When to book shore excursions?

[2910car]

We are going on a b2b on the Silhouette in October, a Med-Holy Land cruise and then a transatlantic.

 

I am wondering how far in advance we should book the shore excursions. We feel more comfortable taking the excursions from the ship, although I realize they can be more expensive.

 

However I would like to book some on the ship because we have a lot of OBC and since the drinks and gratuities are included, we have nothing else to use the OBC for.

 

In your experience can we wait to book at least some of the excursions until we are on the ship, and reasonably expect the ones we want will still be available?

[NLH Arizona]

I would book any "I'll die if I don't do this excursions" as soon as you can. You never know if they get booked up by the time you are on the ship and then book all the others once you are onboard.

[Phxazzcruisers]

I agree with NLH above. In our experience we have never missed out yet on a ship excursion by waiting until we were on the ship. We always book them the first day as soon as the excursion desk opens. It is how we use our OBCs

[paulajj]

I have missed out on excursions by waiting too long. I now also book the must do ones right away and leave the rest for the obc.

[wendychloecruiser]

You can always cash out your OBC for a 5% fee although I have seen a few changes in this policy recently.

[gershonk]

We are on the same cruise. Check the Roll Call for the cruise for info on joining tours already being arranged.

[Chitown12562]

I would book any "I'll die if I don't do this excursions" as soon as you can. You never know if they get booked up by the time you are on the ship and then book all the others once you are onboard.

 

This is good advise.

 

Last year we wanted to take a Panama Canal tour. We waited too long and the tour showed up online as being sold out. I read on this board that sometimes they hold a number of tours to sell on the ship once everyone arrives.

 

We arrived early, and when we got to the excursion desk we were the first and only ones there at the time. I remember being at excursion desks when there were long lines and I was worrying about if we would get our tour. We did in both circumstances.

 

So yes, get the must see excursions early and book the others on the ship if you want to use your OBC.

[OCruisers]

I would book any "I'll die if I don't do this excursions" as soon as you can. You never know if they get booked up by the time you are on the ship and then book all the others once you are onboard.

 

That's exactly what we do!

LuLu