Does DCL offer excursions on departure day?

[darnheather]

Thanks for posting. I guess the only time I checked was for Dover. I didn't need it in Vancouver since we were spending a couple of days in Vancouver. But when I inquired, they made it sound like they don't offer debarkation excursions for any cruise.

Anyway, it does look I was given incorrect (or incomplete) information since it appears that some locations do offer debarkation excursion ending at the airport (except of course, Dover ). The only issue still remains to be not being able to book it ahead of time.

Yeah, either way it seems difficult or unusual. However, I think in Dover you'll be fine with a private car service. Hope you have a lovely trip.

 

[dvcdisney]

Yeah, either way it seems difficult or unusual. However, I think in Dover you'll be fine with a private car service. Hope you have a lovely trip.

Thank you. I did use a good private transfer company last year (British Isle cruise) and was able to do a 2hr stop at Dover Castle before going to the airport. But as I mentioned, I was very nervous about leaving my luggage with them. It turned out fine, but I was still anxious.

This year, we don't have a lot of time, so we did choose to get a private transfer directly to the airport. But I'm glad the OP posted the question, otherwise I wouldn't even know to check other ports on future cruises.

 

[FSU Girl]

It is really interesting how some ports they have something offered and some there isn't anything (of course that's the port I need lol). I had emailed Disney about this, but haven't heard anything back yet if they might offer something for Dover. I'll probably end up booking a car service, even if they do end up offering something once on the ship it seems too risky to bank on that happening.

 

[dvcdisney]

It is really interesting how some ports they have something offered and some there isn't anything (of course that's the port I need lol). I had emailed Disney about this, but haven't heard anything back yet if they might offer something for Dover. I'll probably end up booking a car service, even if they do end up offering something once on the ship it seems too risky to bank on that happening.

The only reason why I think they'll say there isn't one for Dover is because it's not showing as a port adventure as the other ones that other posters mentioned. If you notice under port adventures, there is mention of the Vancouver Debarkation excursion (I think it's for the Capilano Suspension bridge) and the Copenhagen section shows a Debarkation Canal tour...both states that it can only be booked onboard.

However, someone did mention that they did one in 2015, so it's possible it's not mentioned on the port adventures but still offer it. Fingers crossed for you...I know it's definitely one less thing to worry about.

Please let us know the answer you get.

 

[FSU Girl]

The only reason why I think they'll say there isn't one for Dover is because it's not showing as a port adventure as the other ones that other posters mentioned. If you notice under port adventures, there is mention of the Vancouver Debarkation excursion (I think it's for the Capilano Suspension bridge) and the Copenhagen section shows a Debarkation Canal tour...both states that it can only be booked onboard.

However, someone did mention that they did one in 2015, so it's possible it's not mentioned on the port adventures but still offer it. Fingers crossed for you...I know it's definitely one less thing to worry about.

Please let us know the answer you get.

I'll let you know if they get back to me. It's odd to only offer these at some ports, I guess they feel not enough people would be interested in it.

 

[dcassetta]

It is really interesting how some ports they have something offered and some there isn't anything (of course that's the port I need lol). I had emailed Disney about this, but haven't heard anything back yet if they might offer something for Dover. I'll probably end up booking a car service, even if they do end up offering something once on the ship it seems too risky to bank on that happening.

I wonder if some of it has to do with distance to the airport. Miami, Barcelona and Vancover are close enough that tacking on an expedition is easy. Both Gatwick and Heathrow are quite a distance from Dover.

 

[dvcdisney]

I wonder if some of it has to do with distance to the airport. Miami, Barcelona and Vancover are close enough that tacking on an expedition is easy. Both Gatwick and Heathrow are quite a distance from Dover.

That would make sense. But another poster mentioned that they did one with DCL and some people were dropped off at the airport. Perhaps DCL was just trying it out and it was more work than it's worth so they stopped. I inquired last year, but it could have been available before.

After I was informed that there was no Debarkation excursion, I didn't even bother to check onboard. I figured I had a private booking already so even if there was one, I wouldn't be able to book it anyway.

 

[dcassetta]

After I was informed that there was no Debarkation excursion, I didn't even bother to check onboard. I figured I had a private booking already so even if there was one, I wouldn't be able to book it anyway.

That's a smart idea anyway. I think the debarkation excursions are only offered if enough people signed up. So if you were the only family to sign up, and then they didn't offer it, then you be out of luck.

 

[mmmears]

I didn't see anything like that offered for Dover. We booked a taxi/tour company and asked to see a couple of sights before the transfer to London (staying a few days there).

I know you are reluctant to book with anyone other than DCL, but in reading reviews online from what I can tell there are often better options out there. We booked most of our days privately, not to save money (honestly we aren't saving money this way) but so that we could tailor the day to our particular interests. With DCL there are choices A, B, C, D, E, F, etc. and you are at the mercy of a bus load of people. With a smaller group we can choose to see both A and B, and maybe even C or D. We can skip what we aren't as interested in, spend more time where we want to, fit more sights into a day, etc. I think you should take this into consideration, even if you still decide to only go with DCL. In our cruise group most people are booking outside DCL for more flexibility.

 

[dvcdisney]

I didn't see anything like that offered for Dover. We booked a taxi/tour company and asked to see a couple of sights before the transfer to London (staying a few days there).

I know you are reluctant to book with anyone other than DCL, but in reading reviews online from what I can tell there are often better options out there. We booked most of our days privately, not to save money (honestly we aren't saving money this way) but so that we could tailor the day to our particular interests. With DCL there are choices A, B, C, D, E, F, etc. and you are at the mercy of a bus load of people. With a smaller group we can choose to see both A and B, and maybe even C or D. We can skip what we aren't as interested in, spend more time where we want to, fit more sights into a day, etc. I think you should take this into consideration, even if you still decide to only go with DCL. In our cruise group most people are booking outside DCL for more flexibility.

I agree with this for port excursions, we prefer to do private tours vs DCL tours because of the better flexibility. But, similarly to the OP, I would feel more comfortable leaving my luggage with a DCL approved tour for debarkation day. When I booked my private transfer and tour in Dover last year, it was just us and the driver. The driver kept our luggage in the back. I was nervous about it even if we didn't leave anything valuable in there. Sound silly, but I would think there's a less chance of theft if all our luggage was stored at the bottom of a motor coach along with several others.