Shore Excursion Staff: What Is It?

Shore Excursions Staff is a position onboard cruise ships that involves promoting, selling, and dispatching shore excursions. This role ensures that the attention and interest in a particular trip is maintained by the staff. The Shore Excursion Staff position is responsible for maintaining excellent guest service while achieving quality goals. Potential candidates should have at least two years of experience in shore excursions.

Cruise lines offer passengers short trips and excursions on land, with the Shore Excursion Manager supervising these activities. The Shore Excursion Staff is responsible for promoting, selling, and dispatching shore excursions in various ports of call as directed by the Shore Excursion Manager. They are the go-to person for all shore excursion-related information and must know all the features and attractions.

The Shore Excursion Staff also help to promote and sell various tours available. The Shore Excursion Associate is responsible for operating at peak productivity and profitability in the absence of the Shore Excursion Manager. Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and interpersonal skills are required, along with excellent customer service and problem resolution skills.

Ship excursion staff lead outings off the boat, such as hiking, backpacking, rafting, and other adventure-related activities. They support the Shore Excursion Manager in maximizing revenues by marketing, promoting, explaining, and selling tours to guests.

What is the true purpose of shore excursions?

Shore excursions are activities that highlight the attractions or culture of a destination, often taking place within walking distance of the cruise ship. They can include sightseeing bus tours, guided visits to museums or historic sites, athletic activities, beach days, cooking or dance classes, or day trips to nearby cities. Some excursions are tailored for families, accommodating children, and passengers with mobility issues or disabilities.

Shore excursions can be purchased by cruise lines, independent operators, or third-party tour sellers. However, not all excursions are suitable for everyone and may require a minimum level of fitness.

What are the disadvantages of shore excursion?

Cruise line excursions offer advantages such as traveling with a group of passengers and comparing notes with fellow shipmates. They are also reputable and licensed, unlike independent tours. However, downsides include potential long lines, crowded buses, and long stops at souvenir shops. Port tours can range from free on cruise lines like Viking, Crystal, and Uniworld to over $100 per person for higher-priced options like golf, helicopter rides, seaplane rides, and visits to ancient ruins.

Some lines even offer overnight excursions to swanky hotels or private limo tours. Traditional shore excursions are worth it for exploring sites far from the cruise dock, accessing historic monuments, forts, or castles, and learning more about a region.

What are the disadvantages of shore excursions?

Cruise line excursions offer advantages such as traveling with a group of passengers and comparing notes with fellow shipmates. They are also reputable and licensed, unlike independent tours. However, downsides include potential long lines, crowded buses, and long stops at souvenir shops. Port tours can range from free on cruise lines like Viking, Crystal, and Uniworld to over $100 per person for higher-priced options like golf, helicopter rides, seaplane rides, and visits to ancient ruins.

Some lines even offer overnight excursions to swanky hotels or private limo tours. Traditional shore excursions are worth it for exploring sites far from the cruise dock, accessing historic monuments, forts, or castles, and learning more about a region.

What does a shore excursion associate do?

The role involves executing tactical plans to achieve revenue and sales targets, collaborating with the Operations and Revenue Team, employing effective marketing strategies, promoting tours to guests, monitoring the Shore Excursion Program, handling guest complaints, achieving guest satisfaction targets, promoting and processing Carnival MasterCard applications, maintaining professional relationships with Tour Operators, assisting with shore excursions, pier and lounge dispatch, participating in safety drills and trainings, and following all environmental and ECP policies and procedures.

Minimum requirements include experience in the hospitality industry, excellent command of the English language, competence in sales, understanding of marketing and promotion methods, revenue analytics, and revenue responsibility. High level of computer skills, including Microsoft packages, and a driver’s license are preferred. The ideal candidate should be approachable, a good listener, enjoy working in small teams, work under pressure, take initiative, have strong execution skills, be resourceful, adaptable, highly confident, and have a sense of fun, energy, and passion.

The position requires a 6 months contract and 2 months’ vacation. The candidate must adhere to United States Public Health rules and regulations, be groomed meticulously, follow waste segregation procedures, and follow the Environmental Compliance Plan.

What is shore excursion staff?

The Shore Excursions Staff is responsible for promoting, selling, and dispatching shore excursions in various ports of call, as directed by the Shore Excursions Manager. They are responsible for resolving passenger problems and ensuring customer satisfaction. They also play an active role in the Emergency Response Organization and strive for continuous improvement in guest safety. Shorex Assistants are available at the Guest Services Desk to assist guests with any issues.

The basic duties of the Guest Services department include managing sales and bookings, dispatching tenders, assigning escorts, handling private guest excursions, handling complaints, coordinating excursions, providing knowledge of ports of calls and excursions, concierge duties, and assisting guests according to their needs and interests. The staff also accompanies regular shore excursions to ensure product and port knowledge and monitor tour quality. Minimum experience and qualification requirements are required for this position.

What is a shorex staff?

The Shore Excursions Staff is responsible for promoting, selling, and dispatching shore excursions in various ports of call, as directed by the Shore Excursions Manager. They are responsible for resolving passenger problems and ensuring customer satisfaction. They also play an active role in the Emergency Response Organization and strive for continuous improvement in guest safety. Shorex Assistants are available at the Guest Services Desk to assist guests with any issues.

The basic duties of the Guest Services department include managing sales and bookings, dispatching tenders, assigning escorts, handling private guest excursions, handling complaints, coordinating excursions, providing knowledge of ports of calls and excursions, concierge duties, and assisting guests according to their needs and interests. The staff also accompanies regular shore excursions to ensure product and port knowledge and monitor tour quality. Minimum experience and qualification requirements are required for this position.

What is a shorex assistant?

The Assistant Shore Excursion Manager is responsible for directing and coordinating activities of the onboard Shore Excursion department, aiming to maximize efficiency, economy of operations, and profits. They are responsible for evaluating and training staff members in tour sales, customer service, tour dispatch, and daily operational needs.

The Assistant Shore Excursion Manager must have a clear understanding of revenue and rating goals, develop an evolving plan to achieve or exceed these goals, monitor selling excursions, and oversee staff training and education. They also work with the Manager and HR in managing disciplinary issues, auditing Shore Excursion content on the TV channel and daily onboard newsletter, and working alongside the Manager and Tour Operators to streamline the tour dispatch process.

The Assistant Shore Excursion Manager must be familiar with all responsibilities of the Shore Excursion Manager, be available to step up if necessary, and actively participate in Pier Welcome Back, Officer, and Department Head Visibility and Guest Engagement as required by onboard management. They must be familiar with the Safety and Environmental Protection Policy and the SEMS, and provide effective Shore Excursion briefings and Q&A sessions with guests and colleagues.

What do shore excursion staff do?

The role entails the management of tour packages, the promotion of tours, the resolution of customer complaints, the processing of refunds, the utilisation of a computer system for the generation of reports, the training of new personnel, and the monitoring and evaluation of tour staff.

What is the job description of an excursion operator?

The individual provides assistance to guests in the planning and booking of various accommodations, including hotels, restaurants, packages, excursions, transportation, and special events. Additionally, they coordinate all special requests or services.

What does on shore excursion mean?

Cruise passengers often opt for shore excursions to explore the local culture and life during their cruise. These activities, run by professional tour operators, allow passengers to fully enjoy their time on shore. Popular activities include watching humpback whales off Alaska’s coast, snorkeling in Bermuda, and exploring the underwater world. These excursions provide an opportunity for passengers to fully immerse themselves in the local culture and experiences.

What is the job description of shorex?

The Shore Excursions Manager is responsible for presenting, promoting, supervising, and organizing shore excursions in ports of calls and onboard vessels. They ensure guests receive efficient and courteous assistance and manage the Shorex Team onboard. The manager plays an active role in the Emergency Response Organization, focusing on safety, guest, crew, and vessel safety. They coordinate excursions, including audio equipment, and instruct local guides.

The manager manages and coaches the Shorex Team, ensuring smooth dispatch and operation of shore excursions. They have in-depth knowledge of the product, destinations, and procedures, and can handle difficult passengers with grace, professionalism, and rational thinking. They also host and dine with guests and perform other duties as directed by senior management. The manager supervises the sales of the excursion office, takes proactive action to promote shore excursions, and reports any deviations from standards. Minimum experience and qualification requirements for this position are required.