Excursion Help

[Cruiserjules]

We are booked on the Britannia Med cruise for 9th October 21, and our balance is due in a few days.

Looking at our personaliser, as we suspected, we can only go ashore on an organised P&O trip 

So looked at the trips and here are a couple of quotes from the excursion descriptions:

 

During A tale of Two Cities in Cadiz - "There will be some free time to enjoy a refreshing drink or browse the local souvenir shops".

OR Panoramic drive of Jerez > Walking tour of Jerez > Free time in Jerez > Return to Cadiz for panoramic city drive > Walking tour of Cadiz > Local restaurant (refreshment stop) > free time in Cadiz > Return to the ship

OR Drive from Livorno to Lucca> Guided walk of Lucca> Free time> Drive back to Livorno

There's probably one for every port except Toulon where the excursions aren't available until 365 days before our cruise in 140 days.!

 

I know that we all really know nothing at the moment, but the site seems a bit contradictory.  So, does anyone know the difference between strolling around on your own in port, and strolling around on your own on a P&O excursion?

 

 

 

[terrierjohn]

7 minutes ago, Cruiserjules said:

We are booked on the Britannia Med cruise for 9th October 21, and our balance is due in a few days.

Looking at our personaliser, as we suspected, we can only go ashore on an organised P&O trip 

So looked at the trips and here are a couple of quotes from the excursion descriptions:

 

During A tale of Two Cities in Cadiz - "There will be some free time to enjoy a refreshing drink or browse the local souvenir shops".

OR Panoramic drive of Jerez > Walking tour of Jerez > Free time in Jerez > Return to Cadiz for panoramic city drive > Walking tour of Cadiz > Local restaurant (refreshment stop) > free time in Cadiz > Return to the ship

OR Drive from Livorno to Lucca> Guided walk of Lucca> Free time> Drive back to Livorno

There's probably one for every port except Toulon where the excursions aren't available until 365 days before our cruise in 140 days.!

 

I know that we all really know nothing at the moment, but the site seems a bit contradictory.  So, does anyone know the difference between strolling around on your own in port, and strolling around on your own on a P&O excursion?

 

 

 

I imagine the details refer to the original shore excursions, which might provide you with a reason to sue them for not giving you what you ordered, but probably not. 

By the way the balance is not required by P&O until early July, so tell your TA to think again.

[devonuk]

I think you’ll find that those excursion descriptions are pretty generic at this time. If they insist on ship only excursions I for one will be cancelling. I saw an Iona excursion listed in Funchal at £118 each (no concessions) for a 3 1/2 hour coach trip 😳 So in my case £476 for 2 adults and 2 grandkids.... sorry but that isn’t going to happen 🤬 

[yorkshirephil]

17 minutes ago, Cruiserjules said:

We are booked on the Britannia Med cruise for 9th October 21, and our balance is due in a few days.

Looking at our personaliser, as we suspected, we can only go ashore on an organised P&O trip 

So looked at the trips and here are a couple of quotes from the excursion descriptions:

 

During A tale of Two Cities in Cadiz - "There will be some free time to enjoy a refreshing drink or browse the local souvenir shops".

OR Panoramic drive of Jerez > Walking tour of Jerez > Free time in Jerez > Return to Cadiz for panoramic city drive > Walking tour of Cadiz > Local restaurant (refreshment stop) > free time in Cadiz > Return to the ship

OR Drive from Livorno to Lucca> Guided walk of Lucca> Free time> Drive back to Livorno

There's probably one for every port except Toulon where the excursions aren't available until 365 days before our cruise in 140 days.!

 

I know that we all really know nothing at the moment, but the site seems a bit contradictory.  So, does anyone know the difference between strolling around on your own in port, and strolling around on your own on a P&O excursion?

 

 

 

It could all change by October, depending on the situation at the time. I think the basic idea is to keep passengers within their bubbles and reduce the risk of someone taking the virus aboard. How effective that will be is debatable. There have been several threads relating to the legalities of effectively making you take a trip you may not want or not being allowed off the ship. 

[Cruiserjules]

Thank you all, knowing the balance isn't due till after 21st June is a help, I'll take that up with the TA tomorrow.

Devon, compared to the excursions on our cruise, that's an enormous amount of money, not that we take many, but the ones for our cruise seem a bit more reasonable.  I hope it all gets sorted for you.

 

 

[wowzz]

1 hour ago, devonuk said:

I think you’ll find that those excursion descriptions are pretty generic at this time. If they insist on ship only excursions I for one will be cancelling. I saw an Iona excursion listed in Funchal at £118 each (no concessions) for a 3 1/2 hour coach trip 😳 So in my case £476 for 2 adults and 2 grandkids.... sorry but that isn’t going to happen 🤬 

That's unbelievable,  and shows how much profit there is in excursions for cruise lines. You could hire a private car hire for the day for half that price.  

[devonuk]

As mentioned above....

 

[Britboys]

£118 each for a 3.5 hour coach trip is an utter rip-off. I really hope it is some sort of error...

[ann141]

I think there is probably an error in the cost of that excursion.I seem to remember when it was first announced that we would have to take the ships excursions, P and O stated that they would reconsider the price of their excursions and put additional ones on so that the costs wouldn't be excessive.(I don't think that applies to the Princess seacation cruise that I am going on in September because their prices are very high but Princess excursions are usually higher than P and O overall

[wowzz]

18 minutes ago, ann141 said:

I think there is probably an error in the cost of that excursion.I seem to remember when it was first announced that we would have to take the ships excursions, P and O stated that they would reconsider the price of their excursions and put additional ones on so that the costs wouldn't be excessive.(I don't think that applies to the Princess seacation cruise that I am going on in September because their prices are very high but Princess excursions are usually higher than P and O overall

You must be right - £118 for a coach trip has to be a mistake. Surely no one would book at that price? 

[Dermotsgirl]

36 minutes ago, wowzz said:

You must be right - £118 for a coach trip has to be a mistake. Surely no one would book at that price? 

I could understand it if it was for a special experience, but this looks like a bog standard coach tour. Crazy price. 

[Gettingwarmer]

I think as it says limited availability it might be something special. Need to see details of the trip. 

[devonuk]

1 hour ago, Gettingwarmer said:

I think as it says limited availability it might be something special. Need to see details of the trip. 

It would have to be very special at £118.... it’s just a Leisurely Madeira trip on a coach 🤷‍♂️

[devonuk]

4 minutes ago, devonuk said:

It would have to be very special at £118.... it’s just a Leisurely Madeira trip on a coach 🤷‍♂️

I’ve cracked it... the advert has changed albeit the price is the same and that excursion is an ‘accessible trip’... but still, £118 is a lot 🙄

[devonuk]

I’ve now looked through the excursions on offer for the full cruise and the prices have undoubtedly ‘shot up’ but to be fair I expected an increase. I just hope we can get off and do our own thing because I’d have to reconsider whether we join the cruise otherwise 🤔

[L751]

15 hours ago, Cruiserjules said:

Thank you all, knowing the balance isn't due till after 21st June is a help, I'll take that up with the TA tomorrow.

Devon, compared to the excursions on our cruise, that's an enormous amount of money, not that we take many, but the ones for our cruise seem a bit more reasonable.  I hope it all gets sorted for you.

 

 

We are on the same cruise out balance is due 11th July.

[Britboys]

32 minutes ago, devonuk said:

I’ve cracked it... the advert has changed albeit the price is the same and that excursion is an ‘accessible trip’... but still, £118 is a lot 🙄

So they are charging significantly more for an accessible trip suitable for those with mobility problems or a disability? If so they should be ashamed!

[Gettingwarmer]

40 minutes ago, Britboys said:

So they are charging significantly more for an accessible trip suitable for those with mobility problems or a disability? If so they should be ashamed!

As I’m sure others can confirm these are specialised vehicles for wheelchair users who cannot access ordinary coaches. 

[Cruiserjules]

L751, did you book with a travel agent or direct with P&O?

We booked with a well-known cruise agent....possibly for the last time.

 

[L751]

10 minutes ago, Cruiserjules said:

L751, did you book with a travel agent or direct with P&O?

We booked with a well-known cruise agent....possibly for the last time.

 

Direct with P&O

[jeanlyon]

I simply cannot see the difference between free time for shopping and wandering around and being allowed to go ashore on your own.  They can't track you if you have free time? 

[Tablelamp]

Can anybody help? I am trying to find a link to the protocols on board the ship 2021

[jeanlyon]

https://www.pocruises.com/cruise-with-confidence

[tring]

We are booked on a Princess cruise for October.  I rang Princess 2 or 3 weeks ago and was told the excursions for our cruise are yet to be finalised and could change before we cruise, though they expect that to be done before our balance payment is needed.  The person I spoke to did not seem convinced herself that excursions with free time and other non covid compliant excursions would take place, but assured me they would be fully refunded if they did not (I should hope so too).

 

It seems that whilst the Seacation cruises are to be excursion only, that decision is yet to be made for the following cruises.

 

So the excursions on sale are the standard ones and who knows what will/will not be available on our October cruise (if indeed the cruise goes ahead).  I assume that the same applies with P&O, though why on earth there are excursions there to be booked anyway is certainly somewhat "strange" to say the least.

[wowzz]

In all honesty, no one knows at this stage. The final decision will be made by the local authorities, (plus of course what Boris decides) so trying to second guess is pointless