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Excursions

Cruising is a great all-inclusive deal, right? Well, it's usually a great deal, but it is not all inclusive. In fact, people who go on a cruise thinking they've paid all they're going to pay usually wind up disappointed.

One big area of extra expense on the cruise vacation is the subject of excursions.

Whenever the cruise ship makes port, it is typical to allow passengers virtually the whole day on land to explore. If you know what you're doing and where you want to go, you can do it on your own. There are times when this is absolutely the best way to go.

But most of the time you won't know the best attractions or how to navigate there and back in time to catch your ship. (And contrary to those I Love Lucy episodes you saw growing up, they don't hold cruise ships or helicopter you on board if you miss the boat.)

So when are excursions great deals? They're a great deal when they offer you the opportunity to do something spectacular that would be tough for you to arrange on your own. Dog sledding in Alaska? Parasailing in Jamaica? Swimming with the dolphins in Mexico? Touring the Vatican in Rome?

Besides that, cruise ship operators know the ports, the tour operators, and their customers. If a particular tour operator does not deliver a high-quality product that pleases most passengers, that operator no longer works with the cruise line.

 

 

These excursions may seem pricy, but by and large you are getting a reasonably good deal. In most cases, equipment is included as is local transportation (for example, to and from the point of interest), guides, and sometimes other perks like a drink or even a meal.

You can sign up for excursions on the cruise ship, but that's actually a bit late. Some excursions have a limited number of places and when they fill up, they fill up. It's not unusual for a particularly popular excursion to be booked up before the ship sets sail. So if you have your heart set on helicoptering over a glacier or scuba diving from a catamaran in St. Thomas, reserve it as early as you can.

Most excursions are listed on the cruise website. If you look at the cruise you want, there should be a way to click through and see the excursions for those particular ports. Talk to your cruise representative about booking your "gotta-do" excursions early.

Most people do book excursions on the cruise. Your ship will have a phone number or desk in charge of handling these reservations. They may also have brochures, maps, and more detailed information.

You don't have to book any excursion. Many cruise lines will tell you things you can do on your own. In the tropics, there are often local public beaches that you can access quickly by cab. Some towns have great shopping districts conveniently located near the cruise docks, that is, within easy walking distance. Your cruise team onboard can often give you great recommendations for local bars, restaurants, or sights you can do on your own.

Walking on a Glacier at Exit Glacier, Alaska

Walking Across Exit Glacier

Excursions vary by cruise lines and cruise ships, but there are some staples.

Most cruise lines will offer tours of the local attractions. In cities or towns, this will likely be a bus or tram tour of local sights (and may include stops at museums or other points of interest). Get off the beaten path a bit and your tour vehicle may be a Hummer driven by a local guide taking you into the wilderness.

Some cruise lines offer the pricier alternative of self-driving all-terrrain vehicles, motorocyles, or even snazzy sports cars. These are expensive outings, but if you're a free-spirited type, it may be fun to get behind the wheel of a Porsche and zip around the hairpin turns of the Monaco.

For active people, most cruise lines offer lots of pursuits for the more athletically inclined. Most cruise lines have some sort of "activity meter" or designation for the various activities in terms of how strong and fit you ought to be. Don't underestimate yourself but for your own safety and the enjoyment of everyone else, don't overestimate yourself, either!

A new trend on the active excursion is the "zip line," a way of flying through the air on a very strong clothesline-type contraption. Parasailing, hang-gliding, surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving have always been popular. If you want to scuba, you must be certified already and bring the necessary paperwork. You can't learn to scuba on a cruise ship. Snorkeling, on the other hand, is open to just about anyone. While snorkeling lessons are sometimes given, it's a relatively easy thing to learn if you can swim.

Some cruise lines are catering to foodies by offering food-based adventures, like tours of local eateries, vineyards, farms, or other homes of good local cuisine. Sometimes you can even spend your excursion time in somebody else's kitchen, learning local culinary tips in a cooking class.

You don't have to opt for a fancy excursion. You can walk, shop, explore local sights on your own (very easy if there are nearby public parks, shopping districts, or beaches).

You can even stay on the boat. Believe it or not, some people prefer the ship-side world of cruising and will stay onboard. Most people debark, so the ship is nearly empty. There are still places to eat and most of the time the casinos and spas are open. In fact, most spas run specials on port days so if you'd rather get a facial and a pedicure, you can get a bargain on a port day.

 
 

 
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