Celebrity's Shore Excursion "Guaranteed Return To Ship" is no gimmick.

[Gerrym]

Thanks for your invaluable contribution to this thread. :rolleyes:

 

 

 

Where's the 'LIKE' button :)

[Gonzo70]

Where's the 'LIKE' button :)

 

Curious what you "LIKE" about an unprovoked, sarcastic, passive-aggressive personal attack? :confused:

[J&Jtravelcouple]

[deleted by writer]

Edited January 5, 2017 by J&Jtravelcouple

[roxievegas]

We have been on six cruises with Celebrity. Each cruise we have done one or more excursions with Celebrity. I have found that the price is not that much out of range with independent but I am paying for the guarantee and if I have a problem with the tour, I have been given my money back or 50%. Once we were given more than 100%, plus a bottle of champagne. They back their promise. We have never felt that we were cattle, and we have been with people who follow the "be back here in 30 minutes" or you have one hour and we have never had to wait for someone. Believe me when I say - i will be the first to tell someone that holds up the bus - get here on time or we will tell the driver to leave your a**. So far, I haven't had to say anything. Do what makes you comfortable.

[spendless]

We very rarely take ship excursions as they tend to be very overpriced and we prefer to be in a small group or visit particular things.

 

The only time we do take ship excursions are when there are time constraints or we can't find a suitable alternative.

 

Yes, things do happen, but it is highly unlikely that the ship will sail without you as long as you have booked with a reputable company and you plan to get back well in time.

 

What planet are you on? Cruise ships DO leave if passengers who are on private excursions are not back on board. We were in Madeira recently and another ship left around 15 passengers behind. The ship was actually still in sight!

[nparmelee]

To the OP, glad it worked out for you. Booking cruise line tours vs private tours or DIY is a personal choice and everyone should base it on their own comfort level. A reminder, people on cruise line tours have been left behind, especially when they broke away from the group as they were dropped off, either on purpose or accidentally. Some ports can be confusing and if you get distracted you can lose track of where your group went. No matter which method you choose for your shore excursion, always have a plan b.

[Orator]

Your Celebrity Today lists the port agent information for the port you are visiting. Take this information with you when you leave the ship. I know several who needed to use it! Hopefully, you will never need it, but things can and do happen.

[RickT]

Curious what you "LIKE" about an unprovoked, sarcastic, passive-aggressive personal attack? :confused:

 

Given your comment added nothing to this thread other than your personal dislike of ship tours I can understand the like. :eek:

 

In response to the OP, that Guarantee is certainly one of the big pluses for ship organized excursions and glad to hear time and time again it's true (we were in Messina a couple years ago and couldn't understand why the ship was late leaving... suddenly a minivan pulls up in front of the ship and people scurry out towards the ship. It seems they ran into a closed road due to an accident and were late returning due to the detour).

 

There are pros and cons of using ships excursions and when the pros outweigh the cons I'll take one.

Edited January 5, 2017 by RickT

[DrivesLikeMario]

My family and I just got back from a fabulous cruise on the Celebrity Reflection. We booked a shore excursion with Celebrity for our stop in Jamaica. Our scheduled time in port was 8AM-4PM. Most of you will know that means all passengers are due back by 3:30PM and the ship will frequently leave up to 15 minutes before the official departure time.

 

Well our tour was running much longer than expected and then there was a TON of traffic on the highway leading back to the dock. We ended up arriving at the tour staging area around 4:15PM where a ship's officer quickly escorted us to the ship. It was about 4:20PM when we got the ship. Right as we were stepping on the ship the horn was being sounded and deckhands started unmooring the ship. We were moving away from the dock before we made it to our rooms!

 

Been there/done that with a Princess tour but we were about 2.5 hrs. late. Whole ship waited for our tour to return. They pulled up the temporary gangway they set up for our group as we took the last step off it. It's trips like these that you're glad you're on a cruiseline tour!

[DrivesLikeMario]

Your Celebrity Today lists the port agent information for the port you are visiting. Take this information with you when you leave the ship. I know several who needed to use it! Hopefully, you will never need it, but things can and do happen.

 

Take a picture of the Celebrity Today daily with your cell phone camera. Means less to carry with you. ;)

[sloopsailor]

....an unprovoked, sarcastic, passive-aggressive personal attack :confused:

 

You mean like the one you wrote denigrating people as "cattle" and not being smart enough to do research on the alleged advantages of private tours????

 

BTW: I am smart enough to research the private tours available and still sometimes we prefer the ship's tour. Does that make me a smart bovine, or a dumb human? :p

Edited January 5, 2017 by sloopsailor

[Orator]

If you enjoy overpaying to be herded like cattle on an overcrowded excursion with zero ability to personalize, lots of wasted time and often forced "shopping" stops at venues that give a kickback to the cruise line, so be it. :rolleyes:

 

If one does a little research and books with a reputable private vendor and utilizes a little common sense the chances of missing the ship are minuscule. Perhaps the tiny, remote chance of missing the ship is enough to entice some people to overpay for an inferior experience, but many informed cruisers refuse to partake in a cruise line excursion.

 

This is a factually correct statement. 1. The shore excursion offered by the ship is more expensive than a similar excursion provided by a private tour operator. The ship receives a 20% commission and that charge is passed on to the customer. 2. You are "herded like cattle" as you line up behind the person who carries the lollipop and attempt to keep them in sight. The tour ultimately goes as fast as the slowest person.3. Clearly you can't deviate from the tour plan. Any decision to deviate is in the hands of the tour operator. The tour guide must call superiors if there is a need to deviate.4.Most tours do include shopping visits. We had very limited time in Goa, but spent lots of time in a high priced tourist shop on the way home.

What you do is purely a personal choice. I don't understand an attack on a person who is simply stating the truth as Gonzo70 is. I've been on these boards for many years and can say without hesitation that Gonzo70 is one of the most insightful and reliable posters.

[Fish Lover]

The ship WILL absolutely sail without you, if you have not returned to the ship timely...unless you are late returning from a ship sponsored excursion.

 

If you risk taking a privately arranged excursion, then you best make sure you return on time.

 

Pros and Cons of ship sponsored excursions is not what the OP posted about.

 

When in port for a short time and if traveling anywhere of significance (time wise), we never risk the private excursions unless we have hired a private car...but that's just us.

[Lois R]

This is a factually correct statement. 1. The shore excursion offered by the ship is more expensive than a similar excursion provided by a private tour operator. The ship receives a 20% commission and that charge is passed on to the customer. 2. You are "herded like cattle" as you line up behind the person who carries the lollipop and attempt to keep them in sight. The tour ultimately goes as fast as the slowest person.3. Clearly you can't deviate from the tour plan. Any decision to deviate is in the hands of the tour operator. The tour guide must call superiors if there is a need to deviate.4.Most tours do include shopping visits. We had very limited time in Goa, but spent lots of time in a high priced tourist shop on the way home.

What you do is purely a personal choice. I don't understand an attack on a person who is simply stating the truth as Gonzo70 is. I've been on these boards for many years and can say without hesitation that Gonzo70 is one of the most insightful and reliable posters.

 

Hi Charles, just an observation......not all the cruiseline tours are herds

of people. As I mentioned earlier I have been on several over the years

that were small and they were personalized. So really, it just depends

on the tour....no attacking Gonzo from here....just another point of view.

[Orator]

Hi Lois:

I've never experienced a small, personalize excursion offered on a Celebrity ship. Not to say that they don't exist, because they do. About 2 years ago Celebrity started to promote personalized excursions. They even created a new position to service those who want a private journey. I've seen many in Michael's Club arrange them. You can get it at a price. On my India cruise one was offered to the Taj Mahal at $2000 per person. I believe that there were 6 takers. Spoke to one couple that thought it was worth every penny. I believe that smaller group tours for the masses will become very scarce as Celebrity continues to promote Private Journeys. Things are certainly changing.

[Lois R]

Hi Lois:

I've never experienced a small, personalize excursion offered on a Celebrity ship. Not to say that they don't exist, because they do. About 2 years ago Celebrity started to promote personalized excursions. They even created a new position to service those who want a private journey. I've seen many in Michael's Club arrange them. You can get it at a price. On my India cruise one was offered to the Taj Mahal at $2000 per person. I believe that there were 6 takers. Spoke to one couple that thought it was worth every penny. I believe that smaller group tours for the masses will become very scarce as Celebrity continues to promote Private Journeys. Things are certainly changing.

 

Hi, I was not referring to a tour for 2grand:eek:.....that is way beyond my pay grade. I went on a culinary tour in St Lucia....I think we had about 15 people. It was awesome:D....I can't remember the price but it may have been around 100.00.....it was delicious:) and well worth whatever I had paid.

Edited January 6, 2017 by Lois R

[iheartbda]

The ship WILL absolutely sail without you, if you have not returned to the ship timely...unless you are late returning from a ship sponsored excursion.

 

If you risk taking a privately arranged excursion, then you best make sure you return on time.

 

Pros and Cons of ship sponsored excursions is not what the OP posted about.

When in port for a short time and if traveling anywhere of significance (time wise), we never risk the private excursions unless we have hired a private car...but that's just us.

 

Yesssssss.:)

[Charles4515]

Have you ever taken one?

 

While I usually schedule private tours or go DIY, occasionally we take a ship's excursion depending on the port and if a lot of travel is involved getting to the site where we want to visit.

 

 

 

 

 

I usually do private tours but occasionally do a ships excursion. Did a couple of them a few years ago to use up OBC. I regretted doing the ships excursion those times.

 

 

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[Charles4515]

What an attitude!!! Insult people by calling them "cattle" and accusing them of being too stupid to do anything else. Way to make your point of how superior you are. :rolleyes:

 

Sheesh! We get it. You prefer to do private tours or go out on your own. But there is no reason to ridicule people who do things differently than you. Their needs and comfort zone preferences are equally important to them as yours is to you. No need to be so critical. :mad:

 

 

 

No one was called cattle. The phrase was being herded like cattle. That is what happens often on ships excursions.

 

 

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[Charles4515]

You mean like the one you wrote denigrating people as "cattle" and not being smart enough to do research on the alleged advantages of private tours????

 

 

 

BTW: I am smart enough to research the private tours available and still sometimes we prefer the ship's tour. Does that make me a smart bovine, or a dumb human? :p

 

 

 

No one was denigrated as cattle. The fact is that on many cruise line excursions they do herd people like cattle. I made the mistake of booking a Celebrity tour of the Doge Palace and we were literally 30 people with wireless earphones being herded around trying to keep up with the guide. I was using up OBC and turned out to me penny foolish. I won't do cruise line excursions only to use up OBC anymore.

 

 

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[dkjretired]

The ship WILL absolutely sail without you, if you have not returned to the ship timely...unless you are late returning from a ship sponsored excursion.

 

If you risk taking a privately arranged excursion, then you best make sure you return on time.

 

Pros and Cons of ship sponsored excursions is not what the OP posted about.

 

When in port for a short time and if traveling anywhere of significance (time wise), we never risk the private excursions unless we have hired a private car...but that's just us.

 

There are videos on you tube of people running to catch the ship as it pulls away. It is also sort of a spectator sport for many including myself watching people running up to catch the ship.

 

Gonzo called no one cattle, that is clear. Often the choice of how you take excursions is simply personal, some just feel more comfortable knowing they are guaranteed back on ship. We have done both but on our next cruise we'll be doing a lot of ship excursions since we have a load of OBC. Our excursions are usually on water and I don't consider 30 people on a Catmaran a "cattle call"

[4774Papa]

No one was called cattle. The phrase was being herded like cattle. That is what happens often on ships excursions.

 

 

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I agree that some ship's excursions don't handle it well with a bus full of 40 persons. However, I have been on ship's excursions where everything was well handled.

 

Sure, if you have a private tour of 10 persons, as I usually have when I organize a private tour, and unloading a minibus is faster than a large bus. What is the big deal, you might have a few minutes to unload the bus? I have been on some excellent excursions.

 

On river cruises we are usually divided into three busses with about 40 persons and the tours are well done.

 

We probably do about 10% of the ports with a ship's excursion, DIY if that works and most with a private tour. While I prefer private tour's, I have had some that were not as good as ship's excursions.

 

What most people seem to say on this thread is categorical statements about excursions are just not appropriate.

[Charles4515]

The ship WILL absolutely sail without you, if you have not returned to the ship timely...unless you are late returning from a ship sponsored excursion.

 

 

 

If you risk taking a privately arranged excursion, then you best make sure you return on time.

 

 

 

Pros and Cons of ship sponsored excursions is not what the OP posted about.

 

 

 

When in port for a short time and if traveling anywhere of significance (time wise), we never risk the private excursions unless we have hired a private car...but that's just us.

 

 

I have done many private excursions and never missed the ship or thought we might. But all the private excursions were researched. I am OCD about reading reviews of the private companies. In Europe on Med cruises I wasn't worried if it did happen because most of the ports were close and with the trains there I could have arrived at the next port ahead of the ship.

 

The only time I was on tours that cut it close back to the ship was on cruise line excursions. My conclusion from that was not that it was lucky I took a cruise line excursion. It was that the tour operator didn't have to worry about the ship leaving and didn't hustle the tour back.

 

 

 

 

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Edited January 6, 2017 by Charles4515

[AtlantaCruiser72]

To the point the OP was trying to make .... Because of their situation, and they fact they were on a ships tour the ship waited their return. Had they been on an independent tour there is a chance they would not have. In such a case, as we all know meeting up with the ship at the next port can be expensive, and sometimes complex. While many may not like ship tours for many very personal reasons there is this particular upside to them.

 

Road accidents, weather incidents, local strikes and many other factors can all conspire to waylay the best of plans and force you into an unhappy situation. Booking independent tours is a calculated risk, and one I have often taken. There are times when I will only book ships tours, usually in places with notoriously unreliable local transport, long travel distance to/from port to the attraction that I wish to enjoy, and ease/cost of getting to the next port.

 

I have enjoyed many independent and ships tours over the years, and would never criticize a fellow traveler of their choice in shoreside arrangements. It's a personal decision that we all must be comfortable with.

[fleckle]

Since you mentioned the Haines Ferry, I though that I would mention this particular example. There was a case a few years ago where the weather worsened during the day after the cruise ship passengers traveled to Haines (including a ships excursion). The weather got bad enough that the ferry could not return. The ship had to depart Skagway and continue to Juneau. The next day after the weather cleared the ferry made it back to Skagway where Princess flew their excursion passengers to Juneau. Never did hear if their were any independent travelers caught by this, but if so they would have had to make their own flight arrangements.

 

Which actually would not be that much of a risk to take, considering the unusual circumstances and how unlikely the odds are of that happening again on any given day.

The ferry usually makes it back, even if it is late.

But could it happen again? Most definitely.

 

For a contingency plan, in case we needed to catch up with the ship on our own:

 

Wings of Alaska one-way flight from either Haines or Skagway to Juneau for about $115 - $125pp.

 

OR

 

By Boat

Alaska Fjordlines one-way Fjord Express from either Haines or Skagway to Juneau (about 3 hours) for $130 pp one way.

 

Plus most likely the cost of a hotel room for the night, (unless camping out).

 

Besides, it would provide an adventure to remember and talk about.

 

So we would do it again and consider it well worth taking that slight risk if the next scheduled port after Skagway is Juneau, but not if it is Seward or Victoria or Vancouver.

 

The trips we have taken that are our most memorable are the ones where everything did not go as originally planned and we had to make spur of the moment changes. :D

 

 

Another consideration is that sometimes the ship has to skip a port (or more than one port) and an itinerary may be changed entirely, so there is always some risk involved.

 

Some people are more willing to take risks than others, no matter how slight the risk. Even the same people may be more willing to take risks at one stage of their lives than another.

Most of us have different comfort levels under different circumstances at different stages of our lives.

 

 

There are pros and cons of using ships excursions and when the pros outweigh the cons I'll take one.

So will I.

There is no "one size fits all" best answer when it comes to ship excursion vs. private excursion vs. going on your own because there can be so many different variables involved.