Possibly Odd Excursion Question

[M&M cruiseaholics]

Cruising Celebrity in September 2016 to Alaska. DW and I would like to take a float plane or helicopter excursion which we all know is very expensive whether done through the cruise line or independently. We have $665 in On Board Credit which would closely cover the cost of the excursion. However, if we were to reserve the excursion now with the cruise line or independently, we would have to pay now. This would leave us with a large OBC on the ship where we already have the Drink Package and Gratuities paid for. I know we can use some of the credit at the Spa or pictures, but fear we would not use the entire OBC.

 

Question - should we order an excursion now and pay for it or take our chances and wait until we get on the ship to order this type of excursion? What are the chances that this type of excursion would no longer be available?

 

Pros and Cons of float plane or helicopter Ship excursion versus independent excursion would also be helpful.

[shadowmeboy]

Cruising Celebrity in September 2016 to Alaska. DW and I would like to take a float plane or helicopter excursion which we all know is very expensive whether done through the cruise line or independently. We have $665 in On Board Credit which would closely cover the cost of the excursion. However, if we were to reserve the excursion now with the cruise line or independently, we would have to pay now. This would leave us with a large OBC on the ship where we already have the Drink Package and Gratuities paid for. I know we can use some of the credit at the Spa or pictures, but fear we would not use the entire OBC.

 

Question - should we order an excursion now and pay for it or take our chances and wait until we get on the ship to order this type of excursion? What are the chances that this type of excursion would no longer be available?

 

Pros and Cons of float plane or helicopter Ship excursion versus independent excursion would also be helpful.

 

You may need to call someone at celebrity and ask them or ask on the celebrity boards.

[zqvol]

Those things tend to fill up. If that is what you really want to do I would book it now, too risky to wait.

 

As far as using up $600 OBC, if both of you go to the spa a couple of times that credit will be long gone. That is a perfect way to spend your sea days.

[TheCalicoCat]

Question - should we order an excursion now and pay for it or take our chances and wait until we get on the ship to order this type of excursion? What are the chances that this type of excursion would no longer be available?

 

Pros and Cons of float plane or helicopter Ship excursion versus independent excursion would also be helpful.

 

Anything you really want to do book as soon as it is available (through the ship or independently.)

 

Flights are limited & will probably sell out before the ship sets sail. (I've booked independent flights already & my ship doesn't sail until 2017.)

[biker1972]

Is the OBC being provided by Celebrity or by a TA? Any OBC from Celebrity is non refundable but the OBC coming from a TA could very well be refundable. This would mean that if you did not use all of your OBC you would get a refund to your credit card and thus help pay for the pre-booked excursion. And since Celebrity will draw from the non refundable OBC first, if it is mixed from Celebrity and the TA, you would burn through the non refundable first.

[HAVANA]

Is the OBC being provided by Celebrity or by a TA? Any OBC from Celebrity is non refundable but the OBC coming from a TA could very well be refundable. This would mean that if you did not use all of your OBC you would get a refund to your credit card and thus help pay for the pre-booked excursion. And since Celebrity will draw from the non refundable OBC first, if it is mixed from Celebrity and the TA, you would burn through the non refundable first.

 

I have cashed in my OBC a # of times by going to the Casino and taking chips out and charging them to my account. Then cashing the chips later on and taking the cash. The 1st time I did this was not to cash in the OBC but found that I was not stopped from doing this so the next cruise I did it intentionally and cashed in my OBC. You will loose a small %% of your OBC to the service charge for getting an advance at the casino.

[M&M cruiseaholics]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I just read my post after not being on the boards recently.

 

To respond, $400 Celebrity, $265 TA.