The options for excursions are as varied as your port of calls. Virtually all cruise lines offer a selection of shore excursions that range from the adventurous to the sublime with options such as touring historic sites, nature walks, diving, snorkeling, shopping, kayaking, golfing, biking, horseback riding, catamaran trips, helicopter and submarine tours. Most tours are scheduled to run for half the day in port allowing you to enjoy the rest of your time ashore for additional site seeing, shopping, or relaxing on the shore.
Booking thru your cruise line has it advantages. You are assured the tour operators are reputable and offer quality trips to the most popular destinations. For added convenience your trip tickets are delivered to your room and if for some reason the trip is cancelled your on board ship account is credited.
Most cruise lines now offer the ability to book your excursions on line ahead of time so you can decide which excursions to take at your leisure. Your travel agent can make the arrangements ahead of time too or you can wait until you're on board.
Those travelers that are familiar with an area or prefer smaller tour operators usually save some money booking directly with a tour operator. In some cases you can even book directly with the tour operator the cruise lines uses by researching which operators they use by checking on line or as soon as you arrive in port. Best bet when booking directly is to research what is available ahead of time, confirm whether the tour operator is reputable, and ask about their cancellation policy.
Downside to booking your own excursions is you might get disappointed if you wait to book when you arrive in port and find all the local tour operators are booked or if your itinerary changes and you do not meet your tour you could lose your deposit.
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