Excusion timing

[Dean]

How long should one expect to be able to leave our ship after it arrives in port. For example we arrive in Ketchikan at 09:30 am. Can we make an appointment for an excursion (not offered by Princess) at 10:00? We have never sailed with Princess before, but the other cruise lines normally allow the passengers that signed up with them to depart first before they allow their other passengers to leave. If this is true with Princess, this makes it difficult to plan our excursions.

[Cruiser411]

How long should one expect to be able to leave our ship after it arrives in port. For example we arrive in Ketchikan at 09:30 am. Can we make an appointment for an excursion (not offered by Princess) at 10:00? We have never sailed with Princess before, but the other cruise lines normally allow the passengers that signed up with them to depart first before they allow their other passengers to leave. If this is true with Princess, this makes it difficult to plan our excursions.

 

Are you tendering? If so, you'll probably not make that 10am excursion. For tendering, folks on Princess excursions go first. If you're docked, I think it is still a bit dicey that you'll be outside on the dock at 10am. You'd have to get in line to disembark as early as possible. In general, once the all clear is given, anyone can get off the ship at any time. And, hopefully, they'll be using two gangways. That all depends on tides and such. Good luck!

[idahospud]

We have never sailed with Princess before, but the other cruise lines normally allow the passengers that signed up with them to depart first before they allow their other passengers to leave. If this is true with Princess, this makes it difficult to plan our excursions.

It's the same with Princess. Even without tendering it might be tough to make it as there are several piers spaced a ways apart. Would your excursion meet you specifically at your pier or another location?

[Eaglecw]

Dean what ship are you on? We had no problem getting off the Crown in Ketchikan, we got off pretty fast. They had 2 gangways open. The holdup is caused by the ship photographers taking everyone’s picture, we bypass that mess and get off the ship fast. You shouldn’t have any problems with a 10am excursion, if you’re not tendering, if your tendering that’s another story.

[Thrak]

As stated by others, tendering is its own set of issues.

 

If you are docking you can request to be allowed off immediately as you have an excursion booked. Even though it's not a Princess excursion staff onboard are usually pretty good about making things work for passengers.

 

If you have already booked and paid then take the above route. If you can still book a later excursion it wouldn't hurt to be safe.

[sherryf]

I would be sure to let the excursion vendor know your ship and schedule and ask their advice. Usually they know the schedules well and whether you are likely to be able to make it. If they do say it's okay, you should probably plan to be ready to go and in line well before 9:30, just to be sure.

[Potstech]

Also most tour vendors will wait for some time knowing it takes awhile to get off the ship. I would get off as soon as you can so they do not have to wait any great amount of time.

[caribill]

We have never sailed with Princess before, but the other cruise lines normally allow the passengers that signed up with them to depart first before they allow their other passengers to leave. If this is true with Princess, this makes it difficult to plan our excursions.

 

If you dock, there is no preference for Princess tour passengers to leave the ship before non-Princess tour passengers. If you are docking, the scheduled arrival time is usually about the time the ship will be docked and passengers able to disembark.

 

However, there may be a big line of passengers like yourself anxious to get off the ship, so get on the line early. Once the disembarkation starts, the line usually moves quickly.

 

If you are tendering, the Patter (daily list of activities) will tell a time and place (usually a dining room) that tender tickets will be handed out. Be there about 15 minutes before the listed time to get on one of the first tenders.

[paul929207]

Tour operators are aware of the situation with each ship. Get off quickly. They will wait