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You can skip the caravan of four large tour buses and trade up for a more exclusive experience. Viator is another good resource when looking for third party shore excursions, as you can browse and book different tours, day trips, etc. all in one place. If you are not sure of what you want to do yet, you can even filter the search by category to show tours relating to food & drink, sightseeing cruises, and more.
Norwegian's Behind-the-Scenes Tour
Royal Caribbean’s private destination of Labadee offers more than enough to enjoy without spending anything extra on excursions. However, there are several additional activities to book that can offer a more enhanced experience in port. If you’re looking for a beach day, book a day pass to Maya Chan Beach Resort. This all-inclusive day pass includes transportation, beach beds, all-you-can-eat food, an open bar, use of snorkeling gear and glass bottom kayaks, bathroom facilities, lockers, wifi, and more.
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If the tour takes place over lunchtime, check to see if a meal is included or if you have time to pick up something to eat. Many Western Caribbean cruise itineraries include a stop in Roatan, an island off the coast of northern Honduras. Natural beauty is in abundance in the Caribbean, and that remains true in the Dominican Republic, where visitors can enjoy beaches, jungles, and waterfalls. While you can visit Chichén Itzá from Cozumel, it’s much easier to visit the site from Progreso as it does not require a ferry ride from the island of Cozumel to mainland Mexico. Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, is one of the most beloved ports among Royal Caribbean fans.
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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. You can book your tours online in advance, or have your travel agent do it for you. This is the best route if there's a ship's tour you absolutely want to take and you don't want to risk its selling out.
Find Shore Excursions
If your cruise visits the British Virgin Islands, consider making a day trip to the small island of Jost Van Dyke from Tortola. While on this small island, you can swim and snorkel in a protected cove with extremely soft sand and clear waters. The main industry in St. Kitts used to be sugar cane, and the train was originally built to transport sugar cane around the island. The train rides through the countryside of St. Kitts, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy beautiful views of the island’s natural landscapes. While most cruises stop in Falmouth, Jamaica as opposed to Ocho Rios, you’ll find that they offer several of the same excursions. Following this cultural insight, visitors travel to Grand Anse Beach, often considered the best beach on the island.
A stop for refreshments and canapes and a detailed visit to the bridge, to meet the captain and navigational officers, are also included. Members of Norwegian's loyalty club, Latitudes, who have reached Platinum level and above qualify for a free behind-the-scenes tour as one of their perks, but other cruisers can pay $79 to join a tour. These tours operate once per cruise, so you need to book as soon as you can. It is customary to tip your guide, as well as the driver, at the end of your excursion. While there is no set amount, you should plan on tipping more for full-day excursions.
I have a medical condition/limited mobility. Can I still go on a shore excursion?
All cruise ships offer shore excursions -- guided walking or bus tours that allow you to experience local history, culture and cuisine, as well as activities such as snorkeling, zip-lining and shopping. Some tours are simply transportation to a nearby city or beach, and you can do what you please once there. To enhance each port visit (as well as to increase their profits), cruise lines offer organized shore excursions on all ships for additional fees. These land-based trips run the gamut from sightseeing city tours to cultural events and active pursuits.
How to Get the Most From Your Shore Excursion: Pro Tips for Your Tour
I use many factors to decide whether to take a ship's tour, book an independent excursion or explore on my own in port. However, if you're a novice traveler, you might want to book ship tours exclusively because they're the simplest, easiest and most convenient options. We recommend booking your shore excursions with either The Cruise Web's third party excursions partner, Shore Excursions Group, or through the cruise line directly. If you've done your research and have decided that you want to do a specific excursion offered on your cruise, think carefully about whether to book in advance or onboard. 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). Included at Perfect Day at CocoCay is beach access, food, drinks (juices, water, tea, etc.), beach chairs, umbrellas, Splashaway Bay, Captain’s Jill’s Galleon, Oasis Lagoon pool, and more.
This tour takes guests on a 10-mile bike ride along St. Croix’s coastline, through sugar plantations, and in the port city of Frederiksted. It includes commentary from a local guide, as well, meaning you’ll not only take in the sights, but also the culture and history of this Caribbean island. Instead of choosing one excursion over another, we recommend booking a private tour of the island with Victor Bodden Tours. These tours can be customized to your liking and come at a reasonable price, even for solo travelers. If climbing waterfalls and diving sounds like the exact opposite of a relaxing day in the Caribbean, consider booking a day pass through ResortForADay.com.
I spent $3214 on a 10-night Royal Caribbean cruise. Here's what everything cost, from my $1273 flight to $230 ... - Royal Caribbean Blog
I spent $3214 on a 10-night Royal Caribbean cruise. Here's what everything cost, from my $1273 flight to $230 ....
Posted: Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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. San Juan, Puerto Rico is a Caribbean cruise port where booking an organized shore excursion isn’t totally necessary. Because you won’t find many cruises visiting Martinique, we recommend making the most of your time on the island through an island tour. Booking an island tour means you can see multiple of the island’s highlights, from beaches to markets and historic ruins, in one day.
Often basic city tours will be included, while more extensive tours and activity excursions are available for an additional charge. 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. Located 30 minutes away from the cruise port by boat, Pearl Island offers a small, turquoise beach, bar and lunch buffet, lounge chairs, watersports equipment, and more. Cozumel is another of the most popular cruise ports in the Caribbean, and we recommend booking a day pass to a beach club while in port. When visiting cruise line private islands, however, there are no local third party vendors.
Instead of offering just one “best” shore excursion in this Mexican port, we have three, one of which is sure to fit your cruising style. Cunard offers one Behind-the-Scenes tour per voyage on cruises of more than seven days. It takes about three hours to show no more than 16 passengers the workings of a Cunard Queen. Royal Caribbean treats its All Access Tour as an excursion, so you can prebook it online, which is handy since space is limited. The tour is an extensive journey through the backstage areas of the ship, from the galley and the stores to the engine control room, the laundry and the I-95 crew corridor. There's also a bridge visit, subject to security levels, and a gift on completion of the tour.
It is important to research what is available in each port and to set a budget. If, for instance, your cruise is port intensive, you may have to spend less in each destination. On the other hand, you might be able to splurge a little bit more if you are only stopping in two or three places. Take your adventure underwater and discover a whole world that’s teeming with life. Swim with sea turtles and manta rays, float over vibrant reefs, and explore colorful coral forests on a snorkeling excursion designed to bring you up close with the ocean’s most beautiful natural treasures. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear.
Most people organize these ahead of time through a tour operator or travel agent. However, in popular cruise ports, there are often representatives waiting at the port or at a tourist office who can book you on same-day tours if space is available. Alternatively, you can wait until you're on the ship and book your excursion in person at the shore excursions desk. You'll be able to ask the staff questions about the tours, and the charges will be added to your final cruise bill. However, you do run the risk that a popular tour might be sold out by the time you're ready to book. While you're free to explore any port on your own, many cruisers opt for organized excursions for their knowledgeable guides, access to restricted locations and unmatched convenience.
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