I have read that if you want to do an optional excursion from the ship, you are charged 2 to 3 times more than if you a hotel guest. Hotels are starting to issue bracelets, to prove you aren`t on a cruise ship. What a rip off for cruise passengers!

Never heard this before? What hotels? what part of the world are you referring to?

Cruise excursions are expensive in most parts of the world and we've often done better hiring our own private guides, especially in Europe and Asia. I guess the good part of the cruise excursions are that they are very organized and you don't have to do anything yourself but just show up. Also, if a port is cancelled at the last minute for whatever reason you don't have to worry about notifying anyone or losing any $, nor do you ever have to worry about missing the ship if there's heavy traffic etc.

We often book our own excursions at a fraction of the price. But, as petlover mentions, we have no protection if a port is cancelled (as was the case when Hurricane Hillary hit Cabo San Lucas in August).

I haven't heard about hotels issuing bracelets. Where, and which hotels?

Woody

Although I always book my own excursions, a few dollars more is all I've ever seen as far as a price difference. I would love to see an actual example of "2 to 3 times more".

I would not think a cruise ship would offer excursions to hotel guests..does not make sense to me.
Please clarify.

katybird, I think what pat means is that the excursion vendor, say a sailboat operator, offers the same trip to someone staying in a hotel on-island for a lower price than those arriving via cruiseship.

Most hotels that issue bracelets are doing it so that their guests may take advantage of prepaid meals and amenities without being hassled or charged, not because they're trying to prove anything.

Also, there is a business reason for a tour operator to charge *a little* more for a cruise passenger. Think about it: they must free up the whole day, not knowing until the day of arrival how many participants they will have. Perhaps their excursion holds 30 guests, yet only 10 cruisers sign up for it. Most cruiselines insist that the vendor block out the public on "their" day, so that they can offer the excursion to the maximum number of passengers. This leaves the operator at risk - I don't blame them for charging a bit more. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the cruiseline takes a cut also.

Pat, I too am curious to hear more and find out cruises in which part of the world you're referring to.

it was off the dawn princess in puerto vallarta.

Joan - Thanks for the explanation.it makes sense now.
KAty