Have It All

[robotpony]

46 minutes ago, bdd123 said:

It is universally accepted and generally true that cruise line excursions are over priced.

 

I agree that this is generally true, too. I was able to quantify this recently when booking excursions for a Hawaii cruise that stops in Victoria (a city we lived close to for many years).

 

There is a tour that stops in Butchart Gardens (CA$18.50 pp) and the Butterfly museum (CA$18.50pp). There is no Uber in Victoria, so for transportation you're looking at a private taxi at ~ $100 round trip (for 2-4 people), or the bus at $7pp round trip. The total is somewhere between CA$45 and CA$90pp, assuming two people.

 

The tour on the HA site is listed for CA$149.95pp for adults, which has a convenience fee of about $60. Now if you're not familiar with the city, the convenience and safety of a trip guaranteeing return to the ship is worth something, the question is how much it is worth to you? When we were in the Caribbean for our first time, that convenience was worth a lot, though the next time we go we'll be taking more taxis to locations and managing the time ourselves.

 

My take is that for many people the extra cost is worth it to keep things simple, but you can certainly save money if you do some of the work yourself.

 

 

[HALcruiser2001]

7 minutes ago, robotpony said:

 

I agree that this is generally true, too. I was able to quantify this recently when booking excursions for a Hawaii cruise that stops in Victoria (a city we lived close to for many years).

 

There is a tour that stops in Butchart Gardens (CA$18.50 pp) and the Butterfly museum (CA$18.50pp). There is no Uber in Victoria, so for transportation you're looking at a private taxi at ~ $100 round trip (for 2-4 people), or the bus at $7pp round trip. The total is somewhere between CA$45 and CA$90pp, assuming two people.

 

The tour on the HA site is listed for CA$149.95pp for adults, which has a convenience fee of about $60. Now if you're not familiar with the city, the convenience and safety of a trip guaranteeing return to the ship is worth something, the question is how much it is worth to you? When we were in the Caribbean for our first time, that convenience was worth a lot, though the next time we go we'll be taking more taxis to locations and managing the time ourselves.

 

My take is that for many people the extra cost is worth it to keep things simple, but you can certainly save money if you do some of the work yourself.

 

 

 

The only reason to book an excursion with the cruise line is because, they are then liable to get you back to port on time or hold the ship.

[ChinaShrek]

2 hours ago, bdd123 said:

 

It is universally accepted and generally true that cruise line excursions are over priced.

HAL will match the price of any independent tour operator for an identical itinerary. 

[HALcruiser2001]

42 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

HAL will match the price of any independent tour operator for an identical itinerary. 

 

Link and proof please.

Edited January 20, 2023 by bdd123

[auntmeg]

13 minutes ago, bdd123 said:

 

Link and proof please.

Isn't that what this page says?

 

https://book2.hollandamerica.com/secondaryFlow/bestPriceGuarantee

[HALcruiser2001]

3 minutes ago, auntmeg said:

Isn't that what this page says?

 

https://book2.hollandamerica.com/secondaryFlow/bestPriceGuarantee

 

Never bothered reading it as I trust thousands of user comments befor HAL, thus I asked.

 

Thanks.

 

Not applicable if you are using HIA credits.

 

Not applicable if it is not beneficial to HAL.

 

Not applicable if time, itinerary, or any word changes.

 

Corp lip service and marketing

 

 

 

 

[KroozNut]

5 hours ago, bdd123 said:

 

It is universally accepted and generally true that cruise line excursions are over priced.

 

Please try to follow along.. 😏What is NOT universally accepted, nor generally true is that 'cruise ship excursions don't deserve tips', which is what you stated, and we disagreed with.

[HALcruiser2001]

1 hour ago, KroozNut said:

 

Please try to follow along.. 😏What is NOT universally accepted, nor generally true is that 'cruise ship excursions don't deserve tips', which is what you stated, and we disagreed with.

 

 If HAL does not mark up excursions , they lose money.  Thus they are overpriced.  My first statement.  This is a universal business model, i.e. make a profit.

Generally most people do not think a mass market tour, that is a greyhound bus to a location where they dump you off, hand you snorkel gear is worthy of a gratuity (example).   If you don't agree then you are a exception to the generalization.

Have a good night!

Edited January 20, 2023 by bdd123

[AFNavigator]

10 hours ago, fsufancc said:

Just to be clear. With the Signature Beverage Package, the tips are included?

As Cruise Suzy mentioned, the drink tips are included on drinks up to the $11 package drink price limit.  If you buy a drink that exceeds $11 (perhaps a pricier glass of wine), then a recent change that may be fleet wide by now is you just pay the overage price plus 18% tip on that overage.  If the ship you are on doesn't offer that new drink pricing feature, then any drink exceeding your $11 package price limit is charged at the full drink price plus 18% tip.

[Sea42]

18 hours ago, bdd123 said:

 

Yep.   I have not been on HAL for 20 years and already regret it, thanks CC.  😉

 

.First 2 were great.   Now from all the comments I feel like I just put 10k in the bin.    If I ever cruise again it won't be HAL unless they deliver in Feb.    Even if they do, not sure I will navigate thier pricing model again just dumb.    Should have done Seabourn.

Yeah, you probably should have done your research before spending your money. Live and learn.

[HALcruiser2001]

8 hours ago, Sea42 said:

Yeah, you probably should have done your research before spending your money. Live and learn.

I had about 4 days to research and wife was strongly for HAL.  You know the saying about a happy wife.  It's her 60th and its only a pile of money.  We will have fun.

[ChinaShrek]

18 hours ago, bdd123 said:

 

 If HAL does not mark up excursions , they lose money.  Thus they are overpriced.  My first statement.  This is a universal business model, i.e. make a profit.
 

Private companies also wish to make a profit. Why be against HAL but support others? Profit is profit. 

Edited January 20, 2023 by ChinaShrek
spelling

[KroozNut]

2 hours ago, bdd123 said:

I had about 4 days to research and wife was strongly for HAL. 

 

That's about 3 days and 23 hours more than you needed..

[HALcruiser2001]

48 minutes ago, KroozNut said:

 

That's about 3 days and 23 hours more than you needed..

LMAO.  I booked in about 30 minutes after she deciding cruise would be a nice break (free to book for 5 days), then researched a bit more and bought it.  We will have a lot of fun and relaxation.

Celebrity was double the price, my wife likes HAL, we don't know Celebrity, its her 60th bday.

She gets HAL!

 

[HALcruiser2001]

22 hours ago, KroozNut said:

 

Please try to follow along.. 😏What is NOT universally accepted, nor generally true is that 'cruise ship excursions don't deserve tips', which is what you stated, and we disagreed with.

Here is an old school technique that works really well in certain situations, like a nice hotel.

Tip valet when he takes the car
Tip the bellman when he takes your bags

Tip the doorman when he opens the door

Tip the receptionist that gives you your key and escorts you to room

Tip the steward that delivers your bag

I will have to adapt it for encounters during embarkation.  $20 for each of those initial services goes a long ways.

[KroozNut]

2 hours ago, bdd123 said:

Here is an old school technique that works really well in certain situations, like a nice hotel.

Tip valet when he takes the car
Tip the bellman when he takes your bags

Tip the doorman when he opens the door

Tip the receptionist that gives you your key and escorts you to room

Tip the steward that delivers your bag

I will have to adapt it for encounters during embarkation.  $20 for each of those initial services goes a long ways.

 

That is a very good list, but I would add, tip the HAL excursion host at the end of your tour..