Time to be back on board

[FlaGirl13]

We have booked a private excursion and need to know how soon to be back on board before departure.  Excursion is over at 4:15 and ship leaves at 6:00.  

[Jim Avery]

1 minute ago, FlaGirl13 said:

We have booked a private excursion and need to know how soon to be back on board before departure.  Excursion is over at 4:15 and ship leaves at 6:00.  

Usually 5:30 for a 6:00 departure.  Can vary though.  Back onboard time will be posted at the gangway.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I don't know Viking's policy, but if it were me, I'd be back for 5, just to be safe.  Traffic, you know, all the delays that could happen...

[Vineyard View]

On a private tour, my goal is being back at least 90 minutes before sail time. I am okay with 2 hours as well. It’s not worth stressing over traffic or unexpected delays. Part also depends for me on the port and how far in distance I am traveling from the ship. Your estimated 4:15 return time would likely be in my comfort zone, but it is different for everyone. 

[Parsley Cruises]

I don't fancy the idea of a private tour at all - you never know how reliable the transport is, you don't know how well the driver knows the area and how he/she would cope with traffic delays or re-routing.  I am not in the habit of paying out money for an excursion only to be put as risk of 'missing the boat' and worrying about it - qed we only do tours organised by the cruise line.

 

That way we feel we can relax and enjoy ourselves safe in the knowledge that we can get back to the ship (or the ship will wait for us); we are then certain that the cruise line is responsible for us, it knows that, and it's provable.

 

Another point is that it's all a matter of being considerate to others - passengers and crew alike.  It could well be that the port you're in is tidal - or has some form of movement restrictions - and it's the right and proper thing to be back on board in good time.

 

There's nothing worse than booking a special dinner and hoping to enjoy it after sail-away, only to be luxuriating in a window table with a view of the quayside.

[Vineyard View]

I would estimate that when we do excursions, rather than just DIY in ports, 7-8 out of 10 are private. We enjoy not being on a bus and being in control of where we go - everyone has their comfort zones around this and if it doesn’t feel right, then by all means one shouldn’t take that path. There is certainly an argument to be made for both sides. 

[Cienfuegos]

The port and the location also make a difference.

 

On a 2017 visit to Curacao, we watched many people rushing onto the dock as our ship pulled away.  It wasn't a small number, perhaps 20-25 people in several small groups, couples, etc

 

 

[Vineyard View]

Ports and time there absolutely make a difference!  Totally agree with that. 

We have a port on our upcoming trip where I am not sure I will be comfortable with a non-ship excursion. I KNOW I wouldn’t want to be left behind there!

[Heidi13]

When younger, we never gave any consideration to missing the ship and always organised private tours, unless we were required as escorts for the ship's tours. One time in Auckland, we hired a small plane and a number of us flew down to Rotorua (145 miles) for the day. Still made it back before departure.

 

Older & wiser, I now consider the risks and provided they are reasonable, we have no problem taking a private tour that is most likely cheaper and smaller numbers than a ship's tour. Some port like Bali or Semarang on Java have crazy traffic, so will only consider a ship's tour in those ports. If it is considerable distance from the port, we will give more consideration to ship's tours, unless it is an easy drive to the next port.

 

Personally, I have difficulty understanding the hype of booking ship's excursions. Although our next cruise isn't until Jan - May next year, I already have a number of private tours booked and if we can't get a ship's tour we want, I will find a private equivalent.