Table Of Content
It's helpful to join the Roll Call thread for your ship and sail date to "meet" your fellow cruisers and arrange to share tour costs. You can also see what real cruisers thought of their tours by reading shore excursion reviews. Even couples traveling alone might find more affordable group tours offered by independent operators or tour options not offered by the cruise line.
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I've skipped tours in places like Key West, Florida; Tallinn, Estonia; Monaco; Nassau, Bahamas; Skagway, Alaska; Geiranger, Norway; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. In most cases, you don't need to book a shore excursion to explore a port of call. You can simply walk off the ship and stroll into town or catch a cab to take you wherever you want to go. The ship’s excursions get you to the markets, often with some city highlights along the way, then leave you with a few hours of shopping time. You are then free to make your way back to the ship or to a meeting point for the return trip as a group.
Destinations & Ports
Do note, however, that it's hard to compare the offering you book onshore with that of the cruise line's. They may have hidden perks, more comfortable vehicles, and may serve snacks and refreshments. However, for the adventurous traveler who doesn't need extra frills, booking trips directly, for the sake of savings, is the way to go. Nourish your mind, body and spirit with tours that include a range of authentic experiences—indigenous healing practices, detoxes with local muds and minerals, destination-specific fitness, and more. To browse shore excursions from Shore Excursions Group (The Cruise Web's 3rd party tour partner), please CLICK HERE. I canvassed TPG's cruise team and we agreed that we give roughly $5 to $10 per person for half-day tours and $10 to $20 per person for full-day excursions, adjusted for service and quality.
Located in the panhandle of Alaska and the Gastineau Channel, it is the second-largest city in the United States by area, and a popular destination for cruise ships each summer. Experience each city's must-see landmarks and iconic sites through shore excursions that ensure you check the most important items off your bucket list. If it's an activity, like snorkeling or a helicopter tour, read up on how much time is spent in transit and prep and how much time you will spend actually doing the activity. You can book your tours online in advance, or have your travel agent do it for you.
If you skip this step, you won't realize that the bus tour only passes by, rather than stops at, a famous cathedral or museum. Or, you might miss a note explaining that there's no free time or food included. Make the most of your time in each port with an optional shore excursion.
Be sure to note the fitness level required and don't try to take on more than you're able to do. If you struggle with mobility, check to see if there's a lot of walking on uneven ground like cobblestones. Just be sure to read up on the area around the dock so that you know whether you'll be pulling right up to the center of the action or if sightseeing on your own requires a shuttle or a cab. Grab a tourist map, or use a map app on your phone so you don't get lost.
Does Holland America Line offer accessible shore excursions?
You can review the costs of shore excursions prior to booking your cruise and you can actually pre-book them prior to arriving at the ship. To book online before you arrive, try ShoreTrips.com, a service that, similar to the cruise line, will make shore-side arrangements for you. Read the reviews on other trips booked through their site and fashion yours off of those.
Travel agents continue to book independent cruise excursions - Travel Weekly
Travel agents continue to book independent cruise excursions.
Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:09:35 GMT [source]
Is there a customized brochure of shore excursions available for a specific cruise?
Arriving in multiple ports you are unfamiliar with and expecting to find the best things to do would be challenging at best and disastrous at worst. In most cases, shore excursions give you access to something that might otherwise be hard to arrange on your own. If something went wrong or you feel that you didn't get what you paid for on an excursion you booked through your ship, you can report your concerns to the onboard shore tours desk. There's no guarantee you'll get satisfaction, but at least someone will be made aware of the problem, and it might work out in your favor. If you don't want to forfeit the price of the tour, however, you need to cancel in advance, usually one or two days before that port of call. If you contact the shore excursion desk that morning to say you're not feeling well and want to skip out, you'll still get charged on your final cruise bill.
Especially on port-intensive itineraries, this can lead to excursion burnout. Read what other travelers have to say about a specific excursion or attraction before plunking down your money and signing up for that tour. Some cruise lines have shore excursion reviews right on their websites. Most port towns are bustling with activity as soon as you step off the boat. Kiosks and personnel distributing flyers promote trips at a fraction of the price the cruise line is offering.
Toulon is also one of the best places to visit in Provence to experience the region's douceur de vivre (sweet life) and to visit traditional Provençal markets. Tourists can soak up the sunny South of France lifestyle on leisurely seaside strolls, by relaxing at outdoor cafés and basking on the beach. Travel in a private vehicle with your own party and customize if desired. Extending a gratuity to your guide or driver is strictly optional; however, in some countries, these personnel may anticipate that if you were pleased with their services, you will reward them in a monetary way.
Online message boards and Facebook groups can be great resources for finding other travelers on your cruise ship interested in joining you on a private tour. Cruise line shore excursions try to cover the most popular sights and attractions in a destination, but your ship might not offer a tour to every interesting spot in or near the port. If you don't do your own destination research and only make your tour decisions based on what the cruise line is offering, you might miss out on an activity you'd enjoy more.
Viator.com guarantees the rates on their tours, plus they offer 24-hour, 7-days-a-week global support and free cancellations up to 24 hours before your excursion. But before you book through an online travel site, shop the cruise line rates, as well, to make sure you're actually saving money. The downside to booking tours in advance is that some cruise lines require that you pay for the tours in full, rather than putting them on your final cruise bill. It means you're out the money in advance and it can be difficult to use onboard credit to cover the cost of excursions booked online.
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