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Viator
 
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 For
many cruisers, the excitement of being on the ship is actually overshadowed by the excitement of being off the ship. For many, this is the reason that
they cruise: To spend time in new and exotic places--often a different port almost every day.
If you are an adventurous traveler, you may want to "do it all on your own" when you reach a port. This
means arranging your own transportation, developing a game-plan for touring and exploring independently. For most
of us, though, we would prefer to take a shore excursion, whether offered by the cruise line or independently.
Shore excursions will take all sorts of forms--from leisurely walks to carriage rides to bungee jumping and more.
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Resources for Cruise Shore Excursions
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Port
Compass
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Viator
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| Online Superstore for shore excursions available worldwide--from the Caribbean
to Alaska to Europe to the Far East and many points in between. |
Viator offers over 4,000 tours, attractions and activities in 400+ cities
in 65+ countries throughout the world. They also offer shuttle services to and from airports around the world.
More information. |
Your cruise ship will usually have a wide variety of these shore excursions available for you to purchase. You
can often do this in advance of your sailing date in order to secure a spot, especially with excursions that are
very popular and have limited availability. Once onboard, there will be a shore excursion office that can handle
the reservations for excursions. Some cruise lines even allow you to book your excursions via an interactive television
in your cabin. Once booked, you will receive tickets for the shore excursion as well as a meeting place either
on the ship or on the pier where you will begin the excursion.
Many cruisers also arrange shore excursions on their own, without the assistance of the cruise line. This can often
be accomplished online, making all arrangements prior to leaving for the cruise. We've found a couple of online
resources where you can make arrangements in advance, saving the hassle of comparing and booking excursions while
you are on your cruise. One example of this is Port Compass, which is an online Superstore for
shore excursions available worldwide--from the Caribbean to Alaska to Europe to the Far East and many points in
between. Based in the United States, Port Compass has forged direct strategic alliances with tour operators, frequently
meaning a good deal less price for the same or similar excursions. Click here for more information. Another resource
is Viator. They offer over 4000 tours in over 65 countries. They have extensive availability in
over 400 locations worldwide. More
information.
Advantages of booking shore excursions with the cruise line
- If you book prior to sailing, you may be charged upfront, which makes budgeting
a bit easier
- If an excursion is delayed, the ship will wait for you
- Cruise lines usually have a good deal of experience working with tour operators.
Although this does not guarantee you a good excursion, it may remove some potential doubt
Advantages of booking shore excursions independently
- Prices are frequently priced less than the same or similar shore excursions offered
by the cruise line
- You may be dealing directly with the local tour operator, rather than having
a "middleman"
- You may have the ability to "tailor" your excursion if you deal directly
with the provider
- There frequently is a wider variety of tours and excursions that are offered
Port Compass:
Shore Excursions Worldwide
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