Conquest Excursion Prices

[disneychick88]

Went on the Carnival site to look at excursions. We want to go on the Stingray Sandbar, Hell & Turtle Farm Experience. It has 2 dollar signs in the pricing column. What price range does that mean? Working on our budget and would like to know.

[NinaCO]

I don't remember who (sorry!), but someone from the Conquestadors group cruise scanned in all their Capers, menus, and shore excursion forms (including prices). Everything's on webshots.

[indiaksue]

I called Carnival awhile back and this is what they told me:

 

$= 30 to 60 dollars

$$ = 60 to 90 dollars

$$$ = 90 to 100 dollars

$$$$ = over 100 dollars

[parrotheads]

You can save lots of money and get a better tour by booking someone privately. For example if you are goiing on the Conquest they go to Montego Bay Jamaica. (My sister and her family just returned from the Conquest where they claim Jamaica was the highlight of their entire trip.)

They booked Carolyn Barrett with Barrett Adventures for the day and since they were part of a group of around 8 people their entire day cost only $35 or so each. The more people who join the group the lower the amount.

 

But more inportantly than just the money is the type of tour you get. When you go with the ship the group is huge and often you are rushed around all day. In a private tour like the ones Carolyn offers, you decide what you want to do and there is always personalized service.

 

We've used Barrett Adventures several times and she went to great lengths to make sure my sister had a fantastic time! In fact Carolyn just emailed me about a little place called Pelican Bar that she want us to visit the next time we are there. It is completely made of drift wood and accessible only by boat.

 

It is so cool! I can't wait to visit!

Anyway if you want to contact her, I included her link below...tell her, Marcia from Texas sent you!

 

info@barrettadventures.com

[Crichard]

Be careful goin on your own in Jamacia. There is a revolution going on there at this time. We are on the Conquest last week, and they said they would only guarantee our safety if we went on a ship tour. They did not say that about the others.

Yes other stingray tours may be cheapter, but we loved ours. We did the turtle farm, hell, and the stingray tour. For four of us it was just over $200. This was for everything except for the pictures of us with the stingrays. It was the cab, admission fees, and boat fee. The best was the boat stayed with us. Some other tours, the bus brings you to the sandbar, and leaves you there while they make another run. Our boat stayed with us, not waiting, and I did not feel rushed at all. We have a 10 and 13 year old. Grand Caymen was one of their favorite places.

We do plan next time to book directly with Discovery Cove. It is a lot cheaper, and the cabs are only $6 for a family of 3 or 4 to get to the park. Check out their web site.

IF you ask Carnival to send e-mail you detailed information on the excursions and the prices, they will. They did you me. If you have a problem, send me an e-mail and I will forward it to you.

CRichard312@cs.com

Good luck

Cathy

[BillnBobbi]

Be careful goin on your own in Jamacia. There is a revolution going on there at this time. We are on the Conquest last week, and they said they would only guarantee our safety if we went on a ship tour. They did not say that about the others.

 

I haven't heard of any revolution going on in Jamaica. The only official Travel Warning that has been issued by the US State Department (and is still on as of today 7/13) for that region is for the country of Haiti: "While the ordered departure of Embassy officers and families has been lifted, the security situation in Haiti remains unpredictable and potentially dangerous. U.S. citizens are encouraged to defer non-emergency travel to Haiti. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning issued May 25, 2004".

 

While there is currently NO Travel Warning for Jamaica, the folowing is from the U.S. Dept of State Consular Information sheet as of 7/13.

 

"Safety and Secuirity: Gang violence and shootings occur regularly in inner-city areas of Kingston" - Well the same could be said of EVERY major US city in the United States. - it continues.."some inne-city neighborhoods are occasionally subject to curfews and police searches. Impromptu demonstrations sometimes occur, during which demonstrators often construct roadblocks or otherwise block the streets. THESE EVENTS USUALLY DO NOT AFFECT TOURIST AREAS (caps mine for emphasis), but travelers to KINGSTON should check with local authorities or the US embassy for current information prior to their trip."

 

"Crime Information: Crime including violent crime, is a serious problem in Jamaica, PARTICULARLY KINGSTON. ...The primary criminal concern of tourist is being a victim of theft. In several cases , armed robberies of Americans have turned violent when the victims resisted handing over valuables."

 

There is more valuable information on Jamaica given. If you wish to read further go to http://travel.state.gov/jamaica.html

 

You can regularly monitgor the Department's Internet web site at http://trael.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and PUblic Announcments can be found.

 

BTW, having never been in Jamaica before, we certainly plan on taking a tour sponsored by the ship. As far as them "guaranteeing" your safety, NO ONE can ever GUARANTEE your safety, however, if something happens to you (something not so horrible, such as your tour bus breaking down in the middle of nowhere) the ship is responsible BY CONTRACT with you, to hold the ship until they recover you. If you are on an independent excursion, the ship will leave port at the expected time, WITHOUT YOU. Peace of mind, esp. in an unfamiliar place is certainly worth the vigorish the ship charges for the tours.

 

Other places, such as Georgetown on Grand Cayman, have a well known reputation for being extremely safe, and have a practically non-existent crime rate. Our first time there, we went on a ship escorted tour. Now that we are familiar with the place, we have no compunction about booking independently.

 

Hey, we wouldn't take a guided tour of Manhattan, we've lived in NY for over 50 years!!! And yet, we always see those double decker buses FILLED with tourists, and Circle Line tours does a brisk business on 8th ave. Now, being natives, we know where to go and where not to go, but we can certainly understand how those unfamiliar with a place want to be led, almost literally by the hand.

 

BnB

[serene56]

Carnival jsut changed their pricing at the end of June so be careful with looking at old excursion list. You can always call Carnival and ask them for prices for an excursion.

 

I think it sucks that Carnival dont add the excursion prices with the lists. it would be very helpful for one to budget.