Booking excursions early or onboard

[oskidunker]

First time Cunard. Have about $1000 onboard credit on 14 day Canary islands cruise Nov 1, 2021.  Not a big drinker. Hate to pay in advance. Are most tors or at least some available on board. Would be interested in experiences. 

[newjoisey]

We usually book on-line in advance because some excursions sell out fast. 

[Victoria2]

9 hours ago, oskidunker said:

First time Cunard. Have about $1000 onboard credit on 14 day Canary islands cruise Nov 1, 2021.  Not a big drinker. Hate to pay in advance. Are most tors or at least some available on board. Would be interested in experiences. 

The only tours we have booked pre boarding in the last couple of years have been specialist tours such as sightseeing flights  or limited admission venues such as The Faberge Museum in St Petersburg. These were advertised as limited availability and I knew the museum had timed ticket entry when I researched it. All our pre booked excursions were sold out prior to boarding.

Other than that, all tours were booked onboard but we did book as soon as we could because again, some excursions were very popular and sold out quickly. 

Sightseeing by coach is usually available for some time as extra coaches can usually be arranged although again, I'd book early if you want to avoid the early bird times. 

[Summergee]

We book the trips we really want to do in advance and then choose our other trips based on the port talks.

You can't use obc for trips booked in advance, only those you book on board.

Edited April 7, 2021 by Summergee

[PORT ROYAL]

13 hours ago, oskidunker said:

First time Cunard. Have about $1000 onboard credit on 14 day Canary islands cruise Nov 1, 2021.  Not a big drinker. Hate to pay in advance. Are most tors or at least some available on board. Would be interested in experiences. 

Book on the QV using OBC

On this voyage the tours do not contain any “great rarity”.  In your Stateroom there will be a complete schedule, port by port, of all the tours (what is shown today is only a nosegay).  Also, your Stateroom TV has a channel showing videos of all tours.  Complete your tour bookings on the schedule, then go to the tours office (opposite Purser’s Desk) where you’ll find a drop off letter type box to the side of the desk. Just “post”.  Tickets will be promptly delivered to your Stateroom.

Any questions will be answered by a usually helpful Tours Desk.  Opening times are shown in your planner.
Welcome to Cunard...

PS

Don’t forget while on the QV to purchase FCDs for future use.  Free OBC 😀

Available from the Cruise Sales Office.  Unable to use OBC and pay by CC.

 

Edited April 7, 2021 by PORT ROYAL
FCD

[BigMac1953]

Don't forget, you have the daily Hotel Charge to pay which will eat up a third of your OBC.

 

We'll be on the same trip (again). Most tours etc. can easily be done without Cunard taking a big cut. For example, in Madeira, you might want to take afternoon tea at Reid's. Cunard charge a premium and you don't even get the view at Reid's. However, if you book now, you can reserve a table on the terrace for much less. You will have to pay your own taxi, but they are not expensive.

 

Another "must do" is the cable car ride up the mountain to the botanical gardens. If you let Cunard organise, you will be in a huge crowd and spend ages in the line. Or you can do it yourself a little later, say midday, and walk straight on at half the price. It's a 15 minute walk along the front, past the marina.

 

There are many other ways on board for them to relieve you of your OBC and if nothing takes your fancy, there's the shops.

 

Failing all that, you can always buy your new friends a cocktail or two 🙂

 

Stewart

[majortom10]

13 hours ago, oskidunker said:

First time Cunard. Have about $1000 onboard credit on 14 day Canary islands cruise Nov 1, 2021.  Not a big drinker. Hate to pay in advance. Are most tors or at least some available on board. Would be interested in experiences. 

We are also on this cruise and have an even larger amount of OBC and dont normally do ships excursions but we might do on this cruise just to use up OBC. As previously said you cannot use OBC to book excursions in advance so it is a case of waiting until you get onboard but do not think you will have any problems booking what you want.

[Windsurfboy]

If you are a walker the Maderia Levadas offer some fantastic walks. Never done them with Cunard only private tours .  Before you book via Cunard whether it's Levadas or any other tour , go on web and look at local tour companies, especially if you want an experience and are adventurous.   Ship's tours tend to be less adventurous  to fit in with a demand for the minimum of fitness  and are more expensive.  Can always find something else on ship to spend OBC money on.

[PORT ROYAL]

If considering Afternoon Tea, then book The Ritz.  Just a better experience (not packed with noisy Tourists looking for a done that tick).  Plus one can walk there and back, 

When booking (early) ask for a table on the Balcony 

Edited April 7, 2021 by PORT ROYAL
Balcony

[oskidunker]

If only ships excursions are allowed it could overload the ships tours to early bookers. Thats a possibility. I probably wont consider booking toursuntil the final pay is due, likely June 20 unless they go to the 30 day rule, which I dount

[TheOldBear]

For next year's sailing, we have an unexpected amount of OBC and only three port days. We'll see what the OBC budget works out to after wine/corkage, spa passes and other planned expenses are factored in.

We likely will book one day's tour ahead of time - but that will be near or after the final payment date.

[BklynBoy8]

We always review the Ports of Call we will be visiting against the the tours listed in My Cunard VP.

 

Those tours that are classified as limited space, we will consider a possible book earlier.

 

Otherwise we wait till we are on board on embarkation day and fill out the tour office form in the cabin and drop it in the mailbox at the Tour Office on Deck 2 Grand Lobby on the QM2.

Edited April 7, 2021 by BklynBoy8

[Victoria2]

10 hours ago, oskidunker said:

If only ships excursions are allowed it could overload the ships tours to early bookers. Thats a possibility. I probably wont consider booking toursuntil the final pay is due, likely June 20 unless they go to the 30 day rule, which I dount

Which is the only reason why we have booked a couple of excursions for later on  in the year. Neither are listed as limited but we want to do them so have booked. Our obc is rather large so I can see some onboard shopping on the itinerary too!

Happy days, hopefully.

[siforest65]

23 hours ago, PORT ROYAL said:

If considering Afternoon Tea, then book The Ritz.  Just a better experience (not packed with noisy Tourists looking for a done that tick).  Plus one can walk there and back, 

When booking (early) ask for a table on the Balcony 

I will second that. We had a glass of Madiera on the balcony there on our Canary Island cruise and it was great sat up there relaxing and watching the world go by.

[Windsurfboy]

Have they indicated only ships tours allowed.  If that is to be the  case then , I  hope for fairness,  and possibly contractual reasons, they will tell people before final payment and even if they don't allow refunds , give FCC.

 

I don't know what proportion of passengers are like us and do not use ships tours as there is normally  a much better alternative, often just walking

[Ray66]

1 hour ago, Windsurfboy said:

Have they indicated only ships tours allowed.

 

From the Cunard website: 

In port.

You can still go ashore to explore the rich variety of ports we visit, initially only with our organised and vetted shore experiences so that you can be reassured your wellbeing is protected.

Port transfer and organised shore experience operators will be subject to new policies and procedures to reflect the latest approved guidance in line with our on board protocols.

 

https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/the-cunard-experience/sailing-with-confidence/your-cunard-experience

[newjoisey]

no thanks