cruise excursion weight limit

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Shore Excursion FAQs

Who can book?

• Guests must order directly through Carnival.com.
• We will not accept Pre-Sail orders by telephone, fax, email or mail.
• Fully deposited cruise booking
• Cabin level booking number
• Internet access/email account
• Registered with Carnival.com
• For a list of acceptable forms of payment, click  here .

When can I book shore excursions? Shore excursions may be booked online prior to sailing up until the Pre-Sail cut-off time, 11:59pm ET, the evening prior to the cruise departure. After the online Pre-Sail, the remaining inventory will be available on the departure day on board the ship. Due to availability, it is strongly suggested that guests take advantage of ordering their shore excursions in advance, online, in order to avoid disappointment once on board. To browse our shore excursions, click here .

How do I book?

• Pre-Sail shore excursion orders must be booked online at www.carnival.com/shore-excursions ; the guest's cruise booking must be fully deposited. 
• The guest must be registered with the site.
• Only shore excursions relevant to the specific itinerary booked will be shown.
• Desired selections can be booked and placed in ‘My Shopping Cart’ for review.
• Full payment is due upon completion of the order process at ‘Check Out’. For a list of acceptable forms of payment, click  here . 
• Note: If shore excursions are booked online, they must be paid for immediately; if the shore excursions are purchased onboard the ship, then they are billed to the guest’s Sail & Sign® account.
• A confirmation page with order number will be available online in a print friendly format.

What happens after I place my order? Guests will be able to view and print:

• A shore excursion confirmation with an order number.
• A full itinerary/schedule of all shore excursions booked for all guests on the booking.
• Orders can be cancelled online, without cancellation charges, up until the Pre-Sail cut-off time, 11:59pm ET, two days prior to the cruise departure.  
• Shore excursion charges and corresponding payment will be posted to the designated responsible guest's Sail & Sign folio account.
• Shore excursion tickets are delivered to the guest's stateroom prior to embarkation.

How can I cancel a shore excursion online? In order to cancel a shore excursion order, please follow these steps:

• Login or access your booking by going to https://www.carnival.com/booked/home
• Once in My CRUISE MANAGER , select VIEW DETAILS to view specific information about your cruise vacation.
• Click on the MY ACTIVITIES tab which will display the excursion purchased.
• Then click on the VIEW ORDER link on the right hand side.
• User will be directed to the MODIFY ORDER page.
• Select the guest(s) that wish to be removed by checking their respective boxes on the right hand side.
• Complete the contact information located below.
• Click on CONFIRM CHANGES to remove guest or to cancel excursion.

Can I purchase a shore excursion for the day I debark the ship? Yes, in many ports of call, shore excursions have been designed for guests with late flights. You will see these listed under your debarkation port name. Please verify your flight time prior to booking this type of shore tour.   Do I have to book a shore excursion through Carnival or can I go off on my own? You are not obligated to book shore excursions through Carnival in order to leave the ship. Public transportation is available at each port. We suggest you visit your local library, bookstore or a pertinent website to determine where you would like to go. Carnival does not offer any alternatives from the established shore excursion program. All shore excursions sold through Carnival are coordinated with reputable tour operators and include all of the most popular sites of interest. One of the many benefits of booking excursions through Carnival is a guarantee that the ship will remain in port until all guests are back onboard. Carnival will not be aware of shore excursions that are booked independently. Also, keep in mind that some ports have visa requirements that may prevent you from venturing off on your own. How do I make changes to shore excursion orders after the Pre-Sail cut-off time? Unfortunately, we no longer have access to any shore excursion orders after the cut-off time (11:59pm ET, two days prior to the cruise departure). Keep in mind that you will have up until this time, unless otherwise noted in the excursion description, to cancel all or part of existing shore excursion orders or change the designated contact person. In order to make any change to your shore excursion orders after the cut-off time, you will need to see the Shore Excursion Manager once you are onboard the ship. In the event of a cruise booking cancellation within the cut-off window, a full refund will automatically be posted to the form of payment used to pay for the order. 

What if the shore excursion I am interested in is sold out? Check back often. Unfortunately, it does happen that some of the more popular shore excursions will sell out. However, cancellations may occur from time to time. We recommend that you book all shore excursions as early as possible after booking your cruise and meeting all deposit requirements for each of the guests you are booking shore excursions for. If an excursion is not available, you may want to search for alternate excursions within the same activity type or see the Shore Excursion Manager onboard to check for last minute cancellations. The option to waitlist an excursion is not available at this time. When will I receive my pre-paid shore excursion tickets? Pre-paid shore excursion tickets will be delivered to your stateroom after sailing on the first evening of your cruise. Which shore excursions are recommended for physically challenged guests? It depends on the type and degree of the disability. In general, if guests are able to walk on their own, we recommend those excursions that are designated as easy or moderate activity. See specific excursion activity levels.

If guests are non-ambulatory, we generally recommend independent transportation for their comfort and convenience. Our shore excursion staff can provide them with excursion suggestions. We also recommend that non-ambulatory guests be accompanied by someone who is able to assist them throughout the duration of the excursion. Some ports of call require tenders to go ashore and that may preclude non-ambulatory guests from leaving the vessel. Will I miss meals if I go on shore excursions? When the ship is in port, the meal times are sometimes adjusted to accommodate the departure and return times of shore excursions booked through Carnival. On most ships, alternative dining is available so guests participating in shore excursions can dine at their convenience. When booking a morning excursion and an afternoon excursion together, you should allow a minimum of one hour, rather than the suggested 30 minutes, in between excursions to enjoy a quick buffet lunch onboard. If the port requires tendering, you will need additional time for the transfer to and from shore side. Does Carnival own the tour companies in the ports and is it responsible for what happens on the shore excursions? No. All of the shore excursions, including any related transportation, are operated by local independent companies and they are solely responsible for their products, excursions and any related transportation. We try to choose the most reputable companies available to provide your excursions. Carnival is not responsible for any losses, damage, death, injuries or claims whatsoever arising from, connected with, or related to any activities engaged in by guests while off of Carnival’s ships or tenders in any port of call.  This includes all shore excursions, whether sold onboard or by third parties ashore. You will engage in all such activities off of the ship at your own risk. Carnival neither supervises nor controls tour operators actions, nor makes any representation either expressed or implied as to their suitability. Carnival sells tickets for all excursions as a convenience to guests only. Tour operators, transportation providers, and their employees are neither agents nor employees of Carnival, not withstanding their use of any signage or clothing which may contain the name “Carnival” or other related trade names or logos. Are there any children's prices for shore excursions? Yes. Children between the ages of 4 to 12 years and teens between the ages of 13 to 18 years will be charged full adult price, or special child/teen prices when applicable and noted. Infants ages 3 and younger sitting on a parent’s lap and therefore not occupying a seat, are not charged for most shore excursions. These excursions are indicated with the 'Infants Free' advisory. There are also some shore excursions that require that each guest purchase a ticket, regardless of age. This will be noted in the specific shore excursion’s description. If a parent would like their infant to occupy a seat, where it is not required, then the parent must purchase an excursion ticket for the infant at the published excursion price or child price, where available. Parents are also responsible for bringing a safety seat for their child if required.

Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult (18 years or older) to participate in shore excursions. Some excursions require a minimum age to participate and will be noted accordingly. Are there any special requirements to participate in a Beginner's Scuba Diving or Snuba excursion? Yes. There are certain medical conditions that may prevent your participation in a Beginner’s Scuba Diving or a Snuba excursion. You must complete the medical history form and the liability waiver/release form that will be provided either onboard, or by the tour operator at the beginning of the excursion. There are several medical conditions that may prevent you from safely participating in a Beginner’s Scuba Diving excursion. Having any of the following conditions would require that you are examined by a qualified physician and obtain written permission from that physician to participate in the excursion:  Heart disease or previous heart attack, diabetes, epilepsy or seizures, high blood pressure or taking medicine to control blood pressure, presently taking prescription medicines (with the exception of birth control), pregnancy, asthma or any form of lung disease, recent surgery, blackouts, sinus problems, fear of closed spaces, recurring migraine headaches, recurrent ear problems, and severe motion sickness. Keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list. For more information you should consult your physician. What is the Tour Operator's Diving Policy? Due to the nature and level of physical exertion involved in diving excursions, certain excursions may not be appropriate for individuals with certain medical conditions such as asthma, heart conditions, high blood pressure or serious diabetes. This applies to scuba diving, Snuba, power snorkel, underwater scooter, and sea trek excursions.  Tour Operators require that all guests be able to participate safely in the excursions. You will be required to sign a Medical Waiver/Liability Release form on board prior to your shore excursion.  If you have any medical conditions that may affect your ability to participate safely in the diving excursion, please contact the Shore Excursion Department at  [email protected] prior to booking your excursion. What is the cancellation and refund policy for shore excursions in the event of bad weather or unexpected circumstances? Certain excursions have minimum guest participation requirements and shore excursions may be cancelled or modified depending on the number of guests participating. In the event of cancellation or modification of a tour, best efforts will be made to provide advance notice. Shore excursions may be cancelled by Carnival or the Tour Operator due to inclement weather conditions, or any other reason whatsoever. Full refunds will be made to guests who purchased excursions which get cancelled. If the shore excursions are cancelled prior to the sailing, you will receive a refund directly to the form of payment used to pay for the shore excursion order. If the shore excursions are cancelled while onboard, the amount of the refund will be credited to your shipboard account. What if I do not have a cruise booking number? You can always browse shore excursions online at www.carnival.com/shore-excursions . This will help you decide which of our exciting destinations you would like to visit.  However, to make a shore excursion booking, you must first book a cruise and meet all deposit requirements for each of the guests for which you are booking shore excursions. At this point, you should receive your cruise booking number. If you have done so and still do not have a cruise booking number, please contact your Travel Agent or whoever assisted you with your cruise booking. Will my shore excursion orders change automatically, if I change my cruise booking to a different ship and/or sailing date? If you have existing shore excursion orders and you change either ship or sail date, all shore excursion orders for your cancelled cruise booking will automatically cancel and any payments will be refunded to the form of payment used to pay for the shore excursion order. You will need to re-book shore excursions for your new ship and/or sail date by repeating the order process using your new cruise booking number. Keep in mind that new shore excursion bookings cannot be made online after the cut-off date for the new sailing. If you are within the cut-off window for the new sailing, you must purchase shore excursions once onboard. You will find a detailed listing of all available excursions for your cruise, along with a shore excursion order form and instructions on how to book excursions onboard. Some of our ships offer an interactive television system, which allows you to book your excursions from the convenience of your stateroom. Should I tip the tour guide? Tipping is a discretionary matter. However, it is customary around the world, if you are pleased with the excursion, to tip the tour guide. A general rule of thumb is one dollar per person for a half-day excursion and two dollars per person for a full-day excursion. What type of clothing should I wear on an excursion in a port? It depends on the climate of the port. Given the warm climate and the more rustic conditions in the Caribbean and Central America, we strongly suggest that you wear light, casual clothing and comfortable, low-heeled walking shoes or sneakers. For any brief tropical showers you may encounter, you might want to bring a fold-up umbrella and a light jacket. We have placed a symbol next to the water-related excursion descriptions, for which we suggest you wear your bathing suit, cover-up and hat.  Also, remember to bring sunscreen, a towel and a camera and to leave your valuables onboard, in your staterooms. For all golf excursions, collared shirts and either long pants or Bermuda-style shorts (no cut-offs, bathing suits, etc.) are required. Given the fluctuating climate in Alaska, Canada, and New England, we strongly suggest you dress in layers – a shirt, sweater and light raincoat will do. This allows you to add or remove layers as needed. Wear comfortable, low-heeled walking shoes or sneakers, or sturdier shoes for activities such as hiking. You might want to bring a fold-up umbrella and a light jacket in your carry on. Note: Cancellations due to weather are the determination of the tour operator only. See specific questions related to shore excursion cancellations. Can I take more than one shore excursion in each port of call? Yes, depending on the length of each applicable shore tour relative to the amount of time the ships stay in port. Make sure that you allow at least 30 minutes between each tour. Why are some of the shore excursions I saw while browsing unavailable for me to purchase? While browsing the site, you are able to view details for all shore excursions within a destination and port regardless of ship or itinerary. You are only able to purchase shore excursions that are offered for the specific itinerary you have booked. How can I receive technical support if I am having trouble with this website? For assistance with this website, or to report an issue of a technical nature, please contact our Online Support Desk. They are available Monday through Sunday, 9:00am to 9:00pm ET. You may contact them by calling 1-800-845-2599 or by email at [email protected] . Where can I address questions regarding the operation of an excursion? If you have an operational question about an excursion or you need additional information, please send an e-mail to [email protected] . Every effort will be made to provide you with feedback within 48-72 hours, with those queries requiring additional specific research possibly taking longer. Please be sure to include your ship and sail date in the subject line. And be sure to include any other specific information such as port name and exact excursion name in all correspondence. Are there any special requirements to participate in a helicopter excursion? The Federal Aviation Administration requires guests’ weights and names for weight and balance calculations as well as flight manifesting. Any guest whose weight is 250 pounds or more will be required to purchase a seat and a half. You must purchase the specific helicopter excursion for guests over 250 pounds or you will be refused service. Once onboard, you may see the Shore Excursion Manager for assistance. Is it possible to go shopping and participate in an excursion while in port? Yes. Many of our excursions are only a few hours in duration, leaving you with plenty of time in most ports for shopping, sightseeing or even participating in another tour. Also, many of our longer excursions include a shopping stop. What type of ground transportation is used for shore excursions? Standards of transportation vary considerably throughout the world. Air-conditioned equipment is requested, but is not always available. In some cases, the transportation used will be open-air safari buses, minivans, taxis or otherwise noted. Guests wishing to travel with friends should all leave the ship together, as this will help the shore excursion staff allocate sufficient space in the same vehicle wherever possible. Please note that motor coaches and other forms of transportation may require guests to climb 2 to 3 steps. Most, but not all motor coaches, can accommodate collapsible wheelchairs. Staff is not obligated to lift guests into or out of vehicles. Tendering may prevent guests in wheelchairs from going ashore at certain ports of call. For further information about specific excursions’ transportation accessibility, please look for the accessibility advisories online, represented by a blue wheelchair icon or see the Shore Excursion Manager onboard. Will I miss the ship if I go on shore excursions? One of the major advantages of participating in shore excursions sold through Carnival is that we closely monitor the excursion departures and returns. Therefore, we can assure you that even if there are unexpected delays on an excursion, your ship will be there when you return. Please be aware that if you make your own arrangements, or leave an organized excursion, you will be on your own and it will be up to you to make sure you return to your ship on time. What happens if I don't want to participate in the snorkel portion of the tour? For those excursions that include snorkel portions, participation is strictly optional. However, there is no discount taken off the price for the tour. Can I book my excursions over the phone? At this time, shore excursions can only be purchased online prior to your cruise or once on board. If you need assistance with how to book your shore excursions online, please contact our Online Support Desk. They are available Monday through Sunday, 9:00am to 9:00pm ET. You may contact them by calling 1-800-845-2599 or by email at [email protected] . Note: Promotional codes (when available) can only be redeemed online. Can I cancel or add to my shore tour order? Online: Orders must be cancelled online and no cancellation charges will be assessed if done prior to the pre-sail cut-off time (11:59pm ET,  two days prior to the cruise departure), as noted in the table below. In the event of pre-sailing online cancellations, a full refund will automatically be posted to the form of payment used to secure the order.

Any cancellations that need to be done after the pre-sail cut off time (11:59pm ET, two days prior to the cruise departure) must be done on board and will be subject to the following:

• 25% charge once on board
• 100% charge if cancellation within 24 hours of arrival in port
• Refunds less cancellation charges will be applied in the form of a credit to the guest's Sail & Sign account.
• Sail & Sign credit balances will be paid to the guest in the form of a Carnival check at the end of the voyage.

Can we book group excursions? In order for us to pre-arrange a group shore excursion, your group must have 12 or more guests booked under a common group booking number.  We would be glad to help you book shore excursions that are perfect for everyone in your party. The perfect occasion for enjoying fun activities during a Carnival cruise… is any occasion you’ve got! Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, wedding, reunion, retreat, corporate meeting/incentive — or simply looking for an excuse to get away with extended family and friends — you’ll know that our experts are ready to help you plan something unforgettable. For more information please visit our Group Shore Excursion Page .

What are the guidelines for writing tour reviews? We want to publish your review, so please:

• Keep your review focused on the shore excursion
• Refrain from mentioning competitors, prices, promotions or time sensitive details
• Do not include any personally identifiable information, such as full names
• Avoid writing about customer service; contact us instead if you have issues requiring immediate attention
• Reviews should be written by the guest who took the shore excursion.
• Please do not submit a review if you have not taken the shore excursion.

What is the Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee?       Guests sailing on a Carnival cruise who book a shore excursion through us can be completely confident they are getting the best price and best value with the introduction of our Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee. The only guarantee of its kind in the cruise industry, the program is now available fleetwide for all Carnival Cruise Lines shore excursions on ships sailing from North America. Under the best price guarantee, guests who find the same tour offered by another operator at a lower price than their booked excursion either before or during their cruise will be eligible to receive 110% of the difference in the form of a shipboard credit. The best price guarantee is applicable to shore excursion matches on the same date as the tour purchased from Carnival. For details about the Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee, click here .  

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• Holland America Line

Weight limits on HAL excursions

By Jersey42 , May 24, 2012 in Holland America Line

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I was just reviewing the Veendam Bermuda shore excursions, and I noticed that many of them have weight limits. The limit is stated in the brief description of the tour. When you click on the "more details" link, sometimes it does not mention a weight restriction, others times it says the same thing as in the brief description, other times it says you must book two excursions if you are overweight, and with others it gives a weight limit that is different from the one in the brief description. If you try to book any tour with a weight restriction in the brief description, it asks for your weight. If the weight you entered exceeds the weight in the brief description, it will not let you book the tour.

Is this normal with HAL? I have never seen this on other lines except under special circumstances like helicopter tours. What is the purpose of the restrictions for some of these tours? Most bus tours and the walking tour of Hamilton have weight restrictions. The golf tours do not.

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I could see why there may be a weight restriction on a bus tour. At a certain size two seats may be needed. But I can't imagine why there would be a limit for a walking tour??

That 'must book two' is news to me. I have seen weight restrictions for horseback riding and kayaking which makes sense.

ChipQ. http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com

I have also seen them for the parasailing at HMC. :) Perhaps on the walking tour they are worried about a health issue?:confused: maybe there are many stairs or something?

My guess, for a bus tour, would be the size of the seat and consideration for the person next to you. My husband is a frequent flyer and on several occasions he's been unable to sit comfortably in the seat he paid for because the person next to him was so large he was literally taking up half my husband's seat. On those trips, he spends the majority of the flight standing rather than be crowded out and half sat on. That's not right since he paid for his seat. JMO but if a person is going to take up 1 1/2 seats, then they should pay for both of them.

The problem I have with weight limits when extra seats are required is that there is no consideration for height. Someone who 6' and 200 lbs doesn't take up as much seat room as someone who is 5'2" and 200 lbs.

I've seen weight limits for zip lines (250 in Hawaii and 260 in Costa Rica) and the aerial tram in CR (390). Some of these weight limits have to do with the equipment ability/functionality. And safety, of course.

what a very good point:)

arewethereyet

I've seen the need for this first hand. On an excursion in Cartagena in March (Celebrity), one of the passengers on the bus was very upset because the guy next to him weighed at least 350, making it impossible for the irate passenger to sit in the seat next to him. At the first stop, he took someone else's seat, causing a lot of harsh words and hard feelings. The person who had the seat next to the fat guy had to stand in the aisle for the rest of the bus part of the excursion. It was not a pretty scene.

How unfortunate for all involved!

TiogaCruiser

It sounds strange to have a weight limit for a walking tour. Weight does not alone determine fitness. It there a creeky bridge in Hamilton one has to cross?

And weight alone is not going to determine the "seat real estate" one's otherside occupies.

I totally agree with the airlines that require a person to purchase enough seat space to safely fit them. If one cannot fit in a coach seat, buy first class or a second coach seat.

Krazy Kruizers

I wonder if anyone complained to the shore excursion people?

Sad situation for a lot of people.

This is the first that I have heard about HAL asking for weights on bus and walking tours.

I can understand the bus tours.

But walking tours? That doesn't make sense to me.

Was there a tour leader? Did anyone go to the tour leader and demand that the fat guy be kicked off the bus? I would have.

Was there a tour leader? Did anyone go to the tour leader and demand that the fat guy be kicked off the bus? I would have.   DON

There was a tour guide, but he wasn't going to get involved.

What right do they have to kick the fat guy off the bus? He paid for the excursion. If they asked the weight and he lied THEN they MIGHT have a leg to stand on, but to kick someone off the bus for being too fat is a bit ridiculous. You can't strand a paying customer somewhere.

Just my 2 cents.

Sorry all, but you've all forgotten one important fact for the shore excursions.

That one fact is that HAL (and all other Cruise Lines) contracts out these excursions and it is not HAL setting the weight limits. It is in fact the Contracted Tour Company who sets the limits.

I can understand the weight limit necessity for an excursion operator on a walking tour. They have to have insurance and depending on the policy they might have to limit the weight for any one person (height not withstanding) because their insurance demands it.

Last September my dear friend booked an excursion while on the ship (in Alaska). There was no weight limit listed. When she got off the ship the tour operator refused to allow her boarding onto the bus to get to the excursion because she exceeded the weight limit of their insurance coverage. She was definitely upset and hurt. The Shore Excursion personnel did their best to get her on the tour but when the tour operator showed him the insurance policy, they refunded my friends money and apologized profusely.

HAL's hands are tied.....

What right do they have to kick the fat guy off the bus? He paid for the excursion. If they asked the weight and he lied THEN they MIGHT have a leg to stand on, but to kick someone off the bus for being too fat is a bit ridiculous. You can't strand a paying customer somewhere.   Just my 2 cents.

Especially in Catagena.

DWAliaschief

When I looked for excursions in Grand Turk there was not only weight limits but age limits also. Told DH that he wasn't eligible for a Segway tour. It was surprising that we did segway last year in Chicago without a problem although all had to sign waivers regardless if one were a fit and trim 25 y/o or on the other side of 60.

Sorry all, but you've all forgotten one important fact for the shore excursions.   That one fact is that HAL (and all other Cruise Lines) contracts out these excursions and it is not HAL setting the weight limits. It is in fact the Contracted Tour Company who sets the limits.   I can understand the weight limit necessity for an excursion operator on a walking tour. They have to have insurance and depending on the policy they might have to limit the weight for any one person (height not withstanding) because their insurance demands it.   Last September my dear friend booked an excursion while on the ship (in Alaska). There was no weight limit listed. When she got off the ship the tour operator refused to allow her boarding onto the bus to get to the excursion because she exceeded the weight limit of their insurance coverage. She was definitely upset and hurt. The Shore Excursion personnel did their best to get her on the tour but when the tour operator showed him the insurance policy, they refunded my friends money and apologized profusely.   HAL's hands are tied.....   Joanie

I don't see how it really matters to those involved who is setting the rules. I would imagine that your friend wasn't any less embarrassed or unhappy because it wasn't HAL's policy.

If HAL is offering a tour with a operator whose tour has a weight limit it's in HAL's best interest to know those details and provide that information to their passengers.

The Rep from HAL should have been the person offering to stand.

The weight limit restrictions I have seen posted are new to the "more active" excursions. Now you can't snorkel on an excursion if you are heavier than a certain weight!:eek:

I really doubt it has as much to do with seating as it does with liability issues and insurance requirements.

Don't get me wrong, I think the weight limits are wrong, they are going to tell a person their ability level based on a number???

A 6 foot 4 man who weighs 270 is treated like a 5 foot 2 woman who weighs the same??? Makes no sense to me, but I am sure the insurance heads are quite happy! :rolleyes: :eek:

Joanie -- which tour was this in Alaska?

The restrictions I have a problem with are restrictions against diabetics on Catamatan tours. I understand they will be away from "help". Other tours of similar nature do not have this restriction. Most diabetics have emergency suppies with them all the time. If I a) sign a waiver; b) show my diabetic supplies and c) if necessay provide a doctors statement, I wish I could be allowed to participate.

If I remember correctly Yonnie it was a catamaran to some fjords out of Juneau (but not positive).

It did work out in the end for her as she decided to spend the money on herself in the spa and loved that:)

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• Royal Caribbean International

Weight limit on excursions help!!

By ANNIEGOLFCAR , October 15, 2009 in Royal Caribbean International

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ANNIEGOLFCAR

Hi all! I have noticed that a lot of the excursions say a weight limit of 250 lbs. My husband is very tall (6'5") and weighs 270 lbs......He is not fat - just BIG/muscular......I want to save him embarassment BEFORE we sign up for an excursion....Do they actually weigh you - does anyone know why they are doing this now? We are interested in doing river tubing in Dominica....or even a zipline...Thanks!

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I'm not sure I would try to fudge this one!

There are reasons the weight limits are in effect. Why risk safety?

I'm not sure I would try to fudge this one!   There are reasons the weight limits are in effect. Why risk safety?

I ask especially since I am confused, that even the simple "snorkingly" excursions NOW have weight limits - and we have done dozens of these before and there was no mention of weight restrictions......

I would imagine on the ziplines they are tested for a certain weight max. Not something I would want to question.

For somethings it might be the size of harness and they use a weight limit as a simple guideline. Perhaps if you visit one of the Ports of Call pages and ask over there to find out what has been peoples experiences.

Perhaps on the snorkle trip, the vests won't fit someone over a certain size.....????

MICHLEV1974

river tubing in Dominica....or even a zipline...Thanks!

I am a plus-sized mom and I called the excursions desk for RCI and they don't weigh you, but if it looks close, they may pull you aside and take you off the excursion, especially for the zip line. They need to know the weight for the zipline so they can adjust for the wind/weather/lines.

I don't know about the tubing thing, but if you are cutting it close to the weight limit, I would call the excursion desk to avoid the potential embarrassing factor, like you mentioned.

I called about the zips and the helicopter. The helicopter is for combined weight, so if the 2 of you are less than the 500lbs capacity (max 250 per person), you are fine. However, the zips, you really should be @ 225 or under for the ones offerred. Search the posts, someone else said they were pulled out of line bcs they changed the weight limit on the zips in Jamaica from 250 to 225 to accommodate for the weather that day. That prompted me to call myself to find out why that would matter.

Have fun with whatever you choose! Play it safe....try something else if it is cutting it close.

davidkentholt

I was in the similar situation but am right at the 250 mark. They don't weigh you, but if you look way over they'll take you aside. I was fine, but I've heard from others that most excursions are more strict in bad weather, especially for zip lines.

Thank you! We will def stay away from the ZIPLINES (I am a little afraid of that anyhow)......Thanks everyone - I will take your suggestions and discuss with my husband!

aurelius180

I'm about the same size 6'4' 265lbs and haven't had a problem yet. Most people underestimate my weight because of the height and lack of protruding belly. :p They've never weighed me but I have used my best judgement in most cases. Be honest with them when booking the excursion because I'm sure they would assume her doesn't weigh that much. Often the weight restriction is conservative. He won't get embarressed. :)

Thanks! Looking at your photo - you and your wife look like hubby & I (I am so short, he is so tall!) That is exactly my point - hubby is just tall/big - he still plays semi-pro football!!!! Thanks!!! I will call the excursions desk!

joeandaimeesmom

When hubby and I did a helicopter excursion they did ask about how much we weighed.. They also had a scale if they thought someone was over.. :)

My BIL knew there was a weight restriction on a bike tour we took in Ensenada, but ignored it. They didnt say anything at the start of the tour, but less than 10 mins into the ride he had to switch off his bike and ride the follow-up ATV and the guide on the ATV had to ride BIL's bike.

I was really embarassed for BIL, but he shook it off and blamed it on Asthma.

If it had been a more dangerous tour like zip line Im sure he would not have done it.

So some of these restrictions are for safety of the participant, and some are for the preservation of equiptment.

We have done both zip lining and river tubing and with both excursions, I promise you there were a few men that were over 250. And there 250 was not distributed as well as your husbands is with his height.

We had no problems .. With the river tubing the heavier men had to hold there bums up or they got stuck on rocks when he hit a low point in the river. It was funny, we would actually all yell, "bums up"

as far as zip ling went, there was no problem either. Those lines are strong enough to hold ALOT more then 250.

Both of these excursions require a bit of up-hill hiking. The weight restrictions may be for those reasons too. IF your husband is fit, I'm sure you will fine

There is always a reason for a weight restriction. Usually it is safety. Think about it, they are trying to sell something. Why would they want to limit the number of people who they could sell to?

It has nothing to do with being "fat". Sometime there is a minimum weight restriction also. In the case of the zip line it is very definitely a safety issue. For the river tubing it might have to do with the capabilities of the equipment.

If someone weighs 270 pounds then they weigh 270 pounds. The zip line is not going to care why the person weigh 270 pounds, nor it is going to care how good the person looks. If 270 pounds at the middle of the zip line (where the downward force would be the greatest) would tax the zip line's ability to hold together, then your husband could be a 270 male model, the line is still going to break.

Or, it might just be a damaged, hold it together for him, but break on the next person, or the next or the 20th after that. The weight limits are for the safety of everyone. A little damage over time becomes a break.

I agree. If there's a restriction, then we should all honor it. It's no doubt there to protect all of us.

RetireeWannabee

and please don't lie when it comes to things like helicopters where weight distribution can be important.

My husband weighs 280 and we asked the Excursion desk about the tubing on Dominica. The excursion company had 3 super large tubes and vests, and the weight thing pertained to that and the ability to climb and walk.

Zip lining in Puerto Vallarta 250 pounds. I wouldn't take a chance. It would be a bad way to end it all....

At the zip line in Icy Strait Point, Allaska, they weigh everyone. The scale has green, yellow and red areas on it. If you weigh-in in the red then you don't go. I'm 245 lbs and just made it. I don't know what other ports do, but in Alaska they took the weight limit VERY seriously.

RCI does not RUN the tour, whatever it might be, they contract for these tours or excursions. The limits, age, size, weight, etc are set by the operators.

BroncosFan2010

I have never seen them turn anyone away because of weight, but I would be careful to investigate why they have a weight requirement. If it is an adventurous activity, equipment may only be able to support someone up to a certain weight. I would not risk something that is safety related. If it is just a snorkeling tour or something like that, I probably would not worry about it too much.

Even with a snorkeling tour, keep in mind that small watercraft have weight restrictions. If a boat can safely carry a certain weight, and the tour operators are expecting a certain number of people, they more than likely have done the math ahead of time to determine what the most each person can weigh to safely transport everyone. In all likelihood, there will be at least a few people who are well under the weight limit and they'd compensate for the others who fudged their weight because they wanted to go on the excursion. But if they're expecting 25 people all at, say 225 lbs or under, and all 25 people show up at 225-250, there's a problem. Because I wouldn't want to be on that boat in those circumstances, I am not signing up for a tour I want to do until I know I will be within their weight guidelines.

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