Do these responses make sense?

[Anthomaniac]

Ok, I am usually a smart person, but I cannot seem to wrap my head around these emails I got from Carnival when I sent in - what I thought was a pretty simple question....

 

Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 1:43 PM

Subject: Shore Excursions

 

Can you tell me why for a port call in Grand Turk from 12:30pm until 6pm, almost all of the shore excursions start at 11 or 11:30??? you have almost NO excursions available at the time that the Destiny will actually be in port!

From: guestsolutionssupport2@carnival.com

Subject: Shore Excursions <<#35093-2612028#>>

Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2012 19:57:07 -0400

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us. We appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance.

When it comes to booking shore excursions through our web site www.carnival.com you don't need to worry about the shore excursion time. The time it shows the ship is at a particular port is the time when guests are already disembarking the ship. The ship actually arrives at the port much earlier and if needed you will be one of the first guests to be off the ship. The shore excursion tickets that will be deliver to your cabin will have specific information on where to meet on board to get off the ship and go on the excursion

Should you require further assistance, please contact our eSolutions Department at 1-800-845-2599; Monday through Friday: 9:00 am to 11:00 PM EST. Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 am to 8:00 PM EST.

Cordially,

Boris Velasquez

Guest Solutions Specialist

 

[Anthomaniac]

this is my response to the original answer, and their subsequent reply:

 

Received: 7/14/12 9:48:20 AM EDT

To: <guestsolutionssupport2@carnival.com>

Subject: RE: Shore Excursions

So are you telling me that even though disembarking time at GT is 12:30 - that I can sign up for an excursion that starts at 11:00? I absolutely DO need to worry about the shore excursion time since it shows that it starts BEFORE WE GET OFF THE SHIP.

 

Please have a supervisor respond to this message.

 

thank you!

From: guestsolutionssupport2@carnival.com

Subject: Shore Excursions <<#35093-2612028#>>

Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:09:43 -0400

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us. We appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance.

We apologize for the misunderstanding. When viewing shore excursions from our general list, this will show all excursions available on that port. Once you enter your booking information then the list narrows down to excursions only available on your sailing. Although it may show a starting before the ship arrives, the actual time when the ship gets to that port is much earlier than what we advertise. Please understand if you are doing excursions on your own then you want to follow the times in port we advertise because this will assure you will have time to do excursions on your own. Like we mention before, since you are purchasing excursions on our website www.carnival.com if the time may need to be adjusted it will be done by our Shore Excursion Department on board. That is one of the benefits of booking shore excursions directly through our website.

We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. If you require further clarification you may sent your request directly to our Shore Excursion Department at shoreexcursions@carnival.com. Please make sure you provide them your Carnival booking number, name of the ship, and the date that your are sailing. Also give them the name of the port and the name of the shore excursion you want more information. They will be able to further assist you.

Cordially,

Boris Velasquez

Guest Solutions Specialist

 

[Anthomaniac]

and finally....

 

Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 2:38 PM

To: IMC ShoreExcursions

Subject: FW: Shore Excursions <<#35093-2612028#>> (DE - RKD)

Please explain to me how I can attend an excursion that starts at 11AM when the Destiny is not due into Grand Turk until 12:30PM???

 

I have two emails from carnival stating that I don't have to worry about the start time, and that I should just go ahead and sign up. There is no way that the Destiny will be in port at 11 when we are not schedule for debarkation until 12:30.

 

Can you tell me why for a port call in Grand Turk from 12:30pm until 6pm, almost all of the shore excursions start at 11 or 11:30??? you have almost NO excursions available at the time that the Destiny will actually be in port!

 

 

Booking # xxxxxxx

Ship Destiny

Port Grand Turk

***********************

Dear,

Thank you for contacting Carnival Cruise Lines. We have received your e-mail message and appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance.

Please go ahead and book the tour you would like before they sell out and do not worry about the time. The time will be adjusted by the Shore Excursion Manager and your ticket you receive onboard will reflect the correct time.

Regards,

Tour Operations

Carnival Cruise Line

 

 

did they not read any of my messages or am I just not getting it?

[lissa42886]

dunno if this helps you any..

 

but even if the excursion starts BEFORE you hit the island.. the excursions is all cruise people.. it will start once you disembark and get off the ship.. they will be waiting for you w. a sign and all ready to go.. they obviosuly cant start w. out you guys. you dont have to go yourself to a area on the island to find your excursion. there is always someone to represent the excursion company waiting w. a sign to meet the entire party..

[H82seaUgo]

it means hire your own tour and save yourself some money.

 

the person answering your questions is looking it up in the book, and has probably never been outside miami.

[CaribbeanLuver]

Sounds like they are saying either you will actually be able to make the advertised time because they expect to disembark earlier than advertised. Or the excursion time will be altered. Either way, I would go ahead and book. If something happens that will not allow you to make the excursion, they will refund your money.

[sparks1093]

I read it as saying that regardless of what the website says the staff aboard ship will adjust the shore excursion time to match that of the ship.

[Anthomaniac]

dunno if this helps you any..

 

but even if the excursion starts BEFORE you hit the island.. the excursions is all cruise people.. it will start once you disembark and get off the ship.. they will be waiting for you w. a sign and all ready to go.. they obviosuly cant start w. out you guys. you dont have to go yourself to a area on the island to find your excursion. there is always someone to represent the excursion company waiting w. a sign to meet the entire party..

 

In this case, they could start before we get there, as there are two ships in port at GT that day....Destiny gets there at 12:30, however the Liberty gets there at ....you guessed it... 11:00

[mathdad]

It is clear to me that the excursion times are unclear. I suggest going to guest services first thing. Some excursions book quickly.

[Anthomaniac]

It is clear to me that the excursion times are unclear. I suggest going to guest services first thing. Some excursions book quickly.

 

 

Thank goodness it is not just me!

[Kudos2Fly]

I wouldn't worry about it if booking with the ship. We have never booked ahead of time and always of gotten the excursion we wanted.

[Vitality08]

Sounds to me the time will be adjusted for the time the ship actually gets in port regardless of what the website says.

[RICKAR]

You also need to remember that any where you go on a cruise, they always talk about ship time and not island time. There can and will be a difference between those times.

 

Enjoy!

[big_duck]

Sounds to me the time will be adjusted for the time the ship actually gets in port regardless of what the website says.

 

Agreed, they should of given the last response as the first.

 

The Liberty being there earlier is irrelevant, they don't mix excursions between ships.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Another thought--I had a salmon fishing excursion the first time we were in Ketchikan. The excursion started at 6:30 a.m. and the ship wasn't due in port until either 7:30 or 8:00 (I don't remember as this was 11 years ago). We met in a lounge at 6:00 a.m. and were tendered ashore for our excursion--we were the only guests who debarked before the ship docked. :D

 

I do agree with the PPs who said, go ahead and book it if there's an excursion you really want to do and be aware the time may change once you're actually on the cruise. If that is too uncertain for you, then wait until you're onboard to book.

 

Have a great cruise!

[Jsaxm]

Sounds like since three people have given you the same response you should probably book the excursion and listen to what they're telling you...

[alabamaprincess]

Since it is an excursion through Carnival, you don't need to stress out about the times matching up. They will take care of the details. Just make sure when the tickets are delivered to your room that you show up at the right time and place to meet up with the tour people. We have waited for folks who did not show up when they were supposed to and kept the rest of us waiting.

[Rosefloater]

Since it is an excursion through Carnival, you don't need to stress out about the times matching up. They will take care of the details. Just make sure when the tickets are delivered to your room that you show up at the right time and place to meet up with the tour people. We have waited for folks who did not show up when they were supposed to and kept the rest of us waiting.

 

What she said. As long as it is a Carnival tour, don't worry if the tour time is earlier than when the ship is supposed to arrive.

 

When you get your tickets, the correct time and meeting place will be on there.

 

Have fun.

[Chip1]

Agreed, they should of given the last response as the first.

 

The Liberty being there earlier is irrelevant, they don't mix excursions between ships.

 

My last sailing was on the March 22, 2010 sailing of the Carnival Destiny on the 5 day Eastern Caribbean route. On the day in Nassau I booked a catamaran tour through Carnival. This tour was a mixed group of guests from both the Carnival Destiny and the Carnival Sensation.

[DGP1111]

Agreed, they should of given the last response as the first.

 

The Liberty being there earlier is irrelevant, they don't mix excursions between ships.

 

That may be "the norm", but I've personally been mixed with passengers from other Carnival ships on numerous occasions.

 

.