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Typically, you’ll be going on Shore Excursions with like-minded people who enjoy the same interests as you. You might meet some new acquaintances to hang out with once you return to the ship, or maybe you’ll make some new life-long friends. One-stop shopping for all ports on your cruise itinerary. Now, think of the huge hassle of trying to make your own independent tour arrangements in 3, 4 or even 5 destinations. Norwegian Cruise Line has everything you need in Shore Excursions from A to Z, or better noted as every destination from Acapulco, Mexico, to Zadar, Croatia. And you can even print a list of Shore Excursions available for each port.
Day Caribbean Round-trip Miami: Great Stirrup Cay & Dominican Republic
A 3-hour gold panning activity and salmon bake costs $125, while a 2.25-hour tour to take a helicopter ride to the top of the glacier, where you can walk around on the ice for half an hour, costs $420. The knowledge and efficiency of tour operators vary, and some tour offerings are simply duds. You'll also pay a premium for letting the cruise line arrange your day. Ship-arranged excursions also tend to have broad appeal, so if you're interests in a given port are more specific or niche, you may want something outside of the cruise line's offerings. The downside to booking tours in advance is that some cruise lines require that you pay for the tours in full, rather than putting them on your final cruise bill.
Why Book Your Shore Excursions with Norwegian
To enhance each port visit (as well as to increase their profits), cruise lines offer organized shore excursions on all ships for additional fees. These land-based trips run the gamut from sightseeing city tours to cultural events and active pursuits. You can take a sunset pleasure cruise in St. Lucia, visit penguin colonies in Antarctica, go wine tasting in Provence or bike through Copenhagen.
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You can skip the caravan of four large tour buses and trade up for a more exclusive experience. 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. The fun of a cruise is equal parts what you do on board and what you do on shore. Cruise lines offer a full schedule of shore excursions to help you make the most of your time in port. However, the process of choosing and booking tours can be overwhelming for new cruisers.
The indigenous Tlingit people carved and painted the totems, which feature highly symbolic human, animal and supernatural forms. Later, you will cross a river where salmon spawn each summer. Norwegian Cruise Line offers such a fantastic variety of onshore activities - there truly is something for everyone! Plus, you can search through the thousands of available Shore Excursions by activity levels, customer ratings, and duration, as well as by language and price. Because it’s always a hassle to try and make your own travel arrangements. Simply skip the entire frustrating mess of booking yourself by choosing pre-arranged, customer-rated, Shore Excursions with Norwegian Cruise Line.
The key to getting the most from your cruise shore excursion is to know what you want and make sure the tour description matches your expectations. I find that the more I cruise, the less I take ship-sponsored shore excursions because they don't offer exactly what I want. Most people organize these ahead of time through a tour operator or travel agent.
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Shoretime Partners with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings - TravelAge West
Shoretime Partners with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
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Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. If the tour takes place over lunchtime, check to see if a meal is included or if you have time to pick up something to eat. Photographs are for illustration purposes only used to represent the excursion experience and may not accurately depict the excursion, location, or activity indicated. You'll likely want to tip more for customized, private tours — consider 5 to 20% of the cost of the tour.
Not all shore excursions involve busloads of tourists dutifully following flag- or umbrella-waving guides. You will find these types of sightseeing tours, as well as athletic endeavors overseen by dive masters or hike leaders. However, some tours simply bring you to a destination where you're free to explore until it's time to meet the bus to go home. Others feature guided components, followed by an hour or two of free time. Shore excursions are designed for all activitiy levels in almost any mainstream cruise destination. Active tours can include water sports, ziplining, hiking, biking, dog-sledding and more.
Ship-Sponsored Shore Excursions vs. Private Independent Excursions:
If you're a first-time cruiser, it can be helpful to have a few hacks to make your shore excursion experience amazing. Keep these tips in mind when booking, preparing for and embarking on your tour. If you plan to book shore excursions through your cruise line, you have a couple of options of how to book them.
However, in popular cruise ports, there are often representatives waiting at the port or at a tourist office who can book you on same-day tours if space is available. I've taken shore excursions around the world, both ship-run and independent, and spent many days in port wandering on my own. Allow me to take you through the basics of cruise shore excursions, so you can learn to have the most fun no matter what your budget is.
Don’t be surprised if you spot, Harbor porpoise, sea otters and whales along the way. Another side of Alaska awaits you in Sitka National Historical Park, where you will hike through the temperate rainforest. The trail is dotted with brightly colored totem poles that mirror the ones that were exhibited at the 1904 World’s Fair.
In most cases, you don't need to book a shore excursion to explore a port of call. You can simply walk off the ship and stroll into town or catch a cab to take you wherever you want to go. 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.
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. At a minimum, you need a photo ID and your cruise ship ID card. 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. Are there instances where having a passport would help you? 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.
Shore excursions may be sold by your cruise line and organized with a partner provider. They can also be purchased through independent operators or third-party tour sellers. If you've done your research and have decided that you want to do a specific excursion offered on your cruise, think carefully about whether to book in advance or onboard.
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Better still, should an unexpected problem (traffic, a medical emergency) occur during your outing, the ship will not leave port until all of its own tours have returned. Whether you're on a cruise line sponsored or independent shore excursion, a best practice is to tip your tour guides at the end of the tour. Exceptions are if tips are included in the price or if you're visiting a country with a non-tipping culture, where offering cash would be awkward. Looking at Princess Cruises' shore excursions in Grand Cayman, a 2.5-hour stingray swim costs $70 per person, a 5-hour scenic island drive costs $100, and a 4-hour, two-tank scuba dive costs $180. In Juneau, Alaska, a 3-hour tour to the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center costs $50 per person.
Others focus on one destination or activity, like a trip to the Mayan ruins from Cozumel. It's up to you whether you'd prefer to see many things for short amounts of time or focus on one place in depth. There are instances when you might be limited to excursions provided by the ship. These usually are cases where local restrictions simply do not allow cruise passengers to freely wander the streets. Your cruise line will advise you in advance if this might be the case in any of your scheduled ports of call. Sometimes you also need an expert guide, such as in Pompeii, to know what you're seeing.
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