Transferring excursion to another family member

[B.Mary]

Hello --

newbie here. I tried to search for this answer and haven't had any luck. We have 7 family members going on the same cruise. If we buy a HAL excursion for two people in their names -- can we later decide to change who is going? If so, does it have to be done officially through HAL? Thanks for your answers.

[Jade13]

Hello --

newbie here. I tried to search for this answer and haven't had any luck. We have 7 family members going on the same cruise. If we buy a HAL excursion for two people in their names -- can we later decide to change who is going? If so, does it have to be done officially through HAL? Thanks for your answers.

It has to be done officially. I think you have up until 10 days before the cruise or something like that. Some with helicopter flights etc. may have a 10% cancellation. Call the shore excursions department.

[gizmo]

It does not have to be done officially.

The excursion tickets will be in the cabin when you arrive on the ship. All you have to do is give them to the people who are going. :)

[jtl513]

It has to be done officially.:confused: I don't remember there being any names on the tickets ... or anyone checking IDs before getting on a bus. IF there are names on the tickets, you may have to have the person in whose name it was originally booked show up at the lounge to get the colored sticker, then give it to the person actually going.

Of course if you only paid for a child's ticket then a child would have to use it.

[dakrewser]

It's not like airplane tickets - there are no names on the excursion tickets. Just give them to the people who are actually taking the tour.

[sail7seas]

I think it's a good idea to let them know exactly who is using the excursion ticket. If they are late getting back to the ship, they will show as in the HAL excursion group they know has not yet returned.


Many afternoons when ready to leave port, we often hear them page a few people. Those names are sometimes people they are checking on to see if they have returned to the ship. For one reason or another, their card didn't scan them back on.

What if there is an emergency with the tour. They should know who is on it.

[B.Mary]

Our excursions go on sale in 5 minutes -- it was great to get fast replies!

[peaches from georgia]

You have until 10 days before your cruise to cancel an excursion online and get a refund on your credit card, but all the shore excursion people themselves care about is that everyone getting on the bus or boat have a paid-for tkt.

[jtl513]

I think it's a good idea to let them know exactly who is using the excursion ticket. If they are late getting back to the ship, they will show as in the HAL excursion group they know has not yet returned.

Many afternoons when ready to leave port, we often hear them page a few people. Those names are sometimes people they are checking on to see if they have returned to the ship. For one reason or another, their card didn't scan them back on.

What if there is an emergency with the tour. They should know who is on it.

Well, maybe if there are two different last names for those using the tickets ... but there may well be other family members on the ship to answer the page and explain the circumstances. I don't think I'd bother to tell anyone. ;)

[sail7seas]

What is the reason for NOT telling them who is using the tour tickets?

[Jemima]

I think the excursion tickets have names, but may be wrong. I just asked my daughter and she thinks that also.

[jtl513]

What is the reason for NOT telling them who is using the tour tickets?
I think it would be a waste of my effort - that the person I told would do absolutely nothing with the information - and that it's really not necessary anyway. If an excursion is late, and the list of names includes John and Jane Doe, while the persons missing are Jane and Bob Doe ... or even Jane Doe and Bob Smith ... don't you think someone can put 2 and 2 together? Or the relatives of Jane and Bob back on the ship can explain where they are?
I think the excursion tickets have names, but may be wrong. I just asked my daughter and she thinks that also.My DW and I recall names on the envelope, but not on the tickets.

[gizmo]

The names were not on the excursions tickets I received on any of my cruises.

[dakrewser]

What is the reason for NOT telling them who is using the tour tickets?

I'm with John - trying to find someone to tell would be a fruitless search. And knowing the way the shorex staff operates, might wind up with all tix canceled. It's just not worth it as there is no "upside".

[Jade13]

What is the reason for NOT telling them who is using the tour tickets?


I am with Sail, and (someone correct me if I am wrong) but I thought they may need to know on some types of excursions including helicopter tours (they have weight retrictions), flight tours, Canopy Tours etc.

[jtl513]

I am with Sail, and (someone correct me if I am wrong) but I thought they may need to know on some types of excursions including helicopter tours (they have weight retrictions), flight tours, Canopy Tours etc.What does that have to do with telling HAL the name? :confused: That's between you and the excursion operator.

[pms4104]

What is the reason for NOT telling them who is using the tour tickets?


Ummmmm ... maybe they're in the Federal Witness Protection Program.

[RuthC]

A name is definitely on the ticket, as well as the name of the tour. When you check in, and when you board the bus they look at the name of the tour---not the name of the passenger on it.

I'll bet my tour budget that if you went to the Shore Excursion Office to have the ticket transferred to another person in your party they would do one of two things: 1.) do it without a fuss or (more likely) 2.) tell you to just give the other person the ticket.

When a tour hasn't returned in time the ship is aware of that, but really doesn't need to know the specific names.
The "who's on board right now" factor is a function of the room key scanning system---not a shore excursion.

[sail7seas]

That's true, Ruth, but since they began the card scanning when we leave and return to the ship, I have yet to be on a cruise when someone didn't get back aboard but for some reason the card wasn't scanned into the system correctly and they are paging a name or two or three just before leaving port. Doesn't happen every port but happens at least once a cruise.

I recall the tragic accident in Mexico when charter guests on Maasdam were lost during a horrific accident. Because they knew who they sold that tour to, they knew immediately who was lost. If names had not been changed but tickets were passed around without their knowledge, there could have been a dreadful 'misidentification'..... at least initially until it all got sorted out.

Tell them; don't tell them. The choice is yours. I happen to be of the thinking the ship should know who is on what ship sponsored excursions.

Fine anyone that disagrees........ ;)

[pms4104]

We have 7 family members going on the same cruise. If we buy a HAL excursion for two people in their names -- can we later decide to change who is going? If so, does it have to be done officially through HAL? Thanks for your answers.

My 2 cents ... while we can all speculate and offer our opinions, if indeed the OP wants to know what HAL's policy is, I would think she could contact HAL directly for the official answer. Or is the question more of a "can we get away with this?"

[Jade13]

What does that have to do with telling HAL the name? :confused: That's between you and the excursion operator.

Ok, not HAL, but my TA was offering a free excursion (through Ensemble). We are not going on it because (another issue) they tell me after I booked it is not good for our whole family, only two persons. In any event I received an e-mail from my TA saying they needed our full names and passport numbers. So, some excursions do require info.

Regarding the weight Q. Well, if a helipcopter is putting together an excursion and someone switched their 110 pound daughter with their 190 pound dh, their is now another 80 pounds to consider. Maybe it doesn't matter if you are booked through HAL and they sort this out at the airport, but we booked direct and needed to fill out forms months in advance. They only have so many slots and helicopters. I was using this as another example of why someone needed to know in advance and not the day of an excursion. If someone is doing a bus tour it would not matter and I assume the OP question was to avoid a 10% cancellation fee with HAL (maybe more on some excursions).

[Odd Ball]

Third party excursions are a different ball game and has nothing to do with the question.

How helicopters are handled I don't really know. The one and only helicopter tour I took was on St. Kitts. It was booked through Hal and there was nothing to fill out about weight or names. I have seen where some helicopter tours charge more for certain weights.

For Caribbean and Mexico cruises, I see no reason to go to the front desk and tell them you are switching. The front desk personal have nothing to do with excursions. They would probably roll their eyes :rolleyes: and do nothing with the information.

Excursions in Europe MIGHT be handled different because of passport and visa requirements.

[hammybee]

Regarding the weight Q. Well, if a helipcopter is putting together an excursion and someone switched their 110 pound daughter with their 190 pound dh, their is now another 80 pounds to consider. Maybe it doesn't matter if you are booked through HAL and they sort this out at the airport, but we booked direct and needed to fill out forms months in advance. They only have so many slots and helicopters. I was using this as another example of why someone needed to know in advance and not the day of an excursion. If someone is doing a bus tour it would not matter and I assume the OP question was to avoid a 10% cancellation fee with HAL (maybe more on some excursions).

Although not your intention, this made me smile. HAL has no idea what anyone weighs when they book an excursion. ( Thank goodness !) Most excursions involving helicopters and float planes have a maxium weight of 250 pounds, per pax. If the pax weighs more than this, they pay more. If the pax lied and did not pay the suppliment, the tour operator will most likely call the pax out on it. Same goes for minimum ages and heights on other excursions. HAL tells you what the tour provider requires and expects its pax to be mature and comply. It's between the tour provider and pax, to sort it out.

[Jade13]

Ok, so I guess it's just an honor system thing. If you book in advance and go to HAL's web site, your names DO show up. If you cancel within x days (I think 10), you are supposed to tell HAL and pay a cancellation fee. I think the OP question was whether HAL would know if they switched one person for another. I guess they wouldn't. And, I guess since this is booking through HAL there is no concern about the ship not waiting for you.

And, since I am headed to Europe, I was thinking Europe. Hal's Ship Coordinator told me they will hold passports in Europe, but others posted here said that they did not.

[hammybee]

And, since I am headed to Europe, I was thinking Europe. Hal's Ship Coordinator told me they will hold passports in Europe, but others posted here said that they did not.

I am thinking that immigration protocols change like the weather in many ports so that it is not possible for any cruise line to determine in advance if they will or will not hold onto passports. This may explain why we hear conflicting reports.

[sail7seas]

We have cruised HAL in Europe three of four times. Only once did they hold our passports for part of the cruise.

[Jemima]

Passports were held in April from check-in until after the last EU port.
Shore excursion tickets should have names. This would be very helpful at stops where one or two passengers apparently aren't back on the bus.

[jtl513]

Excursions in Europe MIGHT be handled different because of passport and visa requirements.

Even in Russia, where they are very concerned with visas, all the OP would have to do is hand in the substitute excursion-taker's passport the night before instead of the original booked person's. In all EU countries, however, once you've entered the block there are no passport controls anymore. Many places you can drive across country borders and not even slow down, and you hardly notice the change.
Shore excursion tickets should have names. This would be very helpful at stops where one or two passengers apparently aren't back on the bus.Why, so the tour guide has to shuffle through a stack of tickets taking roll call? That would be more easily handled with a list on a sheet of paper, and as long as at least one of the people the OP originally booked is on the excursion that problem is solved. I do remember a couple of excursions where a clip-board was passed around asking for everyone's name and cabin number, so that would suggest to me that HAL does not currently furnish name lists to the excursion operators ... or the operators don't trust any such lists to be accurate.

[Jemima]

We had a couple of confused people on one shore excursion. They created a situation where we were delayed at least a half hour on our already shortened Rome excursion. It turned out they'd been on our bus, weren't supposed to be, got on another one in Rome also incorrect, and I've no idea what happened after that. At another port we waited on the bus in the rain for two people who never returned.

[Jemima]

In all EU countries, however, once you've entered the block there are no passport controls anymore. Many places you can drive across country borders and not even slow down, and you hardly notice the change.

Italy is an EU country and all passports were held by the ship while there. Again passports were held this year on the Veendam from 4/1 until 4/17 the day after Italy. No pasenger was allowed to have their passport in Italy.

[jtl513]

We had a couple of confused people on one shore excursion. They created a situation where we were delayed at least a half hour on our already shortened Rome excursion. It turned out they'd been on our bus, weren't supposed to be, got on another one in Rome also incorrect, and I've no idea what happened after that. At another port we waited on the bus in the rain for two people who never returned.
Obviously two tour guides were asleep at the switch and not checking the color/number of the shirt stickers for people getting on their buses. So would they have paid attention to names on a list or a ticket?
Italy is an EU country and all passports were held by the ship while there. Again passports were held this year on the Veendam from 4/1 until 4/17 the day after Italy. No pasenger was allowed to have their passport in Italy.Not for us in 6/06. We held our own passports the entire cruise and were off the ship in Rome, Livorno/Florence, Palermo, and Naples. Rules apparently change, but IMO it is absurd that someone is not allowed to take their passport when getting off a ship in foreign countries, the only places a passport is ever needed. I would have protested long and loudly. After all, the passport belongs to YOU, not the ship.

[pms4104]

delete

[pms4104]

I think the OP question was whether HAL would know if they switched one person for another. I guess they wouldn't. And, I guess since this is booking through HAL there is no concern about the ship not waiting for you.
[quote=Jade13;10336207]I think the OP question was whether HAL would know if they switched one person for another. I guess they wouldn't. And, I guess since this is booking through HAL there is no concern about the ship not waiting for you.[quote]

It would seem that if the two people who were slated for the excursion are back on board along with everyone else from the tour, except the unofficial substitutes, HAL might not have an obligation to wait for those two individuals if they dally at the port and return late. After all, it appears that they went off independently. JMHO

I'm still waiting for the OP's rationale for not revealing the names of the substitutes. Is this all about blocking space on a popular tour to be sure that someone in her group could go on the tour while other passengers may be legitamately waitlisted?

[B.Mary]

Hello all! Wow! I didn't know my post would create all this controversy. I'm brand new to cruising, and don't have a problem with following the rules. I tried to call HAL to ask this question and the voice mail response asked me to leave a message and they would get back to me in a few days. I guess I didn't give enough info or the motivation for my asking. I was in a hurry, and knew there was a lot of knowledge here.

Here's the situation: We're on a chartered cruise. Veendam from Copenhagen, all ports in Norway. The charter TA arranged it so that all the excursions would go on sale at the same time. As I mentioned, we're a family of seven. My family of five (me, husband, kids) and my sister and mom. My mom is 80, mobile, but can't walk a lot. So we have some diverse interests in excursions. My mom wants to do a lot of excursions, and only wants those with the "one person" symbol. My sister posed the question, could we sign someone up to go with my mom on each excursion, and then decide which one of us would go, depending on how we felt as the days progressed?

As it turns out, most of the excursions that my mom wants to participate in do not have the "limited" symbol. I've booked them all for my mom, and I'm crossing my fingers that we can book some of these for one additional passenger on the ship. However, that makes me nervous, so I'm also thinking of booking an additional one of us on most of them. It would be a "no-brainer" if I knew we could switch the person later. Obviously, I understand if we book a child's ticket (two of the kids are 12 and under) only one of the two of them could go.

Absolutely not trying to "see what I can get away with".

Thanks.

[dakrewser]

Hello all! Wow! I didn't know my post would create all this controversy. I'm brand new to cruising, and don't have a problem with following the rules. I tried to call HAL to ask this question and the voice mail response asked me to leave a message and they would get back to me in a few days. I guess I didn't give enough info or the motivation for my asking. I was in a hurry, and knew there was a lot of knowledge here.

Here's the situation: We're on a chartered cruise. Veendam from Copenhagen, all ports in Norway. The charter TA arranged it so that all the excursions would go on sale at the same time. As I mentioned, we're a family of seven. My family of five (me, husband, kids) and my sister and mom. My mom is 80, mobile, but can't walk a lot. So we have some diverse interests in excursions. My mom wants to do a lot of excursions, and only wants those with the "one person" symbol. My sister posed the question, could we sign someone up to go with my mom on each excursion, and then decide which one of us would go, depending on how we felt as the days progressed?

As it turns out, most of the excursions that my mom wants to participate in do not have the "limited" symbol. I've booked them all for my mom, and I'm crossing my fingers that we can book some of these for one additional passenger on the ship. However, that makes me nervous, so I'm also thinking of booking an additional one of us on most of them. It would be a "no-brainer" if I knew we could switch the person later. Obviously, I understand if we book a child's ticket (two of the kids are 12 and under) only one of the two of them could go.

Absolutely not trying to "see what I can get away with".

Thanks.

Book the second person. There's no question by anyone that you can change the person at the last moment. Nor is there any "rule" that would need to be broken. It's merely (from most of he postings I've read) a question of what you are comfortable with - trying to get the (sometimes appearing to be brain-dead) shorex staff to change the name, or not. Either way should work.