amymoore Posted September 20, 2006 #1 Share Posted September 20, 2006 I have cruised many different lines, and this is the first time my credit card has been charged in advance for excursions. Is this Carnival's practice? What is their reasoning on this? What if they have to cancel a destination?Amy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoinCruisin Posted September 20, 2006 #2 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Generally if you book on the ship, you are charged then... if you are booking online, yes they charge you... this assures them that you will be there and not just playing around thinking of things to do... I don't blame them. Those tours fill up quick, and if people aren't committed, it just screws them as well as other passengers. If you have paid, you'll be less likely to just not show up. If the tour is cancelled, of course you will be refunded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5668200 Posted September 20, 2006 #3 Share Posted September 20, 2006 That's one of the reasons we may wait until we get on the ship before we book...so we don't have to shell out so much money so far in advance of the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amymoore Posted September 20, 2006 Author #4 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Thanks for the replies. I think we will wait to do it onboard next time too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elon mom Posted September 20, 2006 #5 Share Posted September 20, 2006 If there is something that I really want to do and don't want to take a chance on it being full- I book online. I like having the excursion paid for ahead of time too- not such a large bill when we get home. They are really good about refunding SS card on ship if it is cancelled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natmar Posted September 20, 2006 #6 Share Posted September 20, 2006 We actually prefer to book and pay ahead of time also if we can - that much less to worry about paying for later. Your room steward will even deliver all your paid excursion tickets to your room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParrotRob Posted September 20, 2006 #7 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Your prepaid shore excursion will be refunded to you in the form of a credit to your S&S account in the event it gets canceled. This happened to us in Halifax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cards5440 Posted September 20, 2006 #8 Share Posted September 20, 2006 I also would imagine if you changed your mind once on the ship you could get a credit. We chose the dolphin swim on our first cruise, but after talking to a few people and finding out we did not actually get in the water with the dolphins on this particular excursion we went to the shore excursion desk and asked to change to the catamaran snorkel and sail. They switched us no problem..and credited the difference to our sail and sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucy2222 Posted September 20, 2006 #9 Share Posted September 20, 2006 I was actually going to ask this same question. I guess it's okay, but I would much rather prefer them to refund my credit card, not my S&S card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wentworth Posted September 20, 2006 #10 Share Posted September 20, 2006 We book our excursions in advance. Learned our lesson and were VERY disappointed to find excursions were already full even when we went down the first day on board to book. Now we book the majority of our excursions on line and NOT thru the cruiseline unless there is an issue with the times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derf5585 Posted September 20, 2006 #11 Share Posted September 20, 2006 And why do I have to pay for my cruise in advance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Dad Posted September 20, 2006 #12 Share Posted September 20, 2006 I was actually going to ask this same question. I guess it's okay, but I would much rather prefer them to refund my credit card, not my S&S card. 6 of one, half dozen of the other.......it all comes out even in the end. Jen Love your avitar........and.......Have A Nice Day. ;) :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtalum Posted September 20, 2006 #13 Share Posted September 20, 2006 6 of one, half dozen of the other.......it all comes out even in the end. Unless of course they are carrying a credit card balance. Then it mmakes a big difference. Of course, someone carrying a credit card balance probably shouldn't be cruising in the first place, but that's another thread altogether. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Dad Posted September 20, 2006 #14 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Unless of course they are carrying a credit card balance. Then it mmakes a big difference. Of course, someone carrying a credit card balance probably shouldn't be cruising in the first place, but that's another thread altogether. I don't see what the difference is. To pre-book excursions, you have to put it on a credit card. To secure your S&S card, you have to put it on a credit card. So even if you are going to settle your account in cash at the end of the cruise, the amount that you are paying out will still be the same. Look at it this way: $800 spent less $80 OBC for cancelled excursion leaves $720 due at the end of the cruise and an $80 balance remaining on the credit card. Total amount spent.....$800. or $800 spent and $80 refunded to credit card for cancelled excursion leaving a balance due at the end of the cruise of $800 and a balance on the credit card of $0. Total amount spent......$800. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amymoore Posted September 20, 2006 Author #15 Share Posted September 20, 2006 I understand everyone saying it is the same thing one way or the other. I have cruised on Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Princess. I am trying to think, but I believe I have only pre-booked excursions with Princess, and they didn't bill until the trip was taken. I was just expecting the same. None of this will in any way change the way I feel about Carnival or cruising. We plan to have a blast in about 2 months on our Conquest cruise. Thanks again. Amy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtalum Posted September 20, 2006 #16 Share Posted September 20, 2006 I don't see what the difference is. To pre-book excursions, you have to put it on a credit card. To secure your S&S card, you have to put it on a credit card. So even if you are going to settle your account in cash at the end of the cruise, the amount that you are paying out will still be the same. If they're carrying a credit card balance the whole time, though, they pay extra interest if the charge is made now vs later. A small difference perhaps, but a difference nonetheless. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luanne21 Posted September 20, 2006 #17 Share Posted September 20, 2006 I would never, ever wait to book excursions. I like being able to sit at my computer, at home, and take my time deciding. I get them paid off, and don't have the extra expense after the cruise. I have even booked, and then changed my mind. Had no problems with getting a credit on my card. I have seen the lines waiting for people to pick their excursions on a ship. Angry because they wanted something that was sold out. Picking something that they knew very little about. I would rather be doing something fun, than standing in line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieMcCoy Posted September 20, 2006 #18 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Royal Caribbean also charged our credit card ahead of time for our excursions; Disney did not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akeka Posted September 20, 2006 #19 Share Posted September 20, 2006 I have booked excursions online for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Holland America as well as Carnival. All of these lines charge the card at the time of the booking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5668200 Posted September 20, 2006 #20 Share Posted September 20, 2006 We are sailing in Feb. and wanted a certain excursion which wasn't listed on their shore excursion list. Dd called and was told that they have not confirmed pricing yet for some of the 2007 excursions, so everything is not listed at this point. Would have hated to have booked an excursion now then find out in a few months that others had been added that we would have preferred. Just a suggestion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5668200 Posted September 20, 2006 #21 Share Posted September 20, 2006 We are sailing in Feb. and wanted a certain excursion which wasn't listed on their shore excursion list. Dd called Carnival and was told that they have not confirmed pricing yet for some of the 2007 excursions, so all excursions are not listed at this point. Would have hated to have booked an excursion now then find out in a few months that others had been added that we would have preferred. Just a suggestion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wennfred Posted September 20, 2006 #22 Share Posted September 20, 2006 I have cruised many different lines, and this is the first time my credit card has been charged in advance for excursions. Is this Carnival's practice? What is their reasoning on this? What if they have to cancel a destination?Amy We always get changed for our online booking of excursions, when you board the ship and check your account on the T.V. you will see the -000.00 credit for those excursions. Same as buying Drink Coupons etc. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luanne21 Posted September 20, 2006 #23 Share Posted September 20, 2006 That isn't a problem. You cancel what you have booked, and sign up for the new one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherylandtk Posted September 20, 2006 #24 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Cancellation online before the cruise is fine witha 100% refund to your credit card, although there is a cut-off window that you must observe. After that, if you cancel, it must be done onboard the ship, and onboard cancellations result in a 25% penalty. http://carnival.com/CMS/Shore_Excursions_FAQs/shore_ex_faq_CancelOrder.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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