SHORE EXCURSIONSShore Tours/ Excursions are among Carnival’s largest sources of on-board revenue.
Not only is the revenue important to us, the excursions also play an extensive role in enhancing the guest’s visit in port.
HOW DO GUESTS FIND OUT ABOUT SHORE EXCURSIONS?Our guests can get information about the shore tours and reserve tickets prior to coming on board.
The Carnival website
www.carnival.com contains detailed information about each tour in each port of call.
Once onboard, there are various ways in which the guests can learn about the tours as well as make bookings. At the beginning of the cruise, the Cruise Director will host a Travel and Adventure talk. During this talk he will describe the tours offered in each port of call. On ships with longer cruises, an initial Welcome Aboard Talk may be held with an additional Shore Excursions Talk later in the week for the remaining ports of call.
The Cruise Director will make recommendations and answer questions to assist the guests in making a tour selection to meet their needs.
Some guests will not attend the Cruise Director’s talk or will have additional questions regarding making a tour selection. A price list, description booklet and description update sheet is placed in each stateroom before embarkation by the cabin steward in order to familiarize them with the selection available to help them in this regard. The Shore Excursions Desk and Pursers’ Desk are also able to help in this respect.
WHAT SHORE EXCURSIONS ARE AVAILABLE?As our guests have a variety of ages, lifestyles and interests, a range of tours is offered in each port of call.
To help our guests make their selection the tour information in the booklets and on-line has certain codes.
1,2,3 Refers to the level of fitness the guest will require to complete the tour
$ - Refers to the cost of the tour
Wheelchair sign - Indicates if the tour is wheelchair accessible or not. Guests should contact the shore excursion staff on board if they require assistance. Tour operators will generally not provide this type of assistance unless advised in advance, even if the tour is listed as accessible.
It is important to note that all tours are run by independent contractors, or ‘Tour Operators’ who are not employed by Carnival.
The Shore Excursion Department in Carnival’s Head Office, negotiate with local operators to ensure that the tours offered are likely to exceed our guest’s expectations and ensure the required safety and service standards are met. This is monitored by the Shore Excursions Manager on board.
Occasionally a guest will ask if they are able to do the same tour independently or will ask for the Purser’s recommendation of what to do by themselves. When acting independently or participating in activities we are unfamiliar with we cannot guarantee the quality or safety of this activity. All Carnival recommended tour operators have full liability insurance. Additionally, if the tour is Carnival recommended, the ship will not leave until all tours have returned to the ship.
HOW CAN A GUEST BOOK A TOUR? When researching excursions on the internet, guests are given the option to prepay their tours on-line with a credit card. Their tickets are delivered to their cabin on the day of embarkation. A benefit of booking on-line is that the guest will receive a discount for booking in advance.
On the first day of the cruise there is a lot of interest in Shore Excursions, especially after the completion of the Travel and Adventure Talk. Before Boat Drill, guests may complete the order form and place it in the drop box, normally located on the Shore Excursion Desk.
On those ships that have the Travel and Adventure Talk on the first day the forms may also be dropped here. The Shore Excursion Manager will periodically empty the boxes, print off the tickets and place them in envelopes to be delivered to the cabins later in the evening by the stewards.
After Boat Drill is complete the guest may book either at the Shore Excursion Desk or at the Purser’s desk and receive the tickets at the same time. This service will be available throughout the cruise at the Purser’s Desk or during scheduled hours at the Shore Excursion Desk.
On some ships, the guests will also have the option of booking via their stateroom television, through Interactive Television (IATV).
Orders are received by the Shore Excursion Manger who will periodically print the tickets and have them delivered to the cabins that day.
Note that all tours are sold on a first come/first served basis.
Order forms are processed manually in the order they are placed in the drop box, and on ships with IATV the guests who book from their cabin will get an immediate confirmation of their booking – effectively enabling them to “jump the line” in booking their tours.
In case a tour is sold out the shore excursion staff will notify the guests affected, giving them the option to book another tour
DO CHILDREN PAY THE SAME PRICE AS ADULTS?On some tours there are separate prices for children. The reduced price applies to children between the ages of 4-12 (inclusive).
It is necessary for a child over the age of 12 to purchase an adult ticket. Children under the age of 4 often do not need to purchase a ticket; however, there are exceptions. All such information is detailed in the price guide and description booklet.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICIESIf a guest wishes to cancel a tour, they may exchange to another tour at no penalty
Should they decide that they do not wish to exchange to another tour, they will be charged a 25% cancellation fee, providing they give more than 24 hours notice prior to the ship’s arrival in port. If there is less than 24 hours remaining prior to the ship arriving in that port of call no refund can be offered and they will forfeit the cost of the tour.
The only exception is if a guest is not able to participate due to health reasons. In this case the guest may be refunded without question, and medical assistance should be offered.
With all refunds it is essential that the tickets are collected from the guest in order to process the adjustment.
Some tours may be cancelled by a tour operator for reasons such as technical difficulties or inclement weather.
In such cases the Shore Excursions Manager will notify the Accounting department who will process an automatic refund.
Pursers should not refund the tickets and do not need to collect the tickets.
WHAT IF THE GUEST LOSES THEIR TOUR TICKET?If a guest loses their ticket then a duplicate ticket can be printed. Upon re-printing the ticket, it should be clearly marked with the words “duplicate”. All tour tickets have cash value and cannot be voided or cancelled. Consequently, if the original ticket is found, and used, the guest will be required to pay for the additional ticket. This is explained to the guest when they report their ticket lost. At the end of the day, the tour operator will return all the tour tickets to the ship, which will be counted by the Shore Excursion Manager. If there are duplicate and original tickets for a guest, they will be charged twice. If the original ticket was not turned in, the guest will not be required to pay for the second set of tickets.
ON BOARD SNORKEL RENTALWhen a guest purchases a shore excursion where the main theme is “snorkeling”, all of the equipment is provided by the tour operator.
However, if the guest wishes to go ashore and snorkel independently, then we are able to provide them with rental equipment.
All snorkeling equipment is the responsibility of the Assistant Shore Excursion Manager and the guest must stop by the Tour Desk in order to complete the necessary paperwork and be fitted.
The guest has the option to rent the equipment on a daily basis or for the length of the cruise.
They will receive a mesh bag containing fins, mask, inflatable vest and snorkel mouthpiece. On some itineraries aqua shoe rental is also available.
The guest is informed that the Carnival Logo snorkel is a souvenir that they may keep.
All other items must be returned to the desk prior to the end of the cruise.
The guest will sign to confirm they have returned the equipment which is then checked to ensure all items are returned and are in good condition.
SNORKEL AND UNDERWATER CAMERA SALES:Guests may also purchase the new Carnival Logo snorkels to take on snorkel excursions.
If they wish to buy an underwater camera, they may do so through the Shore Excursions Department or the Photo Department.
