Tour organizers threatened at Meet & Greet aboard Grand Princess

[sunsetbeachgal]

My money is on the Captain as well. Sounds like there was some high-scale public organizing and collecting of monies, which from the information on other posts is a clear violation of the passenger contract.

[dizzy1948]

It's a bit like going to your local shopping centre and setting your own stall up in an aisle - don't think so

[Cruisin' Chick]

It is not scary, just something really stupid done apparently by some CC members. Setting up a table to collect funds at the CC Meet & Greet is not something I ever saw. I have gone on a few excursions with fellow CC members and I also have run a few excursions, sometimes funds are collected at the Meet & Greet - usually it is done discretely as you would between friends; setting up a table sounds more like a business operation. I really don't blame the Captain. On which cruiseline is this allowed to happen?

 

I agree that there seemed to be a lack of discretion if passengers are collecting money right in front of the captain or other officers. If there was a need to finalize any details once the cruise began, it should have at another time and place.

[cormike1]

This wasn't a tour, but on our January cruise there were a couple of ladies making really neat scarves....it was a different kind of knitting...kind of like lots of small knitted circles attached together. They were sitting on the couches outside the Explorers lounge so in a busy area. They draped a whole bunch of the scarves over the back of one of the couches and were selling them. I was amazed that 1st they had the nerve to do that and 2nd no one told them not to! I was really surprised to see that being done.

[rwadam]

On a recent Med cruise we had arranged for a private tour in Kusadasi with people we met on CC. But we just met the nice couple at an appointed place on the ship before we departed together for the tour. I see this as different from the OP's description of what happened and I agree with Princess on this one.

[Pam in CA]

I've been on many tours organized by roll call members for years. In some cases, you contact the tour operator and pay directly. Some times, the organizer pre-pays for everyone on their own personal credit card and collects repayment. This is done to secure a better price. Sometimes, the organizer collects the money half an hour or more before the M&G so it's not done during the M&G so that it's handed to the tour operator at once so the tour isn't delayed while they collect and add each person's payment. In none of these cases is the organizer selling the tour. They are facilitating it for everyone else.

 

I can see Princess' point but in my experience, they've never objected to organized independent tours and have even assisted with disembarkation as a group.

[caribill]

I can see Princess' point but in my experience, they've never objected to organized independent tours and have even assisted with disembarkation as a group.

 

Good point. I was on one cruise where tendering was required and the Cruise Critic group had a tender arranged by Princess for a private tour that left before any of the Princess tours did.

 

Of course Princess will explain the advantages of a Princess tour, but the only place I have seen Princess actively discourage privately arranged tours is in St. Petersburg. Both before and during the cruise, there is wording that stongly suggests you will not be allowed to disembark at that port unless you either (a) are on a Princess tour or (b) have obtained a Russian visa in advance of the voyage. Of course, any tour arranged with a private vendor there includes any needed authorization to disembark. And once onshore at St. Pete, Princess puts up signs by the immigration booths indicating that all lines except one are for Princess tours. Reality is that the immigration personnel do not care which tour you are on and you can get on any of the lines.

[Shadavi]

I don't blame the Captain at all. To make a public spectacle of collecting money like that during a Princess sanctioned function is outrageous And I want to bet that it is the same type of people who are making a profit on tours. Through the years I have organized many tours. They are small tours, people pay their own portion at the end, and we leave the ship a group of friends going out for the day. To my mind it is wrong to conduct a competing business on someone else's property. Some of the people who have come to cruise critic are going to ruin it -e.g bragging about all of the liquor taken on, and now the tours. This really upsets me.

 

Me too. I think the key here is discretion. Contrary to The Contract, Princess allows the odd bottle of wine on board at ports for personal consumption - maybe shared with friends - in the privacy of cabins, (or you pay the corkage in the DR., but you have to be plain stupid to expect to be able to bring dozens aboard at every port without repercussions. And even if you managed to bring them on board, then surely, if you then attempted to 'sell' them (at a healthy profit), to your fellow passengers, you would be guilty of engaging in competition to the cruise line.

IMHO the same applies for shore tours. I think "reading between the lines" (actually this and other forum topics - particularly on shore tours) that the CC boards (and subsequently the M&G's) may have been "hi-jacked" by some semi-"professionals" who are apparently arranging tours for large numbers (50+) and maybe 'subsidising' their cruise costs. If this is the case they should be STOPPED. I (who am truely grateful to those who can arrange private tours) have NO problem with genuine CC members recouping their costs. Most of us who opt for "private" tours do so because either:

(a.) The tour offer's something Princess doesn't.

(b) We choose to do it with a smaller group for a more 'authentic' experience.

 

Depending on where I am in the world, I opt for either Ship or Private tour and I would hate to see a situation where this was not possible. What happens when the ship's tour sells out? :(

[Starlaker]

I have friends on this cruise so I have been following their roll call and blogs. I think that the real problem here is that they set up tables at the meet and greet to collect money for private tours - and there were a lot of them. Rather bold I would say and I don't blame the Captain for stepping in.

[Woobstr112G]

Hi All

 

Princess has no issues with passengers sharing a tour together even had crew join me,

 

but one person setting up a number of tours with groups of 50, or more

 

setting up signs on board ship, collect money in public,

 

will get you kicked off ship,

 

nothing new in this,

 

have been on a ship were folks taped notices of tours to doors at casino

 

they did not stay up long.

 

yours Shogun

 

Well said sir. I've always thought that private tour types that collect money at the M&G are out of line. I've organized a number of private excursions and would never even consider doing it.....

 

Bob

[RASHOPPER2]

I've been on many tours organized by roll call members for years. In some cases, you contact the tour operator and pay directly. Some times, the organizer pre-pays for everyone on their own personal credit card and collects repayment. This is done to secure a better price. Sometimes, the organizer collects the money half an hour or more before the M&G so it's not done during the M&G so that it's handed to the tour operator at once so the tour isn't delayed while they collect and add each person's payment. In none of these cases is the organizer selling the tour. They are facilitating it for everyone else.

 

I can see Princess' point but in my experience, they've never objected to organized independent tours and have even assisted with disembarkation as a group.

 

The one private tour that I had to repay was in Falmouth. I paid for it a month in advance and every memeber of the tour sent me a check for their share while we were still in the states. It was done quickly and quietly with no problems. Never would I have considered collecting money visibly at the Meet and Greet.

 

I am in charge of the Meet and Greet for the Ruby crossing in April. I have put a post on my roll call asking people not to collect money at the Meet and Greet. If they want to collect money for a tour in advance I asked them to do it in another venue. I think that PRincess has treated Cruise Critic very nicely in the years that I have been sailing with them, and I would not like to see that fine relationship compromised.

[shoreham01]

On our last Princess cruise we had a large roll call which meant a big M&G. Not one person from Princess bothered to show up to mingle with us.

 

As far as private tours go. We would never pay for a tour in advance, have always payed on the day on the bus.

[pablo222]

Big NO from me! Princess' job is to bring me to these ports of call, feed me and entertain me.

 

So, you would like people to be free to solicit you while on board?

 

Not any different that many other venues, like sports stadiums, theme parks, etc.

[RASHOPPER2]

On our last Princess cruise we had a large roll call which meant a big M&G. Not one person from Princess bothered to show up to mingle with us.

 

As far as private tours go. We would never pay for a tour in advance, have always payed on the day on the bus.

 

I have been doing that for years on my tours. People pay the driver at the end of the tour and tip as they please. It also confirms that you are not making a profit on the tour as it appears some people do.

[billco]

We rarely go to a M&G. If we need to pay for a private tour in advance we usually do it at the organizer's stateroom.

[Pam in CA]

As far as private tours go. We would never pay for a tour in advance, have always payed on the day on the bus.

After a really bad experience with a tour company in Belfast, I would agree. However, with a well-known, well-established tour company that has a published full refund policy, it's not as much of a gamble.

[Shoalwater]

Me too. I think the key here is discretion. Contrary to The Contract, Princess allows the odd bottle of wine on board at ports for personal consumption - maybe shared with friends - in the privacy of cabins, (or you pay the corkage in the DR., but you have to be plain stupid to expect to be able to bring dozens aboard at every port without repercussions. And even if you managed to bring them on board, then surely, if you then attempted to 'sell' them (at a healthy profit), to your fellow passengers, you would be guilty of engaging in competition to the cruise line.

IMHO the same applies for shore tours. I think "reading between the lines" (actually this and other forum topics - particularly on shore tours) that the CC boards (and subsequently the M&G's) may have been "hi-jacked" by some semi-"professionals" who are apparently arranging tours for large numbers (50+) and maybe 'subsidising' their cruise costs. If this is the case they should be STOPPED. I (who am truely grateful to those who can arrange private tours) have NO problem with genuine CC members recouping their costs. Most of us who opt for "private" tours do so because either:

(a.) The tour offer's something Princess doesn't.

(b) We choose to do it with a smaller group for a more 'authentic' experience.

 

Depending on where I am in the world, I opt for either Ship or Private tour and I would hate to see a situation where this was not possible. What happens when the ship's tour sells out? :(

 

1) See Pia's live from posts. Most of the ship's tours are sold out and passengers are wanting tours.

 

2) There were probably nearly 100 private tours arranged for this cruise by CC members, most 1 year in advance.

 

3) South America is a bit different. Most tour operators want a deposit, with the balance in cash. And, many specified the cash should be new, unmarked bills.

 

3) We had a couple of hundred people at the M&G, so it was overwhelming to try to circulate to find an organizer.

 

4) Organizers weren't selling tours, they were collecting tours already established.

 

The logistics of this cruise, the number of tours organized and the size of the M&G's created a perfect storm. Unfortunate. This should be a lesson on-going to all CCers organizing tours and Meet & Greets.

[DonahCBrown]

1) See Pia's live from posts. Most of the ship's tours are sold out and passengers are wanting tours.

 

2) There were probably nearly 100 private tours arranged for this cruise by CC members, most 1 year in advance.

 

3) South America is a bit different. Most tour operators want a deposit, with the balance in cash. And, many specified the cash should be new, unmarked bills.

 

3) We had a couple of hundred people at the M&G, so it was overwhelming to try to circulate to find an organizer.

 

4) Organizers weren't selling tours, they were collecting tours already established.

 

 

 

 

The logistics of this cruise, the number of tours organized and the size of the M&G's created a perfect storm. Unfortunate. This should be a lesson on-going to all CCers organizing tours and Meet & Greets.

 

On reflection and in hind sight (which is ALWAYS 20/20) probably would have been better to arrange for a separate informal meeting of the tour folks. If I'm ever in the position again of doing one for such a large roll call, I'm certainly going to suggest that.

 

That said - I've done lots of M & Gs (and tour organizing) where people DID have a 'post M & G - meet your tour organizer' session with no problems. Perhaps it was the sheer size of this gathering and the number of tours that set off the powers that be. As you say - Perfect Storm....(or tempest in a teapot...)

[vickie_bernie]

this is not new....

 

I was just on the Emerald for 30 days on 3 legs and the woman who was knitting the scarves outside Explorer's and selling them was doing it on the first and second leg. On the first leg they did ask her if she was selling them and she said no. When she was doing it again on the second leg a passenger (who I believe is related to one of the officers) asked her about them and she said she was selling them for $20. At this point she was informed to meet in the office (was not told in public to stop) but was told privately that she could no longer solicit sales. She stopped.

 

On the third leg at our meet and greet someone was organizing a private tour on one of the islands and had created flyers and was handing them out at the M&G. The Captain, Hotel General Manager and CSD were all there and saw this. She also then went and put some of these flyers in cabin mailboxes. Don't know if she was putting them in random boxes or those that may be interested but they were visible to all. She too was called privately to meet with officer and told to stop. She stopped.

 

Princess doesn't care if you do your own excursions as long as you are back on the ship in time.

 

Where they have a problem is when you come on and try and sell or promote a product, no matter what it is.

 

I would never sew dresses then walk into my local Nordstroms and start selling them.... why should Princess be any different.

 

 

This wasn't a tour, but on our January cruise there were a couple of ladies making really neat scarves....it was a different kind of knitting...kind of like lots of small knitted circles attached together. They were sitting on the couches outside the Explorers lounge so in a busy area. They draped a whole bunch of the scarves over the back of one of the couches and were selling them. I was amazed that 1st they had the nerve to do that and 2nd no one told them not to! I was really surprised to see that being done.

 

this is the lady I am talking about too - they were lovely scarves but that took gutts and agree they did have nerve.

 

i was impressed how princess handled it, they asked the bar staff for her folio # as she had ordered a drink and they contacted her directly via the phone. They did not just walk up to her and ask her to come with me.... I felt they handled it well.

[vickie_bernie]

On reflection and in hind sight (which is ALWAYS 20/20) probably would have been better to arrange for a separate informal meeting of the tour folks. If I'm ever in the position again of doing one for such a large roll call, I'm certainly going to suggest that.

 

That said - I've done lots of M & Gs (and tour organizing) where people DID have a 'post M & G - meet your tour organizer' session with no problems. Perhaps it was the sheer size of this gathering and the number of tours that set off the powers that be. As you say - Perfect Storm....(or tempest in a teapot...)

 

I like your idea of meeting separately to collect monies too.

 

I guess it wouldn't be a problem if we just collect money instead of trying to sell tours to others.

 

Also you are so right, the large size and how you handle it goes a long way. People can always do it more discretely.

 

vickie

[swedish weave]

I will toss my two cents into this discussion.

 

I do not book tours in advance for a couple of reasons.

 

First, I have had very good experiences dealing with taxi drivers and/or tour operators after I get off the ship at the ports. Prices are usually better and I make a list of the things I want to see and do, present it to the driver or guide and make a deal on time and price. I have never been to a port where I could not contact a driver or guide after I got off the ship. If some others want to do the same thing, we look for appropriate vehicles to accomodate us.

 

Second is the weather. You can't be sure what weather you will have when you arrive at a port, so I choose not to book in advance for that reason.

 

This has worked for us for over 25 years on many cruises.

[timetravler]

We rarely go to a M&G. If we need to pay for a private tour in advance we usually do it at the organizer's stateroom.

That's what we do also. Always remember that Princess does read these posts and you sure don't want to break any rules of the Princess contract.

[timetravler]

We rarely go to a M&G. If we need to pay for a private tour in advance we usually do it at the organizer's stateroom.

 

That is what we have done too. You need to be careful you are not breaking any of the Princess contract rules. Also Princess reads these posts, so I would think they look out for illegal activities.

[OCruisers]

Our entire roll call seems to be monopolized by someone organizing some wine tour ....

 

Yes, this does often happen when someone is organizing any sort of tour on the roll call. :rolleyes:

 

LuLu

~~~~

[san diego sue]

South America private tours seem to be handled very differently than

tours in Europe. A lot of them want deposit money up front.On our SA cruise on the Star, there were people who organized private tours and participants were no shows. Lucky there were replacement people available. Never saw this on any of our other cruises.

 

The roll call for the The Grand had people organizing tours a year in advance. These fellow passengers worked so hard to get the best

for their group(price and tours). I was on that roll call but had to cancel

the cruise. No one was a travel agent, looking to save money for themselves etc. These are good people. They made a big mistake collecting at M&G. Should have made arrangements in advance to collect money elsewhere, and not part of M&G. That is tacky.