Basic Excursion Booking Advice Needed!

[meryll83]

Forgive me, as I'm a cruise newbie!

I can make excursion bookings on August 15th. Do I do this by phone or online? What time does each option open for bookings?

Do I have to pay anything up front or does the cost get added to our onboard account to be settled once we're cruising? Any credit card guarantees required?

Are different times offered for each excursion when booking, we wondered if we might be able to squeeze in more than one excursion on certain days?

Anything else I need to know about booking excursions?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[lbgraves]

You will be able to book excursions online at DCL's website at midnight ET. No charge is made to you until the day of the excursion and it is to your onboard account. You can cancel excursions up to three days prior to the cruise without penalty. DCL will not allow you to book more than one excursion per port. If you want to do this you will have to book the second on your own with the knowledge that delays can happen and you might lose your money for the second excursion.

 

[meryll83]

You will be able to book excursions online at DCL's website at midnight ET. No charge is made to you until the day of the excursion and it is to your onboard account. You can cancel excursions up to three days prior to the cruise without penalty. DCL will not allow you to book more than one excursion per port. If you want to do this you will have to book the second on your own with the knowledge that delays can happen and you might lose your money for the second excursion.

Thanks for this information!

Okay so I need to be up at 5am UK time on the 15th to book! Is it important to book dead on opening, or could I risk a lie in?

Do you know if more than one time is offered for each excursion, or do they just tend to run one per day? I suppose it depends upon the individual excursion really doesn't it?

 

[lbgraves]

Yes it depends on the excursion for both answers. You can check past navigators to see if there is more than one time for the excursion. If you want to book something that is popular...anything with dolphins, rays, sea lions...they go quickly so yes you need to be up at the start time. I see you will be on your honeymoon so you may also want to book a dinner at Palo and those go very quickly. Have you booked the REAS package?

 

[meryll83]

Yes it depends on the excursion for both answers. You can check past navigators to see if there is more than one time for the excursion. If you want to book something that is popular...anything with dolphins, rays, sea lions...they go quickly so yes you need to be up at the start time. I see you will be on your honeymoon so you may also want to book a dinner at Palo and those go very quickly. Have you booked the REAS package?

Thanks again for your speedy reply.

It's our first time cruising, so we're going to give Palo a miss given that we've never experienced the other restaurants before, I would have liked to have tried it, but didn't want fuss if we ended up booking it over our Animator's Palette night and then having to try and swap it etc. It does look yummy though.

Unfortunately I don't think we have enough left of our budget to add the REAS package. I think we'll be happy spending time navigating the ship though seeing as it's only a 3 nighter we're on. Although the REAS would have given us the added bonus of booking our excursions earlier wouldn't it? Thanks for the tips though!!



Hmmmm just had a thought, unless I book Palo for the night if we go ahead with the Sea Lion Encounter at Nassau, as it looks like we may miss our dinner slot due to a late return on that one. Just have to pray it's not the AP night, the other 2 restaurants I can live with just seeing at breakfast time. What time are the theatre shows on though, don't want to miss that either, so need to figure out what time to book Palo for if the excursion gets us back for 5.45 and we need to see the show still....
There's a fee for Palo too isn't there, is that paid upon booking?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks for this information!

Okay so I need to be up at 5am UK time on the 15th to book! Is it important to book dead on opening, or could I risk a lie in?

Do you know if more than one time is offered for each excursion, or do they just tend to run one per day? I suppose it depends upon the individual excursion really doesn't it?

Yes its 5am here, good luck.

QUICK POINT OF ORDER.

Its quoted on this thread that you do not pay for shore trips in advance, and they debit your ships account,

This is correct in 95% of cases, not 100%.

DCL is doing more and more 'Signature' experiences on shore trips, private villas, private, boats, vintage cars, private tours, these have to be paid for in advance at your booking window time, through your credit card.



I did two on my Panama crossing last year.

Most are debited to your ship account.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks again for your speedy reply.

It's our first time cruising, so we're going to give Palo a miss given that we've never experienced the other restaurants before, I would have liked to have tried it, but didn't want fuss if we ended up booking it over our Animator's Palette night and then having to try and swap it etc. It does look yummy though.

Unfortunately I don't think we have enough left of our budget to add the REAS package. I think we'll be happy spending time navigating the ship though seeing as it's only a 3 nighter we're on. Although the REAS would have given us the added bonus of booking our excursions earlier wouldn't it? Thanks for the tips though!!



Hmmmm just had a thought, unless I book Palo for the night if we go ahead with the Sea Lion Encounter at Nassau, as it looks like we may miss our dinner slot due to a late return on that one. Just have to pray it's not the AP night, the other 2 restaurants I can live with just seeing at breakfast time. What time are the theatre shows on though, don't want to miss that either, so need to figure out what time to book Palo for if the excursion gets us back for 5.45 and we need to see the show still....
There's a fee for Palo too isn't there, is that paid upon booking?

Palo fee is debited at time of use not in advance, or if you didn't show without canceling.

LOTS, more info on booking....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2166280

 

[meryll83]

Thanks again everyone.

Can someone please confirm to me what time early seating for dinner is, and what the 2 time slots for the theatre shows are?

 

[samily]

Dinner times are 5:45 & 8:15. Theatre shows are 6:15 & 8:30.

 

[DisneyCruiser83]

If you return from your excursion at 5:45, I would feel comfortable booking Palo at 6:30. You will be done right on time for the second show. You can try to change your dinng rotation upon embarkation if you are eating at AP on your Nassau day. Have a great trip!

 

[trimix]

Okay so I need to be up at 5am UK time on the 15th to book! Is it important to book dead on opening, or could I risk a lie in?

I am going to be brutally, painfully honest with you here.

Looking at how much time until your cruise, I see you will be booking at 75 days out.

Palo will be completely booked, at least the 50% or so tables they book in advance.
Some of the most popular excursions, such as dolphin swims, will probably be completely booked.
What's left of the popular excursions probably will not have a lot of space available.

Don't sleep in - log in right at 5:00:01 AM and try to get whatever reservations you can. Then, when in Florida, get to the port as early as you can to get the lowest boarding number you can so you can be one of the first onboard and you will have an excellent chance of booking whatever you want in Palo.

It's a little late for you now, but this is exactly why I booked the romantic escape package. I don't know if I'll go to the Rainforest Room more than once, and a hot meal from room service isn't that big of a deal. But the ability to book reservations 105 days out meant that I had no problems getting the reservations I wanted, because I know some of those would have been filled up in the first five minutes after reservations were opened for Castaway Club members.

 

[meryll83]

I am going to be brutally, painfully honest with you here.

Looking at how much time until your cruise, I see you will be booking at 75 days out.

Palo will be completely booked, at least the 50% or so tables they book in advance.
Some of the most popular excursions, such as dolphin swims, will probably be completely booked.
What's left of the popular excursions probably will not have a lot of space available.

Don't sleep in - log in right at 5:00:01 AM and try to get whatever reservations you can. Then, when in Florida, get to the port as early as you can to get the lowest boarding number you can so you can be one of the first onboard and you will have an excellent chance of booking whatever you want in Palo.

It's a little late for you now, but this is exactly why I booked the romantic escape package. I don't know if I'll go to the Rainforest Room more than once, and a hot meal from room service isn't that big of a deal. But the ability to book reservations 105 days out meant that I had no problems getting the reservations I wanted, because I know some of those would have been filled up in the first five minutes after reservations were opened for Castaway Club members.

I'm sure I've read that they hold some spaces at Palo etc. back for each different booking release date, i.e. 90 days, 75 days etc, otherwise it just wouldn't be fair.
No chance of getting to the port early as we're on DCL transportation, but I'm not overly bothered about Palo anyway, it was just an idea....

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I'm sure I've read that they hold some spaces at Palo etc. back for each different booking release date, i.e. 90 days, 75 days etc, otherwise it just wouldn't be fair.
No chance of getting to the port early as we're on DCL transportation, but I'm not overly bothered about Palo anyway, it was just an idea....

No its not the case they 'release; all slots at 105 days, those booking then get first choice, then at 90 days no more released, but lots of availability as 105 days is very limited to Suite and REAS, then 75 days, cruisers get last pick of the same. Nothing new added.


But thats the Internet, slots are held back for those getting to the port early on embarkation.

A lot depends on what mix of cruisers you have on yuor cruise, if there is a lot of repeat cruisers, lots of slots, if not all will go by 90 days, if there are fewer repeat cruisers, a lot will go over to 75 days.

Also the length of the cruise has na effect with longer cruises getting more slots for Palo etc.

 

[Nemn94]

I am also a first time cruiser and have been looking at the excursions as well as Palo reservations. After reading MANY posts, I'm concerned that unless I pay an extra $350 for the REAS or am a returning cruiser, I will probably not be able to add any of the things I was hoping for. Am I correct?

I had not planned on being stressed out getting to the port to get any reservations, but I'm beginning to think it could be a stressful morning. Quite frankly, this is taking a lot of the excitement out of our cruise plans.

Am I over-reacting?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I am also a first time cruiser and have been looking at the excursions as well as Palo reservations. After reading MANY posts, I'm concerned that unless I pay an extra $350 for the REAS or am a returning cruiser, I will probably not be able to add any of the things I was hoping for. Am I correct?

I had not planned on being stressed out getting to the port to get any reservations, but I'm beginning to think it could be a stressful morning. Quite frankly, this is taking a lot of the excitement out of our cruise plans.

Am I over-reacting?

OK, do not book REAS for $350 just to book earlier it isnt worth it, just arrange ot get to the port early on embarkation day and you get it all for free, you will be able to book Plao at that time.

No need to stress out, firstly on a lot of cruises most of the afternoon you can get something for PALO but even if you do not you can get on a waitlist and Palo isnt a be all and end all there is enough other things to do on ship, and also food, My first cruise I didnt do Palo, and didnt miss it.

Good luck, you can swap DCL transfers to piravte transfers if you want up to paid in full date if you wish ot get there ealry. Often its comparble in price you just have to sort out luggage and porters more

 

[Nemn94]

Thanks! We are doing private transfers, so we will just plan on leaving from the lodge early. Hopefully it will all work out.

I'll quit stressing now.....

 

[lbgraves]

I'm sure I've read that they hold some spaces at Palo etc. back for each different booking release date, i.e. 90 days, 75 days etc, otherwise it just wouldn't be fair.
No chance of getting to the port early as we're on DCL transportation, but I'm not overly bothered about Palo anyway, it was just an idea....

Some have posted this but it is not true. Sorry but that is one of the perks of booking concierge, booking the REAS package or being a return cruiser...actually it's the only actual perk for being a return cruiser IMO.

Also with the Wonder cruises there is only one brunch to book and that is usually full before the 90 day window. The remaining 50% of the resies for that day are not all available at boarding because probably 20% are held for concierge guests. So let's say they can seat 200 people at Palo during one brunch session so 100 are available at 105 days, 40 are held for concierge guests so that means that 60 spots are available to book after boarding. It is just difficult to get on a 4 day cruise.

When we cruised in 2003 there was no online booking and only REAS guests were able to book Palo prior to boarding. Not sure about concierge but they had services to get them resies after they boarded. Everyone had to stand in line that first day so you would have had the same shot using DCL transfers then as you do now. We didn't go to Palo our first 7 night cruise...too much to see and didn't want to miss the dining room with the kids.

Now excursion spots are ALL released at 105 days. Concierge can get you in some after boarding but after being available to assist those guests before the cruise via phone and email that is not guaranteed. This has also always been the case. Before the online system you had to call in and DCL reps booked your excursions for you. I believe it was 90 and 75 days then too. The popular ones book up quickly. I was shut out of Palo brunch at 90 days on the 15 day EB PC repo and the same thing happened at 12:05 on the 12/06 cruise.