They spend 8 to 10 hours in port and may never return to their destination. How to avoid making the wrong choice and wasting the chance of a great vacation Cruise ship shore excursions?
It’s certainly a daunting task, but with some reading and a little thought, you can avoid making the wrong tour choice. Here are some general tips to follow.
Tip 1: Be honest with yourself about your travel companion’s personality and abilities, and what they would actually be happy to do.
Tip 2: Don’t feel obligated to join a ship-sponsored tour. independent options is often better.
Tip 3: Read the following list for types of cruise ship shore excursions that are not worth your time and money and risk accidents during the tour.
panoramic sightseeing tour
“Panorama” is a cruise where you can “see the main sights only from inside the bus.” You can tour the interior of the historic cathedral or step outside to enjoy the beautiful scenery. However, if you want to spend more time on the ground than on the bus, avoid tours such as “panoramic sightseeing” and “island tour.”[destination] The title says “By Coach.”
Most shore excursion descriptions list how long to spend at each attraction, so look for those clues to make sure you’re really experiencing the places you want to see.
Please note that you should ignore this advice if you have mobility issues. These sightseeing tours are a great way to see popular attractions without worrying about cobblestone streets and stairs.
Tourist trains and trams
Unless you’re cruising with a Thomas the Tank Engine-obsessed toddler, keep your dignity and avoid taking the tourist trains and trams that run around your cruise destination. I’m not talking about the actual tourist railway. I’m talking about cutely painted miniature locomotives pulling open-air carriages through the streets of places like Bermuda’s Royal Dockyard in Belize City and Piraeus in Greece.
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Frankly, this is embarrassing and leaves me branded as an ignorant American tourist. Popular hop-on hop-off bus tours make it easy to get between major attractions.
Related: Avoid these 10 mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions.
Full day marathon tour
I want to go see the Yukon. However, I decided to take the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway into British Columbia, take a bus to the Yukon border, and then take a bus down the Klondike Highway back to Skagway, a seven-hour tour. I have no intention of participating. . You’re sitting too much.
I’ve been on marathon tours from Livorno to Florence in Italy, and I can swear I was so tired I fell asleep on the bus each time.
A full-day marathon tour may be the only way to cram everything you want to see into one day in port. But with sore legs, missed dinner on board, and information overload, this frenetic pace might not be worth it. To make matters worse, these long tours can involve more driving than sightseeing.
for example, royal caribbean‘s Grand Tour of Florence and Pisa features two hours of independent exploration in Florence and one hour in Pisa. However, the tour takes 10 hours. At least 3 hours of that time is travel time, with a lot of time waiting for late tourists and walking from the bus parking lot to the actual attraction.
You may want to focus your time on one area during your cruise. If you want to see more, visit land at a slower pace again in the year.
Related: 9 great cruise vacations that combine cruise and rail travel
Short tours with long transits
Similarly, with all due respect to Cake’s song, a tour that spends more time traveling than the actual tour destination may not make the most of your time. If you’re going on a day trip somewhere, you want to choose something that’s worth your time. Otherwise, it may be more worthwhile to stay near the port and do your own sightseeing, shopping, and dining.
museum tour
Do you take museum tours when you’re at home? No, just go to the museum, maybe get an audio guide, and wander around on your own. So why go to museums on a cruise?
Unless you need a tour for transportation, skip expensive shore excursions and head to museums that interest you on your own. You can spend as much time as you like in any room that interests you, and you can even jump around large groups flocking to a particular artwork or exhibit. You also don’t have to meekly follow a guide with a sign. If you need more information or can’t read the signs, you can usually find audio tours in English.
Related: Best credit cards for cruise reservations
beach break
Would you like to go to the beach? Let’s call a taxi and go to the beach. Locals know that cruisers want to go to the beach, and shuttles, trams, and vans are all waiting to transport you to and from the beach. You don’t need a tour to get there.
Similarly, if you want to spend the day at a local resort taking advantage of its beaches, pools, and facilities, you can often find cheaper options if you book directly through the property rather than through the ship’s shore excursion desk. Check if transportation is included, and if not, factor in the cost of a taxi.
Related: Best Caribbean Cruise Shore Excursions
shopping tour
The same idea applies to shopping tours. If you want to go shopping, just walk off the cruise ship. Even if the port doesn’t have a lot of souvenir and jewelry stores, there are plenty around town. It’s not often that a shopping tour takes you to a special or local secret gallery where you can find great art and great buys.
Are you a shopaholic or a connoisseur of a particular product? Your best bet is to research ahead of time, find the shops and galleries you want to visit, and then take a taxi or hire a private guide to visit the stores you want to see the most. It’s about having them take you there.
alcohol cruise
I’m a big fan of catamaran sails. You can go out on the water and feel the breeze in your hair and watch the scenery go by, snorkeling or spending time at the beach. However, I avoid shore excursions labeled “party cruises” or “open bar” like the plague.
If you’re choosing a tour to go snorkeling or watch the sun set over the ocean, you’re bound to find people on the boat drinking too much, becoming belligerent, or barfing because they don’t know when to stop. Please be aware that there is a possibility that you may Free rum punch.
Looking for a party? I wish you the best. Be careful, these fruity drinks are stronger than they taste. The combination of heat, alcohol, and sugar creates a wild time with some consequences. Got a hangover from your tour and really don’t want to miss out on the nightlife at your next port or ship?
Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise
glass bottom boat rides
I will admit that I did take an amazing semi-submersible ride on Maui and actually saw some incredible marine life. All other glass bottom boat or “submarine” tours I’ve been on have been vague and memorable.
Unless you’re claustrophobic, it’s not a bad idea to try, but it’s unlikely you’ll have a great underwater experience on one of these tours. If you can’t snorkel or scuba dive, try your luck on a land tour.
Tours involving abused animals
Your life goal may be to swim with dolphins or ride an elephant, but don’t support organizations that don’t treat animals with respect. Avoid shore excursions that involve contact with captive wild animals unless you can be sure the animals are receiving proper care.
Instead, choose a tour that allows you to see wildlife, such as whale watching. hawaii toursbear observation Excursions in Alaska You can also hike through the jungle or take a boat ride to spot birds and monkeys in the trees.
Tours that are not suitable for you
Haven’t you ridden a bike in years? Now is not the time to book a bike tour around Valencia, Spain, or speed 40 miles down Maui’s Haleakala volcano. Do you have mobility issues? A walking tour through the cobbled old town isn’t for you. Are you afraid of heights? Whatever you do, don’t zip line.
The person you want to be (or the plucky young man you used to be) won’t be on tour. Only you who are at your current level of health and fitness will participate in the tour. Avoid unnecessary shore excursions. That way you’ll be much happier spending time at the port than at your local hospital.
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