Book excursions through cruise line or on your own

Should you book a cruise excursion with your cruise line. Whats better cruise line sponsored shore excursions or diy. When it pays to book an excursion through carnival carnival. Popular shore excursions tend to sell out quickly, but thats not the only reason you want to plan ahead. With all of that in mind a good question to ask is, should i book airfare on my own or through the cruise line. You can join a shore excursion organized by your cruise line, you can make a cruise excursion through a local tour operator or you can organize your cruise excursion on your own. Booking shore excursions independently vs booking through. We book more noncruise line excursions then cruise line excursions. Private islands many cruise lines now offer ports at their own private islands. One of the biggest questions about shore excursions is whether you should book them independently or book them through the cruise line. Difference between drivers, tourist guides and tour escorts.

When your cruise ship is docked in port and you decide to go ashore, you basically have 3 options. There are two primary means of booking a shore excursion. Clearly, in this circumstance booking your excursions directly through the cruise. If theyre running late, if the van breaks down, etc, the ship will wait for you, or they will transport you to the next port to meet the ship.

Cruise lines will offer you all kinds of reasons for booking your alaska. Inevitably when you cruise, youll come across a fellow traveler who likes to do their own thing, including arranging their own shore excursions. But, as a former accredited cruise counselor with cruise lines international association clia, im here to give you 10 reasons why you should book your shore excursions with norwegian cruise. Is it better to book the excursions through the reddit. Should you book cruise excursions through the cruise line or with an independent company. Should you book cruise excursions with your cruise line. You can often save money by eliminating the cruise line middleman, or customize the trip to. With the former, you can be on a much smaller boat about 620 people as opposed to over 100, with an experienced captain who is well informed about the whales. The biggest advantage of booking them on your own through an independent vendor ahead of time or once onshore is definitely cost. The cruise lines want you to think that booking your port shore excursions through them is the most hasslefree, and time savings way to enjoy your time while off the cruise ship. If youre willing to arrange your own excursion, you can save some money, since the ship typically. Because cruise lines bring in the majority of potential customers especially in. A cruise lets you discover many places in a short amount of time. They also usually offer a guarantee that they will have you back to your ship ontime.

Alaskan cruise excursions, ship vs book your own pros and. Booking shore excursions independently vs booking through the. The moment you book your cruise, youll be invited to start booking your excursions for ports as well. When time or distance is a concern one big advantage of. Book your own cruise excursions for up to 40% less than the cruise ships charge. Exploring a port city on your own while on a cruise can make you feel like the new kid in class, a stranger in a strange land.

A lot of excursions offered through cruise lines are for trips you could do on your own. So your decision on whether to purchase your air directly with the airline or through the cruise line is up to personal preference. Hello ta friends, i have just recently booked a cruise my first time ever on a cruise to alaska from june 512 round trip from seattle on the. Its quick and easy to pick the ones you want and move on with your life. That answer actually depends totally on whom you speak with, and for many, the reality of things couldnt be more farther from the truth. To avoid this, book 12 day excursions and leave yourself plenty of time on the backend for delays.

Is it better to book excursions through the cruise ship. That is right if you book third party and do not make it bake to the port and onto your ship on time it will not wait for you. While the cruise lines offer excursions through them, they arent your only choice in booking a tour. Organize your own cruise shore excursions tips for cruise shore excursions what is a shore excursion. These must be cancelled 30 days prior to sailing to avoid cancellation. In terms of pricing youll of course find any number of prices depending on the excursions youre looking at, but if you compare booking a tour independently vs a nearly identical tour through the cruise line youre very likely to find it cheaper to go at it on your own, leaving more money for say booking another cruise.

But, as a former accredited cruise counselor with cruise lines international association clia, im here to give you 10 reasons why you should book your shore excursions with norwegian cruise line. Nov 30, 2017 should you book a cruise excursion with your cruise line. The seven pros and five main cons are discussed by gary bembridge, cruise. Although you might not save money, youll probably have a much better excursion through an independent vendor than with the cruise excursion. These are usually the more active type excursions such as snorkeling, diving, kayaking, horseback riding, etc. How to book a royal caribbean shore excursion royal. Should you book your shore excursions through royal caribbean, or should you book tours on your own. But if you make your own arrangements, you run the risk of missing the boat should something go off schedule. Is it best to book shore excursions via the cruise line or. However, booking direct is also the most expensive option.

Some excursions require a waiver to be completed and signed before participation. Booking excursions in advance also helps you rein in your travel budget. To inquire about coverage for your added shore excursions, please contact your. The reason you book excursions through the cruise line is so that you are guaranteed you will get back on the boat. You actually have several alternatives to the options your cruise line is selling. Inevitably when you cruise, youll come across a fellow traveller who likes to do their own thing, including arranging their own shore excursions. I also know that i will probably be the oddnumbered passenger on the tour. Shore excursions can be cancelled or modified up to 24 hours prior to scheduled tour departure for a full refund. Shore excursions group llc offers independent excursions in most ports around the world, with prices that typically are lower than those offered by the cruise line. You can join a shore excursion organized by your cruise line, you can make a cruise excursion through a local tour operator or you can organize your cruise excursion. Going at it completely on your own isnt the only option though. Theres much to be said for cruiseline shore excursions, but its not necessary to book tours through the cruise line, or even do an organized activity at all. Dont waste your first day on the ship standing in line at the shore excursions desk, only to find out that the tour you wanted is sold out. While im pretty comfortable booking my own shore excursions not through the cruise line, you may not be the same.

If you book independently and you miss the ship you are on your own. If your desired excursion is to a local beach, for example, you can often skip the group trip and the expense and just get a taxi to the beach yourself. We have booked all of our excursions through private companies including car rental in skagway. Well, if you book your trip through the cruise line, youre guaranteed not to be left if the trip is delayed. Mar 08, 2016 its quick and easy to pick the ones you want and move on with your life. The seven pros and five main cons are discussed by gary bembridge, cruise expert and author. I am going on a royal caribbean cruise in march to cozumel, mexico.

Cruising solo and booking your own shore excursions. Stunning natural beauty aside, the allure of a small island is that its easy to get off the beaten path and even better when you have a local to show you how. Just like in school, when a new friend was able to show you the ropes and make those first days immeasurably easier, experiencing the ports through shore excursions rather than blazing your own trail can make your cruise to the caribbean, mexico, or wherever you might. Not only are most of these unavailable through royal caribbean, they are. Firsttimers guide to shore excursions cruise critic. Planning your own shore excursions can add savings. We book more non cruise line excursions then cruise line excursions. When youre booking an all day tour or one that is far from port, having this type of reassurance means less time spent watching the clock and more time enjoying the moment. Here are five tips to consider before deciding if you should skip the ships shore excursions and book an independent tour.

Planning your own shore excursions can add savings, spontaneity. Book your own tour in advance through a local provider. If youre looking to snag a spot on an excursion with limited availability like an alaskan helicopter glacier tour, book your spot on the cruise lines website as soon as possible. Cruise lines contract with local outfitters to provide shore excursionsat a bulk discountthen charge you anywhere from ten to forty percent more than the retail cost of the excursion. Seasoned cruise travelers know that there are convenient and affordable alternatives to booking your shore excursions directly through the cruise line. First, are these worthwhile and second, does anyone have contact info for independent businesses that conduct the same adventures. Good times to book excursions through your cruise line youre a firsttime cruiser. If you need assistance with how to book your shore excursions online, please contact our online support desk.

Chances are their shore excursions cost less, have fewer people and have a selection of tours not offered by the cruise ship. Alaskan cruise excursions, ship vs book your own pros. But the people who book independently are on the same tour as those who book through the ship, so the timing remains the same. Jun 26, 2008 theres much to be said for cruise line shore excursions, but its not necessary to book tours through the cruise line, or even do an organized activity at all. 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. Mar 15, 2010 should i buy the cruise lines shore excursions. The primary benefit of booking excursions through the cruise line is that they guarantee your. Should you book shore excursions through the cruise line. Thats why weve put together this list of 8 things your cruise ship wont tell you about shore excursions. That is right if you book third party and do not make it bake to the port and onto your ship on. In addition, you get flexibility when you tour on your own you can plan to leave the ship whenever you feel like it and its almost always cheaper than booking a tour through the line. 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. While it may seem easier to book your shore excursions direct through your cruise line, if you look to those experts on the ground, youll get the same phenomenal service and sometimes better pricing from a bermudian insider.

This generally means that if youre on a tour thats scheduled to finish 30 minutes before sailaway and the tour is in some way delayed, the ship will wait until youre safely back onboard to set sail. Often, the most exciting excursions will sell out almost immediately after booking opens. If you are headed to a port thats a major cruise stop like cozumel or nassau, then you can also search for independent excursions on your own. Prebooking your shore excursions can save you time and money. Contact the shore excursion manager onboard if you have any concerns. I have never been on a cruise, and am trying to decide if booking shore excursions through the cruise line is the best way to go, or if these ports are the sort of places you can just explore on your own. Confirm your excursions in advance, so you can spend that first day relaxing and getting to know your ship instead. Either way, you will find more options and combinations if you book on your own than through the cruise line.

Should i book my excursion through the cruise line. The best reason to book your shore excursion with royal caribbean is the convenience and reliability the cruise line provides. Should i book my shore excursions on my own or through the. Self booking cruise excursions pros and cons youtube. Visiting a port of call on a oneday visit to a foreign place is a whole lot different from spending a week at. Something to keep in mind about booking your shore excursions through the cruise company is that if something happens and the shore excursion company does not get you back to the ship before it sails the cruise company will do whatever has to be done to get you back on the ship. Look up your cruise lines list of shore excursions with tour descriptions and prices. Is it best to book shore excursions via the cruise line or on your own. How to book shore excursions on your cruise vacation usa today. How to book shore excursions on your cruise vacation usa.

Ironically the one time we have been late getting back to the ship was on a carnival excursion in mexico. Organize your own cruise shore excursions shorebee. Many cruise lines have this information available online. At this time, shore excursions can only be purchased online prior to your cruise or once onboard. The main reason folks book shore excursions through their cruise line is for convenience and the fact that they wont get left behind. Well give you some pros and cons for booking your excursions through the ship, then well talk about how to book excursions on your own and. You can book through these companies, just like booking through the cruise line. Sometimes that means hubby and i will walk off the ship and head out on our own, other times well book a private excursion and there are many times when well book our shore excursion directly from the cruise line. Add shore excursions, dining, beverage, and internet. Cruise ship shore excursions on the cheap tripsavvy. But some cruise line shore excursions are in large groups or priced at a premium. Everyone, from the dock reps to the bus drivers to the guides, has been trained and coached to keep their timing as consistent as possible no matter. Plan a day on your own on a private tour though some cruise lines will book you a private guide and driver as part of its shore excursions program, too and youll see the sights you want to. In the caribbean, one of my favorite family excursions is to book an allinclusive resort day pass link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra.

How to book cruise excursions for less travelpulse. Excludes tours involving flights, trains, special events, overnight stays, hotel stays, celebrity exclusives, multiday adventures and private journeys. Give yourself time to research the available excursions in each port, as well as the local attractions you can tour on your own for free. Experience each citys mustsee landmarks and iconic sites through shore excursions that ensure you check the most important items off your bucket list. First, are these worthwhile and second, does anyone have contact info for. Should i book my shore excursions on my own or through the cruise line. 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. When it pays to book an excursion through carnival. How to book shore excursions on your cruise vacation. Below, weve outlined the pros and cons of each way of booking your cruise excursion. Several companies including shore excursions group, viator, shoretrips, and specialize in small group and private shore excursions similar to what the cruise lines offer. You cant use the coupon books if you book thru the cruise line. The primary benefit of booking excursions through the cruise line is that they guarantee your return to the ship. Jul 06, 2011 the cruise lines want you to think that booking your port shore excursions through them is the most hasslefree, and time savings way to enjoy your time while off the cruise ship.

Firsttime cruisers guide to cruise excursions allianz. Secrets of cruise ship shore excursions revealed cruise. Do i have to book excursions through the cruise line. However, booking everything through the cruise ship can be a lot more expensive than it needs to be. Booking shore excursions directly through your cruise line. The seven pros and five main cons are discussed by gary bembridge, cruise expert and. We did book one cruise excursion because was same price there was a substantial savings and the private company guarantees making your cruise departure otherwise they will pay hotel and transportation to next stop. There are definitely pros and cons to booking yourself vs. I do my own research and depending on the port and distance of activity we may book a cruise line excursion. Should i book airfare on my own or through the cruise line. Cruise ships will wait for all passengers on shore excursions booked through the cruise line before departing the port even if your tour group is delayed or late.