In summary, booking a shore excursion on a Royal Caribbean cruise is optional but popular among cruisers. If your ship is delayed getting into port, you can call your tour operator to adjust your tour time. If an alternate tour time is not compatible with your schedule, you will receive a refund directly to the form of payment used to pay for the shore excursion order.
The cruise ship will not wait for passengers who are late returning from a shore excursion. To avoid forfeiting the price of the tour, you need to cancel in advance, usually one or two days before the port of call. If you contact the shore, the ship guarantees that if your tour is delayed, the ship will wait for you. However, most shore excursions make minimal time for preparation for early dinner seating.
If your ship-sponsored excursion is late returning to port, the ship will either wait for you or take financial and logistical responsibility for getting you to a different port. If you organized the excursion yourself, it may arrange transport to the next port if the excursion is severely delayed. It is recommended to be back onboard 2 hours before departure, but ship’s excursions often return after that time.
When booking a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean, the ship guarantees that if your tour is delayed, the ship will wait for you. In the unlikely event that the ship slows down, lowers a tender, and returns you to the ship, it is best to plan to return 30-45 minutes before the ship is scheduled to depart. In many ports, there will be bars or restaurants by the cruise pier.
📹 10 Shore Excursion Mistakes Cruisers (Almost) Always Regret
Shore excursions are a big part of cruising, but unfortunately there can be some mistakes that cruisers often make (and regret!).
Will my cruise ship leave without me?
A cruise ship’s departure time is meticulously planned, and delays can lead to the ship leaving without passengers. Cruise ships, like airplanes, are on tight schedules, and delays can impact thousands of people, including passengers, dock workers, tour guides, and bus drivers. If a ship delays its departure by an hour while waiting for passengers, it may arrive an hour late at its next port of call. This situation can negatively impact not only passengers but also dock workers, tour guides, and bus drivers who have planned their day around the vessel’s arrival.
What happens if you miss your cruise time?
When missing a ship at a port of call, contact the port staff first, who can help you make arrangements to meet up in the next port. Then, contact your travel insurance provider’s 24-hour assistance team as soon as possible. They will explain your policy’s coverage and help you find additional travel arrangements, such as catching up to your cruise at the next port. Keep receipts relating to your catchup travel to include when filing a claim with your insurance provider.
Two travel insurance benefits can help in this situation: missed connection and travel delay. The missed connection benefit helps catch up at your ultimate destination if your flight to the port gets delayed, while the travel delay benefit covers rebooking and refunds the cost of meals and accommodations for trips delayed at least 3-12 hours. Cruisers can buy a travel insurance policy up until the day before their departure, ensuring coverage regardless of whether they planned their cruise ahead of time or booked at the last minute.
What happens if a cruise excursion is late?
In the event of a delay to a scheduled shore excursion, Royal Caribbean offers a guarantee that the ship will await the passengers until the tour is able to recommence. In the event of a significant delay to the tour, the ship will facilitate the return of guests at no additional cost. Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of the guest to be present on the vessel before the scheduled departure time. The ship will not wait for them if they fail to meet this obligation.
Do cruise ships wait for late passengers?
Delays in an excursion can be caused by the number of people involved, with an entire group with several dozen guests likely waiting several hours. Single people or couples may wait between 15 and 30 minutes. The departure time is binding, and passengers are informed about the routing and arrival and departure times upon signing a travel contract with the shipping company. Boarding times are usually half an hour before departure, and these times are communicated in the on-board program.
It is recommended to have an ID card or a copy of your passport with you on the shore excursion. Shore-goers may think the boat won’t leave without them, but it’s important to be prepared for potential delays.
Will cruise ships wait for late passengers?
Cruise ships only wait for late passengers on ship-sponsored shore excursions, which are booked and operated through the cruise line. This is a common nightmare for cruisers, as they may miss the ship’s departure. Longtime cruisers have seen instances of ships leaving late passengers behind, with passengers running back to the ship or begging for their return onboard. It is essential to be aware of potential delays and ensure that the cruise ship is prepared to accommodate passengers on its behalf.
Will a cruise ship leave you if you’re late?
“Pier runners” are cruise passengers who lose track of time while in a port, often at popular watering holes like Margaritaville and Senor Frogs. If they realize they’re late, they rush back to their ship before it heads to the next port. If they’re not lucky, the gangway is already up, and the cruise ship leaves without them. These sad sacks make for great social media drama. It’s important to avoid being left behind, as it can be costly and potentially damaging to your vacation. Here are some ways to avoid being left behind and what to do if you are.
What happens if you arrive late for a cruise?
Late arrivals on a cruise ship are not guaranteed to be accommodated, and the captain has the final say on whether the ship will stay in port longer than scheduled to wait for late passengers. However, if you are on a ship-sponsored shore excursion, such as a delayed shore excursion, the cruise ship may wait for you. This exception applies to tours booked and operated through the cruise line, and the ship will not wait for late passengers.
What happens if you are late to your cruise boarding time?
Arriving after the Guest Onboard Time (last Port Arrival Time) may prevent sailing, as the Cruise Terminal opening time allows guests to wait until their Port Arrival Time Boarding Group is present. If you miss the Guest Onboard Time, you may be left behind. Arriving 30 minutes after your Port Arrival Time and before Guest Onboard Time is still allowed on the ship. However, arriving 30 minutes after “All Aboard” on any Port of Departure or Port of Call will result in being left at the port and needing transportation to the next port or home.
The only exception is if your Port Adventure is through Disney Cruise Line, where the ship will wait for you. If you arrive 30 minutes late due to an airline and flight arranged through the Disney Cruise Line Air Program, Disney will work with you to get you to the first port of call.
What happens if you are left behind on a cruise?
Kuther recommends that guests who fail to board the vessel at the designated time should contact the cruise line and their travel agent to request assistance. In addition, the nearest U. S. embassy may be able to provide assistance. Those who fail to board their vessel in a timely manner are typically responsible for arranging transportation to the subsequent port of call. In such instances, the quality of travel insurance coverage may be significantly diminished.
What is the latest you can arrive for a cruise?
The cruise terminal requires guests who have not completed their online check-in to arrive at least two hours before the scheduled embarkation time on their cruise documents. This is to facilitate the embarkation process, process eDocs, and comply with new government regulations. Guests must also be onboard the ship no later than one hour prior to the departure time, or they will not be allowed to sail. Guests who have not completed their online check-in must arrive at the port two hours before sailing.
Joining or debarking the ship outside the published embark/debark port is not permitted due to various reasons. It is strongly recommended that guests complete their online check-in at least four days before sailing.
What happens if you don’t get back to your cruise on time?
In the event of a passenger failing to return prior to the scheduled departure of the vessel, they will be deemed to have abandoned their berth. This is regardless of the number of passengers on board, as the ship’s itinerary may not permit the accommodation of additional passengers.
📹 Couple Tries to Stop Cruise Ship From Leaving Port
A couple frantically tried to stop a cruise ship that was leaving without them in the Bahamas after they turned up 45 minutes late to …
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