Princess crew members on excursions

[raysig]

Does anyone here know whether or not the Princess crew members who accompany shore excursions have definite duties or are they along for the ride.

 

In several cases they have helped the tour guides count the pax on the bus, but more recently they don't appear to have any duties. In one reecent cas they could have helped defuse an sticky situtation in Amersterdam.

 

Comments are appreciated.

[Pam in CA]

Does anyone here know whether or not the Princess crew members who accompany shore excursions have definite duties or are they along for the ride.

 

In several cases they have helped the tour guides count the pax on the bus, but more recently they don't appear to have any duties. In one reecent cas they could have helped defuse an sticky situtation in Amersterdam.

I have often see crew members on Princess tours. They definitely have duties although they may not be obvious to you. On some tours, they are there to help and assist. On others, they are there to report back to the Shore Desk about the quality of the tour, what was seen, what wasn't, guide presentation, etc. On my HAL cruise last summer, I sat next to one of the ship's dancers on the tour. He was writing notes constantly about what was being said, how it was being said, etc. He chatted with passengers during photo stops, etc. to get their feedback.

[crusdiva]

Does anyone here know whether or not the Princess crew members who accompany shore excursions have definite duties or are they along for the ride.

 

In several cases they have helped the tour guides count the pax on the bus, but more recently they don't appear to have any duties. In one reecent cas they could have helped defuse an sticky situtation in Amersterdam.

 

Comments are appreciated.

Yes, Princess often has cruise staff on shore excursions. They are referred to as "escorts". You'll see them more in Europe and exotic itineraries. There are a couple of reasons they go along - one is to critique the local tour companies and second to "make sure that your tour is as advertised."

[Toto2Kansas]

From how it was explained to me from one of the photo staff that we shared several excursions with recently, they post available tours for the crew to join. If they choose a tour, they must write a report/review afterwards alerting Princess to the pluses and minus of the excursion. They give them so much time to turn in the report after the tour.

 

So, they are not always there to assist, but sometimes it is a way for Princess to do a 'tour check' by allowing staff members to join a tour and also listen to feedback from the passengers that were along with for that same tour.

[Pam in CA]

I meant to add that on my all-day tour to Cairo last November, I got very, very sick (a violent gastro-intestinal illness) while on the tour. Since the buses travel in caravan, they all arrived back at the pier at the same time, creating very long lines. The crew member sitting near me in the back of the bus assisted me while I was ill on the bus and escorted me off the bus and back onto the ship, bypassing the line. He was very professional and helpful. I very likely would have collapsed if I had to wait on that line.

[raysig]

From how it was explained to me from one of the photo staff that we shared several excursions with recently, they post available tours for the crew to join. If they choose a tour, they must write a report/review afterwards alerting Princess to the pluses and minus of the excursion. They give them so much time to turn in the report after the tour.

 

So, they are not always there to assist, but sometimes it is a way for Princess to do a 'tour check' by allowing staff members to join a tour and also listen to feedback from the passengers that were along with for that same tour.

 

Thanks for your insights.

 

As I stated in my OP the crew member on our recent Amsterdam tour could have been very helpful but didn't get involved in our situation. My wife was lost; the tour guide was prepared to go on with the tour without her (and me). If the crew member has shepherded the group to the bus the guide would have had time to help me locate her. Her location was in a building that I couldn't cover by my self.

 

In the end it worked out, but I was disappointed with the crew member AND most especially the tour guide.

[paul929207]

Princess employees on excursiosn have to fill out a form evaluating the tour and the guide. They also document any problems encountered

[Pam in CA]

As I stated in my OP the crew member on our recent Amsterdam tour could have been very helpful but didn't get involved in our situation. My wife was lost; the tour guide was prepared to go on with the tour without her (and me). If the crew member has shepherded the group to the bus the guide would have had time to help me locate her. Her location was in a building that I couldn't cover by my self.

I agree that the crew member could/should have been more helpful. I have often seen it. Sorry your wife got lost; perhaps you should consider a tour in the future where she can keep up better.

[mytime53]

I agree that the crew member could/should have been more helpful. I have often seen it. Sorry your wife got lost; perhaps you should consider a tour in the future where she can keep up better.

 

Ouch! I have been on several tours where a moment's inattention could (and has) resulted in someone getting lost. Since you don't know the circumstances....:(

[NeurosurgeryNP]

We have only encountered 1 tour where there were crew members - on a diving tour in Grand Turk. The dive instrctor was taking out another crew member to do the check out dives in order to become certified to be a diver. Haven't seen them on other tours, other than the video crew, who usually picks one tour a port to video. That is nice to know that they are watching out for the tours, not just from pax compliments/complaints, but also on a voluntary basis from the crew.

[2Oregonians]

I agree that the crew member could/should have been more helpful. I have often seen it. Sorry your wife got lost; perhaps you should consider a tour in the future where she can keep up better.

 

:eek: How rude! :eek:

[Toto2Kansas]

The tours that we have taken with crew members included did not mean the crew member was part of the tour or any type of a guide or anything else. Since Princess does not actually run most of the tours, but just contracts for these tours, the crew members are there just as any other passenger on the tour.

 

Although I am sure it would have been nice if a crew member would assist when problems arise, I am honestly not sure if they are even allowed to. They are there to take the tour, just as you or I, they are not part of the private tour company or have anything else to do with it. They are just there to enjoy themselves and to evaluate the tour for Princess afterwards.

 

Although I am sorry that someone was lost, I honestly doubt it was within the crew members power to be of a lot of assistance in this or step in to stop the tour while the passenger was found.

One thing about any tour, you need to be where they tell you to be and stay with the group when told to, or you risk being seperated or possibly left behind. :(

[LaurieCM]

last year we were on the Carnival Legend for 2 weeks and saw officers on several tours. The Captain and the 1st officer were on a rainforest air tram ride on St. Lucia. The operators scrambled a bit because the Captain had no ticket and did not expect to pay- someone back on the ship had neglected to give him his free pass- but after a quick call, all was settled and off we went. I talked to the officer the next day- he asked me what tours we had been on and what we reccomended- apparently they were fairly new to this route. Each tour gave out a certain amount of free tickets- the big shots go first and then as time goes on it trickles down to the minions. They may report if they like or dislike a tour, but talking to the officer, it just seemed like a perk.

[Pam in CA]

Ouch! I have been on several tours where a moment's inattention could (and has) resulted in someone getting lost. Since you don't know the circumstances....:(

No, I don't know the circumstances but I've been on enough tours where people didn't pay attention, didn't do what the guide specifically asked them to do, and they got lost. On one tour, that resulted in our having to sit on a hot bus in the desert for over an hour while the guide went back to look for a couple of lost people. Turns out they'd stopped to do some shopping when they were specifically told not to stop or go into the shops. They weren't in the least bothered by the fact that they'd delayed everyone else.

[yaletown605]

I think it all depends on the situation. Princess has some "escorts" on tour excursion and thee individuals are identified with name tags etc. However, officers are allowed to go on tour excursion. While I work there in the medical departments several years ago, I go on excursion on my days off. I am not in my uniform and I do not have my name tag. I am no different than a tourist. There are time when some passengers recognized me and expect me to give up my seat, or get them a cup of coffee, or push their wheelchair. If it is not too bad, I put up with it but the kind of request is frankly quite unreasonable at times. Having said all that, most people are just interested in knowing there is a officers with them on their tour and are very pleasant.

[MaryPoppinz]

I hardly ever take ship's excursions, but last one I took through the ship, the staff captain and his girlfriend (shop employee) were along -- they were definitely not on duty nor performing any kind of excursion evaluation. They were having fun on their day off.

[itsajoke]

If the crew member has shepherded the group to the bus the guide would have had time to help me locate her.

 

That may have been against the tour company rules and it is possible your tour guide could have lost their job by not staying with the group.

[NSWP]

A multitude of reasons why crew go on shore excursions : Write reviews, a contact person if things go wrong, safety & security, chance to see the ports for free. Also on the shuttle buses to and from ship I have never seen crew pay, whereas the pax have to pay their $10 each way ticket.

 

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem at all with the poorly paid crew getting a sighteeing trip and free shuttles, god knows they earn it. As for the well paid Captain and Officers getting the freebies, they should give their perks to the lesser paid crew who do the important menial work on board, i.e. stewards, cleaners, galley staff etc.

 

Cheers..Les:cool:

[Stevesan]

Yes, Princess often has cruise staff on shore excursions. They are referred to as "escorts". You'll see them more in Europe and exotic itineraries. There are a couple of reasons they go along - one is to critique the local tour companies and second to "make sure that your tour is as advertised."

 

As you say, that seems fairly common in Europe.

However, my number one experience was when three of the ship's show girls accompanied me (okay us) on a snorkel trip. They certainly brightened up that tour! :p

[bcnvcanada]

We recently did a princess tour to Machu Picchu. There were several Princess staff on the tour---We were told that they would be there--but not to help or assist--the tour company did have two guides per 20 pax. During the three day tour, we did become aquainted with one of the Princess crew members, and he stated that for this tour, he had to pay half price. He was a high ranking officer on the ship. He did step up and take charge in Cusco, collecting all passports (we had to have them to board the plane in Cusco, for our return flight) on the plane and returning them to the ship. He was not happy with the way the tour company was handling the passports. He also had them for the trip--keeping them in the hotel's safe. It was reasuring to have someone there to take charege if necessary.

[Coral]

I have spoken to a few crew who have done excursions. Some were on for the experience so that they could explain the excursion to others in the future who were interested in going. Others were on their day off and were tourists just like the rest of us.

[Putterdude]

Years ago when I crewed we were offered free or deeply discounted excursions, if this fit in with our duties in port, and I would expect this is still the case today...so some are just along as tourists. But there are still others who are there for a specific purpose such as quality control or familiarization.

[happyscot]

There were 3 on our trip to Rome a couple of weeks back. As the guide expounded upon the glories of Rome and the Romans, they never looked out the bus windows once and talked over her in loud, braying voices about their favourite flavour of "pizza" and how good something called "Bud" was to drink, and what a shame you couldn't get it in "Yurraa-aaap". I think this was supposed to be studied indifference for the tourists' benefit because they were so experienced and clever and stuff. Like, ya know, like, huh?

 

I won't say what country they came from, as that might offend, and idiots come from all countries, including my own. I stalked the ship for days looking for them so I could get them to do something without tipping them. But no luck!!!

 

Fortunately, the Collosseum seemed unaffected by the experience. It's seen off a few barbarian invaders in its time, after all...........

:D :D :D

 

Oh and they had to hold up bus numbers, wheel folks with no working legs around, that sort of thing. I think they get trips if they do well. At braying, presumably.

[Ethel5]

No, I don't know the circumstances but I've been on enough tours where people didn't pay attention, didn't do what the guide specifically asked them to do, and they got lost. On one tour, that resulted in our having to sit on a hot bus in the desert for over an hour while the guide went back to look for a couple of lost people. Turns out they'd stopped to do some shopping when they were specifically told not to stop or go into the shops. They weren't in the least bothered by the fact that they'd delayed everyone else.

 

Pam. I have to agree with you on this one. There are people who NEVER think the rules apply to them. We have seen this happen time and again where the tour/ship was held up because some folks decide they are better than anyone else and so what if everyone is inconvenienced.

[yaletown605]

Waiting for an hour for the stragglers is just not right. At the beginning of most tour, the guide gives out specific instruction. I really like it when they lay out the rules. "Will wait until so-and-so time, and the bus will leave with or without you." If they stragglers got lost and the bus is gone, it is their problem and they will have to find their way back to the ship. That is one reason I hardly take a ship excursion. I don't want to waste my precious port time waiting for someone.