Table Of Content
It's best to book in advance for must-do tours and limited-availability excursions (like almost every excursion on an Alaskan cruise or flightseeing while docked on a cruise to Hawaii). Some shore tours -- such as daylong trips from Tunis to the marketplace, museum and ancient Carthage -- pack many activities into one trip. Others focus on one destination or activity, like a trip to the Mayan ruins from Cozumel. It's up to you whether you'd prefer to see many things for short amounts of time or focus on one place in depth.
Featured Excursions by Destination
In Juneau, Alaska, a 3-hour tour to the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center costs $50 per person. A 3-hour gold panning activity and salmon bake costs $125, while a 2.25-hour tour to take a helicopter ride to the top of the glacier, where you can walk around on the ice for half an hour, costs $420. The benefits to a cruise line's shore excursions are that they depart from and return to the ship; you don't need to figure out where to meet a guide in a port you've never visited. Better still, should an unexpected problem (traffic, a medical emergency) occur during your outing, the ship will not leave port until all of its own tours have returned.
Prioritize the ports of call that drew you to the itinerary.
Or, you can book a tour through an independent company, either with a large group or a private tour for just your travel party. Then the team fills in with complementary tours, which might visit other area attractions or focus on special interests like cooking or biking. Get insights from expert local guides who will drive you to the region's most memorable places. With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money.
BOOK A SHORE EXCURSION
Whenever possible, departure and return times are scheduled to give you time to shop or explore on your own. The tour guides are considered top experts on local history and sights, offering you a chance to fully appreciate and experience their hometowns. Shore excursions are designed and organized in such a way as to maximize your time in each port and yet allow sufficient free time as well. For shore excursions that are not included in your cruise fare, budget a minimum of $50 per adult per excursion. There is no real upper limit as exclusive tours could cost thousands of dollars. If you've booked a sightseeing tour that's primarily done by bus, it's unlikely a bit of rain will affect your plans.
Destinations & Ports
For independent tours especially, be sure to ask if the price of your tour includes gratuities. If you want to know exactly what you're booking, take the time to read the complete description. Explore the destination's most iconic places and take exceptional selfies as you check famous local landmarks off your bucket list. Savor authentic flavors or sip on the most popular drinks of each destination, during unique tasting experiences. Enjoy more time discovering each destination’s extraordinary treasures, during extended tours with overnight stays. The purchase window for certain products and activities closes before to the sail end date.
The same would be true if you are injured and unable to contact the ship. Most travelers rely on carrying a copy of their passport in ports, leaving the originals locked away safely in their staterooms. There are some cruise lines that hold your passports for you throughout the cruise.
Other tours on those lines and all excursions offered by mainstream cruise lines must be purchased. Some cruise lines and even some travel agents offer shore excursion credit as a booking perk. It is essentially a credit of a preset amount (often $50) applied to each day in port for which you book a shore excursion. If your excursion costs more than the credit amount, it becomes a discount.
What happens if I want to take a shore excursion but don't want to book it through my cruise line?
5 Independent Shore Excursions For Cruise Visitors In Flåm, Norway - Forbes
5 Independent Shore Excursions For Cruise Visitors In Flåm, Norway.
Posted: Sun, 03 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
These land-based trips run the gamut from sightseeing city tours to cultural events and active pursuits. You can take a sunset pleasure cruise in St. Lucia, visit penguin colonies in Antarctica, go wine tasting in Provence or bike through Copenhagen. The tours can be booked onboard at your ship's excursions desk or online before you depart on your trip. Choose from city tours, culinary explorations, shopping outings, outdoor expeditions, cultural activities and more. We recommend you book early for the best selection, as our excursions and tours have limited capacity and fill up quickly.
Seasoned cruise travelers know that there are convenient and affordable alternatives to booking your shore excursions directly through the cruise line. ICruise.com is very proud to offer competitively-priced shore excursions on many of the Caribbean and Alaska's most popular attractions and activities. You can save over 20% off the cost of many of the same tours that the cruise lines offer onboard the ship. To enhance each port visit (as well as to increase their profits), cruise lines offer organized shore excursions on all ships for additional fees.
Most cruise lines either charge the same prices for shore excursions booked online and on board or offer a discount for tours purchased in advance. For example, Royal Caribbean often advertises up to 30% off select tours reserved ahead of the sailing. Some cruise lines, such as Viking and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, include the cost of basic shore excursions in their cruise fares. If you don't care to do any specialty tours, you might be able to get all your port activities for free. Other lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, offer discounted tours or shore excursion credit as booking promotions. Unless it is specifically mentioned in the tour description, meals are not included.
As a convenience to their passengers, they provide a complete list of tours with descriptions and prices in advance of your cruise both on their websites and with your cruise documents. You can them pre-book them prior to leaving home or wait until you board your ship. If you are selecting your cruise based on the different tours to take in port, your best bet is iCruise.com or the cruise line's website. Not all shore excursions involve busloads of tourists dutifully following flag- or umbrella-waving guides. You will find these types of sightseeing tours, as well as athletic endeavors overseen by dive masters or hike leaders. However, some tours simply bring you to a destination where you're free to explore until it's time to meet the bus to go home.
In some ports, cruise lines might arrange a special experience — such as Cognac blending or pasta making — that is meant for a small group. Cancellations for pre-paid tours are allowed up to 3 days prior to cruise embarkation and will be refunded to the credit card used for the purchase. If within 3 days of embarkation, all changes/cancellations must be done onboard the ship and refunds will be applied to your onboard account.
If you missed the purchase window, check with us on board, we'll help you find what you’re looking for. You'll likely want to tip more for customized, private tours — consider 5 to 20% of the cost of the tour. Add some excitement to your cruise with thrilling zip line rides, white water rafting, hiking in the mountains, and more. Immerse yourself in the culture and history of each destination on your exciting itinerary, while connecting with the locals.
Many lines offer these boutique-sized excursions, which could be cooking classes at a renowned French cooking school or visits to Native American villages in Alaska. Many lines also offer car-and-driver packages (so you can customize your own tour) or have concierges to arrange shoreside activities exclusively for your travel party. You can skip the caravan of four large tour buses and trade up for a more exclusive experience. Your cruise director or the daily newsletter will usually inform you if it's necessary to take your passport with you on a shore excursion. It’s also wise to take along the information provided by the ship about their agent in each port and the contact information for the local consulate. If you miss the ship’s departure, life will be easier with a passport.
Some luxury lines and most river lines include some shore excursions in their fares. Often basic city tours will be included, while more extensive tours and activity excursions are available for an additional charge. Just as Windstar does not offer just one type of tour in each port, Witsoe suggests that cruisers diversify their tours across ports. "In Japan, you could see a castle in every port of call," she says, but that would get old after the third or fourth day. You'll be more satisfied with your trip if you book a mix of tour types and change up days of full-day tours with half-day outings and even a few days to wander around on your own. Yes, you’ll find a range of experiences to suit the interests and activity levels of everyone in your family.
No comments:
Post a Comment