Booking own excursions

[Murt22]

We have booked 2 different excursions on our own for our upcoming Alaska trip. Do we notify someone so that we can get the tender in time - or is this not really an issue?

[Jim Avery]

47 minutes ago, Murt22 said:

We have booked 2 different excursions on our own for our upcoming Alaska trip. Do we notify someone so that we can get the tender in time - or is this not really an issue?

We have never had an issue with timing for private tours.  If an overnight we would notify the General Manager but that won't be an issue for you in Alaska I don't suspect.

[LindaS272]

In pre-Covid times, I heard it was occasionally an issue—with excursion leaders saying the Viking excursions got priority. But I only heard about this once or twice. We’ve never had a problem. My advice would be to be available extra early to make sure you make it for your pickup time. Or it wouldn’t hurt to check with the excursions desk beforehand if you’re at all worried.

[Lexus550]

6 hours ago, Murt22 said:

We have booked 2 different excursions on our own for our upcoming Alaska trip. Do we notify someone so that we can get the tender in time - or is this not really an issue?

A couple of cruises ago this was an issue for a couple we knew on the ship who had a private excursion.  They had to go in search of the GM so they could get off with the Viking excursion groups.  

[cmmaxwell03]

11 hours ago, Murt22 said:

We have booked 2 different excursions on our own for our upcoming Alaska trip. Do we notify someone so that we can get the tender in time - or is this not really an issue?

Apologies for going off topic....which AK sailing are you on?  We are on the September 7th cruise.  I found the the Seaplane and Taku Lodge excursion in Juneau offered at a better price directly through vendor (Wings Airways).  

[Murt22]

We are on the August 18th sailing, and our privately booked excursions are for a specific small boat whale watch in Juneau and a tour of Valdez in a small van that does go to the Salmon hatchery. We aren't big flyers, especially in small planes or helicopters! Most of the other excursions we booked were the Viking ones that involved wildlife. We love our whales and hope to see some bears.

[TayanaLorna]

We have done private excursions on several of our Viking cruises.  And yes the Viking Daily has often announced that Viking excursions have priority for the early tenders.  However, each time we have gone to Guest Services, informed them of our private plans and gotten on an early tender.  They told us to come to the Atrium at a specific time and find the Cruise Director.  Each time we did so, the CD already knew about us and had our names.  In each case, Viking loaded the Viking excursion people and then added us.  There has been as many as 20 private excursion people added.  What we found is that those people who are not on a Viking excursion or a private one but merely want to go ashore to wander on their own get last priority.  Even when we have been those people, we have been able to get ashore by 9 am.  So don't worry.  Let Guest Services know a couple days in advance and also let them know when you arrive in the Atrium so they can notify the Cruise Director.

[Murt22]

Thanks for the information. Our tours are at 10 one day and 11 the other, so it sounds like we will be good. 

[Mariastreby]

I have had this question in mind for a while now. It doesn't relate just to Alaskan cruises, but all itineraries.

lt's nice that most private tour companies give you a 24 hour cancellation window. BUT, we all know that ports or the tender boats can get cancelled due to weather or other problems. But you usually don't learn this until the morning of, obviously just a few hours before the tour. So how many of you have lost money because of this? With a paid Viking excursion, your money is refunded. Some private excursions are rather costly. Have any of you run into this, or have friends who have?

[CurlerRob]

5 hours ago, Mariastreby said:

I have had this question in mind for a while now. It doesn't relate just to Alaskan cruises, but all itineraries.

lt's nice that most private tour companies give you a 24 hour cancellation window. BUT, we all know that ports or the tender boats can get cancelled due to weather or other problems. But you usually don't learn this until the morning of, obviously just a few hours before the tour. So how many of you have lost money because of this? With a paid Viking excursion, your money is refunded. Some private excursions are rather costly. Have any of you run into this, or have friends who have?

 

To answer your question, we never have lost money this way. The vast majority of private tours that we've looked at over the years offered a full refund if the ship misses port - the 24 hour cancellation tended to be the time limit for a voluntary cancellation. While we've had several missed ports that we only knew about just before arrival, we've not had a financial hit for that reason.

 

However, we are very cautious about booking a tour that will not refund if the ship misses. Frankly, that's a big red flag for us when we evaluate a tour, especially in high latitudes where weather can be touchy. We've successfully rolled the dice on a couple of them, but prefer to look elsewhere. 🍺🥌

[Jim Avery]

Our experience is much like Rob.  I would add that we always pay the excursion companies with our credit card that automatically includes trip insurance for things charged to the card.

[Heidi13]

19 hours ago, Mariastreby said:

I have had this question in mind for a while now. It doesn't relate just to Alaskan cruises, but all itineraries.

lt's nice that most private tour companies give you a 24 hour cancellation window. BUT, we all know that ports or the tender boats can get cancelled due to weather or other problems. But you usually don't learn this until the morning of, obviously just a few hours before the tour. So how many of you have lost money because of this? With a paid Viking excursion, your money is refunded. Some private excursions are rather costly. Have any of you run into this, or have friends who have?

 

Been cruising for 40 years and often book private excursions. We have missed a number of ports and never lost a penny. Only book private tours that are payment at time of service, or have full refunds, if the ship is unable to deck/tender.

 

Based on those parameters, we don't purchase cancellation insurance, which would be an option.