earliest time to book excursions on ship

[tyson]

My family will be on the Navigator in July (our first time on a Voyager-class ship), and I am trying to decide whether to book our one ship's shore excursion online now for a guaranteed spot or wait until we get onboard. The shore excursion is called Loterie Farm Treetop Adventure Tour in St. Martin where you go on zip lines through the rain forest. It is fairly new and from the little I can read about it, it is risky to do on your own because they can only handle a certain number of people and is reserved for the passengers on the ship's excursion. The place opened in January, so I have not been able to get a lot of information.

 

Here is what is making me waiver back and forth:

We will have shipboard credit from our Royal Caribbean credit card that I can use to pay for it if we wait until we're onboard saving us $246.

BUT...If I wait until we're onboard to use the shipboard credit, will the shore excursion already be sold out?

 

I believe the Navigator has an interactive TV where I can book the shore excursion easily, but how early is it available? Thanks!

[stevekc]

Wow this sounds really nice!

I noticed there is no info on the RCCL website.

How did you find out about this excursion?

If you are worried about it booking up, I would definitely book it in advance through RCCL. I'm sure you can just reserve it with a CC number and pay for it with your shipboard credit when you're on board.

We have a cruise reserved on the Navigator in March. Can't wait to go...certainly hanging out at these boards is generating lots of excitement!

 

I would love to hear more about this zip line excursion from anyone who knows??

[joycemh]

We have always booked our excersions on the day we board. We have never had a problem getting the ones we wanted.

 

Joyce

[tyson]

Once you book a shore excursion online, your credit card is automatically charged. If you look at the shore excursions for the eastern Caribbean on the Royal Caribbean website, you should see it listed. There has been a thread about this excursion on the St. Martin board (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=144962), but there are only about two people that posted that had actually gone.

[tyson]

Joyce,

 

Was the interactive TV up and running right away or did you have to wait until a certain time on the day you boarded? I assume the shore excursion desk will not be open until day two of the cruise. It's been a few years since we've actually gone on a ship-sponsored excursion, and normally I would book it online to avoid the lines and hassle.

 

Thanks!

[elleluv]

If I'm understanding correctly, it sounds like you have the onboard credit that you want to use to pay for the excursion and that's what your quandary is...

 

It's true that if you book your excursion now they'll charge your credit card right away.

 

You don't necessarily have to spend the onboard credit to take advantage of it. You can always get cash for your onboard credit by getting cash at the casino cage while on ship.

 

If you did that you could "advance" the money for the excursion now and then "reimburse" yourself from the casino cage cash. ;)

[tyson]

elleluv,

 

Yes, it is true they charge your credit card immediately when you book an excursion online. I have done it in the past. Normally, I would be okay with that and figure that's just a little less I have to pay at the end of the cruise.

 

You are correct that using my onboard credit while ensuring a spot on the excursion is my issue. I would have never thought to go to the casino cage and get cash! If that's an option, that may very well solve my problem! I will also get double points for booking the excursion using my Royal Caribbean credit card!

 

I was wondering what would happen to any shipboard credit I had left (if there is any!). Would they give it back to me in cash?

[springtxbill]

The shipboard credit can be used to pay your tips which if you have a family of 4 will be about the credit amount anyway. I would go ahead and book on line and make sure of getting it.:)

[tyson]

Springtxbill,

 

I do plan to use our shipboard credit to pay our tips, but we will have more credit to use. I have been busy gaining points with our Royal Caribbean credit card!