Ship's Excursions vs. Private Operators???

[Olwyn]

Hi Everyone!

If you want to avoid paying the ship's excursion prices...but do want to participate in safe and fun activities...like, Stingray City for example...how would you go about booking with a Private Operator?

 

:confused:

 

We want to make sure that we are getting a good company, with fun, informative guides, and value for our money. Safety is, of course, a big issue!

 

Has anyone done this....and how do you go about it?

 

We are on the Star Princess Oct 9th, going to Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, and Cozumel.

Also...a good Dunns River Falls excursion operator....other than Princess!

Thanks so much!

Olwyn:)

[springtxbill]

Check the ports of call boards for a lot of recommendations and tips. :)

[robin61970]

Keep in mind that if you book through a private operator and the boat misses that port for some reason or other you will lose that money, but if you book through the boat it will be reimbursed. Also if a trip runs late and it is booked through the boat they will wait on you, but if it's not they will leave you....just food for thought.

[karen2cruz]

Most of the operators recommended in the ports of call section of Cruisecritic are seasoned operators working with cruisers. They know better than to miss getting their people back on time. It would create bad reviews for them and hurt their business.

 

We have booked most of our excursions with private operators well recommended by others on this board. We haven't been disappointed yet (cross our fingers).

 

Their are several operators doing Stingray City- try the Cayman board and the Scuba/snorkeling board.

 

Have a great cruise!

[Sheffie]

Keep in mind that if you book through a private operator and the boat misses that port for some reason or other you will lose that money, but if you book through the boat it will be reimbursed. Also if a trip runs late and it is booked through the boat they will wait on you, but if it's not they will leave you....just food for thought.

 

This is not always true. You need to check out the operator and see what their policies are.

 

With us, a lot depends on our length of time in port and what excursions we want to take as to whether or not we use the ship's excursion. If you give yourself leeway, you should be fine. Remember that these people's livelihoods depend mostly on word of mouth recommendations. They do not want to get you to the ship late.

 

I will give you a list of the private vendors that I gathered from this board for Grand Cayman. We went with Captain Bryan's Buccaneer and had a great time. As a previous poster suggested, check out the Ports of Call board. They are a wealth of information.

 

Sailboats:

 

Buccaneer: http://caymanislandsdiscounts.com/Stingray_City_Buccaneer_Excursion.htm

 

Captain Bryan’s: http://grandcaymancruiseexcursions.com/StingrayCityCaptBryans.htm

 

Motorized:

 

Captain Marvin’s: http://www.captainmarvins.com

 

Nativeway: http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/shiptours.html

 

Sotos: http://www.sotoscruises.com

 

Kelly’s Watersports http://www.kellyswatersports.com

[CaptData]

For Dunn's River Falls I use Pete Taylor but there are others here too. Pete drops you at the Falls with ticket in hand, a guide will meet you and take you up. Pete will pick up and take you to Fern Gully and the Gardens. He will also take you shopping and lunch if you want or back to the ship to eat and pick you up again and take you where you want to go. He will ensure you are back to the ship before it sails.

[Lois R]

Hi:) I have done both. I usually sail solo and normally I do book with the ship. It might be a bit more money but it is a great way to meet other people too:D And yes, if a cruiseline excursion is running late, the ship will wait for you.

 

We did have a group from these boards on my Constellation cruise in Dec and we all went with a private guide so I did that with "friends"~great things about ROLL CALLS!

 

Enjoy your cruise:D