Do you really need to prebook excursions?

[lisa6191]

We are going on the March 20 Eastern and are at our 60-day mark, so it is time to think about excursions. For those of you that have cruised before, do you think it is really necessary to prebook excursions, or is there generally availability once you are already on the ship? The only excursion we are thinking about doing is some kind of snorkeling on St. Thomas/St. John (probably Trunk Bay). Does anyone know if this excursion normally sells out, or could we wait and book it on the ship? Also, I have read that you can change or cancel your excursion reservations until 2 days prior to sailing. Is there any kind of cancellation fee or do you get a 100% refund as long as you do it before the 2 days prior?

Our other concern is that we will prebook an excursion with our kids and then they won't want to leave the kids club or the ship. Then we would be stuck and have to pay for them, right?

So many decisions! Thanks so much for any help with this.

-Lisa

 

[balbrec]

Your post seems a bit of a contradiction. If you definitely want to
do an excusion then by all means book ahead just in case it is
sold out. The part about the kids not wanting to go at the last
minute, well all I can say is , who calls the shots in your family?
the adults? or the kids? Sometimes you need to make them do something they may think they dont want to do, but later they will thank you for it.


balbrec

 

[makaylee]

If you want to do the Trunk Bay 5 star excursion I would definatly book now, that is one of the ones that can sell out. Any trunk bay excursion is popular so book ahead. As for your kids I would say if they are about 10 or above I would book the excursion for them and if they do not want to go at the last minute just make them, a few hours away from the kids club is not going to kill them. If they are younger than that I wouldnt bother paying for them to go if they do not seem really interested. But all of this is just one persons opinion. It depends on how interested they are in snorkling. But if you do decide to pay for them don't worry about them changing their minds, just make them go and i'm sure once they are there they will love it. Good luck and have fun!

 

[makaylee]

Sorry forgot to answer your ? about refunds, if you cancel 2 days prior to your sailing there is no fee. Its 100% refundable.

 

[prymsu]

I would prebook if there is limited capacity for a tour. For instance if you want to parasail at CC, then I would say prebook. If you were looking at the conch train, than it would not be necessary. hope this helps.

 

[kcashner]

There's really no downside to pre-booking now. Some excursions do sell out. SOme, you can book on your own thru the vendor, but some you can't. When in doubt, book now. If you decide next month to cancel, you'll only open a spot for someone else.

Yes, if you cancel more than 2 days in advance, you are never charged. If you cancel after that, there is no refund.

Yes, if you book the kids and "they" decide to stay in the club, you still pay for them. However, if they are of club age, YOU should be deciding their schedule. At lab age, I discussed activities with DD, making it clear that her decision was final....