Excursion Ages?

[Roop]

My daughter is 7 1/2 years old. We are a party of 15 and she is the only one under eight. The excursion we want to do is for eight years old and older. Can she still go on the excursion are the ages strict ?

 

[Marc D]

You won't be able to book it online. The system will block her. I'm pretty sure they'll enforce it at the Port Adventures desk also, if only for liability reasons.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My daughter is 7 1/2 years old. We are a party of 15 and she is the only one under eight. The excursion we want to do is for eight years old and older. Can she still go on the excursion are the ages strict ?

As noted, DCL (as well as most cruise lines) are firm in their age restrictions for excursions. Yes, it has to do with insurance liability. One question, do you want to risk her safety by having her on the excursion anyway?

You might be able to find a private excursion similar to the DCL offered one that has a lower age restriction.

 

[mernin]

I've found similar excursions to what DCL offers with lower age restrictions when I started looking at our options for our cruise next year - 1 being a catamaran and snorkelling excursion and the other being zip lining. Both had significantly lower restrictions

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've found similar excursions to what DCL offers with lower age restrictions when I started looking at our options for our cruise next year - 1 being a catamaran and snorkelling excursion and the other being zip lining. Both had significantly lower restrictions

Most likely because their insurance allows bigger risks. If they have insurance.

 

[wilkeliza]

You won't be able to book through Disney as they have no wiggle room. If it is something you really really want to do you can usually find independent providers who don't have as strict requirements. Just make sure you research them fully and give yourself more then enough time to get back to the boat after.

 

[Dug720]

Most likely because their insurance allows bigger risks. If they have insurance.

And I think you hit the nail on the head with that "If".

The advantage with booking through Disney is you KNOW that the company has been vetted (and continues to be vetted) to meet certain standards. A company that Disney doesn't use may well have adequate insurance but they don't contract for whatever other reason - but they may not have insurance that meets Disney's standards...or any insurance at all.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

In some cases, the company Disney uses has lower age limits if you book direct with them. Some won't let you book direct, though, if you come in via ship. So there is that.

(I can think of at least two providers who don't have age limits on their own, but do when booked via Disney. Both are in St. Thomas.)

 

[mernin]

And I think you hit the nail on the head with that "If".

The advantage with booking through Disney is you KNOW that the company has been vetted (and continues to be vetted) to meet certain standards. A company that Disney doesn't use may well have adequate insurance but they don't contract for whatever other reason - but they may not have insurance that meets Disney's standards...or any insurance at all.

Zip lining is the same company they use but booking direct has a lower age limit.

 

[Dug720]

Zip lining is the same company they use but booking direct has a lower age limit.

Which is why I specified that a company that Disney DOES NOT use may not have the same standards.

If Disney uses them, they should be ok. They may, however, also not allow you to book independently if you have to specify where you are staying and are honest about it. If they won't let you book if you say Disney (I know Blue Lagoon will not book you if they know you are with Disney) and you opt to fudge the truth, if there is any issue with limits on getting people back to the pier you may well find yourself waving good-bye to the ship as those who booked through Disney would have the first boarding for back-to-port transportation.

 

[anricat]

We ran into this in Alaska. We wanted to do sea kayaking, but all the Disney excursions were 10 and over and DD was 8. We found a reputable company that did ages 8 and over and booked directly.

 

[wherespluto]

I can tell you we wanted to do an excursion that was for 5 and older and Disney would not let us book my daughter when she would be 5 in 2 weeks. So, they are VERY strict with the age limits.