Shore Excursions are the mini-tours available at the different ports of call that your cruise ship will visit. Before and during your cruise, you will hear many sales pitches by the cruise staff to prebook your excursions. Excursions booked on board the ship or through the cruise line will be relatively expensive. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t book them though in some circumstances. Here are the reasons to book prior to or aboard the ship:
1. You require confirmed reservations and a high degree of certainty in your travel planning.
2. You have limited mobility and/or will require assistance while on tour.
3. You are going to a restricted area or on an adventure (helicopter, train)that will allow only a limited number of visitors.
4. You want to make sure that you have an English speaking guide who is knowledgeable in the areas you are visiting.
However, there are several instances when you do not need to prebook your tours and ultimately you will save a lot of money by arranging them on shore. When visiting Alaska, the Carribean, Hawaii, Mexico and other areas, you will find that as soon as you walk off the dock, there will be individuals offering both bus tours and taxi tours at a price substantially less than the ship was offering. Most of these tours will visit the exact same places that the prepaid tours will visit and as with a taxi tour, you may alter your schedule and time it for as long as you desire. When you purchase a tour from the people on the dock especially in a foreign country, make sure they are known by the local tourist/visitor center (generally right there on the dock) and are considered reputable. When you purchase your tour locally, your dollars will go to benefit the local economy and they will thank you profusely.
