Table Of Content
Staying on the ship — or wandering the sometimes-sad area right by a port — is no way to get good value from your cruise vacation. Don't let the romance of a tour description convince you to overlook your physical limitations. Overdo it, and you'll waste a vacation day feeling miserable — or, worse, end up with an injury. Get on island time and unwind on some of the best beaches in the world, venture deep into the rainforests, and snorkel the most vibrant reefs on a Caribbean or Bahamas cruise getaway with the whole family. As the fashionable French sister on the conjoined island of St. Maarten/St.
Havana: Old Havana Tour with Complimentary Cocktail
And if you want more Caribbean cruising tips, check out our best Caribbean cruise content, itineraries, reviews and more. There’s no better way to explore the beauty beneath the waves than on a guided scuba excursion. Dive deep below the surface of the sea with a certified expert and weave through brilliant coral colonies, scour centuries-old shipwrecks and come face-to-face with exotic aquatic critters.
Belize City: Cave-tubing and Ziplining Through the Rainforest
Our favorite option is snorkeling and swimming with sea turtles in the protected waters of Akumal Beach. Montego Bay offers the same water sports, beach breaks and dolphin encounters as does Ocho Rios. For something a little more Jamaican, take a plantation tour, such as the one to Croydon Plantation.
Full vs. Half-Day Tours:
Head out to Magens Bay for a couple of hours of fun in the sun; afterward, you'll be transferred to Charlotte Amalie for some duty-free shopping. Possibly the best things to do in the French isle of Martinique are shop for French luxury goods and hit the beach, but you don't need an excursion to do that. For a little shore tour adventure, try a half-day tour of the Balata Garden, an impressively maintained botanical collection of tropical vegetation.
You'll visit a historic plantation house and taste pineapples, bananas or sugarcane, straight from the source. You're likely to catch a glimpse of sea turtles, rays and all sorts of tropical fish and coral if you head out to Bonaire's pristine waters for snorkeling or scuba diving. Get out on the water by boat, then dive in; it's tough to beat the variety of marine life that surrounds this Southern Caribbean island. Explore the cave system on an electric tram tour, with commentary provided by an informative tour guide. Note that some full-day island highlights tours also factor in a visit to the cave as part of its circuit. To help you out, we've created a cheat sheet highlighting our favorite Caribbean cruise excursions in 30 of the Caribbean's top cruise ports.
It's best to book in advance for must-do tours and limited-availability excursions (like almost every excursion on an Alaskan cruise or flightseeing while docked on a cruise to Hawaii). Some shore tours -- such as daylong trips from Tunis to the marketplace, museum and ancient Carthage -- pack many activities into one trip. Others focus on one destination or activity, like a trip to the Mayan ruins from Cozumel.
ADD A BOOKING
This crystallized limestone cavern comes teeming with streams, pools, stalactites and stalagmites. While the Caribbean is most well-known for sun and sand, there's lots of history on offer as well. In St. John's, Antigua, the historical highlights are Nelson's Dockyard and Shirley Heights, both of which are remnants of the island's British military past. The purchase window for certain products and activities closes before to the sail end date.
Land Vacations
You'll likely want to tip more for customized, private tours — consider 5 to 20% of the cost of the tour. On any cruise heading to St. Lucia, you'll hear talk of the famous Pitons. The island's two volcanic spires are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and many would say a visit here is not complete without at least catching a glimpse of them. The charms of a stroll through Old Town are not to be missed, but for nature lovers, one of San Juan's most stunning nearby natural attractions is the nearly 29,000-acre El Yunque National Forest. The tropical rainforest is known for its myriad waterfalls, scenic views and hiking trails.
Aruba: Island Highlights Tour
Grenada is also known for its beautiful Grand Etang National Park, based around the crater lake of an extinct volcano. An island combo tour will typically take you to both, as well as to Fort Frederick and Annandale Falls. Cool off in Grand Turk's turquoise waters on a snorkeling tour; many of them are run aboard scenic catamaran sailings. The Southern Caribbean island of Dominica is a nature-fanatic's paradise; it's home to more than 170 types of birds, numerous waterfalls and mountains that rise to 5,000 feet.
Things I Don't Pay Extra for on Carnival Cruises To Save Money - Cruise Blog
Things I Don't Pay Extra for on Carnival Cruises To Save Money.
Posted: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
I find that the more I cruise, the less I take ship-sponsored shore excursions because they don't offer exactly what I want. Alternatively, you can wait until you're on the ship and book your excursion in person at the shore excursions desk. You'll be able to ask the staff questions about the tours, and the charges will be added to your final cruise bill.
For shore excursions that are not included in your cruise fare, budget a minimum of $50 per adult per excursion. There is no real upper limit as exclusive tours could cost thousands of dollars. Cruise line tours are convenient, but they're not always the most customizable or economical options. If you're traveling as a family or with a group of friends, you might be better off hiring your own guide for the day.
This is the best route if there's a ship's tour you absolutely want to take and you don't want to risk its selling out. When my parents traveled on a luxury Regent Seven Seas cruise, they said that waiting until the next morning to book tours meant that some of their choices were sold out. Some shore excursions are targeted at families or can easily accommodate children. Some can accommodate passengers with mobility issues or other disabilities. Others may require a minimum level of fitness and are not suitable for everyone. If you came all this way on a cruise to see the local sights, don't let the cost of exploring limit that experience.
Your cruise director or the daily newsletter will usually inform you if it's necessary to take your passport with you on a shore excursion. It’s also wise to take along the information provided by the ship about their agent in each port and the contact information for the local consulate. If you miss the ship’s departure, life will be easier with a passport. The same would be true if you are injured and unable to contact the ship. Most travelers rely on carrying a copy of their passport in ports, leaving the originals locked away safely in their staterooms.
You are free to come and go at will from most cruise ships while they are in ports of call. Shore excursions are simply one means to explore the areas visited by the ship and to participate in available activities off the ship. While luxury lines, river cruises, small coastal ships, expedition ships and even some premium cruise lines include some shore excursions in their fares. Other tours on those lines and all excursions offered by mainstream cruise lines must be purchased. Some take up all your time in port, while others are just a few hours of an all-day visit.
Shore excursions may be booked and prepaid online up to three days before sailing. Your Digital Tour Tickets will be available under My Account in Navigator. You will also be able to request tours on the ship at the shore excursion Office. Shore excursions typically highlight the marquee attractions or culture of the destination you're visiting.
No comments:
Post a Comment