Shore Excursions and Optional Tours

The other major cost consideration in budgeting a cruise vacation is what you do while visiting the various ports of call on your itinerary. All cruise lines sell (or offer) shore excursions for the ports they call upon. These generally include a wide variety of choices, many of which are popular with travelers, and some that are designed to appeal to those with specific interests, or those more adventurous.

Some cruise lines publish their optional excursions on their website, or provide passengers with a printed booklet, so these can be planned and reserved in advance or onboard. (Some do sell out, and by planning in advance you avoid disappointment as well as maximize your vacation time by not having to consider these during the cruise.)

Cruise lines appreciate the desires of their passengers, and in recent years have broadened the variety and diversity of the excursions they offer. Some are adventurous while others offer behind-the-scenes experiences.

However, taking advantage of the cruise line's excursions isn't your only option. In addition to the cruise line's selections, TravelStore can arrange excursions directly with our suppliers overseas or in the ports you're visiting. The advantages of having us arrange your excursions is these would be comparable to and often less costly than what the cruise lines offer, and usually comprise a much smaller group of travelers.

In addition, we can arrange private excursions or customized excursions where you will have a private car and driver, and avoid traveling with 50 other people by motorcoach while commuting or sightseeing. This is much more personalized and exclusive, and if you have specific interests, those can be better met on a private tour. On select Silversea cruise departures, for example, we often include a private car and driver in a select port of call.

For a couple, a private tour option will usually cost more than taking an organized group excursion 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 comparable excursion.

Most passengers prefer more personal experiences, and it is these that often make a trip more memorable. The cruise expert with whom you book your cruise can assist in planning and arranging various options for you.

Of course, it is not necessary to spend money on shore excursions. One can, in many ports, walk off the ship and enjoy a walking tour on one's own, and with a little advance research, have some good ideas on what there is to visit or see, and how to enjoy one's time. This can work well for the prepared traveler, but only in certain ports where the ship docks near the heart of town.

In some locations, the port is a rather long distance from town, where walking or taking a taxi is not very practical. For example, on a European cruise, the port for Rome and Florence is Livorno, which is a good 45-60 minute drive from the port -- each way.

And in some locations, taking a local taxi may not be advisable or a preferred mode 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 (and 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 is something goes wrong. Regardless of the portside activities you choose, we strongly recommend all travelers purchase travel insurance.

So 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.