Should You Book Shore Excursions Through the Cruise Line?

When I cruise I want to make the best use of my time in port.  There’s always so much to see and do and a limited amount of time to fit it all in. Sometimes that means hubby and I will walk off the ship and head out on our own, other times we’ll book a private excursion and there are many times when we’ll book our shore excursion directly from the cruise line.

Here’s some reasons why you may want to consider booking your shore excursion with the cruise line.

If you find remote Caribbean islands, European cities and Mediterranean towns a bit intimidating and you’re generally not the adventurous type, a shore excursion with the cruise line is a perfect fit for

you! There’s no need to worry about the details like where to go, when to go there, how to get back and not knowing the language. Whether you want to spend the day at a beautiful beach, visit a museum, or bike through the country side, the cruise line has something for everybody.

When time or distance is a concern one big advantage of booking your excursion through the cruise line is that you’ll have a guarantee that the ship won’t leave without you. What if your bus, taxi or tour boat breaks down? Or you get lost? Or your tour guide or taxi driver “takes you for a ride”? I can tell you from personal experience, this stuff happens! One too many times I’ve suffered heart-pounding anxiety wondering if I’d make it back in time (ask my friends about our time in Sicily)!  Thank goodness, I’ve always made it, because it would NOT be fun having to find my own way to the next port, at my own expense.

If you like adventurous activities like zip lines, glacier hiking, or diving you may want to book directly through the cruise line.  It’s peace of mind to know that the tour provider has been vetted for liability insurance and other legalities.

Many of you are taking this cruise vacation because for the last year you’ve been crazy busy at work, scheduling and driving car pools, cooking, cleaning, doing yard-work and 1000 other things!  You may not have the time or energy to plan your perfect day in port. Sometimes convenience is EVERYTHING and it’s just easier to book an excursion with the cruise line!