Should i book shore excursions through the cruise line

The downside to booking excursions through the cruise line are primarily cost and options. But are they really worth it, and what about the alternatives. There are definitely pros and cons to booking yourself vs. Thats why weve put together this list of 8 things your cruise ship wont tell you about shore excursions. Should you book shore excursions through the cruise line. Firsttimers guide to shore excursions cruise critic. Many cruise lines have this information available online. Cruise lines will almost always charge a bit more than booking a similar or sometimes exact same tour elsewhere. Something i get asked quite often is whether or not cruisers should book shore excursions with their cruise line or independently through thirdparty tour companies. As with doctors, its always good to get a second opinion. Ultimately, it may make the most sense to book alaska shore excursions with your ship, but before you do, you should know all your options. Exploring a port of call on a oneday visit to a foreign place is surprisingly different from spending a week in. Private shore excursions allow you to travel with your party alone and, in many cases, to fully customize your shore tour.

One of the biggest questions about shore excursions is whether you should book them independently or book them through the cruise line. In episode 6 of the cruise diaries i talk about how to book shore excursions, staying in touch with a travel group, and money. Booking shore excursions independently vs booking through. Look up your cruise line s list of shore excursions with tour descriptions and prices.

If you decide to book your excursion while on the ship, they will have staff on hand that are familiar with the trips and can answer any questions you might have. Not only are they easy to book, but if you book through the cruise line, there is usually a guarantee that. Theres always so much to see and do and a limited amount of time to fit it all in. Visiting a port of call on a oneday visit to a foreign place is a whole lot different from spending a week at. The excursions offered through the cruise lines have some big advantages. Home prearrival planning 1 simple rule to booking shore excursions aug there is 1 short and sweet rule to booking excursions in alaska, especially if your cruise is. This question is a bit tricky so i have highlighted some of my reasons to book shore excursions with your cruise line as well as when it is a good idea to go third party. In addition to the cruise line, you can also book trips through thirdparty websites like viator. These sites make it simple to find daytrips no matter where you are headed and can often have more options than whats available through the cruise line. Its worth checking prices however because there have been a few occasions weve found cruise lines.

Good times to book excursions through your cruise line youre a firsttime cruiser. For groups of 4 or more, we can usually arrange a private shore excursion for less than the cost of a large cruise line tour. While cruise line excursions sometimes can be expensive, they do guarantee that you get to see some sites on your brief shore visit. Ed perkins a nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, ed perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid. Most of the major cruise lines are honoring their black friday deals through cyber monday, with discounts, value adds and special offers on. Is it better to book shore excursions through your cruise ship, or should you arrange port activities on your own, independently of your cruise line. When i cruise i want to make the best use of my time in port. Should i book my shore excursions on my own or through the.