Shore Excursions and Optional Tours: For Those That Don't Enjoy Sitting in Large Buses --Personalize Your Cruise Vacation Experience Ashore
Your Cruise Price Is Rarely "All Inclusive"
A large part of your cruise expenses are included in one price: accommodations, onboard meals, plus additional amenities like room service, use of the fitness center, entertainment and many onboard activities.
However, not usually included (except on a few luxury cruise lines) are items such as alcoholic beverages, premium coffee drinks and sodas, spa services and fitness classes, casino games and shipboard gratuities.
What About Cruise Shore Excursion Costs
Another cost consideration in budgeting a cruise vacation is what you plan to do ashore at ports of call. Your time ashore is an important element of a cruise vacation. All cruise lines sell shore excursions. (On Regent Cruises and many river cruises, many excursions are included free.) Some cruise lines publish their optional excursions on their websites, as these can be planned and reserved in advance (recommended) as well as onboard. The most popular shore excursions do sell out, and the most unique often have limited space. By preparing in advance, you can avoid disappointment and save time not spending valuable vacation time planning these once onboard. Our cruise agents can explain your options to you.
Custom-Arranged Shore Excursions
Buying the cruise line's shore excursions, however, isn't your only option. TravelStore arranges shore excursions for individuals or groups directly with our suppliers in the ports you're visiting, as well as customized luxury travel experiences. The advantages are:
-- comparable trips would often be less costly,
-- you'll end up in a much smaller group of travelers, if not your own private guide, and
-- they can be customized to your interests
-- and your limited time ashore can be put to the best and most efficient use for you.
We can also arrange pre- or post-cruise hotel stays. (Read more about Extending your cruise and CruiseTours.)
Private Tours -- Optimizing Your Time And Experience
Many of our customers prefer customized excursions with a private car and driver, (which we include on some of our luxury cruises like Seabourn and Silversea), to avoid traveling with 50 other people by motorcoach while exploring a port of call. We can provide you more personalized and exclusive experiences, and if you have specific interests, those can be better met on a private tour. For a couple, a private tour option may cost more than taking an organized group tour offered by the cruise line. However, if you are a family traveling together, or two couples, the cost may be very competitive with, if not better than, what the cruise lines charges for a large group tour. The cruise expert with whom you book your cruise can assist in planning and arranging various options for you.
Safety Concerns Ashore
In some locations, taking a local taxi may not be advisable or a preferred means of transport. Taxis are not always clean vehicles, may not be air conditioned (if you are in a hot climate), and drivers may not be safety conscious. Booking your own excursion while in port also warrants caution: you won't know if the business you are dealing with is properly licensed, if they are reputable, if they are properly insured (with an American insurance company), and if they adhere to safety requirements. Cruise lines, and the suppliers we use, work with local tour companies that meet such requirements. Plus, cruise lines generally work with operators that carry insurance with U.S. jurisdiction, permitting passengers to sue in a U.S. court if something goes wrong. Regardless of the portside activities you choose, we strongly recommend all travelers purchase travel insurance. Once you've booked your cruise with us, study the ports of call, the amount of time you'll be in each port, and review with your cruise planner what your interests might be and what excursions we can arrange for you. This will help enhance your cruise experience considerably, and is part of the service included when you book your cruise with us.
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