Cruise Vacations - Shore Excursions

Many first time cruisers think that they will be stuck on the boat the entire time they are on their cruise vacations. However, this is not the case.  There are many possibilities to go on shore excursions and venture out from the boat. 

There used to be a time when shore excursions were only limited to city tours and cultural walks.  However, this is not the case as the possibilities are endless when it comes to what you can do at port.  Sometimes, people pay MORE for the actually excursion than they do for their entire cruise package.  The majority of cruise ship excursions are conducted by the cruise lines professional staff.  It is recommended to go with the staff when you are not familiar with the place because the staff can help you if you were in trouble.  If you do go alone and would like to explore by yourself, make sure to take the ship's port agent and telephone numbers.  Also, allow yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship because it could take off without you.

So are you up for the challenge?  Most excursions do require some long distance walking and some adventures should not be joined for those who cannot meet the physical requirements.  If you do not like large crowds and want to get away from the rest of the groups, you can always charter a private excursion. Some of the larger cruise lines offer private outings and you can venture off based on your requirements.  Make sure to book in advance because some excursions sell out faster than others.  Bookings can be made before your departure date via Internet or travel specialist.  The key is to book your excursions early; you can always cancel if you do not want to participate.  If you choose to cancel, make sure to cancel within 24 hours of the excursion or you will lose your money.  

Some of the best excursions in the world are taking a jet fighter MIG flight over Moscow, driving a formula one car, four-wheeling in the sand dunes and taking a trail sled dog race in Alaska.

As said before, if it’s our first time on a cruise, it is recommend that you go with the cruise ships crew as they will be familiar with the area and can provide assistance if you do get hurt.  However, here are some general rules if you really want to go out by yourself.  Taxi cab drivers in foreign countries target tourists and can gauge you out of your money.  They will drive all around the city and take the long-route so that your cab fare will increase ten-fold.  The best way to mitigate this is by negotiating the taxi fare ahead of time before you step into the cab.  Also, never pay before the ride; pay after once you’ve reached your destination.  Always try to find a cab driver that speaks your language.  Often times, it’s cheaper to hire a cab for all day excursions instead of renting a car. 

After all of this information, do you think you could want to go on a shore excursion on your next cruise vacations adventure?