Stay away from Carnival Excursions

[Blizzardlane]

I *so* agree with the folks telling you to contact Carnival IMMEDIATELY after a bad excursion. We got back my fee on a snorkel trip in St. Lucia because the boat wasn't as advertised (a trawler with a swim platform rather than a catamaran with a walk-in stair). The Carnival folks were gracious and helpful and apologetic. You can also leave a review on the Carnival site.

[kristie64063]

Sorry you had a bad experience!! However, I wouldn't take it on just this, that all carnival excursions are terrible. Every one I've been on so far has been great. Not to say they're all amazing, but ... ;)

 

Better luck next time!

Edited May 6, 2014 by kristie64063

[sjcruiser]

Sorry your experience in St. Thomas turned out to be a bad one due to transportation or logistics issues. We usually do tours on our own with local vendors, unless advised not to due to crime, etc. We have only done a few Carnival excursions, but had a good time on each. I would have filed a complaint as soon as I got back onboard.

[Mysticks1]

I agree with others, if that had happened to me I would have made my first stop the Excursion desk to complain when I made it back to the ship. Did you do that? Coming back here and complaining doesn't really help those who may book that tour in the future. If you complained to the excursion desk they could have made sure that your concerns about the tour were addressed with that tour company. It may have been just that particular guide who had their information mixed up. Just because that one was bad don't assume that the same type thing will happen again. I have only booked one tour through a cruise ship in all of my cruises. I prefer to book independently.

 

We have only had one tour that was bad - a tour of Berlin which involved a bus rented by the tour company. There was no A/C on this enclosed bus that had no opening windows and the tour lasted all day with the temps up into the 80's. It was miserable and the driver seemed to be unconcerned and downright rude. We complained to the guide and the tour operator. We had all our tours on this cruise booked through this one company as a package deal. We received notification on our next tour directly from the owner that she was no longer doing business with that bus company. If we had not complained the problems with that company would have continued.

Edited May 6, 2014 by Mysticks1

[CruisinCrow]

That would have been frustrating and scary, wandering around trying to figure out how to get back to the ship. I would have been upset too and I hope you get your money refunded. You might want to submit a review on the Carnival website too.

 

But please don't tell people to stay away from all Carnival excursions. We did the Mini Speedboat tour and Mexican Cuisine tour in Cozumel through Carnival and they were both amazing. Don't hurt the business of innocent tour operators because you got one bad one.

Edited May 6, 2014 by CruisinCrow

[Smart Arsenal Fan]

Would you mind sharing who this excursion was with? I'm trying to find a decently priced Puerto Rico tour :)

 

 

 

Wait, Doesn't this mean we should stay away from ALL MrsMSD's excursion recommendations because she had the one faulty review?

 

;)

[Laurie S.]

I also don't think we're getting the full story. I did Blackbeard's Castle on my own, taking a taxi up there from the ship after getting back from diving. Once you go through the castle, it's an easy walk downhill to the main street where all the transportation (and a lot of shops) are. There are several historic buildings to look at as you walk downhill, and the way is clearly marked.

[Cruise life]

We wanted to go to Blackbeards on our last trip to St Thomas, but decided to go to Magic Ice and then snorkel. We asked a taxi driver about it and she was very negative about our interest in the castle. It was odd. We had seen a map of the grounds and knew it was laid out on a hillside and there would be walking. Your tour sounds awful, I agree the group should have asked for a refund. We took one of our best tours ever in Kauai recently which was a Carnival excursion and we got much more than we paid for (a scenic tour that also ended up being a movie clip tour with a singing and ukelele playing tour guide!), in a good way. Of course, our guide earned some decent tips. On our recent cruise there were refunds for the Pearl Harbor tour when people did not get to actually make it over to the site for the second part (major part for many people) for some reason. They reported it immediately. I agree the reviews are helpful on the Carnival site, if only more people would use them.

 

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[JUGGER]

just back from 7 days on the conquest. Loved this ship and all the ports. Dh and i usually do our own thing in port, but on this cruise we booked an excursion in st. Thomas thru carnival. It was the st thomas ultimate island experience. The first half was good...we were taken by bus (no a/c and the speaker didn't work) up into the hills which afforded us some exceptional views of the island and then on to the beach at magen's bay for 2 hrs...this beach was breathtaking -the water was crystal clear, then we were picked up...and this is where it went terribly bad. We were taken to blackbeards "castle" and left there and told to go to a cafe, about a mile away and meet the carnival rep. After the initial hellos and a history lesson, we were left to wander and try to find our way back. Asking people where this cafe was...the locals had never heard of it. Finally find it after walking almost an hour..it's a boarded up building which is no longer open. It get's better,,,we find out from the cab drivers in the area, that we should actually be across the very busy street for our transport back to the ship, finally someone walks up 5 mins before they were supposed to meet us. We get on a ferry and the tour guide had the nerve to tell us there were drinks for sale during this 10 min ride. This was not a happy group. How do you just drop a group of people off in a foreign country and leave them. This was soooo not worth $60 a person. The next day in puerto rico, we got a great tour of the city for $20 pp..saw old and new san juan, the fort and the beach--on a bus with a/c and our guide never left us! Sorry carnival, no more of your excursions.

hi---regarding your recent trip to--st. Thomas----first of all-st thomas---is not--not--a foreign country-----it is the usa---and please dodnt judge all their trips by one---unfortunate experience-----just tell the tour desk----what happened----carnival is very fair---and i believe they would have adjusted the cost---irene and john---60 carnival cruises--and still cruising--

[meatloafsfan]

I did the tour in 2011 and loved it (well, except that they "say" its 99 steps and its more like 217). Blackbeard's Castle is set on a hillside and you need to walk down the steps to get back to town.

 

The one difference is we were told to meet at the water taxi (which runs on the hour on the half hour except at 3:30pm :confused:). We didn't want to wait until 4:30pm so we grabbed another open air taxi back to the ship for $4 a person.

 

Here's a link to my review of the tour:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=28697255&postcount=113

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=28697862&postcount=114

Edited May 6, 2014 by meatloafsfan

[SUSIEK]

I also don't think we're getting the full story. I did Blackbeard's Castle on my own, taking a taxi up there from the ship after getting back from diving. Once you go through the castle, it's an easy walk downhill to the main street where all the transportation (and a lot of shops) are. There are several historic buildings to look at as you walk downhill, and the way is clearly marked.

 

 

 

 

Same here. We did Blackbeard's Castle and had to walk back. It's not a far walk back to the main area.

 

Where is the OP??? I would like to hear what the Shore Ex desk said when they got back to the ship. Certainly they went and told them of their bad experience.

[zqvol]

I also don't think we're getting the full story. I did Blackbeard's Castle on my own, taking a taxi up there from the ship after getting back from diving. Once you go through the castle, it's an easy walk downhill to the main street where all the transportation (and a lot of shops) are. There are several historic buildings to look at as you walk downhill, and the way is clearly marked.

 

 

Agreed, it is not out in the middle of nowhere, it is a short walk down hill to the shopping. If I recall that excursion it is designed with a time at the end for shopping and you meet back at a certain place and time. Me thinks OP did not pay attention to the instructions.

[Rock712]

WE took this same tour approx. 4 years ago and they were very clear with the directions. After Blackbeards Castle we had to walk down the 99 steps , then one block over to the main street and a couple of blocks down to a park where we met out transportation back to the ship. They were very specific on directions , times ,etc. and everything went smoothly on that trip

[Nic6318]

THe one thing you don't have to worry about on a Carnival excurission that you do on a private one, is getting back to the ship. As a group of about 20 found out on our cruise to Panama in 2012, We did the Panama canel trip, bus ride to Panama City then ferry ride halfway back thru the canel, then bus it the rast of the way to the ship. We were on the last bus to leave for the return, got a police escort thru Colon. As the ship was pulling out to vans carring about 20 pulled up to the peir. Had done a simular excurision thru a private company. Although Carnival has to wait for their excurissions they don't wait on private ones. Nor does any cruise lines due to the high cost of leaving late.

 

the same thing happened to us in Panama....the delays were caused by the canal authorities.

 

in no way due to the tour operator... but we all got a partial refund because some people complained that there was no time left to go shopping ( as stated in the tour description ).

 

So they held up the ship for us and still gave us a refund.

I believe that if the OP had complained at the tour desk with some other customers to back up the story they would have received at least partial compensation.

 

People complain with no reasonable grounds...if you have a true grievance you should let them know that so that they can correct the situation

 

Have a good day

Ian

[lady_cruiser]

Just back from 7 days on the Conquest. Loved this ship and all the ports. DH and I usually do our own thing in port, but on this Cruise we booked an excursion in St. Thomas thru Carnival. It was the St Thomas Ultimate Island Experience. The first half was good...we were taken by bus (No A/C and the speaker didn't work) up into the hills which afforded us some exceptional views of the Island and then on to the beach at Magen's Bay for 2 hrs...this beach was breathtaking -the water was crystal clear, then we were picked up...and this is where it went terribly bad. We were taken to Blackbeards "castle" and left there and told to go to a cafe, about a mile away and meet the carnival rep. After the initial hellos and a history lesson, we were left to wander and try to find our way back. Asking people where this cafe was...the locals had never heard of it. Finally find it after walking almost an hour..it's a boarded up building which is no longer open. It get's better,,,we find out from the cab drivers in the area, that we should actually be across the very busy street for our transport back to the ship, finally someone walks up 5 mins before they were supposed to meet us. We get on a ferry and the tour guide had the nerve to tell us there were drinks for sale during this 10 min ride. This was not a happy group. How do you just drop a group of people off in a foreign country and leave them. this was soooo not worth $60 a person. The next day in Puerto Rico, we got a great tour of the city for $20 pp..saw Old and New San Juan, the Fort and the beach--on a bus with a/c and our guide never left us! Sorry Carnival, no more of your excursions.

 

WOW Bummer with a capital "B".

 

While we never did this we have friends who have. If your excursion is that bad and dangerous (having you walk an hour to a boarded up place then probably having to cross a very busy street) you should have spoken to Customer Service once back on the ship. You would have received a partial refund for the portion you didn't like and "if lucky" you might have seen them drop this tour from their list.

[facepirte]

Would you mind sharing who this excursion was with? I'm trying to find a decently priced Puerto Rico tour :)

 

I just walked to the end of the pier and found a tour there. There was a line of white vans that went through New San Juan, showed you some cool places, stopped at a small beach for pictures, then through Old Sn Juan and left us at one of the forts. I think I paid $5 a person plus a tip, gave him around $25 for me my wife and at the time 2 year old son.

[Itzmyn]

I was also on the Conquest last week, did the same tour. I think the title "Ultimate" Island tour is a bit misleading. The first stop we made at a photo op place was so crowded that our open air bus was sticking out into the street for about 5 minutes, blocking traffic both ways. Needless to say there was some serious horn honking going on by the stuck drivers. Next stop was a view of Magens Beach which was a great photo op. When it was time to leave, our driver was having "words" with the driver to the left of us, while backing out at the same time as the driver 2 buses over and the back ends of the buses bumped into each other. No serious damage, but neither driver seemed to care about the bump. We then drove down for the 2hr. beach break. Very, very crowded. Rented 2 chairs to sit on beach, then stood in line for 1/2 hour trying to order and receive our lunch. Beach was beautiful and we were able to sit in some shade. We then proceeded to Blackbeards, where we just walked on past the lady who was giving the initial welcome and headed for the steps down to the city center. There was an Agricultural Festival going on so it was horribly crowded in that area. Our pickup times were to be either 3:00pm or 5:00pm in front of a coffee shop on the main waterfront street. It was so hot and crowded that we decided to forego shopping and caught the 3:15 shuttle(they were running late due to some ambulance that was trying to get through traffic). I wouldn't call the tour "Ultimate" but it was a decent tour. Would I choose that one again, probably not. At least the next time I'm in St. Thomas, I'll have time to do some shopping since I've already seen the photo op places and the beach.

[misguidedangel]

I id a similar tour, but we didn't go to the beach. When we were dropped off at Blackbeard's Castle they told us people would be at certain points to show us the way and they were there. We went from the top all the way down hitting each of the locations and then got to street level and saw the ferry to the right....

 

You may not have heard everything they had to say for instructions, which happens. The excursion desk can only do so much, and a refund isn't always possible...

 

Sorry it wasn't to your liking, the only problem we had with that part of the tour was the heat and humidity. It was around 45C that day and we were melting....