Shore Excursions The Smart Way

Pier runners. Everybody laughs at them...but nobody wants to be them. Missing the departure time for your ship isn't something anyone wants to experience. So how do you decide whether to risk it and book your own shore excursions or play it safe and book them through the cruise line?
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#MSCcruise #MSCyachtclub #MSCshoreexcursions

[@Dave17101]

I have done private excursions before but I researched them on sites like cruise critic to look for the reviews. If I see a lot of reviews and some mixed opinions I feel better then only a few reviews and only 5 star reviews. It was fun today, it was more like a friendly chat. And Beth sure had a lot of hair on that excursion, I like the styled look now. As always thanks for the laughs Chris and Kitty

[@cindypashley3648]

We have been on many different cruise lines. Have done 20 with NCL. Always cautious about outside excursions. The biggest exception being our Bermuda fishing trip with Mike Baxter. Since you are docked there we try to pick the morning of the second day.

[@Pirtosi]

I truly believe that this was on the passengers that were late. It isn't an unknown thing that if you book outside the cruise line then DONT be late or you will be left behind. We don't book outside the cruise line for anything that takes us too far from port. We also don't book outside the cruise line if we are in a place that what isn't known to speak English. When we do book outside the Cruise line we have the expectation that if we are late for any reason then it is on us and don't expect the cruise line to reimburse us for any cost associated.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

💯😊

[@ronbowers7944]

We usually book excursions through the cruise but on our recent Seascape cruise we booked a tour of San Juan after we got off the ship. It was a great tour and we got back with plenty of time to spare. I was a little nervous about doing it but it turned out fine.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Absolutely… there’s a reason why it makes the news when someone gets left behind. Tour companies do not want a reputation of bringing folks back late! 😊

[@MC-ys4yf]

For the first time we are seeing Yacht Club Exclusive Excursions in our MSC app, looks like MSC is looking to expand the YC experience off ship.

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

We noticed that too… we’ll be on the lookout for a more detailed description/review of what that might encompass.

[@annefridh4817]

For certain “exotic” itineraries the cruise line keep ALL passports and are responsible for the customs things (source to this is emmacruises and her Asian cruise videos )

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Ahhh that would make more sense than my idea of what happens!! Copies of passports would be something to carry maybe.

[@Controversialcruising]

You had me at controversy 😂

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Ha! 🤣

[@Dave17101]

I am sorry for the tour group, but over a hour late with or without a phone call is too long. There are so many factors to take into account for a captain deciding to leave. Port costs, tide conditions, another ship scheduled for the dock, weather, extra fuel costs to make up the lost time, plus many I cannot even think of. That island looks quite small so how could they be so late?

[@elsie911]

Felt slightly bad for them being left behind. Until I heard them say on TV that they knew the rules but that NCL followed them a little too rigidly. Everyone on board knew the rules. Sorry not sorry.
On our cruise in Cozumel, we had a lone female dock runner, just as the gangway was about to be removed. Captain only waited because she ran, really ran to the ship, but he announced he would have left her & would leave anyone else who was late at future stops!
But it must happen multiple times a week around the world, that folk are late back and left. Where’s their 15 mins of fame? They aren’t getting money reimbursed!

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

Yep. They have to be smarter than that.

[@annefridh4817]

I believe the eight were on their own to the first port, NCL only reimbursed them for the second half due to the ship not being able to dock?

[@Taste-Try-Travel]

That would make sense but either way, it was the right thing for NCL to do. When something explodes on social media, safest thing is to ultimately take care of the customer.

[@ExtraordinaryLiving]

@@Taste-Try-Travel
Right! NCL's (or any other companies') good reputation or PR is worth $8000 in the whole scheme of things.