Required ship excursions if getting off the ship

[lenquixote66]

2 hours ago, sanger727 said:

 

well, I don’t think they clear the area. It appears to be an honor system that is somewhat monitored by the tour guide to stay 6 ft from people not in the tour ‘bubble’. Good luck with that when there’s a railing and everyone wants to go up and get their photo or in a tiny gift shop. Hopefully they will be more likely to eliminate the shopping stops cause that seems like a hard place to enforce this.
 

 

I’ve been to a handful of doctor/dentist appointments and haven’t seen any issues like this. My doctor lets you sit in the waiting room but think they have a lot fewer people come into the office because they try to do ‘televisits’ when they can; so social distancing hasn’t been an issue. My dentist has you wait in your car and they call you in and take you straight to the exam room.

This was a specialist that I went to for a consultation.I was told that when all options are exhausted for 2 of my medical issues he is the doctor you go to.

 

I am not going back.

[lenquixote66]

2 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Well, it's not like there is anyone there who is ill or has any underlying conditions.😉

We were screened at the entrance.Of course everyone tells the truth.Just like the forms you fill out at the cruise port before boarding a ship.

[lenquixote66]

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

NY seems to be a State of contradictions (I was born in NYC, DD lives in NYC, Grandchildren live in NYC).  I do not understand the issue with Doctor's offices in your State anymore then I can understand a Governor who forces  COVID patients back into Nursing Homes where they can infect others.  In our State there are no issues in Doctors offices.  They are not permitted to have chairs within 6 feet of each other!  The rule is enforced!  I was in my Doctors office this morning and everyone had to wear masks, chairs were more then 6 feet apart, and there were very few in the waiting room since you were only allowed to arrive 15 minutes before an appointment.  Even in the treatment room everyone (nurse, doctor, me) wore masks (patients only take them off if necessary for treatment or exam).    My goodness, even in my Barber Shop the chairs are scattered more then 6 feet apart!

 

Hank

My niece who is an MD was born in PA and stayed there till completing medical school.

She started practicing in NY .I wonder if she wishes that she stayed in PA .I have not asked her.

[George C]

We have three Caribbean cruises currently booked two for early 2021, we stay on ship on many ports so while I will not like it we will not have a major issue on just staying on ship. Wish more of these post were about the subject.

[lenquixote66]

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Have you said something to the staff?

Yes,but it went on “deaf “ ears

[lenquixote66]

23 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

Were they sitting with their spouses?  Wouldn't that be allowed/expected?

No

[ontheweb]

15 hours ago, Mary229 said:

My doctor and dentist have you wait in your car and text you when your appointment is available.  Pretty simple, really.  

I've wondered how they will keep social distancing in the office of doctors who treat macular degeneration (both parents had this so I am aware of how this works). First you get drops in your eyes. Then there is at least an hour wait until the actual treatment. And of course you need a driver. We were lucky to get out in under 2 hours. When the practice lost a doctor and went from 3 to 2, we were often there 3 hours or  more. The waiting room was always crowded.

[ontheweb]

12 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

We were screened at the entrance.Of course everyone tells the truth.Just like the forms you fill out at the cruise port before boarding a ship.

Right, a doctor's office and no one was ill.

[Mary229]

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

I've wondered how they will keep social distancing in the office of doctors who treat macular degeneration (both parents had this so I am aware of how this works). First you get drops in your eyes. Then there is at least an hour wait until the actual treatment. And of course you need a driver. We were lucky to get out in under 2 hours. When the practice lost a doctor and went from 3 to 2, we were often there 3 hours or  more. The waiting room was always crowded.

How often do you have to be screened?  This is not forever and if it is an only once a year screening then perhaps it could wait.

[lenquixote66]

5 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Right, a doctor's office and no one was ill.

This was the office of an Orthopedic doctor,however,I am sure that people are not always truthful.

[clo]

On 9/22/2020 at 4:57 PM, lenquixote66 said:

Yes,but it went on “deaf “ ears

Well, then you could report it to the county or city. I've done that with bars and restaurants.

[ldubs]

On 9/21/2020 at 3:12 PM, Mary229 said:

Adding:  one could say all inclusive fares manage to accomplish the same end with slick marketing 

 

I think you make an interesting observation.  I guess the argument could be made that it is still voluntary, but why pay a premium for  something that is not going to be used.   

[cruisemom42]

7 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

I think you make an interesting observation.  I guess the argument could be made that it is still voluntary, but why pay a premium for  something that is not going to be used.   

 

 I hear this reasoning used a lot with luxury/premium lines, but in fact, we pay for things all the time that are "bundled" but have individual components that -- if priced separately -- we'd never pay for.  Like when you buy a new car and the dealer has already added a "package" or two.  Or at an AI (or on a ship, for that matter) where you choose not to eat every meal on property/onboard ship. Or cable/internet/phone packages with more speed/channels/minutes than we might purchase separately (or use).

 

Whether or not I would use the included excursions on a luxury line wouldn't be one of my top considerations for deciding to book or not book with them. I'm extremely focused on what I want to see and do in ports and most times, the included excursions on ships are the short, "taste of _____" type. Not my cup of tea. In fact, as I've said already, it is rare that I find an excursion offered by the ship (or even a private tour) that includes what I am interested in.

 

[dogs4fun]

Our river cruises usually include a tour in each port of call. With a few notable exceptions (Egypt, China, Vietnam) we have eschewed the included tours and DIY.  Europe is so easy to DIY and we see much more by avoiding the ship's tours and, bonus, we see exactly what interests us. 

Edited September 24, 2020 by dogs4fun

[Hlitner]

1 minute ago, dogs4fun said:

Our river cruises usually include a tour in each port of call. With a few notable exceptions (Egypt, China, Vietnam) we have usually eschewed the included tours and DIY.  Europe is so easy to DIY and we see much more by avoiding the ship's tours and, bonus, we see exactly what interests us. 

As lifelong independent travelers we have had our issues with River Cruises (with included tours).  This has led us to minimize river cruises and we have only done 3  (China, Egypt, and Europe).  All 3 of those cruises included tours at every stop.  We often did participate in some of the tours but also took every advantage of opportunities to go off on our own.  One sad commentary about  the tour mentality happened when we did a 5 day Nile River cruise from Aswan to Luxor.  DW and I were on our own spending 2 weeks exploring Egypt and had booked onto a high-end River Boat which also had a large group from the University of Texas who were on a very high end tour (I think it might have been Abercrombie and Kent).  Our cruise included small group tours at every stop and they were excellent tours with no more then 10 to a group.  One gorgeous evening we were tied up at a small town along the Nile and after dinner we asked the Concierge if it was safe/OK if we went ashore to stroll along the river and through town.  They told us it was fine.  As we were leaving, the UT folks expressed their shock that anyone would dare go ashore on their own.  We walked through the town, stumbled on a local wedding (where we were welcomed) and had a wonderful couple of hours ashore.  When we walked back on the boat those same UT folks again expressed their surprise that we would go off on our own in a "dangerous place."   The reality was that it was not at all dangerous but their perception was that to do anything on their own involved a lot of risk.  

 

We have seen this on some of our longer more ambitious ocean cruises.  We always meet some folks who are truly afraid to do anything on their own be it just walking off the ship into Kotor or taking a train from Civitavecchia to Rome.  We still have friends who find it strange that DW and I will simply jump on a plane to Europe or Asia (often with no more then rental car reservation) and go explore.  Seeing Paris on a daytrip from Le Havre is OK, but spending a few days or weeks in an apartment is an entirely different experience.  It is hard for me to accept going to France or Italy without enjoying long lunches and dinners in terrific eating venues.  Cruisers take all kinds of tours when they dock at Naples, Italy.  But nobody on a large cruise ship excursion is going to experience pizza at Pizzaria da Michele or one of the other famous pizza places in the city that claims to have invented pizza.  When you take a large group excursion, if it does include lunch it will likely be in some touristy place with a pre-planned meal.  Some excursions do give you an hour to eat on your own, but then folks are trying to figure out how to have lunch with one eye on their watches (can't miss the bus).  

 

Hank

[lenquixote66]

15 hours ago, clo said:

Well, then you could report it to the county or city. I've done that with bars and restaurants.

Should it occur again,I shall

[ldubs]

9 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

 I hear this reasoning used a lot with luxury/premium lines, but in fact, we pay for things all the time that are "bundled" but have individual components that -- if priced separately -- we'd never pay for.  Like when you buy a new car and the dealer has already added a "package" or two.  Or at an AI (or on a ship, for that matter) where you choose not to eat every meal on property/onboard ship. Or cable/internet/phone packages with more speed/channels/minutes than we might purchase separately (or use).

 

Whether or not I would use the included excursions on a luxury line wouldn't be one of my top considerations for deciding to book or not book with them. I'm extremely focused on what I want to see and do in ports and most times, the included excursions on ships are the short, "taste of _____" type. Not my cup of tea. In fact, as I've said already, it is rare that I find an excursion offered by the ship (or even a private tour) that includes what I am interested in.

 

 

The dealership made me take cupholders I will never use!  haha

 

Of course you are correct.   As you say the reasoning is used to justify the higher cost.  That is a good approach if you will use those things.  Not so much if you don't.   While maybe not our first choice, we would probably try to use the excursions if they were included.  

 

I tend to agree with the group tours.  Many are geared to "checking the boxes".  We have been on group tours that were pretty good.  But none, cruise or otherwise, were superior to what we arrange ourselves.   I guess our best "hired" tour was the two of us, a driver, and a tour guide for a 3 day stay in Asia.  That experience was excellent.   

 

 

[getting older slowly]

We are still yet to do a ship tour..... all of our holidays... we do our own thing.... a few times we organize our own tour to do something special..off the ship...

 

But unless to stay somewhere for at least a couple of days.... you do not get the vibe of the place......     

 

A cruise to us is seeing some new things and relaxing........

 

Cheers Don

[rkacruiser]

10 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Some excursions do give you an hour to eat on your own, but then folks are trying to figure out how to have lunch with one eye on their watches (can't miss the bus).  

 

I confess that situation is a stress producer for me.  

 

During one tour that I took in the Netherlands at the windmill village (whose name I don't recall at the moment), I went wandering off on my own and got "lost".  Somehow, I ended up on the street outside the village and had enough sense of direction to walk back to where I "thought" I ought to be.  Made it and found the tour bus fully loaded with fellow guests, waiting for me; the guide said, politely, where, well, in the h%$L have you been?  I did receive a round of applause when I boarded the bus to which I graciously "tipped my hat".  

[clo]

3 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

I confess that situation is a stress producer for me.  

 

During one tour that I took in the Netherlands at the windmill village (whose name I don't recall at the moment), I went wandering off on my own and got "lost".  Somehow, I ended up on the street outside the village and had enough sense of direction to walk back to where I "thought" I ought to be.  Made it and found the tour bus fully loaded with fellow guests, waiting for me; the guide said, politely, where, well, in the h%$L have you been?  I did receive a round of applause when I boarded the bus to which I graciously "tipped my hat".  

We were on an escorted land tour in Israel a few years ago. One couple wasn't back to the coach on time and they got left. But we had all been warned of that possibility.

[evandbob]

11 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

I confess that situation is a stress producer for me.  

 

During one tour that I took in the Netherlands at the windmill village (whose name I don't recall at the moment), I went wandering off on my own and got "lost".  Somehow, I ended up on the street outside the village and had enough sense of direction to walk back to where I "thought" I ought to be.  Made it and found the tour bus fully loaded with fellow guests, waiting for me; the guide said, politely, where, well, in the h%$L have you been?  I did receive a round of applause when I boarded the bus to which I graciously "tipped my hat".  

 

Was "the tipping of your hat" an apology, a blow off or something else? 

 

I can sympathize with those waiting in the bus.

[cruisemom42]

 

36 minutes ago, evandbob said:

 

Was "the tipping of your hat" an apology, a blow off or something else? 

 

I can sympathize with those waiting in the bus.

 

I can understand someone who truly gets lost or has a reasonable excuse for being a few minutes late. It's the ones that show up late repeatedly with no excuse offered (or who were clearly shopping) that used to get under MY skin.

 

9 hours ago, clo said:

We were on an escorted land tour in Israel a few years ago. One couple wasn't back to the coach on time and they got left. But we had all been warned of that possibility.

 

Back when I was young and had to travel cheaply to scratch my travel itch, I took a Gate 1 tour of Israel (then stayed after to do more touring on my own in Israel and Jordan). That was the WORST tour I ever took with regard to the whole shopping/being late thing.

 

We stopped at a "diamond factory store" (who knew Israel produced diamonds?) for what was supposed to be a brief informational film and shopping stop before going on to visit one of the spots that was, for me, a highlight of the tour -- Beit She'an, with extensive Roman-period ruins. We were all back on the bus at the appointed time -- except one lady and her (adult) daughter, who were still shopping. The guide, who clearly got a kick-back from the store, came to the bus to tell us it would be another few minutes, that they were just 'wrapping up' the sale. Thirty minutes later we were still waiting, and fuming. Someone got off the bus to find the guide and give him a piece of our collective minds. 

 

Would you believe he STILL didn't want to antagonize the "shoppers" so he took still more time to call a cab for them and ensure they knew how to meet us at the next stop, then FINALLY (nearly 50 minutes past our departure time) we headed for Beit She'an.  And guess what, once there, he shorted our stop there for the exact amount of time lost at the store to "keep us to our schedule" because we had lunch waiting somewhere. 

 

OMG!  Last guided tour of that type I ever took. I will still take the occasional specialty tour (e.g., with an archaeological organization or similar) but only ones that do not slip in such shopping stops....

 

BTW, this same lady was also AWOL twice when we were walking along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem because she kept ducking into shops to look for souvenirs. Apparently she felt she had to bring something back for every niece, nephew, and Sunday-school class member.  Aaaggghhhh.

 

 

[HxFx]

On 9/24/2020 at 8:05 AM, cruisemom42 said:

 I hear this reasoning used a lot with luxury/premium lines, but in fact, we pay for things all the time that are "bundled" but have individual components that -- if priced separately -- we'd never pay for. 

 

Yes, and there is something to be said for not being hit up all cruise to upgrade, go to specialty dining...I don't mind the separate costs - would prefer not to pay for something I won't use - but I don't like the constant push to purchase those extra items. I've only done a few cruises so far (and a COVID cancellation) but in the Celebrity cruise I took, a sales person was around every corner! I didn't have that problem on my Carnival cruise but I'm guessing it's because it was a smaller ship and didn't have the dining options. I can appreciate the peacefulness of a luxury/premium cruise.

[ilikeanswers]

When you do expedition cruising the tours tend to to be included and generally speaking there are not any other options anyway. The only time I had an optional tour was on Bora Bora with Aranui. We wanted to see some of the main island and they had an optional tour but reading it it sounded like one big shopping trip so we just hired a car and drove ourselves round for a few hours. I guess it all comes down to the quality of the tours. If you are forced to do ship tours only than they need up the quality so people who aren't being given a choice don't end up feeling ripped off. Perhaps a solution would be to have seperate shopping tour and sightseeing tour so those who want to shop can shop and those wanting to sightsee don't have to waste time at the shops🤔

[Mary229]

18 minutes ago, HxFx said:

Yes, and there is something to be said for not being hit up all cruise to upgrade, go to specialty dining...I don't mind the separate costs - would prefer not to pay for something I won't use - but I don't like the constant push to purchase those extra items. I've only done a few cruises so far (and a COVID cancellation) but in the Celebrity cruise I took, a sales person was around every corner! I didn't have that problem on my Carnival cruise but I'm guessing it's because it was a smaller ship and didn't have the dining options. I can appreciate the peacefulness of a luxury/premium cruise.

I found the same thing on my last Princess cruise and swore off Princess because of it.