Shore Excursions
What’s the first thing that happened on Noah’s Ark? You guessed it! The passengers were offered an opportunity to purchase a Shore Excursion. And so began a long cruising tradition – sending passenger ashore in organized (and in some cases disorganized) groups. Choices vary from a basic walking tour to flying via helicopter to a glacier and taking a dog sled ride.
There are 3 ways to explore ashore and each has its relative merits. A little research and consideration of your personal travel habits will help you make an informed choice. What is right for you might not be for your fellow travelers. Buying an organized cruise shore excursion from the cruise ship is probably the most common choice. Why? Because the cruise line operates these tours via land-based independent tour operators and exercise significant control over their operation. They also receive significant revenue share and many cruise lines “hype” excursions strongly. Most ships allow you sign up for excursions in advance, charge them to your on-board charge account and provide some degree of inclement weather guarantee. Ship shore excursions cost more than similar choices purchase ashore or from private operators. Why? Because (a) there is a profit margin built into the rate and (b) Cruise lines require proper proof of insurance and (c) If an organized excursion is delayed, the ship knows about it and waits for you.
The second choice is to do your own thing by wading into the hordes of taxi and van drivers who greet most ships. You can often buy the same tour offered on the ship for about 25% less on a direct basis. We recommend doing this only in ports and countries that are not considered remote and undeveloped. If there is good cell phone service, you feel comfortable in the environment and you are not going off the beaten track, then this could be a good choice. If you are taking a tour that drops you at a beach or shopping and the driver needs to return to pick you up ONLY AGREE TO PAY AT THE END OF THE TRIP WHEN YOU ARRIVE BACK AT THE SHIP. You can also ask the driver to see a transportation license, proof of insurance etc. Most independent operators who are allowed direct pier access have passed this vetting process but those lurking outside the gate may not be up to snuff. We also recommend if you use a local tour company, make sure they belong to a taxi or limo cooperative so that if they breakdown alternate transportation is available. World travelers know that the standard of transportation varies hugely from country to country.
Last but not least, is the option to use a shore excursion operator (broker) who is not affiliated with the cruise line but markets to cruise passengers prior to their departure from home. There are several of these operators listed on this site. They are usually reliable and reputable and the rates are very competitive. Dealing with these major private brokers is not difficult as most take on-line or phone reservations. They provide you with vouchers, pick up locations and contact information for the transportation company they work with. Keep in mind that these private shore excursion operators do not own any transportation services but are brokers. However, they are usually process thousands of passengers a year and work hard to insure that their services are good.
TIP: Visit or contact your cell phone carrier to discuss the ports you are visiting and determine if your cell phone will work there. As the world becomes more of a global community, many cell phones that operate in North America also work in the Caribbean, Europe and elsewhere. Sometimes, it requires adding international service to your account or installing a new computer chip. But it is a good investment that makes traveling on your own less stressful. If you are going off to really remote places, consider renting a satellite phone that works virtually anywhere in the world.
