This has worked for Celebrity, but I tried it for RCCL and I must have done something wrong. There is an important caveat, though: if your tour is running late, the ship will not wait for you. Check out all the ways to contact Celebrity Cruises below. They will refund if 24 hours ahead EXCEPT if it is not a train or plane excursion. Most tour guides catering to cruise passengers are conscientious about getting passengers back to the ship on time. My understanding has always been you can cancel upto 24 hours before tour departure for a full refund. Often, their cancellation policies cover these itinerary changes especially if its a group tour rather than a private guide. WEGL81, June 25, 2016 in Celebrity Cruises. In fact, sometimes tours do miss out on really letting cruise passengers experience local culture, simply because it is hard to fit everything in! 10 tips for getting the best cruise shore excursion values, Tipping on a cruise ship: Guide and what to do. As many as 3,260 guests can set sail aboard Celebrity Beyond at double occupancy, and as many as 3,937 passengers can enjoy the ship when fully booked. I suggested that she post it on cruise critic and trip advisor. Look to the smaller cruise lines for more options for small-group tours and know that those excursions are likely to be expensive and sell out quickly. When you sign on to an existing third-party tour, instead of filling up a motorcoach you will probably be one of fewer than 20 people hopping in a van or spreading out on a bus. Three Perfect Ways to Explore. Thank you. I was looking to book a couple of shore excursions pre-cruise. For ports close to a downtown or the beach, you dont need a tour to enjoy your day. Guests who booked a ships tour were simply picked up at the new arrival point. Are you able to view price, etc? Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Read more: 10 tips for getting the best cruise shore excursion values. Avoid these 10 mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions, Ship shape: 9 tips for staying fit on a cruise, 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on ships, What to do if your line cancels your port call, The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, A beginners guide to picking a cruise line, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up, The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. I've cancelled a couple excursions while onboard because the description on the ticket didn't match the description when I bought the excursion. I am interested in whether Celebrity offer airport transfers at the end of their cruises, too, though not specifically for Miami. I get where you're coming from about this. Will the cruise ship wait for you if you're late at a port? All Rights Reserved. My favorite ones are the people who clearly don't get the "1 is horrible to 5 is excellent" rating system. There are some that are nonrefundable several weeks out. There might be a small capacity limit, or your desired time booked up quickly. I am just confirming that unless an excursion is listed in my cruise planner then it is not available to book. While mainstream cruise lines do not include shore excursions in the cost of the cruise, there are some luxury lines that do; however, expect for the initial cost to be higher. Carnival Cruise Line, on the other hand, has no minimum age for the White Pass Summit Excursion in Skagway, Alaska. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Some excursions, particularly those that are active and/or longer in duration, may not allow children of a certain age to join. This is from one of the Shore Excursion brochures: REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS: Shore Excursions can be cancelled or modified up to 24 hours prior to scheduled tour departure for a full refund. Enter the e-mail address associated with the account. They have to offer tours en masse to attractions used to handling thousands of travelers each day. Under no circumstances will refunds be made after an excursion has commenced. Carnival Cruise Line, for instance, offers excursions ranging from $39.99 to $199.99 per person in Cozumel. The public or other beach not owned by Carambola had nice palm trees that not only gave shade but beauty to their beach. When I think back to my two favorite tours, one was ship-sponsored (a plant-based cooking class with a Rastafarian in Jamaica through Princess Cruises) and the other independent (a walking and history tour with a lifelong resident in Havana booked online). However, when I looked a few days ago, there was a banner to say just 6 places remain. Even that hike or bike ride offered through the cruise line will be fairly easy. I do the same thing to get flight quotes. That means I'm not one of 50 people still in line for a pain au chocolat at a bakery while the motorcoach driver tells me I have five more minutes.. The offered "rum tasting" didn't happen. The "Mountain Views and Villa Botanica" was laughable at best! All guests in the same stateroom must choose the same . We offer better value, with smaller groups, and higher quality, guaranteed. Hoping that for most or all the ports we are not required to take a Celebrity excursion. I was just in 3 of the Celebrity Excursions and 2 of them left a lot to be desired. Find the right card for you. By The price of shore excursions varies greatly. I had read about but did expect to be able to visit. OBC has no cash value, is applicable to cruise only, non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and will expire if not used by 10:00 PM on the final night of the cruise. Also ask others on your Roll Call, some may have a tour planned that you can join. When I tried the same JOS sailing for 6-17-23, no planner appeared and it's less than 5 months away. The website gives reviews on the accessibility of different ports, as well as shore excursions. When visiting cruise line private islands, for instance, you will find that there are no local operators. I would expect you will see additional offerings between now and when you cruise. Travelers interested in rebooking their impacted cruise vacations must do so no later than July 11, 2023. One person posted on CC that his review as rejected by X. The tours can be booked onboard at your ship's. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. Celebrity Beyond, the newest Edge-class ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet, will not be sailing in Europe for the spring, summer, and fall of 2024 as originally planned. My sister recently submitted a negative review of a Celebrity Bermuda excursion. Amazing places deserve to be shared with others - why not Write a Review! If you click on the specific port on the left hand side, youll see all the excursions for that port. And even with the tour filled they added a bus. We have only done 1 X shore Excursion and we were pleasantly surprised. A total of 19 voyages covering more than five months are now cancelled. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. If not, you can contact Celebrity Cruises to get put on a waiting list. We now feature over 5,000 tours in over 300 ports around the world. Most of the excursions are discounted which is a good thing but there were a couple of excursions that were of interest in the general excursions for those ports that I guess are either sold out or not available. This small setting allows you to ask a lot of questions and even customize the days schedule with activities for antsy kids or photo stops at sights of interest. A few excursions are sold out but some are not even listed. Even if you see less, youll be happier about the sites you do get to experience. Book smart and get your choice of a FREE bonus offer when you book with Cruises.com instead of booking directly with the cruise line. To go at your own pace, not the groups, youre better off on your own. Read more: 14 cruise ship extra charges you should know about. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in. Bottom line: Ship tours will always accommodate itinerary changes; independent tours dont always. By Calton, January 22 in Celebrity Cruises Share Followers 2 Calton 105 April 7, 2013. By While I love straying from the port and getting away from the hustle and bustle, independent travel can stress me out. We also guaranty to get you back to your ship on time. We give you our exclusive bonus offers, plus all qualifying cruise line offers, plus all of the cruise line loyalty program benefits . Tour buses stick to the tourist hot spots to accommodate the general interests of first-time visitors. Even in the Caribbean last month we found more options as we got closer to sail date (and some cancellations and some fully booked options). CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. Thank you so much. That said, I brought up the rear on a Scenic Cruises vineyard bicycling tour in Bordeaux due to the ships surprisingly active seniors. We offer the best variety of shore excursions. Some like to tip a percentage of the tour's cost, while others give a flat rate depending on the length. Going on my first Celebrity cruise in April. Private Journeys CREATED BY YOU Create personalized tours and explore a range of exclusive offerings. Thank you for the excellent work around. Get insights from expert local guides who will drive you to the region's most memorable places. On both, I got what I was looking for: a glimpse into local culture. Add Cruise Critic's Community Forums to your iPhone's Home Screen! Learn More Small Group Discoveries You see that an excursion has a 2* rating, you investigate and find out there was one 4* from a person who went on the actual excursion and a 1* from someone who had a bad experience on the cruise and placed their entire cruise review on the excursion. As I mentioned earlier, going straight to the tour provider can get you the same tour as your ship is offering for a lower price. Breathtaking! 24/7 SERVICE We are available any time to help you, no matter where you are in the world. Amazing places deserve to be shared with others - why not Write a Review! Likewise, you will want to make sure the start time is later than the ship's arrival. https://www.celebritycruises.com/account/cruise-planner/category/beverage?bookingId=0000000&shipCode=, https://www.royalcaribbean.com/account/cruise-planner/category/beverage?bookingId=0000000&shipCode=JS, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, ORD (03-? Shore excursions typically highlight the marquee attractions or culture of the destination you're visiting. Instead of the ship sailing in Europe from April through November 2024, Celebrity Beyond will instead be relocated to the Caribbean to offer tropical sailings for the summer months, and will remain homeported from Fort Lauderdale year-round. Once filtered, the two letter code will be within the URL of that page. It looks like most of the trips are already booked up. Owned and privately held by Hornblower Group, the global leader in world-class experiences and transportation, Venture Ashore offers unique small group and affordable private shore excursions dedicated to bringing you the best experiences in port. After 40+ cruises, DH is adament about only booking ship tours.not going to change. We were 76 and 78. I just booked 2 newly released sailings last week and the Apr 2024 Summit Panama Canal sailing does not have its shore excursions released yet. Some people stress out when navigating a foreign language without a guide to help translate. Celebrity Apex Celebrity Ascent Celebrity Beyond Celebrity Constellation Also the description said no limitations, steep climbs and many steps should be described as a limitation. Cruise lines and tour operators have different cancellation policies, which is why before you book any shore excursion, you need to make sure that you are fully aware of their specific cancellation policy. Hop a cab to the beach, window shop in town or grab lunch at a local eatery; all you need is a map and some cash. Her biggest complaint was that the excursion was not as described. But some folks end up disappointed because they booked with an unknown company and the excursion did not live up to expectations. If youve already visited a cruise port before, or prefer to get off the beaten path, you may need to ditch the ship-sponsored tour for a private guide or exploring on your own. They genuinely want you to enjoy their tour. Call: 1-800-427-8473 Home Find a Cruise Popular Searches Advanced Search Search by Destination Home Port Cruises River Cruises Family Cruises Luxury Cruises Holiday Cruises Small Ship Cruises Singles Cruises Theme Cruises Group Cruises Popular Cruise Ships Allure Of The Seas Carnival Jubilee Celebrity Beyond Discovery Princess Disney Wish 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Once you place the deposit on your cruise fare, you can begin to talk to others about what kinds of activities they want to do while ashore. Celebrity Cruises Shore excursions. This same trick works for Royal Caribbean cruises since they run off the same system. We've done our homework to offer the best tours at each destination. Promoting shore excursion, beverage packages to entice and excite the customer is good marketing. Ohyou are too much! Hope this helps! It just involves a little URL parameter adjusting. Nope! 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. It's usually to complain about something, so they give it a low rating (the cruise) which ends up affecting the excursion rating. If you are cruising to Alaska, the cutoff is three days. Speaking of price, ship-sponsored tours are often more expensive than the same tour offered directly through the operator. Taxes, fees and port expenses $170.87 USD *. How many times have you read an excursion review and someone had written a review of the whole cruise? So, for example the url for the cruise planner for the Dec 30, 2023 Celebrity Apex sailing would be: https://www.celebritycruises.com/account/cruise-planner/category/beverage?bookingId=0000000&shipCode=AX&sailDate=20231230. We'll send you the latest cruise updates daily to your inbox. Prior to booking your cruise, it is best to do some research and see what the average cost of excursions in your ports of call are. While 800-647-2251 is Celebrity Cruises's best toll-free number, there are 2 total ways to get in touch with them. From FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - onboard CELEBRITY APEX. I was looking to book a couple of shore excursions. Select a ship and date of departure: Don't let the cruise line scare you into only buying their tours! So having honest reviews from people who have been on the excursions is extremely helpful. Sometimes simply the more frequent cruiser may be harder to impress 'we had much better snorkling in *****'or a new cruiser may have unrealistic expectations 'the Acropolis was too busy'. Prebook your shore excursions when finalizing your cruise or in the following weeks for the best selection and to ensure you are able to reserve all of the excursions that appeal to you. It totally depends on the port you will be in and can change day by day. Note that the longer and more strenuous the tour is, the more expensive it will be. Yes I have clicked on the left hand side to see all the excursions listed for each port in my cruise planner. If you cancel before the cruise sails it is a little variable but generally within about a week. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. #1 Posted July 26, 2020 I could have sworn that years ago Celebrity posted reviews of their shore excursions on their planner with the descriptions and pricing. A shore excursion could be a sightseeing bus tour, a guided visit to a museum or historic site, an athletic activity (like a hike, bike ride or snorkel outing), a day at the beach or a cooking or dance class. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The options are endless. Thanks in advance for any help in answering my questions. On Carnival Cruise Line's website, for instance, you can filter shore excursions to only show those that are wheelchair accessible. We also guaranty to get you back to your ship on time. (Be sure to check the cruise lines policies.) Book online at Cruises.com or call 800-288-6006 today. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/account/cruise-planner/category/beverage?bookingId=0000000&shipCode=JS&sailDate20240530. Independent tours and the top guides also book up in advance, but you usually have more choices of operators and flexibility on when to book, so you can find something you like. Related: Avoid these 10 mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions. Get recommendations from a co-worker, friend or online travel forums ahead of time. It does appear they haven't loaded anything for this sailing yet. Remember that you need to be logged out of the cruise planner in order for this trick to work. A 100% cancellation fee will apply if the modification is made after the cancellation deadline for the specific shore excursion. Celebrity Cruises has announced that more than five months of 2024 sailings for its newest vessel, Celebrity Beyond, have been cancelled due to a change in deployment plans. They said that it didn't meet their standards. See all of our available shore excursions. If you are cruising with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, or Norwegian Cruise Line, you should be able to get a full refund if you cancel the tour up to 48 hours before arriving in the port. Amazing places deserve to be shared with others - why not Write a Review! Again, thank you. Not sure if I will be taking one of the shore excursions booked. With independent tours, youre at the mercy of that tour operators cancellation policies. This option is. Even if you do manage to get in touch, its cancellation policy may or may not allow last-minute refunds. I would have been hesitant to hop into a small van and trek up a muddy mountain to a strangers house in Dominica to learn cooking skills if I hadnt booked through Celebrity Cruises. Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on ships. You have been so helpful! Ship-sponsored tours usually focus on more than one activity. If a private tour takes longer than projected, the ship wont wait and you might be looking for a hotel for the night. Copyright Cruise Blog Media LLC 2023. At Expedia Cruises, we are navigators of spectacular vacation experiences. Ship-sponsored tours are often more expensive. We've had a few good excursions with X. I think the best was between the 17 mile drive in Monterrey and a bus trip to Mt Teide in Tenerife. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app. Based in Wisconsin, she covers travel, design and food. The award-winning private island destination in The Bahamas is typically associated with Royal Caribbean International, but both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises belong to Royal Caribbean Group, which also includes Silversea Cruises as well as parts of TUI Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, and several other small lines. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! We find looking at reviews you do have to be selectiveas someone else said their review may be coloured by other things from their present or past experience. I just search cruises, hit itinerary, and then shore excursions. If you are looking in the Cruise Planner for your cruise both the discounted excursions ( if any) and the full price excursions should show. One of the reasons we board a ship is to experience the world, whether thats island hopping in the Caribbean, animal watching in Alaska or stepping into storybook-like towns across Europe. #1 Posted November 8 In the past, I always viewed the "Celebrity Cruises Shore Excursion Brochure" to see the available tours to help decide if we wanted to book a sailing. The next best way to talk to their customer support team may just be to tell GetHuman about your issue and let us try to find the best way to contact them or find help for that . You can take a sunset pleasure cruise in St. Lucia, visit penguin colonies in Antarctica, go wine tasting in Provence or bike through Copenhagen. If you are taking a Caribbean cruise, you might find Accessible Caribbean Vacations' website to be helpful. Though this cruise really has nothing to do with the ports/excursions and everything about rest and relaxation. Others fret about getting lost in an unfamiliar city, or fear theyre missing out on the cultural and historical context if they cant read signs in another language. Note they do add excursions to book closer to the sailing date. Once you do your research and find the excursion that you want to do, you will want to go ahead and secure your spot! You can even get a private van for $499.99 for up to seven guests or private beach cabana on Isla Pasion for $999.99 for up to twelve guests. What is Celebrity's policy in regards to canceling shore excursions? No way would I get into a crowded bus! They have to be cancelled 30 days ahead of time. Since cruise ship gratuities are either paid in advance or billed to your onboard account during the voyage, you may not be planning on bringing much cash with you. We just booked this cruise yesterday! You see that an excursion has a 2* rating, you investigate and find out there was one 4* from a person who went on the actual excursion and a 1* from someone who had a bad experience on the. I think it blocks you from viewing if you're logged in. To is from one of the Shore Excursion brochures: REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS: Shores Excursions able be cancelled or revised up to 24 hours prior till scheduled tour departure for one full repay. Private Journeys are perfect for exploring destinations individually or in a small, intimate group. On one visit to Grand Cayman, high winds forced the ships tender boats to shuttle passengers to a different pier than originally planned. Contacting Celebrity Cruises - by phone or otherwise. In my experience the excursions in the Cruise Planner are the same that will be available, space permitting , once on the ship. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Specialty type excursions. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Amazing places deserve to be shared with others - why not Write a Review! There's really no limit on what you can do or see on a shore excursion from sightseeing tours, cultural events, or more active options. As you can tell, I'm new to this lol . Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Under no general will compensations be made after an getting has commenced. Also replace the {YYYYMMDD} with the sail date of the cruise you want to look at. On average, though, you are likely to find excursions anywhere between $50 and $200 per person. I just booked a Ketchikan, Alaska shore excursion through Princess Cruises (Best of Ketchikan: Totems, Wildlife Cruise & Alaska Appetizers) that satisfies my love for fresh seafood, sailing and local art all in the span of a few hours. If exerting adrenaline is a must, go off on your own or find a local guide. The 140,600-gross ton ship will be offering a variety of cruise options. Read more: 11 common cruise shore excursion mistakes to avoid. Do not book something that is scheduled to arrive thirty minutes prior to the ship's scheduled departure time. Add Cruise Critic's Community Forums to your iPhone's Home Screen! Some of the more expensive ones include helicopter rides or top-of-the-line safaris. Note that accessible tours tend to sell out quickly, too, especially in bucket-list destinations. Shore Excursions Group is a preferred partner offering an extensive array of shore excursions worldwide. Also there was a broken/rusted old truck at the very entrance that hasn't "run" in at least 10 years. 2. Guests who had intended to sail on one of Celebrity Beyonds two 2024 transatlantic cruises or summer European itineraries can rebook on another Celebrity ship sailing similar voyages: Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Equinox, or the upcoming fourth ship in the innovative Edge class, Celebrity Ascent, which will debut in November 2023. I saw a couple of excursions that were not listed on the page showing pre-cruise discounts. Theres a reason youre advised to pick tours early: They book up. I boarded my first European cruise. How different is it from a USA cruise. Virgin Voyages states, "To receive a full refund, all Shore Things [excursions] must be canceled 24 hours prior to the scheduled Shore Things departure timeCancellations made prior to the 24-hour period will be automatically credited to your account.". Guests with Wi-Fi Packages will receive instructions for Wi-Fi access in their staterooms on the first day of the cruise. I cancelled and rebooked an excursion a few weeks as as the cost had gone down. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Thankfully my plans were fluid take a taxi to Seven Mile Beach but had I booked an independent tour I might have missed the scheduled pick-up time due to the new arrival location. If you want to do anything other than lounge on the beach, you will have to book a tour directly through the cruise line. Private Journeys CREATED BY YOU Create personalized tours and explore a range of exclusive offerings. Your really dumb cruise shore excursion questions answered, How to communicate with someone on a cruise ship, 20 things cruise lines really do not want you to bring on ships, 21 best cruise gifts for someone going on a cruise ship, Video shows the curious marine life under a cruise ship when a GoPro is dropped in the ocean, 14 cruise ship extra charges you should know about. Oct 29, 2022 6 min If you're considering a Celebrity cruise, you may be wondering about the cost of shore excursions. Its all good. If your cruise line is offering accessible shore excursions, they will be clearly labeled as such. All guests in the same stateroom must choose the same . Tours involving flights, trains, special events, overnight stays, hotel stays, Celebrity ExclusivesSM, and Private JourneysSM must be cancelled 30 days prior to sailing to avoid cancellation penalties. 4 digit year, 2 digit month and day. We average 4.7 stars out of 5 according to our supplier's surveys, and we're always striving to improve. 8 minutes ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said: On 11/7/2022 at 7:47 PM, NorthStarStateCruiser said: On 11/7/2022 at 8:47 PM, NorthStarStateCruiser said: 26 minutes ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said: 6 minutes ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said: 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Can't View Shore Excursions Unless you Book or Put a Hold on a Sailing, Q&A: Cruise Insurance with Steve Dasseos of the TripInsuranceStore.com - Summer Session '23, ANNOUNCEMENT: Regent Seven Seas Cruises 2025-2026 Voyage Collection Debut. Thank you. On my own, I constantly check the time or worry the taxi will get a flat tire and Ill miss the ship. The only time that a cruise ship will wait for passengers is if they booked a ship-sponsored excursion. Performance & security by Cloudflare. This option is no longer available so I called Celebrity and was informed the ONLY way to view excursions was to "book" or put a "hold" on a sailing. If you walk off the ship and sign up for a tour with the first company you see you could end up on a dud of a tour because you dont know a thing about the provider. On recent cruises, amount of walking, stepshas been an issue for me and I have found the information on this very honest. We now feature over 5,000 tours in over 300 ports around the world. On a tour, you would not be able to wander the streets and find local boutiques, restaurants, etc. Holland America Line also refunds shore excursions to the original payment method if cancelled three days prior to embarkation. Add Cruise Critic's Community Forums to your iPhone's Home Screen! Overview Home Shore Excursions More Than 280 Breathtaking Destinations. Prebook your shore excursions when finalizing your cruise or in the following weeks for the best selection and to ensure you are able to reserve all of the excursions that appeal to you. Planning a cruise? If you wait until you are onboard, you have up to 48 hours prior to the booked shore excursion. But is it better to do your in-port exploration on a ship-sponsored tour booked through the cruise line or independently, either by booking shore excursions on your own with a third-party company or guide or exploring the port without a tour? And remember, this isnt an all-or-nothing game. Sure, you could pop off the ship and flag down a person holding a sign advertising a tour. there can be two or three tours and they sometimes are the same. Whether you book your guide in advance or make a last-minute game plan on the pier, you are on the hook to do your homework, look up reviews and make sure the provider is legit. To book a shore excursion, you can visit the official site of Celebrity Cruises. I have now booked, with the intention of cancelling if other excursions are added which I prefer. BUT they charged $10 to open the available umbrellas, so at $1500 for the 2 tours that come to their place, it's a nice $3000 a day! 11 common cruise shore excursion mistakes to avoid. That's as of today per https://www.celebritycruises.com/healthy-at-sea/us-travel-requirements. When a ship docks, it must be cleared by the local authorities prior to letting guests off, and you never know when there might be a delay with this process.