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Booking Shore Excursions

Virgin Voyages offers the ability to pre-book shore excursion (known a Shore Things) reservations ahead of time. This is highly recommended for those on busy sailings.

Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik © Photo by Virgin Voyages

Booking Shore Excursions Window

To make your pre-booking with Virgin Voyages a breeze, it’s helpful to understand how to reserve Shore Things (Shore Excursions). Familiarizing yourself with the reservation process will simplify your journey and contribute to a more relaxed cruise experience on board.

The booking window depends on your cabin type:

  • Sailors: Regular reservations open 120 days before your voyage.
  • Rockstars: If you’re in a Rockstar Suite, you enjoy the privilege of booking 135 days in advance.

Reservation Timing

Reservations typically become available at or around midnight USA Eastern Standard Time. Some fortunate sailors have reported success even before this official release time. To pinpoint the exact reservation date for your specific voyage, consult the Virgin Voyages app.

How to Book

Head to the Virgin Voyages app and tap on the Discover tab, once there tap Shore Things and scroll between the ports on your itinerary. You can also book over the phone by contacting Sailor Services.

Linking with Friends

Before setting sail, it’s wise to connect with friends cruising with you. In the Virgin Voyages app, head to Messenger > Contacts. Share a QR code or a link with your friends. Scanning or opening this link adds all contacts associated with other bookings to your list.

Remember, if you book for your friends on your app, charges will be on your folio. It is best to advise them to book separately. When it’s time for your Shore Things excursion, ensure you all arrive at the same time to board the same coach or tour.

What is Available to Book?

Shore Things range from exclusive small group tours to large bus tours, depending on the destination. Check the activity level and overall duration for each cruise. Virgin Voyages provides a list in advance for each port of call on their website, though these are subject to change.

Explore Available Shore Things

A train on a track at Kuranda Scenic Railway, Cairns, Australia
Kuranda Scenic Railway, Cairns, Australia© Photo by Virgin Voyages

Excursions Sold Out?

If everything seems fully booked before your cruise, don’t panic.  More spots for popular excursions will likely open up on board, keep in mind that smaller excursions likely are not going to open such as helicopters tours. Seek assistance on the first day of your cruise at the Chart Room table or use the Virgin Voyages app for reservation options.

Using Sailor Loot & Future Voyage Credit

Virgin Voyages offers two types of future credit that can be used for excursions:

  • Sailor Loot: For on board spending only.
  • Future Voyage Credit: Typically from refunds, for pre-boarding spending.

Remember, you can’t use Sailor Loot before sailing to book excursions. If the excursion is still available on board, you can use your loot. For Future Voyage Credit, contact Sailor Services to book, and they will apply your credit accordingly.

Enhance your cruise experience with Virgin Voyages by effortlessly booking Shore Things. Make your journey even more enjoyable by mastering the simple process of selecting exciting activities during your voyage. Booking ahead of time will ensure you have smooth sailing and memorable moments at each port of call.

About the author

Co-Founder and Editor. An iOS developer and writer with a passion for theme parks and extensive cruise experience, blending technical know how with a love for Virgin Voyages nearing 15 sailings around the world.

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8 Comments

  1. Alison says:

    It would be great if the shore excursions for Sydney to Athens on Resilient Lady were posted. We sail on 27th.
    The on line chat with people organizing their own tour groups is very confusing!
    Virgin should be doing this!

    1. VV Insider says:

      Hopefully soon I’d imagine organizing is very difficult given the change !

  2. Tim says:

    If we have 600 in sailor loot that does not apply till we are on board will they let us rebook an excursion with the credit if it is the appropriate time out for no cancellation penalty. For example there is a pricier excursion we would like to apply the loot to – so if we were on board and spots were available we could rebook?

    1. VV Insider says:

      This should be fine but keep in mind that the excursion will be refunded to your on board account as a cash amount that will start getting used.

  3. Carla says:

    Hi! What is the main difference between group size on tours? Specifically looking at the Ephasus tour from Bodrum. $155 for larger group tour and $225 for smaller….they seem to go to the exact same places. Can you explain the differences other than size of the van/coach?

    1. VV Insider says:

      Hi Carla you’d have to reach out to sailor services for more information but we’d presume it is as you expect a van with up to 20 vs a coach with up to 60

  4. Carl says:

    If you don’t book an excursion with virgin voyages, can you still get on a tender? Do you have book one? Are they included with the cruise package? Thank you

    1. VV Insider says:

      For tenders they’ll open up booking slots pre sail in the Shore Things section, excursions will be on the first tenders and then after that open booking slots until around 12:30pm when it’ll be open for all to go on a tender as they wish. They are included with your fare 🙂

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