Booked with Shoreexcursioneer for Shark Ray Alley by boat

[almitra]

I just booked this tour and received our email tix.We're aboard Carnival Freedom in March.......Shoreexcursioneer says to meet 15 mins prior to 9 am tour (our ship arrives at 8 am). That doesnt sound possible since the first tenders are for pax on Carnival tours only. Do we even have a chance of getting on an early tender to make this deadline? Has anyone booked w/Shoreexcursioneer and were able to tender in to meet at the time they want you there? TIA!

[almitra]

Anyone have tendering experience when booking a private excursion (not with Carnival)?

[_beachgirl_]

Hi Almitra,

 

We just ran into this same issue on our cruise a few weeks ago so hopefully I can offer you a little help. We booked privately and went to Caye Caulker (and shark ray alley) as well. You have a couple options. First if you haven't looked into FTTF I totally recommend it. You get priority tendering which is what we used and we were on the first tender boat out. It was awesome. There are other perks for this as well and you only purchase it once and the entire cabin is entitled to the benefits. This sells out quickly so if it is available still for your cruise I would definitely snap it up.

 

Your other option is not as great (unless of course you are an early bird) but they hand out stickers with numbers on them that morning. If you are up very early in the morning and are among the first to get your stickers you will be on a very early tender which will work just fine.

 

No matter what you choose, I hope you have a fantastic trip!

 

If you have any questions I'm happy to answer them for you.

[_beachgirl_]

I just noticed that you have a ton of cruises under your belt. If you are diamond or platinum I believe you also have access to priority tendering so it might not be an issue for you at all.

 

We met in the dining room in the morning (FTTF and Diamond/Platinum) and were all escorted to the tenders together. It might not be in the same place on your cruise but that might be an option for you as well.

Edited February 13, 2016 by _beachgirl_

[almitra]

Hi :) Thanks so much for the advice and the insight. I am too late to get FTTF as it is sold completely out for my cruise. I am, however, monitoring ir so if there are any cancelations I can grab one. As for being a longtime cruiser with many voyages under my belt---Carnival does not count any of mine prior to 2002, so I am only a gold member. :( If nothing else, I will MOST DEFINITELY be freakishly early to be among the first, if NOT first, in line to get tix so I've done everything in my power not to be late for Shark Ray Alley.

[Calgarynorth]

A couple of questions about our upcoming cruise western Caribbean in March. What are drinks worth. Is it better to book excursions through Carnival or on your own are there some excursions to avoid.

[_beachgirl_]

Hi :) Thanks so much for the advice and the insight. I am too late to get FTTF as it is sold completely out for my cruise. I am, however, monitoring ir so if there are any cancelations I can grab one. As for being a longtime cruiser with many voyages under my belt---Carnival does not count any of mine prior to 2002, so I am only a gold member. :( If nothing else, I will MOST DEFINITELY be freakishly early to be among the first, if NOT first, in line to get tix so I've done everything in my power not to be late for Shark Ray Alley.

 

Darn it about the FTTF. Hopefully you'll get lucky and one will pop up in the next few weeks. I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time in Shark Ray Alley regardless and the early morning will be worth it. It was a ton of fun. :)

[disneyfan551]

We are looking at the same type of excursion. Were you happy with the company you used?

[almitra]

A couple of questions about our upcoming cruise western Caribbean in March. What are drinks worth. Is it better to book excursions through Carnival or on your own are there some excursions to avoid.

I seldom book thru cruiseline on ANY cruise. The only exceptions are if there is no equivalent for what I want to do in the private sector. I only use companies that I find here on cruisecritic, however. :)

[_beachgirl_]

We are looking at the same type of excursion. Were you happy with the company you used?

 

We used Caveman Snorkelling tours which I booked privately and it was AMAZING!! It is rated and the #1 water activity in Belize on Trip Advisor and I can definitely see why. We got so much personal attention (we had a group of 4) and the trip included water and fresh fruit.

 

Ronnie, our tour guide stopped to make sure each person in our group saw every fish he pointed out. He named them and gave us some information about them. It was very educational and a ton of fun.

[disneyfan551]

Thanks beachgirl!

[12reca]

We used Shore Excursioneer twice now....will use them again...

[tlacabe]

Are you traveling before or after DST? Private shore excursions are based on Island Time. Belize is on Central Standard Time; but does not observed DST, which if traveling from Texas gives you an extra hour. If traveling from Florida give you two extra hours?