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The small group tour allowed us to see all three and not feel rushed, impossible with a big bus cruise ship tour. However, in some destinations, a shore excursion, or independently operated guided tour, is highly encouraged. This could be in places where it's difficult to navigate as a foreigner who can't speak the language or understand street signs or where the tourism infrastructure is not yet fully developed. It’s not necessary to spend any money at all to enjoy some of the highlights of Flåm. Allow about 45 minutes for the walk to the historic Flåm church, a 17th-century wooden church located at the heart of the old village center.
Scenic Views of Mykonos
It’s a computer that dates from the first century B.C. I had done quite a bit of reading prior to our visit so we skipped a tour guide. Had this option cost us $, I would have opted just to take a taxi to sights but since it was no cost with all our credits it was not a bad way to spend the day. NCL had candy set out, pumpkins carved and it was cute to see groups of passengers dressing up a little here and there. We booked the Venice hoho with Leonardo Da Vinci Museum. We did not have a terrible time but there are much better ways to see Venice.
Norwegian Cruise 'Free at Sea' Promo Worth It for Family, Mostly - Business Insider
Norwegian Cruise 'Free at Sea' Promo Worth It for Family, Mostly.
Posted: Mon, 09 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Are shore excursions worth it?
The ones on Viator leave too early for our port times. Check out the ports of call boards and ask questions there. Do some research beyond Cruise Critic, such as the Rick Steves Guide to Mediterranean ports. NCL likely offers excursions to the most popular sites in all the ports. General guidebooks, meaning not cruise related, can also provide good information. I check out everything my local library has on places I plan to visit.
Fjord Sightseeing Cruise
I did hear a little rumbling about wait for tenders. Likely because we were on an excursion and also stayed in Kotor till well after dark. I warmed up to our tour guide as the tour progressed.
We have been to all these ports a couple of times. Sounds like you have already done some research (since you knew about the ruins in Malta). Figure out what interests you most and ask more questions. Most cruise lines either charge the same prices for shore excursions booked online and on board or offer a discount for tours purchased in advance. For example, Royal Caribbean often advertises up to 30% off select tours reserved ahead of the sailing.
When making an independent booking, take care to understand the timetable and the conditions of booking. There aren’t many departures, so you need to be sure of timings. One issue with this popularity is the lack of availability of some cruise line excursions. Some popular organized trips, notably the Flåm Railway, often sell out in advance of the cruise setting sail.
Active Excursions vs. Sightseeing Tours:
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. Book your tours the minute they open for reservations. 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.
What's the best way to book shore excursions?
The ship’s excursions get you to the markets, often with some city highlights along the way, then leave you with a few hours of shopping time. You are then free to make your way back to the ship or to a meeting point for the return trip as a group. 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.
How to Get the Most From Your Shore Excursion: Pro Tips for Your Tour
A half-day tour might only focus on one specific itinerary -- a three-hour kayak trip or a highlights tour of a city -- while leaving you with free time to explore the port on your own before or after. The benefits of booking a shore excursion through your cruise ship are many. You can skip the hassle of arranging your own onshore activities, you'll know the tour provider has been vetted by the cruise line and is licensed and reputable. The ship also won't leave until all of its tour buses have returned -- even the tardy ones. And you might meet shipmates whose company you'll enjoy back on the ship. I've taken shore excursions around the world, both ship-run and independent, and spent many days in port wandering on my own.
Next, consider your physical abilities and any mobility concerns. Some excursions require walking or hiking over uneven terrain, while others may involve water sports or other physical activities. Make sure to read the excursion description carefully before booking.
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. 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.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers six new shore excursion categories - TTG Asia
Norwegian Cruise Line offers six new shore excursion categories.
Posted: Wed, 21 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Well the good luck with excursions kind of took a turn here. In hindsight I should have booked the tour to the caves but we did the Robola winery and St Andres Monastery. The Monastery was pretty and we purchased some good Kefalonian honey at the winery. We did not partake in the wine tasting but those that did said it was not the best wine. In addition we stopped in a little town where a dog came out to greet us and some lady had ducks squawking. Our guide showed us a restaurant that used to be open but the owner got sick so it closed a couple years ago.
Had a great time and met some wonderful new friends. We usually book our shore excursions independently however this sailing had some extra perks and obc which made booking excursions through the cruise line too inexpensive to pass up. We had done versions of this sailing a few times before so I’ll comment/compare independent excursions we have taken in the past to the NCL shore excursions. Some were a bust but most had at least something worthwhile and some of NCL’s excursions were down right excellent.
I had read reviews of this excursion prior to sailing so my expectations were tempered. We took the boat to Murano, got off, walked around the island and had lunch and then took the boat back to the port. I had planned to get off at St. Marks Square on the return but it started raining pretty hard so we went back to the ship. It served a purpose for free so I couldn’t complain.
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