Should we pre-book excursions now for May '22?

[postcardswansea]

As per the title - would you advise booking and paying for excursions now for a May '22 cruise?  

 

I'm torn between tying up the cash now for something we may not want to do if restrictions are eased (we'd prefer to do our own thing at a lot of the ports), or holding back on booking but risking being left with only expensive excursion options if others have sold out.

 

Any advice from seasoned cruisers out there?  (Although I appreciate that no one is really experienced in the current way of post-COVID cruising!)

[wowzz]

I certainly wouldn't book anything this far out. So much can happen by next May.

Where are you cruising to?

[postcardswansea]

3 minutes ago, wowzz said:

I certainly wouldn't book anything this far out. So much can happen by next May.

Where are you cruising to?

It's a Baltic cruise and most of the ports are ones we haven't visited before.

 

From the small print I've seen online, it sounds as though we should be able to cancel any excursions we have booked if we change our mind - I certainly wouldn't book this far out if that were not the case, as I agree with you that so much could change before next May. 

 

I guess I'm not a big fan of uncertainty!

 

 

[Eglesbrech]

Celebrity cruises have just allowed non curated tours for their staycation cruises in the U.K. I assume other lines may do the same for the U.K. ports eventually but no one knows what may happen for any non U.K. ports as yet.

 

Which Baltic ports are you going to? Some are really easy to do DIY (if it is allowed) and others you would probably want to book a tour anyway as they are further away from the dock or more difficult for example to do on your own eg St Petersburg.

[postcardswansea]

Just now, Eglesbrech said:

...Which Baltic ports are you going to? Some are really easy to do DIY (if it is allowed) and others you would probably want to book a tour anyway as they are further away from the dock or more difficult for example to do on your own eg St Petersburg.

We'd definitely want to book an organised excursion for St Petersburg, so I may go ahead and secure that one / two there anyway.  There are a couple of others where P&O are offering the 'Tour on your own' excursion which seems to be just an organised coach drop off -  currently these are being offered  for Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallin - and these are the ones we'd choose if we couldn't do our own thing.  So actually, that leaves only Kiel - I'm not too bothered about the actual port, but know we'll be desperate to get off the ship here after the first few days at sea!

 

[wowzz]

6 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

example to do on your own eg St Petersburg.

Yes, you cannot leave the ship independently there, unless you have got a Soviet visa. 

[jeanlyon]

16 minutes ago, postcardswansea said:

We'd definitely want to book an organised excursion for St Petersburg, so I may go ahead and secure that one / two there anyway.  There are a couple of others where P&O are offering the 'Tour on your own' excursion which seems to be just an organised coach drop off -  currently these are being offered  for Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallin - and these are the ones we'd choose if we couldn't do our own thing.  So actually, that leaves only Kiel - I'm not too bothered about the actual port, but know we'll be desperate to get off the ship here after the first few days at sea!

 

I find it hard to believe that they offer coach transfer so you wander round on your own for a few hours and yet you cannot leave the ship on your own.  Sounds like a money making exercise.  It's the same on our April 22 cruise

[Eglesbrech]

28 minutes ago, postcardswansea said:

We'd definitely want to book an organised excursion for St Petersburg, so I may go ahead and secure that one / two there anyway.  There are a couple of others where P&O are offering the 'Tour on your own' excursion which seems to be just an organised coach drop off -  currently these are being offered  for Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallin - and these are the ones we'd choose if we couldn't do our own thing.  So actually, that leaves only Kiel - I'm not too bothered about the actual port, but know we'll be desperate to get off the ship here after the first few days at sea!

 

Yes I would secure what you want for St Petersburg now to make sure you don’t get just what is left.

As for the other ports it all depends on the berth your ship has been allocated.
 

Copenhagen it very much depends on the port you are berthed in. Two are in the city centre with a convenient walk into town (about 20 to 30 minutes) and another is miles away and requires a shuttle. Check the port authority to see which you will be docking in. The one near the little mermaid, Langieline (sp) port is the most common one and easy to see the sites from on your own.

 

Tallinn has always been a short 15 minute walk into town every time we have been there (could have changed of course so again check the port maps).

 

Helsinki is walkable but a bit longer so a shuttle may be useful unless like me you like a decent stroll.

 

Stockholm also depends on the dock, once we were a long way away at Ninasamon (sp) and the next time right in the city centre.

 

Kiel is very walkable. They even provide you with painted lines throughout the town showing you the way to where you want to go. Choose the colour for your destination, if memory serves it was blue for the town centre. 
 

You probably know already what you want to see but the folks on here can give good suggestions depending on your interests if you don’t.

Edited August 13, 2021 by Eglesbrech
Typo

[postcardswansea]

1 minute ago, Eglesbrech said:

Yes I would secure what you want for St Petersburg now to make sure you don’t get just what is left.

As for the other ports it all depends on the berth your ship has been allocated.
 

Copenhagen it very much depends on the port you are berthed in. Two are in the city centre with a convenient walk into town (about 20 to 30 minutes) and another is miles away and requires a shuttle. Check the port authority to see which you will be docking in. The one near the little mermaid, Langieline (sp) port is the most common one and easy to see the sites from on your own.

 

Tallinn has always been a short 15 minute walk into town every time we have been there (could have changed of course so again check the port maps).

 

Helsinki is walkable but a bit longer so a shuttle may be useful unless like me you like a decent stroll.

 

Stockholm also depends on the dock, once we were a long way away at Ninasamon (sp) and the next time right in the city centre.

 

Kiel is very walkable. They even prove you with lines throughout the town showing you the way to where you want to go. Choose the colour for your destination, if memory serves it was blue for the town centre. 
 

You probably know already what you want to see but the folks on here can give good suggestions depending on your interests if you don’t.

That's really helpful, thank you!

[bee-ess]

I would say just get the Ship Shuttles for Copenhagen and Stockholm. Tallin is easily walkable from the ship. Haven't been to Helsinki. For St. P I would look at using a local Tour specialist tour company rather than P&O, they use smaller vehicles with groups of about 14 rather than coaches.

[Manx buoy]

1 hour ago, postcardswansea said:

We'd definitely want to book an organised excursion for St Petersburg, so I may go ahead and secure that one / two there anyway.  There are a couple of others where P&O are offering the 'Tour on your own' excursion which seems to be just an organised coach drop off -  currently these are being offered  for Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallin - and these are the ones we'd choose if we couldn't do our own thing.  So actually, that leaves only Kiel - I'm not too bothered about the actual port, but know we'll be desperate to get off the ship here after the first few days at sea!

 

We just booked the 2 day St Petersburg excursion this afternoon in case it gets booked up as it’s our third attempt at getting there won’t be doing any others for the time being. 

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, postcardswansea said:

We'd definitely want to book an organised excursion for St Petersburg, so I may go ahead and secure that one / two there anyway.  There are a couple of others where P&O are offering the 'Tour on your own' excursion which seems to be just an organised coach drop off -  currently these are being offered  for Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallin - and these are the ones we'd choose if we couldn't do our own thing.  So actually, that leaves only Kiel - I'm not too bothered about the actual port, but know we'll be desperate to get off the ship here after the first few days at sea!

 

You will probably find that the hoho bus will be a cheaper option in places like Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki, and Tallin is an easy walk into the centre from the port area for anyone able bodied.

[wowzz]

The key question that no one seems to have answered, is will independent trips be allowed ?   

[terrierjohn]

23 minutes ago, wowzz said:

The key question that no one seems to have answered, is will independent trips be allowed ?   

Hopefully by May next year, if there is no major increase in case numbers, then it is possible that passengers will be allowed to go ashore on their own.

[Bazrat]

35 minutes ago, wowzz said:

The key question that no one seems to have answered, is will independent trips be allowed ?   

I would work on the basis that it will be the same as now but if it changes for the better you will be happy you made the decision to book

[postcardswansea]

2 hours ago, Bazrat said:

I would work on the basis that it will be the same as now but if it changes for the better you will be happy you made the decision to book

Yes, we’re planning things in the event that restrictions stay in place as they currently are and we won’t be allowed off the ship unless as part of a PandO excursion.  If this changes, then we would prefer to tour independently (apart from St Petersburg).

 

I think we will book St Petersburg excursions now and hold on for a while before confirming any others.

 

Thanks to everyone for the input; it’s much appreciated 🙂

[P&O SUE]

Seems the best thing to do, and it’s easy to cancel an excursion and get refunded.

[wowzz]

19 minutes ago, postcardswansea said:

Yes, we’re planning things in the event that restrictions stay in place as they currently are and we won’t be allowed off the ship unless as part of a PandO excursion.  If this changes, then we would prefer to tour independently (apart from St Petersburg).

 

I think we will book St Petersburg excursions now and hold on for a while before confirming any others.

 

Thanks to everyone for the input; it’s much appreciated 🙂

Good idea - book with P&O,  and if the situation  changes, cancel, and book with a local specialist tour company,  that will give you a more personal tour. 

[brian1]

13 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

You will probably find that the hoho bus will be a cheaper option in places like Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki, and Tallin is an easy walk into the centre from the port area for anyone able bodied.

Good idea.There were fleets of HOHO'S right by the ship when we went to those places.Also the ticket includes river and harbour boat tours.Tallin being the exception of course.

[postcardswansea]

3 hours ago, brian1 said:

Good idea.There were fleets of HOHO'S right by the ship when we went to those places.Also the ticket includes river and harbour boat tours.Tallin being the exception of course.

Yes, this is something we would definitely try to do if restrictions are eased and we're allowed to disembark independently.

[postcardswansea]

13 hours ago, P&O SUE said:

Seems the best thing to do, and it’s easy to cancel an excursion and get refunded.

That's encouraging to hear - I don't want to be committing to bookings now when so much could change in the way destinations restrict shore visits.  As long as cancellation / refund is an easy option I'd have peace of mind that we have something booked but can switch our tactic as circumstances dictate nearer the time.

[wowzz]

13 hours ago, P&O SUE said:

Seems the best thing to do, and it’s easy to cancel an excursion and get refunded.

Do I remember reading about someone who cancelled an excursion, and the refund was added to the obc,  which is rather naughty of P&O? 

[SarahHben]

22 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Do I remember reading about someone who cancelled an excursion, and the refund was added to the obc,  which is rather naughty of P&O? 

Yes that was me.

 

We had booked excursions for our June 2020 cruise and when it was cancelled last summer we were told we would get the excursion money refunded to our accounts as on board spend.

My sister and parents were both independently told the same thing.

 

Excursions are on sale for our May ‘22 cruise to Norway but we’re waiting for international cruising to restart ‘properly’ before we book any ourselves.

Edited August 14, 2021 by SarahHben

[wowzz]

8 minutes ago, SarahHben said:

Yes that was me.

 

We had booked excursions for our June 2020 cruise and when it was cancelled last summer we were told we would get the excursion money refunded to our accounts as on board spend.

My sister and parents were both independently told the same thing.

 

Excursions are on sale for our May ‘22 cruise to Norway but we’re waiting for international cruising to restart ‘properly’ before we book any ourselves.

That seems wrong to me.  Did you manage to get an actual refund?

[P&O SUE]

8 minutes ago, wowzz said:

That seems wrong to me.  Did you manage to get an actual refund?

It’s bad isn’t it? I’ve also been refunded, even cancelled onboard once the day before and got my money back!