Excursion Outrage!!!!

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Hi everyone. My family and I are going to be sailing the eastern Carribean route on the Liberty in the new year. My daughter desperately wants to visit the Baths at Virgin Gorda. I, however, am concerned because we have only a short time in port (7 - 2) and I have heard that the ferry service can be unreliable. The last thing we want is to miss departure time so I decided to look into the ship excursion instead. I couldn't believe my eyes ... it would cost my family of four $300 (Cdn) :eek: to spend only two hours at what is, essentially, just a beach. Taking the public ferry would run about 1/3 that amount!!!! I realize that ship excursions are generally more expensive than going it on your own, but isn't this grossly excessive? What do you all think?

[Valor2005]

Whenever I'm presented with a dilemma like that I ask myself a few questions. How badly does your daughter want to do this? Will there be another opportunity to do this in the future? How much is peace of mind worth to you? Will I be kicking myself for not doing it while I was there? I'm really cheap so I think EVERYTHING'S expensive. lol. I guess it's all relative. Good luck.

[MrPete]

You have the freedom to do it or not.

 

I weighed all my options, and chose not to do it, but I still don't know what I'm missing. We went to Cane Garden Bay instead.

 

When we went to Bermuda, we walked to the beach to the left of Horseshoe Bay, and imagined maybe that's what the baths look like.

 

Take a peek over at the Tortola port board. Some do it on their own in confidence.

[AllenF]

Contact Julie at http://www.patouche.com/ and see if the Extreme machine will be able to take you to the baths the day you are there.

We used them and the were outstanding. Cost 50 bucks per person includes snorkeling and drinks.

[jc4me]

I don't know the age of DD, but DH and I typically offer the children the option of "paying their own way" if they want to do something extra. That allows them to be vested in the process and if they want to do it badly enough, then they will come up with the $$ which reduces your price and lets you know how badly the child wants this. Just a thought...it is amazing how may things they thought that they really wanted until it came to them paying for it.;)

[kylescoolmom]

I and 9 others will be on the Liberty 9-15-07. Seriously thinking of going with Patouche (Extreme Machine) I like the idea that you can swim to shore. If you want you can also research and there are alternatives to getting to the Bath. http://www.speedysbvi.com/home.html

[iluvdoxies]

Contact Julie at http://www.patouche.com/ and see if the Extreme machine will be able to take you to the baths the day you are there.

We used them and the were outstanding. Cost 50 bucks per person includes snorkeling and drinks.

 

 

We were on the same trip with Allen. Patouche did a wonderful job, would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

We also had a short time there, so Patouche worked out great for us.

[sandi-s]

There is a group of us going on the Extreme machine on our April 28th cruise. Contact them, I don't see a problem.

Sandi

[sunlover5]

My husband and I did the Eastern last March on the Liberty! You will love the ship, cruise, the best cruise for us so far! We did do the Baths. We did do it through the ship. While we were on board they would announce everyday that excursion was booked. Then before dinner they would say so many spots opened up so hurry & book it!! I don't think it ever fills up because it is just a beach. A very small one. We were the first ones there, and by the time we left it was packed. We climbed a few of the rocks and did get some great photos. The waves were too rough that day to swim. My husband went and explored a cave, but turned around for fear of missing the ferry. We too did it through the ship for fear of missing it. When we got back my DH went back to the ship and a friend from the cruise and I shopped. We fell in love with the town and wished we went exploring the island a little more. It was absolutely gorgeous. We would like to go back just to learn more about the island. I am glad I did it and can say I've been there, but my DH and the other couple from the boat thought it was a waste. There are no chairs or food stands there. Make sure to eat a breakfast before you go and take towels to sit on. There was one lady selling tshirts, but that was it. There might be more there now.

Everyones opinion is different though. You and your family might absolutely love it and think it is worth every penny, just wanted to give my thoughts. It might have been different if the water wasn't rough(we took our snorkling and that is what we were counting on) and my DH said the caves were just too crowded.

I think that is the problem, so little time, everyone does this excursion and there are just tons of people.

Good Luck! You are going to love the Liberty!!!:D

[Sandi149]

Hi everyone. My family and I are going to be sailing the eastern Carribean route on the Liberty in the new year. My daughter desperately wants to visit the Baths at Virgin Gorda. I, however, am concerned because we have only a short time in port (7 - 2) and I have heard that the ferry service can be unreliable. The last thing we want is to miss departure time so I decided to look into the ship excursion instead. I couldn't believe my eyes ... it would cost my family of four $300 (Cdn) :eek: to spend only two hours at what is, essentially, just a beach. Taking the public ferry would run about 1/3 that amount!!!! I realize that ship excursions are generally more expensive than going it on your own, but isn't this grossly excessive? What do you all think?

My husband and I are going to the Baths next June on our trip to the Caribbean. Is the price Carnival charges excessive? Well that depends on how you look at this. We will be doing the tour through the ship also. I just figured out how much it would cost hubby and I in US$. appox. 132 for the two of us. Anyway, think about this. Say you go on a tour to the baths on your own and the ferry doesn't get you back on time and the ship leaves without you. How much will it cost you then to get a hotel for the night and then a plane back home to Canada? A whole lot more than $300 plus a ton of aggravation. So no I really don't think $300 is excessive. They told you the price up front right? So if that's the case, you have the choice to do it or not. For me it's worth it to spend the extra money just to know that if the ferry is late, the ship will wait. Just my opinion. :)

[pholter]

I don't use the Ship's excursions at all anymore. After paying 30-50% more for them, I started booking through Cruise Critic Member recommendations on the Ports of Call boards. Much better excursions, you're not herded around like animals on big buses, and ALOT less money that actually goes to the island and tour operator and NOT to Carnival.

 

Good Luck!

[mrdood]

$75 per person really isn't a bad price, you can book excursions way more expensive than that...

 

Why don't you split up for the day, have done that many times especially when there are different desires for the day.

[MrPete]

If you think those are expensive, you should see the tours they offer in Hawaii!

 

They were SO expensive, people were scrambling to rent cars. We were smart and rented them beforehand, but that day, and all days, they were changring them twice the rate due to supply and demand!

[dansu]

Hi everyone. My family and I are going to be sailing the eastern Carribean route on the Liberty in the new year. My daughter desperately wants to visit the Baths at Virgin Gorda. I, however, am concerned because we have only a short time in port (7 - 2) and I have heard that the ferry service can be unreliable. The last thing we want is to miss departure time so I decided to look into the ship excursion instead. I couldn't believe my eyes ... it would cost my family of four $300 (Cdn) :eek: to spend only two hours at what is, essentially, just a beach. Taking the public ferry would run about 1/3 that amount!!!! I realize that ship excursions are generally more expensive than going it on your own, but isn't this grossly excessive? What do you all think?

 

Check out the the following link: http://www.gatorclaw.com/liberty.html . He and his girlfriend documented their trip to the Baths by photos and video in great detail, and then decide if it is worth it.

 

My hubby and I were also debating on CCL excursions, as one we have chosen is $175.00pp US$, then we figured...we've spent all this money to take our cruise. So, we've just paid $650.00 US$ for CCL excursions..alot of money, I know, but think of all the time and money it would cost if you missed the boat. We figure the $30 extra to CCL was worth it for the peace of mind. If after you've seen gaterclaws great travel bio you still want to go, then go and enjoy yourselves...it's a vacation. If not at least you'll know just what you've missed.

 

Enjoy your cruise in the sunny warm snow free south...it wet snow here today.

[MauiLvrs]

The baths is much more than just a beach... But we're not going there....

We're going to dive the HMS Rhone instead at $700 for the six of us.

[scgalloways]

It's really absurd. We are sailing with 3 teens and an infant. The infant is free on most excursions if we sit her on our lap, but for a family of 5 to do 4 hours at a beach is $250.00, Mayan ruins would be $350.00, it's just absurd seeing how just the tips alone is already $350.00 on your card before you even board. We'd love to do a lot, but we pay for our cruise from our checking account, we got credit card debt free several years ago and live by the rule that we either pay when we do or want something, we save to get or do it, or we don't do it at all...so our plan is to shop at a port, do a free beach where we can walk and pay for 1-2 excursions through the cruiseline only. We couldn't afford excursions at every port, but thanks to this and other such sites we've learned which locations we are safe saving our money and going off on our own and which stops we'd definitely want to book through the cruise line.

 

Good Luck in Your decision

[scgalloways]

P.S. - tips was for the number in our party, didn't mean that would be what everyone is charged. :)

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Thank you all for taking the time to make suggestions and commiserate. I'm all up on the cruise critic port of call boards and have been (almost obsessively) planning our vacation for six months now :D. We've considered all the options (including tour operators, public ferry, splitting up, etc. etc.) and have, for various reasons, excluded them as options. We'll be going to Brewers Bay instead to do some snorkelling. My 9 year old daughter's disappointment faded within seconds after learning that sea turtles have been spotted at Brewers Bay ... Thank goodness for the enthusiasm, adaptablility and fickleness of youth!

 

Again, thanks for the suggestions. :)

[Serrato2k]

robin and i took that excursion in april '06. what a beautiful place, i will never forget it. i did have some problems though. the price was outrageous. and let me tell you they crammed so many people on little stretch of beach it was pitiful. you see there is not much sand there at the Baths. there are two different beaches, well the first one you come to has alot of rocks and coral. to get to the second beach you must trek though a cave. and let me tell you that cave is beautiful, but it takes about 30mins to get to the other side. well with hundreds of people crammed into a little cave with not direction nor instructions nor guide to get you through it is total chaos. certain sections are so narrow it is only one way, so if you are running late, oh well. robin and i got half way and turned around. time was another factor. it is a 15-20min (depending on the amount of people there) trek from the top of the mountain (hill, whatever) were you are dropped off to the beach below. then if you want to get to the other side of the rock cave, thats another 30mins. so right there you have lost an hour. the Baths are so beautiful you hate to waste any time. to get an idea use google earth (you can search google for Virgin Gorda to get a bookmark) the photos are pretty good to see what i am talking about as far ask the walking.

[KnotAMole]

Gatorclaw's voyage was via one of the ferries. Here are some pics from a Patouche voyage:

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/patouche__extreme_machine.htm

 

Patouche does escort you through the rocks, you are not left on your own. You swim in and don't have to walk down the steps from the top and then later back out.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Hi everyone. My family and I are going to be sailing the eastern Carribean route on the Liberty in the new year. My daughter desperately wants to visit the Baths at Virgin Gorda. I, however, am concerned because we have only a short time in port (7 - 2) and I have heard that the ferry service can be unreliable. The last thing we want is to miss departure time so I decided to look into the ship excursion instead. I couldn't believe my eyes ... it would cost my family of four $300 (Cdn) :eek: to spend only two hours at what is, essentially, just a beach. Taking the public ferry would run about 1/3 that amount!!!! I realize that ship excursions are generally more expensive than going it on your own, but isn't this grossly excessive? What do you all think?

 

are you on the January 6th cruise? I have been checking and the port times listed on CCL's page say 7am - 3:30pm.

 

Bill

[JLC@SD]

Hi everyone. My family and I are going to be sailing the eastern Carribean route on the Liberty in the new year. My daughter desperately wants to visit the Baths at Virgin Gorda. I, however, am concerned because we have only a short time in port (7 - 2) and I have heard that the ferry service can be unreliable. The last thing we want is to miss departure time so I decided to look into the ship excursion instead. I couldn't believe my eyes ... it would cost my family of four $300 (Cdn) :eek: to spend only two hours at what is, essentially, just a beach. Taking the public ferry would run about 1/3 that amount!!!! I realize that ship excursions are generally more expensive than going it on your own, but isn't this grossly excessive? What do you all think?

Ferries are always cheaper......but you take your chances getting back on time........what if the ferry is full coming back.

 

300 CND equals 265 USD..........for four that is 66 USD each.......which actually is reasonable for an escorted tour that includes a boat ride.

[petro772]

We'd love to do a lot, but we pay for our cruise from our checking account, we got credit card debt free several years ago and live by the rule that we either pay when we do or want something, we save to get or do it, or we don't do it at all.

Good for you. Hope your children are learning this lesson also. If so, they'll all be successful. ;)

[JLC@SD]

Hi everyone. My family and I are going to be sailing the eastern Carribean route on the Liberty in the new year. My daughter desperately wants to visit the Baths at Virgin Gorda. I, however, am concerned because we have only a short time in port (7 - 2) and I have heard that the ferry service can be unreliable. The last thing we want is to miss departure time so I decided to look into the ship excursion instead. I couldn't believe my eyes ... it would cost my family of four $300 (Cdn) :eek: to spend only two hours at what is, essentially, just a beach. Taking the public ferry would run about 1/3 that amount!!!! I realize that ship excursions are generally more expensive than going it on your own, but isn't this grossly excessive? What do you all think?

Ferries are alway cheaper.....but you take your chances on getting back on time.

 

300 CND equals 265 USD or for a family of four.......it is 66 USD each........which is cheap for a tour that includes a boat ride.

[themnms]

i loved the videos from Jason and Pepper. Really informative and entertaining!!!