Price differences on excursions?

[TandLMommy28]

I was looking at the price of the Blue Lagoon beach day for our Bahamas cruise and then I looked at the prices directly on Blue Lagoon's website. Their website was cheaper.

I'm new to cruising. Just curious about why it's more through Disney. Do I have to book through Disney? I don't want to pay more than I have to for the same experience.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I was looking at the price of the Blue Lagoon beach day for our Bahamas cruise and then I looked at the prices directly on Blue Lagoon's website. Their website was cheaper.

I'm new to cruising. Just curious about why it's more through Disney. Do I have to book through Disney? I don't want to pay more than I have to for the same experience.

No, you don't HAVE to book through DCL. The cruise line is charging you for the convenience, and it's all about making more $$$. All cruise lines do it.

On some excursions, if you mention you're on a cruise, the vendor isn't allowed to book you privately because they have an exclusive contract with the ship.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Your paying for a 'package' they do the work, they guarantee the slots, they deal with some complaints, they may add transport or a CM to guide you there. You can go DIY though some places have arrangements with cruise lines that if they know your from the ship they will re direct you back to the ship to purchase it.

 

[jskacoc]

A big difference is if you're on a Dcl excursion and for some reason it's not back in time for the ship to leave it will wait. If booked privately they will leave you behind.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

A big difference is if you're on a Dcl excursion and for some reason it's not back in time for the ship to leave it will wait. If booked privately they will leave you behind.

Well true but the point is a sales technique, its a hard sell to get you to buy their inflated priced shore trips. If you book with a good independent tour operator you will be back on time.

• Alaska
• 6 Private tours in three ports.
• Med 2014
• 7 private tours in seven ports.
• Baltic
• 7 Private tours in five ports.

Back in time on all.

As long as you put your watch to local time, ( and can tell the time), and organize with a good tour operator, with good reviews you will be OK.

Its up to the captain if they leave you or not, on my recent cruise people were late back in St Petersburg and Tallinn and they waited for the majority but yes a few got left, however remember thats a hard sell sales technique to get you out of your comfort zone so you buy from them and they get considerable commission on the sales.

No tour operator wants it over the internet that they were late back, it would end their business.

 

[KashasMom]

We just did Blue Lagoon two weeks. You won't miss the ship! Any cruise ship passengers will be on the same ferry back as you.

Blue Lagoon will not allow you to book directly if they know you're on a ship. You can book through Shore Trips (https://www.shoretrips.com/). Our TA happened to be on FB when I was saying I couldn't book directly and he booked it for me, but you should be able to book it yourself.

You'll need to get a taxi to the Paradise Island ferry ($4 pp) - no hassle doing that. When you return from Blue Lagoon they'll bring you right back into town - very convenient. If you're lucky (as we were) you can get some great unobstructed views/photos of the ship on the return. Enjoy!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

No, you don't HAVE to book through DCL. The cruise line is charging you for the convenience, and it's all about making more $$$. All cruise lines do it.

On some excursions, if you mention you're on a cruise, the vendor isn't allowed to book you privately because they have an exclusive contract with the ship.

The only thing I would add is if the excursion, booked by the guest, is late( which is rare), the vessel , whatever line, may sail and your responsible to get to the next port. If you take the line excursion, the vessel may wait longer. If the vessel leaves the line is responsible to get you to the next port.

Which ever you choose, the vessel will wait as long as they can, but at some point the costs of docking, and traveling time to the next port will likely cause the vessel to sail.


AKK

 

[TandLMommy28]

We just did Blue Lagoon two weeks. You won't miss the ship! Any cruise ship passengers will be on the same ferry back as you.

Blue Lagoon will not allow you to book directly if they know you're on a ship. You can book through Shore Trips (https://www.shoretrips.com/). Our TA happened to be on FB when I was saying I couldn't book directly and he booked it for me, but you should be able to book it yourself.

You'll need to get a taxi to the Paradise Island ferry ($4 pp) - no hassle doing that. When you return from Blue Lagoon they'll bring you right back into town - very convenient. If you're lucky (as we were) you can get some great unobstructed views/photos of the ship on the return. Enjoy!

Are you responsible for the taxi if Disney books it for you or do they take you to the ferry?

The price difference for just the beach day is only about $20/person. If it were more, I think I would try to book it myself but since it's just two of us, the extra $40 is worth it to remove any worry/hassle.

Thanks for all the answers. This is a whole new world to me. I have no idea what I'm doing!

 

[funfam]

I generally book through the cruise line if it is my first time in that port but book on my own if I have been there and have a feel for how the port works. For me it is a comfort level thing.

 

[darkwing818]

Can't speak to being left at the dock, but for what's worth, 2 years ago on the Western cruise, my daughter & I booked one of the Mayan Ruins Tours through DCL. Long story short we were bused to the site & had just started our tour, when the "monsoon rains" came rolling in. After making it back to the gift shop (pretty much only place to say dry) we waited almost 2 hours before we loaded back on the bus & driven back to the ship. Bottom line we were refunded the cost of our excursion. However others, we spoke to, who didn't book through DCL did not get a refund, they were told that since their tour had started they were not entitled to refunds (must have been in the small print) .

 

[jdb in AZ]

Are you responsible for the taxi if Disney books it for you or do they take you to the ferry?

The price difference for just the beach day is only about $20/person. If it were more, I think I would try to book it myself but since it's just two of us, the extra $40 is worth it to remove any worry/hassle.

Thanks for all the answers. This is a whole new world to me. I have no idea what I'm doing!

DCL's shore excursions always include transportation as needed.

 

[bumbershoot]

A big difference is if you're on a Dcl excursion and for some reason it's not back in time for the ship to leave it will wait. If booked privately they will leave you behind.

They could still leave you if the excursion was late enough. They're just responsible to get you TO the ship wherever the ship has gone, but if you booked privately then YOU are responsible. Of course, either way, better have your passport if you'll have to take a flight!

 

[CrawfordMomof2]

Can't speak to being left at the dock, but for what's worth, 2 years ago on the Western cruise, my daughter & I booked one of the Mayan Ruins Tours through DCL. Long story short we were bused to the site & had just started our tour, when the "monsoon rains" came rolling in. After making it back to the gift shop (pretty much only place to say dry) we waited almost 2 hours before we loaded back on the bus & driven back to the ship. Bottom line we were refunded the cost of our excursion. However others, we spoke to, who didn't book through DCL did not get a refund, they were told that since their tour had started they were not entitled to refunds (must have been in the small print) .

Another good point. Thanks for the info!

 

[KashasMom]

Are you responsible for the taxi if Disney books it for you or do they take you to the ferry?

The price difference for just the beach day is only about $20/person. If it were more, I think I would try to book it myself but since it's just two of us, the extra $40 is worth it to remove any worry/hassle.

Thanks for all the answers. This is a whole new world to me. I have no idea what I'm doing!

If you book through Disney, they'll get you to the ferry. I agree...for $40 let them handle it. We were doing the Dolphin Excursion (which is considerably more $ than the beach day) AND I was paying for all 11 so it was definitely worth it for us to not book with Disney.

 

[TandLMommy28]

Lots of good info. You all have been so helpful!