Is it best to pre book excursions?

Arranging tours and excursions with an agent ahead of time means you know exactly how much you're spending. Better yet, you can add it to what you're spreading out with Uplift Pay Monthly payments, including it in your total vacation package to distribute the cost over time.



People Also Ask

Yes. It's almost always cheaper to buy the excursions ahead of time. And even if price isn't a factor, the more popular ones are very likely to sell out. Book your excursions as early as you can after booking the cruise.

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The simplest answer? As soon as you know you're going on a cruise! Every year we see guests wanting to book their shore excursions with us earlier and earlier. Oftentimes we're getting inquiries for the following year before the current season is even over!

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The most popular and obvious avenue for purchasing a shore excursion is through the cruise line itself. You can either book ahead of time on the lines' website or over the phone, or onboard the ship at the shore excursions desk.

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While it's A-okay to stick to what's included with your cruise fare, the truth is that most cruisers add on a few extras. That can include shore excursions, dinners at specialty restaurants that aren't built into your fare, spa treatments, cocktails and soda, Wi-Fi and more.

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Your best bet for finding deals on airfare is to be flexible, book deals when you see them or try to book them at least 21 days before your departure date. That way you're not stuck overpaying for flights. But keep in mind that the chances of finding cheap, last-minute flights are slim.

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Cruise excursions are one area where you enjoy the experiences at a reduced rate.
  1. 8 Great Ways to Save Money on Cruise Excursions. ...
  2. Skip Cruise Excursions. ...
  3. Explore On Your Own. ...
  4. Take a Public Bus. ...
  5. Hire a Private Guide. ...
  6. Book Independent Cruise Excursions. ...
  7. Check Email. ...
  8. Be Flexible and See What Happens.


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Cruise lines often discount their prices a month or two before sailing to fill vacant cabins. However, it's worth noting that a last-minute cruise doesn't always offer the most savings to travelers. Those who plan far ahead may be able to save even more.

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The prices of some cruises will decrease last minute – but this doesn't always happen. Booking a cruise within the last 60/90 days may not always be the best way to get a bargain. If you leave it this late you run the risk of the cruise line only having a few cabins left and the prices increasing.

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Bottom Line: The process of readying for passengers to leave once the ship arrives in port can take 30-45 minutes. After that, actually getting off the ship once passengers are allowed ashore takes just minutes.

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Taking Your Passport Should you take your passport with you on shore excursions? No, you shouldn't bring your passport, unless your tour requires it. We recommend bringing your driver's license as a form of ID instead. You don't want to risk losing your passport ashore.

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Many people suggest $100 per day, and this has generally worked well for me in my cruising experiences, but there are a lot of variables to consider.

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How do I pay for purchases onboard? All onboard purchases are paid for using your cruise card, which doubles as your room key. This card is set up before boarding and serves as your ID to get on and off the ship, provides you access to your cabin and makes for easy swiping when you decide you need a pina colada.

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All-inclusive might make you believe everything is included, but this is rarely the case. You may incur extra charges at a resort for such things as select restaurants, tours, activities, spa offerings, Wi-Fi, premium alcohol and room service.

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Note that the amount should be tabulated for each individual in your party—don't try to tip once per couple or group. So if you're planning to go on a 7-day cruise, expect to give a total of between $112 and $161 per person in gratuities. Don't forget to factor those charges into your overall vacation budget.

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Tipping on a Cruise Begins Before Sailaway Savvy cruisers know that gratuities begin before you board your ship. Why? If you plan to drop off your larger pieces of luggage, be prepared to give the portside luggage handler a $2- $5 tip per bag. The amount can depend upon size, weight and amount of luggage.

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Shore excursions may be booked online prior to sailing up until the Pre-Sail cut-off time, 11:59pm ET, two days prior to the cruise departure. After the online Pre-Sail, the remaining inventory will be available on the departure day onboard the ship.

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