Changed shore excursion time

[jshli]

When recently accessing my reservation which I periodically do to verify the shore excursions etc. that I have scheduled, I discovered there was a time change on one  excursion from 8:30AM to 1PM. What made this change more frustrating than it would have been under normal circumstances, is this is a tender port. We planned to go on the excursion and on return to the port, explore and have lunch in the “old town” of Kotor which I understand is a “must do”.  With this time change, I have to now hope we can get on an early tender (not sure if this is still a benefit for elite level members), walk around town, take the tender back to the ship, just to have to 

tender back to our excursion (Kotor by Tuk Tuk). Just going on  the excursion will not leave us enough time to explore Kotor. I called the Captains Club desk and was informed that the tour operator changed the schedule and there is no longer an 8:30 time offered. At first he said the 1:00 tour is sold out and a minute later said that there was an opening for only 1 passenger. At first I tended to believe him, but became very skeptical when I went into the website again and it did not indicate that it was sold out or had limited openings which it did on another of my excursions. Not sure how I will proceed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mangrove Snapper]

49 minutes ago, jshli said:

 I have to now hope we can get on an early tender (not sure if this is still a benefit for elite level members), walk around town, take the tender back to the ship, just to have to 

tender back to our excursion (Kotor by Tuk Tuk).

 

If the time is changed to 1:00 pm, your tour will likely be meeting on shore rather than on the ship so you shouldn't need to do the tender back and forth all those times.  It's generally only the early shore excursions which require the meeting times on ship so you can be escorted to the first tenders. 

 

Any excursion I've done in the afternoon in a tender port has had us meet on shore.  Early morning excursions meet on ship and they escort you to one of the first tenders.  But by the afternoon, they figure you've already gone ashore or should have had plenty of time to get a tender ashore. 

[Liao]

50 minutes ago, jshli said:

When recently accessing my reservation which I periodically do to verify the shore excursions etc. that I have scheduled, I discovered there was a time change on one  excursion from 8:30AM to 1PM. What made this change more frustrating than it would have been under normal circumstances, is this is a tender port. We planned to go on the excursion and on return to the port, explore and have lunch in the “old town” of Kotor which I understand is a “must do”.  With this time change, I have to now hope we can get on an early tender (not sure if this is still a benefit for elite level members), walk around town, take the tender back to the ship, just to have to 

tender back to our excursion (Kotor by Tuk Tuk). Just going on  the excursion will not leave us enough time to explore Kotor. I called the Captains Club desk and was informed that the tour operator changed the schedule and there is no longer an 8:30 time offered. At first he said the 1:00 tour is sold out and a minute later said that there was an opening for only 1 passenger. At first I tended to believe him, but became very skeptical when I went into the website again and it did not indicate that it was sold out or had limited openings which it did on another of my excursions. Not sure how I will proceed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simple really, find a private tour operator that provides the same or similar excursion that meets your time requirements.

[leaveitallbehind]

Not clear what you are skeptical about - whether the tour operator changed the schedule, or whether there is accurate availability information regarding the rescheduled excursion?

 

Let me attempt to address both.  While not good, tour operators can, and occasionally do, change their schedule for a number of valid reasons.  The cruise line does not control the excursion and would not normally be the one to cancel as that potentially is taking revenue away from them.  So I would believe the CC rep when they say the tour operator changed the schedule. 

 

As to space availability, Celebrity only sees what the tour operator shows as available and it is possible that in real time, that information may not be completely accurate.  Maybe the website update was not posted when you were on with the CC rep, maybe it was booked but someone canceled, etc.  Who knows, it could be any number of reasons why that information was in conflict. If you decide to do that excursion I would just try to book through the planner and failing that, call the CC rep back and try through them. Or you can follow the suggestion made by @Liao.

 

But, again, as they are not the tour operator, I would not necessarily be skeptical of the CC rep's information in attempting to help you.  They want nothing more than to have you book the excursion. 

 

Edited February 27 by leaveitallbehind

[hcat]

if that excursion is a must do..then work with the reversed itin.. We usually  prefer early ourselves.  

 

I'd cancel   and find something else thru X or when u are off the ship on an early tender.

 

Is tuk tuk the little cars or just the  name?

[jshli]

No availability for a private tour, except in the evening. 
Mangrove Snapper, since I take only early morning shore excursions, I didn’t realize later ones that require a tender, meet off the ship. Makes sense, you have solved my dilemma and I will go on the excursion as originally planned, only later.
Thanks all.

 

[dcbiker97]

13 minutes ago, jshli said:

No availability for a private tour, except in the evening. 
Mangrove Snapper, since I take only early morning shore excursions, I didn’t realize later ones that require a tender, meet off the ship. Makes sense, you have solved my dilemma and I will go on the excursion as originally planned, only later.
Thanks all.

 

I would check with shore excursion staff to make sure this is the case before going ashore.  If they do meet on the ship, you can let them know you’ll meet at port.   

[Folsomdoc]

Kotor is small. If you are not mobility challenged you can see it all by walking. Because it’s small it. Will be crowded. Go early, make a lunch reservation if you can (better restaurants down by the water). I’d skip the Tuk-Tuk, get a refund. Walk, enjoy a long lunch.