Shore Excursions..

[JoeyandDavid]

When planning Shore Excursions how do you decide what to do? Is it normally dictated by price? Do you book exclusively through the cruise line? Do reviews from past guest influence what you may or may not do?

[sailingrose]

If we have been to a port before we usually hire a private shore excursion. If my DD and I go without the men I usually go with the cruiselines tour. I really don't like to take them as they are expensive and usually crowded. I have gotten suggestions from reviews on who to use for shore excursions and haven't gone wrong with the providers yet.

[deb1220]

It depends on the port and what we want to get out of it. If it's a port with a rich history we usually take a ship excursion. If it's a place that we just want a "taste" of we'll either just walk around or take some kind of a taxi tour. We haven't gone wrong either way yet!

[Suzila]

The shore excursions we choose are never dictated by price. We always save up enough money in advance to be able to do whatever fun things we want when on a cruise.

If we've been to a port before, we usually just go and do our own thing, no tour.

If we've never been to a location, we take a tour. I don't want any surprises, getting stuck somewhere, etc. I like to know we're 'somewhat' safe, and covered by the cruise line.

Usually reviews from past guests do not influence me because most people review the beaches. We are not beach people and prefer city tours, or adventurous things to do. We steer clear of the beaches.

[rogue]

The price rarely enters into it. We do like to see the sights on a most islands. We also like to snorkel at least once on a cruise. I do read the reviews of the excursions just to get to know exactly what they do. Usually, we go through the cruise ship to book the excursions.

[cruisetarp]

first time to a port we generally stick with a cruiselines tours. After that on return visits, we head out on our own or hire local tour companies.

[lovelypinky]

i probably perfer going with cruiseline tour so i don't have to worry about getting lost or miss the ship

[hazelson]

Anything with animals for us! Price is not really a factor - after all it is a vacation. We can be thrifty at home!

We usually book with the cruiseline.

[Wednesday]

When planning Shore Excursions how do you decide what to do? Is it normally dictated by price? Do you book exclusively through the cruise line? Do reviews from past guest influence what you may or may not do?

If the ship is in port for a short period of time I'll book through cruise line, other then that book direct.

[JohnG]

When planning Shore Excursions how do you decide what to do? Is it normally dictated by price? Do you book exclusively through the cruise line? Do reviews from past guest influence what you may or may not do?

If the ship is in port for a short period of time I'll book through cruise line, other then that book direct.

We seldom book excursions. We just head out on our own, sometimes rent a car, or take a ferry, etc. The only exception has been in Rome and Florence where we have hired a car and driver because of the long distance to/from the port. And in Belize, where you can't get out to the reef to snorkel except on an excursion. I booked with an outside vendor, not the cruise line.