No longer required to pre-pay shore excursions

[joll]

We are  booked on the Diamond Princess for a cruise in Japan in May 2019.  When looking at the shore tours I was given the option of Pay before you sail or Pay later onboard.

 

On 4 February, after submitting a number of tours, my Cruise Personaliser shows my Confirmed Reservations and at the bottom it also states:

NEW - "You have the option to pay for shore excursions in advance of your cruise.  If you want, we will add the charges to your onboard account which is settled at the end of the cruise."

 

Is this a new (resurrected) policy by Princess???   I have posted this information on the Australian and New Zealand Cruisers Section of Cruise Critic but as no-one has raised this topic on the general Princess site, I am wondering if the two options for paying for shore excursions is available for all cruises and all passengers.

 

We are from Australia and this cruise was booked directly with Princess in Australia and will be Japan to Japan in USD.  Just for interest sake P&O Australia have also just reverted to this previous arrangement.  Perhaps they weren't getting enough early tour bookings - understandably when some passengers would be paying out hundreds/thousands of dollars for tours, sometimes months before paying final monies for the cruise. 

Edited February 13, 2019 by joll

[cherylandtk]

I’m not sure what is going on...but I do not see the option you have to pay later.  Just checked two of my upcoming cruises and both show “reservations not made until payment is received” on the shore excursion booking page.

[Woobstr112G]

I had to prepay for mine a few days ago. There was no option to pay onboard the ship.  My voyage is a California Coastal (Ruby Princess) set for March 10th.....

 

Bob

[Cruiserkenn]

On Sunday, I booked two shore excursions for a Med cruise on the Pacific Princess, in October.  I had to pay... No other option.

 

i hope that your experience spreads this way.

[Scottygirl1]

Yes, me too... no option not to pay.  

[RDC1]

might be unique to the Diamond. the diamond does have some differences from the rest of the fleet with its home base in Japan.

Edited February 13, 2019 by RDC1

[seacruise9]

Hi, 

 

I recently booked my shore excursions for a 12-day British Isles cruise on the Crown Princess for September. I was required to pay for the excursions. On the bright side, my shipboard credits were applied to the shore excursions.

 

Chuck

[jondfk]

Not saying we ever booked all that many Princess excursions anyway, but having us pay in advance pretty much assures we won't in the future.

 

Edited February 14, 2019 by jondfk
typo

[bemis12]

19 minutes ago, jondfk said:

Not saying we ever booked all that many Princess excursions anyway, but having us pay in advance pretty much assures we won't in the future.

 

 

I'm happy that they need a payment.  It keeps people from randomly taking slots away from people who really do want to go.

 

If I plan on doing it, the timing of the relatively small payments is meaningless.

[jondfk]

1 minute ago, bemis12 said:

 

I'm happy that they need a payment.  It keeps people from randomly taking slots away from people who really do want to go.

 

If I plan on doing it, the timing of the relatively small payments is meaningless.

 

I do see that point of view, but then I've never cancelled one I booked either.

 

[bemis12]

Maybe not, but there are sure a lot of people booking $1 deposits today that don't actually think they will be taking the cruise.

[Felix331]

This is only for Diamond Princess Japan cruises. Pre-payment is still required for all other cruises. 

Edited February 15, 2019 by Felix331

[Grburkart]

1 hour ago, bemis12 said:

 

I'm happy that they need a payment.  It keeps people from randomly taking slots away from people who really do want to go.

 

If I plan on doing it, the timing of the relatively small payments is meaningless.

I’m in agreement. However well intentions are made, there’s a certain group that’ll decide last minute not to go. No risk. It’s got to be a nightmare for the planners. 

My upcoming cruise in October has 15 ports of call. I bought excursions for all of them through Princess. Now I don’t have to worry about costs. It’s much more convenient. 

 

Glenn