How absolute is the 2 week deadline for excursions on the Star?

[New2Here]

Oh wise CC members:

On the NCL website it states that excursions must be booked 2 weeks in advance. We are at that point but have no time to decide. (DH is away and I am working 12 hour days!) Is it possible to book shore excursions (assuming they are still available) inside of the 2 week window or do we have to wait until we sail?

We are most interested in flightseeing in Juneau and the Catamaran in Juneau (we love the idea of getting up close to the glaciers!)

Is it possible to do both? And can we book on the ship? Does the catamaran sell out?

Thanks for the help!

[Toyz711]

if still available, you can book them when you get aboard. they close out all on-line and phone orders ( gift order, excursions and pre-regristration, bar set-ups) 2 weeks before the cruise.

go over to the alaska port-of-call board to see what reviews have been for the ones just returning.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

http://www.traveljuneau.com/

http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/

http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/

http://www.skagway.com/

not to scare you but some have reported not being able to get a flightseeing tour. since the seating is limited to 4 or 6 people, they have been filling up. too bad you didn't have the time to check out the local, independent vendors.

the good news is the weather has been great, according to the reviews.

[shoreguy]

Oh wise CC members:

On the NCL website it states that excursions must be booked 2 weeks in advance. We are at that point but have no time to decide. (DH is away and I am working 12 hour days!) Is it possible to book shore excursions (assuming they are still available) inside of the 2 week window or do we have to wait until we sail?

We are most interested in flightseeing in Juneau and the Catamaran in Juneau (we love the idea of getting up close to the glaciers!)

Is it possible to do both? And can we book on the ship? Does the catamaran sell out?

Thanks for the help!

 

 

You seem to know what you want - why wait. My guess the Catamaran is already sold out - always is far in advance. You could be wait-listed onboard. You can cancel it it onboard if you change your minds.

 

Flight seeing I believe you can not cancel if you book early. I would expect that to sell out early as well. You should be able to due both. We did the Helicopter to the glacier and the Cat on the same day.

[New2Here]

Thank you BOTH so much! :D

[cruiserssandr]

I also would book the excursion. You can cancel it 24 hours before the day of the excursion if you change your mind. We decided at the last minute we wanted that we wanted a bar set up and were able to do it just 5 days before the cruise.

[cinnam0n]

I booked an excursion by phone less than 2 weeks before our cruise in March, and was told that the 2 week deadline was just for reservations booked on-line.

[New2Here]

I booked an excursion by phone less than 2 weeks before our cruise in March, and was told that the 2 week deadline was just for reservations booked on-line.

Did you book it through your TA or NCL directly?

I booked our cruise through a TA (a consolidator, I think).

When I called about an error on our paperwork, the TA said NCL will not talk to me, only her. :confused:

Do you think that was for the error only or everything?

[mbkteach]

If you get (or already have) your NCL booking number from a TA, you should be able to book through NCL directly. We have done this many times. This year, it is even a "group" tour and we were able to book the shore excurions oursleves on the NCL website.

[shoreguy]

Did you book it through your TA or NCL directly?

I booked our cruise through a TA (a consolidator, I think).

When I called about an error on our paperwork, the TA said NCL will not talk to me, only her. :confused:

Do you think that was for the error only or everything?

 

Not everything but anything to do with the booking. No problem calling direct for shore excursions, bon voyage packages, bar setup, etc.