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whether to book shore excursion via web or on ship


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how many people book their shore excursions in advance via the RCCL website. I know you don't know what time you are leaving until after you pick which can be a pain, but on the other hand, if everyone does, and you wait until you are on board, do you know the times then that they leave? ARe they already booked up and you have to do it on your own? Help.... please with any of these issues.

 

Imagination - 5/99

Destiny - 5/01

Explorer of the Seas - 5/04

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We booked online excusions through Celebrity before we left home. It was wonderful! No standing in line waiting to hear that the excursion you wanted was sold out. This freed up our time to do other things while onboard!

 

I'm would think RCCL works the same. We plan to book again online before we leave home.

 

While on our Celebrity cruise, two of our excusions got cancelled and they credited the amount already paid back to our cabin. We just used the credit to pay for our ship board expenses.

 

Grandeur of the Seas-September 4, 2004

Galaxy-June 7, 2002

Fascination-March 17, 2001

 

 

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2004;09;04;13;00;00&timezone=est-0500

 

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Sometimes you can find excursions through private companies at a much cheaper price than through the cruise line. Decide what you want to do then post on cruise critic for help in finding a private co.

 

"Baby lets cruise away from here"

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Book before. Check the independent people, sometimes they are cheaper and they are not as crowded (only thing negative about that is if the excursion runs late you cannot miss the boat)

 

Another plus is that I like to have everything paid before I go on vacation. That way I dont come home from vacation with a huge bill!

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Book before via RCLs web site. If you chosse the 'purchase' option (which does not obligate you) it will show you the departure times. The best part is your tickets are in your cabin upon arrival

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No pain in booking the shore excursions online ahead your crusie. Even if you change your mind when onboard, no problem.

I did this on my last cruise. As long as you cancel the prebooked excursion before the indicated deadline the amount will be credited to your onboard account. They indicate the deadline in the cruise compass. I think usually it´s something between 24-48 hours.

 

First pics of the undocking of the Jewel of the Seas:

http://community.webshots.com/album/125049819TVWuuS

 

Jewel of the Seas left Meyerwerft Shipyard

See Photos of River Ems passage

http://community.webshots.com/album/131001309cIkOdH

Jewel of the Seas - 05/28/04 Scandinavia / Russia / Baltic

countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;05;28;7;20;00&timezone=GMT+0100

 

Jewel of the Seas - 09/28/04 Canada / New England

countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;09;28;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

 

 

09/2003 - Legend of the Seas Hawaii

06/2003 - Norwegian Dawn Florida and Bahamas

2002 - MS Columbus - Cruise to nowhere

2001 - Grandeur of the Seas Mediterranean and Transatlantic

2000 - Splendour of the Seas Transatlantic

2000 - Viking Star on the Danube River

1999 - Vision of the Seas Panamacanal cruise

1998 - Vision of the Seas Transatlantic

1997 - Crystal Symphonie to Mexican Riviera

1996 - Delta Queen on the Mississippi

1995 - Legend of the Seas to Alaska

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For most Caribbean destinations, there is no reason to think the ship's excursion is the best way to go. They are usually much more expensive, more crowded and less personalized than using independent tour operators. The independent tour operators know the ships schedule better than we do and realize that it is imperitive to operate within those time constraints. Of course it is still our responsibility to know the times of tours and allow for contengincies. The last thing the independents want is for dissatisfied customers posting on the internet. It is very rare when someone posts problems with independents.

 

Further, with minimal research, even independents aren't needed for many sites and recreation on the Caribbean islands. Example, St John's when docked on St Thomas, or seeing both sides of St Maarten using the local busses for $1.50 ea way. So very easy to do on your own. Can't believe that some people even book a shopping tour. What's with that?

 

[This message was edited by hdawson on 04-16-04 at 04:18 PM.]

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I have already booked all our excursions through RCCL web site for our Alaskan cruise this August. I was dissapointed before for not doing so.Also ,I like having all my excursions paid for long before we cruise.

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Our friends just came back on the Voyager. Tours through Royal Caribbean and privately arranged tours for the Stingray excursions were all filled. Seems there were six to seven ships docked in Grand Cayman that day. I just booked our tours for the July 2nd sailing through Royal Caribbean to avoid disappointing the kiddies.

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Certain excursions can only take a limited amount of participants. i.e. the American Cup Regatta on St. Maarten can only take 36 people. If you wish to go on that, then it is a good idea to book it as soon as you have your booking number to be sure you can participate.

 

There are many other excursions that sell out very fast. Yes, on the Caribbean there are many excursions you can take on your own or with a taxi, etc. but this doesn't always apply to other locations.

 

If you go all the way to Europe and have your heart set on a particular excursion, book it ahead and you will not be disappointed.

 

As for booking things with private operators in certain places, keep in mind the departure time of your cruise.

 

On several of our excursion (purchased on the ships) we got back past the time the ship was to leave but we could relax and not worry as the ship was waiting for us.

 

Once there was a bus accident with our bus and the 9 buses behind us were also stuck. We were all late but no problem.

It was a minor accident and no one was hurt, the bus squeezed another car between it and a bridge railing.

 

If you miss the ship in some places, it can be VERY expensive to catch up. I have seen it happen to people.

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Good points.Also, when we went to Grande Caman to go on the RCCL excursion to Stingray City the port was cxl'd due to high seas. Our account was immediately credited back for the cxl'd excursion.

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I agree. Good Points. Also, if anything happens and you cruise gets canceled, you don't need to follow up with individual companies. You are automatically credited. Overall, the reason I book, though, is the convienience. I can do it in advance. no line, no worries.

 

 

<blink><font color=#33CCCC size=5>On my way to the Caribbean in May icon_biggrin.gif </font></blink>

Talk with others on my cruise

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But if you prebook -- if they have different times, will you know the time before hand?

 

And can you do a "pretend" booking to see what happens. Can you cancel immediately afterwards if its not what you want?

 

Imagination - 5/99

Destiny - 5/01

Explorer of the Seas - 5/04

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If you go online to book your Shore Exc. you need to have your RCCL booking number. After clicking on purchase you need to enter your travel information including your RCCL booking number. After this they will display your itinerary.

When clicking on a day you get the list of all Excursions offered for this day. After clicking on the Excursion you like they give you a description of the tour and at the bottom of the page they list all available times. From this menu you choose the time you want and put it in your shopping basket.

After you are all set you can go on and purchase your Excursions and give them the credit card information to bill your purchase.

You´ll get a confirmation email.

You can cancel or change Excursions until the deadline which is I think between 24 - 48 hours before the departure of the tour. I never did this online but once on the ship without any problems.

 

First pics of the undocking of the Jewel of the Seas:

http://community.webshots.com/album/125049819TVWuuS

 

Jewel of the Seas left Meyerwerft Shipyard

See Photos of River Ems passage

http://community.webshots.com/album/131001309cIkOdH

Jewel of the Seas - 05/28/04 Scandinavia / Russia / Baltic

countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;05;28;7;20;00&timezone=GMT+0100

 

Jewel of the Seas - 09/28/04 Canada / New England

countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;09;28;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

 

 

09/2003 - Legend of the Seas Hawaii

06/2003 - Norwegian Dawn Florida and Bahamas

2002 - MS Columbus - Cruise to nowhere

2001 - Grandeur of the Seas Mediterranean and Transatlantic

2000 - Splendour of the Seas Transatlantic

2000 - Viking Star on the Danube River

1999 - Vision of the Seas Panamacanal cruise

1998 - Vision of the Seas Transatlantic

1997 - Crystal Symphonie to Mexican Riviera

1996 - Delta Queen on the Mississippi

1995 - Legend of the Seas to Alaska

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I do what madforcruising described. What I do different is that I stop after looking at the description, times, & if it is available. If I want to book that tour, then I would continue.

 

We have booked tours online. It is very convenient & 1 less thing to do when we get on the ship.

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we've booked not just RCCI on line but also carnival and NCL and LOVE it. No waiting in line no hassles etc. The disadvantage is that if you don't know exactly what you want to do the videos and shore excursions talks on the ship can be really helpful. You don't get much from the book they give you. Of couse there is always the option of rebooking once you get on the ship.

 

The Moyers

Dennis & Debbie

Navigator of the Seas 9/18

countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;9;18;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

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