If you’re booking a shore excursion through the cruise line, you’ll need to use the cruise line’s app or website. Keep in mind that cruise line shore excursions may not be available until after the final payment for your cruise. 90 to 120 days prior to sailing. If you’re looking to save money and still enjoy amazing experiences, you can book your shore excursions through us by using our vendor, Shore Excursions Group! Here’s what we offer: • Lower Prices: Our excursions often cost less than those offered by the cruise line. • Smaller Group Sizes: Enjoy a more personalized and intimate experience with smaller tour groups. • Exclusive Options: Access to unique excursions not available through the cruise line. • Return-to-Ship Guarantee: We ensure you return to the ship on time, giving you peace of mind during your excursion. • Refund Policy: If your ship misses the port and you’re unable to participate in your excursion, you will be refunded. Book your shore excursions from us HERE.(https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/?source=portal&id=1134744&data=travel@thecoolpanda.com)

If your ship misses a port of call, what happens to your shore excursion generally depends on how you booked the excursion and the circumstances of the missed port. Here's an overview: If You Booked Through the Cruise Line: 1. Automatic Refunds: Most cruise lines will automatically refund the cost of any shore excursion booked through them if the ship misses the port. 2. Credit or Onboard Account: Refunds are often issued as a credit to your onboard account or to your original payment method. 3. No Action Needed: You typically don't need to take any action to receive your refund. If You Booked a Shore Excursion From Us using our vendor, Shore Excursions Group: 1. Full Refund Guarantee: You will receive a full refund for your excursion if you cannot make the excursion due to a ship delay or a missed port call. 2. Operator Issues: You will also receive a full refund if weather or an equipment problem prevents the tour operator from delivering the tour. 3. Simple Process: Simply let Shore Excursions Group know within two weeks after the date of the tour, and they will issue a full refund. Refunds are automatically issued for the following reasons: 1) your ship misses or is late to port, 2) the tour is cancelled for any reason by the tour provider, or 3) You cancel your booking at least 14 days prior to the tour departure date. Refunds are applied to the form of payment used to book the excursion.

Please read the following reply to this question from Shore Excursions Group: No. Although the cruise lines would like you to believe that independent tours carry this risk, all of our tour operators are well aware of your ship's departure time, and our tours are designed to get you back to the ship with time to spare. One of our employees worked onboard cruise ships for 16 years, and not once did a passenger on one of his sailings miss the ship because an independent tour was late getting back to the ship. In the extremely unlikely event you were to miss the ship due to one of our tours, we guarantee that we will pay the full cost of your meals, hotel, and transportation to the next port of call, and we will handle all of your arrangements for you.

Please read the following response from Shore Excursions Group regarding this question: We have never had a customer miss their ship. Our team possesses over 80 years of combined cruise line experience and we are not aware of a single case in which a customer on an independent tour missed a ship. In the extremely unlikely event that you miss your ship due to the late arrival of one of our tours, we will arrange and pay for your accommodations, meals, and transportation to the next port of call, and we will pay you an additional $1,000 USD per customer for the inconvenience.

Extending a gratuity to your guide or driver is strictly optional but greatly appreciated by those guiding you through your tour. A commonly accepted guideline is $3.00 USD per person for a half-day tour and $5.00 USD per person for a full-day tour.

Cruise lines often hold back a significant number of shore excursion spots to be booked onboard at the Shore Excursions Desk. This is why you might notice that certain excursions are not available for online booking on their website. The excursions shown online typically represent only a small percentage of the total options available. If you're interested in a specific excursion that isn’t listed online, consider checking with the Shore Excursions Desk once you’re onboard, as additional availability or alternatives may be offered there. Booking early is always a good idea for high-demand excursions, as they can sell out quickly.