Hi so my friends and I got a great deal on a last minute cruise but I'm checking things out and it seams like a lot of the excurisions are full already... Most of us will be happy with just sitting on a beach but is there a way for us to get from the boat to Rosarito to have a beach to hang on??

Also our first stop is Catalina, same thing how do we get to a beach there??

TIA

dreday09:

Hi so my friends and I got a great deal on a last minute cruise but I'm checking things out and it seams like a lot of the excurisions are full already... Most of us will be happy with just sitting on a beach but is there a way for us to get from the boat to Rosarito to have a beach to hang on??

Is it 5 days or less until the cruise? If it is you won't be able to book an excursion online. It's not likely that you won't be able to get on the party trip to Ensenada; they want your gringo dollars! Go to the shore excursions desk when you get on the ship and you'll probably be able to book it then.

Worst case, take a shuttle or taxi to La Bufadora.

Also our first stop is Catalina, same thing how do we get to a beach there??

Take the tender from the ship to the pier. Walk to the end of the pier with the rest of your cruise mates. Turn either right or left, and you'll be on a beach.

~ MattInSoCal 

We don't leave until Sept 7th... (anyone else on this trip??)

 I will try and call and see if there is a waitlist or something...

Thanks so much for the info socal! At least we know we will get one good beach day in Catalina ;~)

dreday09:

We don't leave until Sept 7th...

I interpreted "booked last minute" as "we're going in a few days..." It's not at all likely that the excursions are sold out two months in advance. Instead, it's more likely that they are not yet ready to be sold. Try again in a week or so; you may have to wait until about three weeks before your cruise for the sales to be open.

~ MattInSoCal 

 You can always call the excursions dept of carnival and speak to someone there to have your questions answered.  They might be able to tell you when the excursions will be posted.

LOL yeah I'm a huge planner so anything sooner than 6 Mo. out seams last minute to me ;~)

 I for sure see how that is a loose translation of the phrase though!

 Thanks so much everyone for your help!

I am looking to book a cruise, but was wondering about the last minute bookings.  Do you really get "last minute" deals or is it a hit or miss.  Did you make the reservation through Carnival or another website?

agutz:

I am looking to book a cruise, but was wondering about the last minute bookings.  Do you really get "last minute" deals or is it a hit or miss.

You really can get fantastic deals on last minute bookings (note: "last minute" means fewer than 5 days typically, but may be up to 14 or so) that Carnival is trying to sell to get the ship filled. 

Did you make the reservation through Carnival or another website?

Carnival used to post these special deals, called "Pack and Go" on their website but they seem to have disappeared. Now you need to search n the Special Offers section. Some other cruise resellers may have deals as well, so it does pay to shop around. Generally unless the party selling the cruise is a wholesaler (buying huge blocks of rooms at one time) they will not be lower than Carnival's rates, although some agencies will offer incentives such as coupon books or credits posted to your cruise account if you book with them.

~ MattInSoCal