Does DCL offer excursions on departure day?

[FSU Girl]

We are doing the British Isles cruise next year and flying home the day the cruise docks, but not until the afternoon. It doesn't show port adventures for it, but people sailing on the 2018 would be able to see this now right? I'm curious if they offer an excursion getting off the boat doing a little sightseeing and then dropping people off at the airport.

 

[dvcdisney]

I have inquired about this and they do not offer departure excursions.

I was curious to know if they could offer an excursion to Dover Castle with a transfer to the airport. DCL said they do not offer excursions on the day of Disembarkation.

So we hired a private transfer company to take us to Dover Castle for 2hrs then a transfer to Heathrow. They kept our luggage in the car during our visit. We didn't want a guided tour...instead we toured on our own.

 

[FSU Girl]

I have inquired about this and they do not offer departure excursions.

I was curious to know if they could offer an excursion to Dover Castle with a transfer to the airport. DCL said they do not offer excursions on the day of Disembarkation.

So we hired a private transfer company to take us to Dover Castle for 2hrs then a transfer to Heathrow. They kept our luggage in the car during our visit. We didn't want a guided tour...instead we toured on our own.

That's too bad they don't do that, it would be perfect. Do you mind if I ask what private transfer company you used?

 

[dvcdisney]

That's too bad they don't do that, it would be perfect. Do you mind if I ask what private transfer company you used?

I agree, I was disappointed. Our flight was in the evening and we had lots of time to tour for the day.

We used Twelve Transfers. They do regular transfers, but they also offered a "Tour Diversion". It's an added cost, but it's worth it if you would like some time to do a self tour while they keep your luggage in the van. I don't know if they offer a guided tour. If you're interested you can just contact them.

This year, we're going with another company since we're just doing a basic airport transfer. But I found Twelve Transfers very responsive and organized.

 

[oufpat]

This is good to know because we will also be on the British Isles cruise in 2019 and anticipate a late flight home from Heathrow.

 

[FSU Girl]

I agree, I was disappointed. Our flight was in the evening and we had lots of time to tour for the day.

We used Twelve Transfers. They do regular transfers, but they also offered a "Tour Diversion". It's an added cost, but it's worth it if you would like some time to do a self tour while they keep your luggage in the van. I don't know if they offer a guided tour. If you're interested you can just contact them.

This year, we're going with another company since we're just doing a basic airport transfer. But I found Twelve Transfers very responsive and organized.

Thanks, we'll look into them. I don't mind doing the tour on our own and them keeping our luggage in the van. I love looking at castles and we are planning to do a later flight home so it would not be very fun just sitting in an airport for hours.

This is good to know because we will also be on the British Isles cruise in 2019 and anticipate a late flight home from Heathrow.

You'll be on my honeymoon cruise

 

[dvcdisney]

Thanks, we'll look into them. I don't mind doing the tour on our own and them keeping our luggage in the van. I love looking at castles and we are planning to do a later flight home so it would not be very fun just sitting in an airport for hours.

Actually, during my research, I found that there were many companies that would do the same. I chose that company because their website was very organized and very comprehensive (I didn't have a lot of questions because it's all on their website), they were responsive, and the price was reasonable. I took into account the regular transfer price + 2 hr stop over + convenience of leaving our luggage. In the end, we were able to visit Dover Castle (even for a short time) on our way to Heathrow...otherwise, it would cost much more to travel there from London on our own.

 

[cruiser21]

I have inquired about this and they do not offer departure excursions.

I was curious to know if they could offer an excursion to Dover Castle with a transfer to the airport. DCL said they do not offer excursions on the day of Disembarkation.

So we hired a private transfer company to take us to Dover Castle for 2hrs then a transfer to Heathrow. They kept our luggage in the car during our visit. We didn't want a guided tour...instead we toured on our own.

This isn't entirely true. They did offer excursions after our TA cruise into Barcelona. I'm not sure it dropped at airport though.

 

[FSU Girl]

Actually, during my research, I found that there were many companies that would do the same. I chose that company because their website was very organized and very comprehensive (I didn't have a lot of questions because it's all on their website), they were responsive, and the price was reasonable. I took into account the regular transfer price + 2 hr stop over + convenience of leaving our luggage. In the end, we were able to visit Dover Castle (even for a short time) on our way to Heathrow...otherwise, it would cost much more to travel there from London on our own.

I'm the type who likes to book through cruise lines for excursions so booking things on my own is a little more daunting so a recommendation from someone who actually used them is reassurance for me

This isn't entirely true. They did offer excursions after our TA cruise into Barcelona. I'm not sure it dropped at airport though.

Oh interesting, was your cruise a while ago? I wonder if they only do it in certain locations and not in others.

 

[dvcdisney]

This isn't entirely true. They did offer excursions after our TA cruise into Barcelona. I'm not sure it dropped at airport though.

My experience was last July for British Isle cruise. I'm not sure if something has changed since then, but they were adamant that they do no provide a departure day excursion with or without an airport drop off. There was no suggestion that they offered it for some and not others.

I do hope they have changed it now. I think this is a good option. Some of my relatives had done these departure excursions through other cruise lines...basically the reason why I inquired with DCL.

 

[dvcdisney]

I'm the type who likes to book through cruise lines for excursions so booking things on my own is a little more daunting so a recommendation from someone who actually used them is reassurance for me

I agree. When we began cruising and it was basically Caribbean and Bahamas (one was Alaska), if we wanted an excursion, we did book DCL. Most of the time, we walk around.

However, when I started planning the British Isles cruise, I noticed that DCL didn't always have what I wanted. We like to tour on our own so we booked a few DCL excursions, and a few private excursions. And to tell you the truth, the private ones were far better and more flexible. However, unlike what I've read in some of the threads, our private one were more expensive than the DCL excursions. But I will definitely say, the extra cost was worth it.

So for our Norway/Iceland cruise, I booked only 1 DCL excursion and the rest were private. It is nerve wracking trying to choose the best ones, so it's not easy. But we would prefer certain experiences and sometimes DCL doesn't offer it. They are wonderful in offering the popular sights and activities, but a lot of them are geared (at least in my mind) for less active experience.

 

[dcassetta]

Perhaps if enough people keep asking about this option, Disney will get around to offering something out of Dover. I know they do debarkation excursions in Miami, Vancouver and Barcelona.

 

[arlopop]

It’s interesting that they don’t. I noticed when we disembarked in Vancouver they were gathering a group in the D lounge for a post cruise excursion there (we had spent 5 days in Vancouver prior to boarding so hadn’t even investigated the possibility.). It feels like a no-brainer business wise to offer one in Britain.

 

[FSU Girl]

I agree. When we began cruising and it was basically Caribbean and Bahamas (one was Alaska), if we wanted an excursion, we did book DCL. Most of the time, we walk around.

However, when I started planning the British Isles cruise, I noticed that DCL didn't always have what I wanted. We like to tour on our own so we booked a few DCL excursions, and a few private excursions. And to tell you the truth, the private ones were far better and more flexible. However, unlike what I've read in some of the threads, our private one were more expensive than the DCL excursions. But I will definitely say, the extra cost was worth it.

So for our Norway/Iceland cruise, I booked only 1 DCL excursion and the rest were private. It is nerve wracking trying to choose the best ones, so it's not easy. But we would prefer certain experiences and sometimes DCL doesn't offer it. They are wonderful in offering the popular sights and activities, but a lot of them are geared (at least in my mind) for less active experience.

I've heard that private tours can be better than the ones offered through the ship. Maybe on a future trip I'll look into doing that, but for now it's just easier going with the cruise. I have to do a lot of planning for the first week of our trip that we are spending in Paris so I'd like to make half the trip easy to plan lol.

Perhaps if enough people keep asking about this option, Disney will get around to offering something out of Dover. I know they do debarkation excursions in Miami, Vancouver and Barcelona.

It seems silly not to offer it in Dover when they are offering it in these other locations.

It’s interesting that they don’t. I noticed when we disembarked in Vancouver they were gathering a group in the D lounge for a post cruise excursion there (we had spent 5 days in Vancouver prior to boarding so hadn’t even investigated the possibility.). It feels like a no-brainer business wise to offer one in Britain.

I agree, they should offer it at every port they sail to not only some.

 

[gotomu212]

Weirdly we were told there weren’t disembarking day excursions when we sailed 3 years ago in Barcelona, BUT when we got onboard they were offering them. You could only book it onboard.

So they may or may not actually have them, ut that does nothing to help,when you are trying to plan.

 

[FSU Girl]

Weirdly we were told there weren’t disembarking day excursions when we sailed 3 years ago in Barcelona, BUT when we got onboard they were offering them. You could only book it onboard.

So they may or may not actually have them, ut that does nothing to help,when you are trying to plan.

Hmm, I don't think that would be very helpful. We would have already booked something by then. That's a weird way to go about things.

 

[dvcdisney]

Perhaps if enough people keep asking about this option, Disney will get around to offering something out of Dover. I know they do debarkation excursions in Miami, Vancouver and Barcelona.

Hopefully!

Also, I'm glad they do offer it for some.

Although I'm confused as why I was told they didn't do any. But either way, I'm glad they do have it.

 

[dvcdisney]

I've heard that private tours can be better than the ones offered through the ship. Maybe on a future trip I'll look into doing that, but for now it's just easier going with the cruise. I have to do a lot of planning for the first week of our trip that we are spending in Paris so I'd like to make half the trip easy to plan lol.

I can empathize. We are doing a Norway/Iceland cruise, but we're also going a week in advance to Paris...however, we're remaining in DLP for the whole time. I don't think we would be able to tour Paris and DLP in a week. So we're planning that another time.

The British Isles cruise is one of our favourites. It was amazing! Have a wonderful time!

 

[dvcdisney]

Weirdly we were told there weren’t disembarking day excursions when we sailed 3 years ago in Barcelona, BUT when we got onboard they were offering them. You could only book it onboard.

So they may or may not actually have them, ut that does nothing to help,when you are trying to plan.

Thank you for posting. I wish they would offer it ahead of time. I agree, it won't help in planning. I don't think I can just wait unless I knew for sure that this would be available and there would be room for us....sometimes I envy those who can "wing it".

 

[dvcdisney]

Hmm, I don't think that would be very helpful. We would have already booked something by then. That's a weird way to go about things.

I agree. I wonder why they thought this was a better method. I would think they would need to book the excursion company ahead of time as well.

Perhaps the option was only presented to them just prior to embarkation and they offered it to guests to see if there's any interest.