How do you make port adventure changes?

[oumagic]

I booked excursions tonight. Last cruise, I left a linked room off that I didn’t think wanted to do Palo brunch and they were disappointed that I didn’t include them. This year, I booked all 9 people on every excursion I wanted to do but now hear that not everyone wants to snorkel. Online, I only see that I can cancel the activity and not make changes.

Do you usually call DCL to change your excursions? I don’t want to cancel for all 9 and then risk not being able to rebook for 5 that want to do it.

 

[mocodis]

yes, had the same issue. Wanted to just remove myself from an excursion and not the others. I had to call dcl. As you said you can only cancel the excursion for everyone online, and not remove just one person.

 

[Rob1872]

I understand the need to sometimes make changes, and this is good information to know that you can only make this type of modification over the phone. But I've got to ask: you had probably months to make your excursion/Palo plans. You never ran your plans past everyone else to confirm that even though they might have said, "Sure, whatever you want we'll do" that they actually meant it?

 

[oumagic]

I understand the need to sometimes make changes, and this is good information to know that you can only make this type of modification over the phone. But I've got to ask: you had probably months to make your excursion/Palo plans. You never ran your plans past everyone else to confirm that even though they might have said, "Sure, whatever you want we'll do" that they actually meant it?

Same thing as last year. I had months of occasionally asking if there is anything anyone wants to do. A month ahead, I tell everyone what I want to do and get some definitive answers and a lot of non-answers. Especially from the 4 teens: dealing with teens in two different states, I get a lot of “I don’t care” or “that sounds kinda cool” or “what does cousin a want to do?”

Specifically, I say that I want to do the catamaran snorkel on Nassau last month and hear: cool, so do I, how deep is the water, can papa go, can I get a full face mask, maybe. Booking day came, and I booked for 9 and I think some want to not go.

Then there are other dynamics. My dad wants to do kayak and walking on CC, but worries his knee will not hold up. I went ahead and booked it and told him we would see how his knee felt when it got closer. When it is closer, I wanted to know if I could just take a few off or what I needed to do. If dad’s knee isn’t up to it, some of the group will cancel with him so we don’t leave him alone on CC.

Then there is the issue of the group wanted to do multiple things on castaway cay but we didn’t know the available times until booking day and now see there are conflicts.

So to sum up, I have tried getting definitive answers from the large group. Rather than not book for them and wish I did, I figured this time I would book and let them cancel; I just didn’t know how to make the changes. I will have them call if they want to remove themselves from an excursion.

 

[serenitynow]

Same thing as last year. I had months of occasionally asking if there is anything anyone wants to do. A month ahead, I tell everyone what I want to do and get some definitive answers and a lot of non-answers. Especially from the 4 teens: dealing with teens in two different states, I get a lot of “I don’t care” or “that sounds kinda cool” or “what does cousin a want to do?”

Specifically, I say that I want to do the catamaran snorkel on Nassau last month and hear: cool, so do I, how deep is the water, can papa go, can I get a full face mask, maybe. Booking day came, and I booked for 9 and I think some want to not go.

Then there are other dynamics. My dad wants to do kayak and walking on CC, but worries his knee will not hold up. I went ahead and booked it and told him we would see how his knee felt when it got closer. When it is closer, I wanted to know if I could just take a few off or what I needed to do. If dad’s knee isn’t up to it, some of the group will cancel with him so we don’t leave him alone on CC.

Then there is the issue of the group wanted to do multiple things on castaway cay but we didn’t know the available times until booking day and now see there are conflicts.

So to sum up, I have tried getting definitive answers from the large group. Rather than not book for them and wish I did, I figured this time I would book and let them cancel; I just didn’t know how to make the changes. I will have them call if they want to remove themselves from an excursion.

Or once they find out another family member is/is not doing the excursion, they change their minds. Or they claim they told you they wanted to do something, when you are sure they said no such thing. Or they didn’t want to go at first, but now they don’t want to feel left out. Or they just say whatever you want to do, then change their mind. Or they have had a problem with their money and need to scale back. It can go on and on and on.

I feel for you. I have been where you are, no matter what happens you will get the blame. From my past experience, it is much easier for people to cancel an excursion than it is to Add people to an existing reservation. Now I just book everything I want to do for everyone. I email everyone a link the excursion page and tell them they are on their own to add any additional excursions or dining reservations as they see fit, as soon as they possibly can for best availability. After that, they are on their own.

 

[oumagic]

The worst was Palo last year. I asked if anyone wanted to do it and get "yes" from 5 adults. Then about a month out, two say that they didn't realize it was an extra cost and want to know why we would do it when there was so much other food to eat. So I nicely explain that I wanted to do it because it was supposed to be a really good experience. They asked to be removed and I didn't know how to do it so I cancelled and tried to rebook for 3 and my time was already gone (my first DCL cruise). I was a basket case checking daily for cancellations and got a reservation for 3 people about a week before departure. When the 3 of us were getting dressed and ready for brunch, guess what happened: yep, they changed their mind and wanted to go. I told them that they could go to Palo and ask or guest services, but I wasn't going to handle it. They didn't get in and were disappointed and that was why I did it different this year. I know not all will go to everything I booked. The linked reservations and being able to make reservations for all rooms linked is a double-edged sword. I can't just tell them that I couldn't reserve them something because they know that I can.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The worst was Palo last year. I asked if anyone wanted to do it and get "yes" from 5 adults. Then about a month out, two say that they didn't realize it was an extra cost and want to know why we would do it when there was so much other food to eat. So I nicely explain that I wanted to do it because it was supposed to be a really good experience. They asked to be removed and I didn't know how to do it so I cancelled and tried to rebook for 3 and my time was already gone (my first DCL cruise). I was a basket case checking daily for cancellations and got a reservation for 3 people about a week before departure. When the 3 of us were getting dressed and ready for brunch, guess what happened: yep, they changed their mind and wanted to go. I told them that they could go to Palo and ask or guest services, but I wasn't going to handle it. They didn't get in and were disappointed and that was why I did it different this year. I know not all will go to everything I booked. The linked reservations and being able to make reservations for all rooms linked is a double-edged sword. I can't just tell them that I couldn't reserve them something because they know that I can.

That's exactly why I won't be the "center point" for any group trips. I don't mind being part of a group trip, or answering questions about it, but the others can either handle their own stuff, or use a TA.

 

[serenitynow]

The worst was Palo last year. I asked if anyone wanted to do it and get "yes" from 5 adults. Then about a month out, two say that they didn't realize it was an extra cost and want to know why we would do it when there was so much other food to eat. So I nicely explain that I wanted to do it because it was supposed to be a really good experience. They asked to be removed and I didn't know how to do it so I cancelled and tried to rebook for 3 and my time was already gone (my first DCL cruise). I was a basket case checking daily for cancellations and got a reservation for 3 people about a week before departure. When the 3 of us were getting dressed and ready for brunch, guess what happened: yep, they changed their mind and wanted to go. I told them that they could go to Palo and ask or guest services, but I wasn't going to handle it. They didn't get in and were disappointed and that was why I did it different this year. I know not all will go to everything I booked. The linked reservations and being able to make reservations for all rooms linked is a double-edged sword. I can't just tell them that I couldn't reserve them something because they know that I can.

One trip I was so frustrated and ticked off that I had to chant “this is for my family and I love them” over and over a few times a day. My darling husband, who never has to actually deal with any of the details of the insanity, pointed out that the chant doesn’t count as a mantra if you yell it. I disagree, of course. Whatever gets you through it.

On that trip, once it was over everyone made it a point to thank me “for all my hard work”. Then I found out hubby told everyone on the trip my mantra and how much “hard work” I had done to make sure everyone had a good time. But I will take whatever appreciation I can get, as being in charge of herding the cats on a family trip can be pretty stressful.

Hang in there!