Included tours no shows

[marylovestotravel]

Has anyone had any experience with the included tours when there are "no shows" and therefore space on the tour? Are other people free to take these places?

 

Mia

[philw1776]

Always check in at the Explorer desk for both included and optional tours. People do cancel and spaces are often available.

[orchestrapal]

Always check in at the Explorer desk for both included and optional tours. People do cancel and spaces are often available.

 

We just booked a b/b and will not be taking any of the included tours. I am sure we are not the only ones who take private tours.

[philw1776]

No. 14 of us thru CC took an excellent 2 day private tour of St Petersburg with TJ tours. Small, agile and all inclusive with early access.

[lackcreativity]

We just booked a b/b and will not be taking any of the included tours. I am sure we are not the only ones who take private tours.

 

Passengers do need to register for a particular time slot, even for the included tours. So you won't actually be a "no-show" and won't be leaving empty seats on a tour as the original poster was wondering.

[orchestrapal]

Passengers do need to register for a particular time slot, even for the included tours. So you won't actually be a "no-show" and won't be leaving empty seats on a tour as the original poster was wondering.

 

Thanks, good to hear....

[Dauntless]

Has anyone had any experience with the included tours when there are "no shows" and therefore space on the tour? Are other people free to take these places?

 

Mia

 

We had that experience, quiet by accident. We were told it was a very long pier to the bus and we might want to start with plenty of time to navigate. It wasn't that long and when we checked in with the excursion agent, we were escorted to the side and by the time the scheduled tour was leaving and there were vacant seats, we were able to board 15 minutes early. We did have space reserved on the next departure, so I guess they figured the people that hadn't shown on time could take our space then.

 

I'm not sure how this would work on a paid excursion that you wanted but had been sold out but now has vacancies.

[jiminyC_fan]

Has anyone had any experience with the included tours when there are "no shows" and therefore space on the tour? Are other people free to take these places?

 

Mia

 

Yep, they are sure able to take the empty spots. We changed plans in one port and wanted an earlier included tour. We went to the Explorer's Desk the night before and asked. They told us to show up at the meeting spot on the ship the following morning. We talked to the one in charge of the tour and they told us just to go off the ship and tell them at the gate. They put us aside and once everyone boarded they then took a head count and allowed us on. They told us that no shows happen often and it was no big deal.

[vnb2003]

We just booked a b/b and will not be taking any of the included tours. I am sure we are not the only ones who take private tours.

 

1. If you booked a private tour and are booked for an included excursion, please cancel your included one. This way it's easier for Viking to Plan how many tour guides/buses they need to have.

2. If you booked an included excursion but then during the cruise decided do not take it, bring your tickets to the Explorer desk the night before the latest (I believe before 6 pm). It happened to us when we found out our friend will be in town the same day as we are. I called Explorer desk to notify them and they asked to bring our tickets to the desk.

[jiminyC_fan]

1. If you booked a private tour and are booked for an included excursion, please cancel your included one. This way it's easier for Viking to Plan how many tour guides/buses they need to have.

2. If you booked an included excursion but then during the cruise decided do not take it, bring your tickets to the Explorer desk the night before the latest (I believe before 6 pm). It happened to us when we found out our friend will be in town the same day as we are. I called Explorer desk to notify them and they asked to bring our tickets to the desk.

 

Great advice!

[Les Picantins]

I think that no shows for included tours should be charged a penalty of 10$ per person.

 

On a previous Regent cruise (included excursions) we ended up waiting around for no shows on every tour. Hopefully Viking pax are more considerate.

 

I can understand changing one's mind at the last minute for a number of reasons, but if people figure there's no loss in standing up the excursion they will continue to do so.

[jiminyC_fan]

We never once waited for no shows on Viking. They were always prompt on leaving.

[philw1776]

We never waited either but the fact that it does happen is problematical and worthy of a disincentive

[Fpacifico]

On our cruise into the midnight sun, a couple of our optional tours were canceled so we chose the included tours and the staff was able to get us on the first tour of the morning.