C'mon People!

I can't believe how much like sheep cruise passengers are - especially when it comes to shore excursions - they blindly follow the crowds to the shore excursion desk and book away their tours without doing any research and then wonder why they paid $100 for a bus tour they could have done just as interestingly by themselves - FOR FREE!

I mean, it doesn't take much does it - a few hours on the internet on web sites like this one - a couple of hours at the library if you don't like the computer? And isn't that the fun of a trip anyway - preparing for it all?

But no - head on down to the shore excursion office - they're bound to offer you the best deals, huh!

Baa baa baa baa baa!

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“He was, I believe, not in the least an ill-natured man: very much the opposite, I should say; but he would not suffer fools gladly.” George Bernard Shaw, “Pygmalion” (1912)

We were on a freighter trip in the Caribbean a few years back and of course they do not have any shore excursions. But the helpful crew had regular taxi drivers they had worked with for years. So we split the cost of a cab ride with a few other passengers not only to the sites on the various islands but to the remoter beaches. Fantastic! On St. Lucia we had a taxi for the entire day and it cost us $100 ... split four ways (and we bought him lunch!) You can’t beat that .... $25 dollars each (although that was about 8 years ago so the price has probably gone up). But since then, in other parts of the world we’ve ignored the cruise line excursions and always make our own arrangements.

Split the cost of a cab ride is a great idea and a darn sight cheaper than taking shore excursions. There is hardly a port anywhere where you can’t get a cab. And in the process you’ll be getting a much better insight in to the people who live there and their culture. I mean who’s ever heard of a silent cab driver!

This is true (especially the bit about garrulous cabbies even when you’re having a problem with his Caribbean accent), but be careful: There are also destinations where you’ll want to be wary . In many ports cab drivers are not always what they seem. If you’re going this route make sure you have an accredited cabbie, preferably one that works for a company.

Planning your own shore excursions goes beyond saving money (and you will). But we’ve always found it enriches our holiday. Once our trip is booked we start our research, isolating each port-of-call and using travel books (you don’t have to buy any – you’d be amazed what you can find in your local library) and of course surfing the Internet. Exploring every destination in detail can be an eye opener.

Hi friends,

I went for a cruise excursion with my friends one year back. That's the was my first cruise trip. That was memorable vacation cruise excursions. Cruise vacations can be a terrific, fun and memorable adventure if you are aware of certain things and if know how to get the most out of the experience. You can certainly prepare and make your cruise holiday your best holiday ever.

If you are a about to embark on your first at sea cruise ship vacation, you are in for a big treat!

If you went for cruise excursions before; you are likely among the 90% of past passengers who continue to take a cruise as their first choice for their well needed get-away.

And if you have not yet enjoyed cruise and stay holidays before, you will be amazed at all the possibilities that exist out there.


Jacob

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Cruise vacations