any other fault and does not get back in time, then you're on your own. It's up to you to get yourself to the next port of call to rejoin the ship. They off load your passport and sometimes will off load your cases to and leave them with the dock agent.

[easyboy]

Is it really true that if your late coming back from a Princess booked excursion they won't leave without you? If you book independent and something delays you, your out of luck, they will leave without you? We're going to Alaska this July and most of the Princess excursion are a bit more expensive than if we booked through private excursions. There are 7 of us going so that savings can be several hundred $'s. I was just reading on one of the other threads about people getting left at ports, now I'm a bit nervous:eek:

Yes if you are with a private excursion. Cruise lines give guarantees for their own excursions.

Private excursions have time schedule and duration. We compare it with the ship's port schedule on our itinerary. We are always cautious and usually take excursions that gets back to ship at least 2 hours before to "all aboard time".

Otherwise, we take the ship's shore excursions and just enjoy and remain focus on the tour, and not worry about the time.

[NSWP]

Is it really true that if your late coming back from a Princess booked excursion they won't leave without you? If you book independent and something delays you, your out of luck, they will leave without you? We're going to Alaska this July and most of the Princess excursion are a bit more expensive than if we booked through private excursions. There are 7 of us going so that savings can be several hundred $'s. I was just reading on one of the other threads about people getting left at ports, now I'm a bit nervous:eek:

Princess generally have a tour escort from the crew (could be from Photo shop, Band, Hairdresser etc) on the shorex coaches as a contact with phone to the ship. Thus they can keep the ship informed of shorex timings.

Edited April 29, 2016 by NSWP

[VibeGuy]

To be peevishly technical, the ship may wait for those who book the line's excursions. Or they may sail without them and make arrangements for them to rejoin the ship at the line's expense. The latter is more common in ports with big tides or in the case of threatening weather/fog.

 

Alaska excursion operators are exquisitely aware of the power of social media and are going to do everything possible to get you back on time and in one piece, because they know if they don't, they're done for in the court of public opinion. I wouldn't hesitate to book with a well-regarded independent.

Edited April 29, 2016 by VibeGuy

[Murphey]

Let's ask this: Has anyone missed the ship due to a private excursion? You, personally, not "I heard about..."

[paul929207]

Princess will wait for their excursions to return IF THEY CAN. If they have to sail, they will get passengers who are late due to Princess excursions to the next port.

[moki'smommy]

Let's ask this: Has anyone missed the ship due to a private excursion? You, personally, not "I heard about..."

 

Many reputable tour operators "guarantee" that they will deliver you back to your ship on time or they will pay to get you to the next port.

 

And no, we've never been late getting back with any private tour operator.

 

We were an hour late once with a ship sponsored excursion, but that was because they waited an hour for an individual who couldn't follow instructions. The excursion included a period of "on your own" time. We were escorted to our meeting point and instructed to be back there at X time. All but one made it back. We were encouraging the guide to take us to the bus and leave--it had been a long, hot day. She was in radio contact with her company and they kept telling her to wait as we were the last bus. Finally he straggled in about 55 minutes late. Yes, the ship was waiting for us when the bus got us there.

[Aus Traveller]

Princess generally have a tour escort from the crew (could be from Photo shop, Band, Hairdresser etc) on the shorex coaches as a contact with phone to the ship. Thus they can keep the ship informed of shorex timings.

It is the guide who has a radio and mobile phone to contact his/her company who is in touch with the Shore Excursions Manager. When there is a Princess escort on the bus they are not given a phone or radio so they have no way to contact the Shore Ex Manager. The escort is there to help the Shore Ex staff before the tour, help any passenger who might need help during the tour, assist the tour guide, then put in a report on all aspects of the tour. :)

[Pam in CA]

I have been on a Princess shore excursion that arrived back at port almost two hours late. Long story I won't repeat here. The ship will wait if it can but sometimes, that's impossible due to weather, tides, currents, other ships needing to sail, etc. I've seen Princess excursion passengers re-board the ship at the next port. Princess paid for flights, hotels, etc.

 

Many independent shore excursion companies are very reputable and make sure you get back to the ship on time but it's also the organizer's responsibility to make sure the tour is on schedule and allow enough time. Check reviews on CC or Trip Advisor before booking. Never use an independent tour operator that requires pre-payment or a substantial non-refundable deposit. Even the most reliable ports can be missed.

[RASHOPPER2]

We have taken many private tours all over Europe. We have never arrived back at the ship late. It is important to book with tour companies that have good reputations. It is also important to keep your eyes on your watch. You want to be BACK AT THE SHIP at least an hour before last aboard time. If time is marching on, tell your tour operator, we want to go back to the ship, He/she is your employee for a the day and has to follow your instructions. The tour companies are very afraid of getting a poor reputation on Cruise Critic and always follow your instructions. So take private tour without worry as long as you have done your homework on the tour operator that you have booked with.

[moki'smommy]

Never use an independent tour operator that requires pre-payment or a substantial non-refundable deposit. Even the most reliable ports can be missed.

 

Read the fine print. Some operators require a credit card number to reserve your space, but won't bill the card if your ship is unable to dock/tender. I don't view this as "pre-payment," but as something that protects both me and the operator. If they violate their policy and bill the card, I can dispute the charge with the credit card company. But if I'm a no show for any reason other than the ship's issues, they are still paid.

[panda24]

If it would make you feel better, there are some travel insurance plans that will pay for you to catch you up to the ship if you were to miss the boat. We had one a few years back when we weren't sure if we'd run into issues. Thankfully didn't use it. I'm sorry I don't remember the company. Again, depends on the cost savings for the overall purchase.

 

 

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[ggprincess2004]

Yes, Princess waits for its excursions to return, and in the very rare instance when an excursion is delayed beyond when the ship must sail, they will take care of you and get you to the next port.

 

There are certain excursions I would only do through Princess, just for that reason, especially if it involves the last port before a series of sea days, or a tour to someplace that is quite far from the ship.

 

As a example, if you are going to be in port on the island of Cozumel and want to go to Chichen Itza, I would do it through Princess. There are so many variables involved in returning to the ship on time for that one, I simply wouldn't risk an independent operator. We did a tour to Mayan ruins a number of years ago and were running almost two hours late on the return - the bus pulled up on the concrete pier immediately next to the gangway to offload us.

 

We went whale watching in Bar Harbor, and there was a whale sighting guarantee......the whales were not cooperating that day. The captain of the boat was bound and determined not to have to refund money, so he continued on out to sea to try and find them...well beyond when he should have turned back to return the boat to the pier at the scheduled time, etc, etc. We were again over an hour late returning to the dock. Well, that boat had a Princess tour group on it, we were part of the Princess tour, and since Bar Harbor is a tender port the last tender was waiting for the group. Had we done this independently, we would have been left behind. Frankly, I find it hard to believe that a tour operator would be irresponsible enough to purposely make a scheduled tour late returning, especially when they know a number of their passengers are cruise ship passengers. The return time was completely within his control and he chose to ignore the deadline. There also happened to be quite a few others who were not on the ships tour on that whale watching trip. Perhaps a number of those tourists had dinner reservations or the like that were also disrupted.

 

On the other hand, if you are in Boston and want to do a HOHO tour independently, great idea. Set an alarm on your watch or phone the tells you when to start heading back so you don't have to worry about time until that point and enjoy your day.

 

They might be extreme examples, but really, common sense informs us on when we choose an independent tour or rely on the Princess tour choices.

Edited April 29, 2016 by ggprincess2004

[Cruise Raider]

I have definitely seen people left at the pier when on touring on their own. They call over the loudspeaker for about 30 minutes requesting such and such passengers to please return to the guest relations desk. I have heard announcements that they are waiting for these passengers to return but about 30 minutes after the scheduled departure is about all they will give if you are not on a Princess tour. I have seen the mad dash after the ship has already been untied. They will not tie it up again and those passengers (or crew) will have to make their way to the next port at their own expense.

 

We were on a ship's tour in Boston once and hit very bad traffic due to a wrong turn and then hit a construction zone. Everybody had clapped when our bus pulled into the port. I just seem to think the captain must have said something over the PA explaining that they had to wait for our bus to return. Poor tour guides, which were very good, BTW, were sweating bullets. We were about 45 minutes late ... I am sure they were not going to renew that contract or there are probably fines involved for the extra costs generated by keeping the port workers there for a longer period of time. Not sure how that works, I just know the guide was quite worried.

[OCruisers]

We were over two hours late returning from a Princess excursion. The ship was there waiting.

As others have posted, if for some reason the ship is unable to wait, Princess will make arrangement and pay for you to get to your next port.

[mreasier]

I have definitely seen people left at the pier when on touring on their own. They call over the loudspeaker for about 30 minutes requesting such and such passengers to please return to the guest relations desk. I have heard announcements that they are waiting for these passengers to return but about 30 minutes after the scheduled departure is about all they will give if you are not on a Princess tour. I have seen the mad dash after the ship has already been untied. They will not tie it up again and those passengers (or crew) will have to make their way to the next port at their own expense.

We have all heard those calls. I would bet that 99.9% of them are people doing power shopping and/or power drinking at the port, and not on private tours.

Edited April 29, 2016 by mreasier

[emmak8]

We book private excursions as well as Princess excursions. In over 35 Princess cruises, we have never been late returning to the ship. Private tour operators know that their business will be ended if they get passengers back late.

 

There are many reputable tour operators that charge very reasonable rates. Plus your group will be smaller than the ship's group. Visit your roll call to connect with others looking to plan independent tours.

[geoherb]

I would not book a private tour if the scheduled ending time did not give us some cushion--like at least an hour before the scheduled all-aboard time. That said, we've taken plenty of private tours and have also toured on our own (cabs, buses, and ferries), making sure we have plenty of time to get back to the ship in case the unexpected happens.

[CI66774]

Was 45 minutes (ish) late getting back from Paris. Princess excursion. Ship waited (however, there were about 6 Princess excursions later that day due to traffic). Additionally, there was another port where we were late (Princess excursion), ship waited.

[brianlojeck]

I was on an alaskan tour (booked through Princess) that arrived back at the ship AN HOUR AFTER the designated departure time.

 

Not only did the ship wait, the ship had officers waiting to personally escort us from the bus to the gangway through security.

 

I cannot say, at what point, the ship will leave a passenger who isn't on a company-booked-tour, but I understand it's a possibility.

[cheeseclan]

Many years ago we were on a Princess tour on the Panama canal 10 day cruise. We got back with no problems and took showers and went to eat. We should have departed at 5 but a bus broke down and they were having problems getting the passengers back. We did not leave until 9 pm that night. Captain kept us informed and then we saw the tour group get off the bus and onto the ship. They were thrilled that we waited!

We have done our own tours etc in the caribbean and on some tours in AK but have decided that we will stick with Princess when we do our May Baltic cruise.

[Murphey]

Not one personal story of having missed the ship due to a private tour. BTW, our private tours in the Baltics were amazing.....especially St. Pete!

[cheeseclan]

We saw a small bus load of people on our MX cruise a number of years ago that did not make it back because their bus broke down and they were on a private tour. The ship did not wait for them.

As far as the Baltic, i am happy that you liked your private tour. We have chosen to go with Princess for a number of reasons. Maybe it will not be as crowded since quite a few are doing private tours:)