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If you feel your tour guide went above and beyond to offer an exceptional experience, you can leave him or her a few dollars, but typically anything more than 20 percent is unnecessary. When it comes to available tours, only you know your children's limits, and what works for one child might not for another of the same age. When your group is called, you'll exit the ship together with the other tour participants and look for a crewmember holding a sign with the name (or number) of your tour on it. And with a little forethought and effort, you'll be exploring ports-of-call in the most efficient way available and by spending far less than your shipmates. Explore the best in every port with a select group of like-minded adventurers. Spend more one-on-one time with your guide, and develop a deeper appreciation of each destination you visit.
If I book a shore excursion and then change my mind, can I get a refund?
If it's important to you, be sure to read the description of your tour thoroughly to see what's included or ask someone at the shore excursions desk on your ship. If you're unsure, bring some snacks and/or bottled water to hold you over. The types of shore excursions offered usually depend on the cruise itinerary. For example, you are likely to find more choices of water sports in warm destinations like the Caribbean, and more tours to historic sites in European cruise ports. Cruise lines provide a lot of details about a shore excursion, from how long it lasts to how much physical activity is involved and how you'll be exploring. Yet so many cruisers don't bother to read the full description or the fine print.
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Also, tipping the tour operator, guide, or driver is custom in many countries, especially when ground transportation is involved. Research the currency of the port you will be visiting, exchange enough cash through the onboard currency exchange, and then make sure there's an ATM at the port for backup if you need it. Most cruisers also have a travel budget and can't just book the most expensive tour in every port.
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The Norwegian Viva's Activities and Excursions Will Never Leave You Bored.
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Full vs. Half-Day Tours:
You will also be able to request tours on the ship at the shore excursion Office. Booking your shore excursion with the cruise line has a number of benefits including variety and convenience. Cruise lines typically offer a number of different shore tours to choose from - for any budget and physical activity level.
Decide how much you want to spend and then portion it out among full-day and half-day tours and independent sightseeing. Prioritize your tour dollars for places where you're docked far from a city or if the excursion you're interested in is harder (or more expensive) to recreate on your own. An organized shore excursion can maximize your time ashore and eliminate the need for making time-consuming arrangements while in port. Cruise lines have tremendous experience in selecting those tours and attractions that they believe will best satisfy their passengers interests, whether its fun, enrichment, high adventure, sight-seeing or relaxation. The tours they select for you will highlight the most popular sites and activities in a particular port of call, so that you can get the most from your visit there. Shore excursions are optional, guided tours in a cruise ship's port of call.
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This is the best route if there's a ship's tour you absolutely want to take and you don't want to risk its selling out. When my parents traveled on a luxury Regent Seven Seas cruise, they said that waiting until the next morning to book tours meant that some of their choices were sold out. However, in some destinations, a shore excursion, or independently operated guided tour, is highly encouraged. This could be in places where it's difficult to navigate as a foreigner who can't speak the language or understand street signs or where the tourism infrastructure is not yet fully developed. Most tours allow you to bring both a camera and binoculars; after all, you are there to see the sights and attractions of your cruise destinations. Some tours, however, may have special directions regarding safety and use of these items during the more physically demanding activities and excursions.
Some river cruise lines offer walking tours in several fitness levels, including gentle or slow walking. If you've booked a shore excursion through your cruise line, tickets will either be delivered to your stateroom or picked up by you at the shore excursions desk onboard. You'll be instructed where to go on the day of your tour, sometimes on the ticket itself. Small to mid-sized ships may publish meet-up instructions in the daily cruise bulletin. If you think independent excursions are for you, you can research and book through third-party providers like Viator (a sister company to Cruise Critic) or ask for suggestions on the Cruise Critic message boards.
What are the cancellation policies for shore excursions?
There are instances when you might be limited to excursions provided by the ship. These usually are cases where local restrictions simply do not allow cruise passengers to freely wander the streets. Your cruise line will advise you in advance if this might be the case in any of your scheduled ports of call.
They also give you the opportunity to either pre-book your tours online on their websites, or wait and book them once you get on the ship. If you book something online and then you change your mind, you can cancel or rebook another tour onboard with 24 hours notice. Since the cruise line offers these conveniences, you may find that some tours may be more pricey than if you had purchased them on your own. This advice won't help you pick a good excursion -- but your feedback can help future cruisers have a better onshore experience.
Having small children should not prevent you from enjoying all the activities available to you on your cruise vacation. Some cruise lines do offer their kids programs while you are in port, giving you the opportunity to enjoy Shore Excursions, independent sight-seeing tours, or shopping off the ship. It depends on the excursion and your specific level of fitness and mobility. Most cruise lines strive to provide a variety of tour types, ranging from low-impact and relaxed to adrenaline-pumping and frenetic. Shore excursion departure times coincide with the ship’s schedule as well as other tours, enabling you to take multiple tours if desired with worry-free return to the ship.
Also, if your independent tour is late returning to the pier, the ship is not required to wait for you. If you came all this way on a cruise to see the local sights, don't let the cost of exploring limit that experience. Staying on the ship — or wandering the sometimes-sad area right by a port — is no way to get good value from your cruise vacation.
If the ship decides to skip a port in which you've booked a ship-sponsored shore tour, your money will be refunded, but policies vary for privately booked shore excursions. Check with your provider before shelling out any money and be sure to get the cancellation policy in writing. In addition, make every effort to notify the provider of your cancellation as soon as you are aware of it. Shore excursions are a great way to make the most of your time in port, but you might get the most value out of a mix of guided tours and independent exploration. Choose the best option based on your budget and interests, and remember to look at both ship-sponsored and independent tour and activity options. And if you feel like staying on board one day while your ship is docked in a port that doesn't interest you, that's okay, too.
Others feature guided components, followed by an hour or two of free time. It depends on the tipping habits of the country you are in, but in most cases, tipping the bus driver, tour guides, and/or local experts or wait staff on your shore excursions is acceptable and appreciated. There is no need to tip any cruise ship staff who are along for the excursion (which sometimes happens on river cruises). You are free to come and go at will from most cruise ships while they are in ports of call. Shore excursions are simply one means to explore the areas visited by the ship and to participate in available activities off the ship. Many tours will include some sort of meal or snack, particularly ones that last for longer periods of time.
Puerto Vallarta is a stunning resort town located on Mexico's Pacific coast in Jalisco state. Known for its spectacular beaches, marine life, water sports, and local resorts, Puerto Vallarta is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. Connect to the world in ways you never imagined and embark on an excursion perfectly tailored to your interests. Finally, some ports are simply wonderful to walk around, popping into shops and local restaurants or bars, going where you will.
Most tour departure times complement the ship's meal service hours, so you can enjoy your meal aboard then go ashore. However, on some full day tours, or if you take more than one tour in a day, your return on board may not coincide with meal hours. In that case, the cruise line may provide a box lunch or full meal at a local restaurant. Fortunately, regardless of when you return, there is always a buffet or snack, and room service is available at all times.
Custom tours may have different cancellation deadlines which will be stated in the proposal. In the rare instance that tours are cancelled by Holland America Line or the tour operator, the full amount will be refunded within four to six weeks after the voyage ends. A shore excursion could be a sightseeing bus tour, a guided visit to a museum or historic site, an athletic activity (like a hike, bike ride or snorkel outing), a day at the beach or a cooking or dance class. Shore excursions typically highlight the marquee attractions or culture of the destination you're visiting.
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