r/Cruise • u/sjsharksfan38 • 9h ago
Question Going on my First Cruise. What are some good alternatives to Cruise Line Excursions?
Hello all,
I'm going on my first Cruise in December on NCL. Going to the Caribbean and Jamaica. I'm looking forward to it, but watching some Youtube Videos (specifically Life Well Cruised), they said don't pay for Excursions via the cruise but do it via third party sites. I know of Shore excursions, but are there other sites you would recommend to look at? If paying for Excursions through the cruise line is not worth it, what are the good alternatives?
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u/PronatorTeres00 9h ago
As first time cruisers, I would 100% consider booking excursions directly through the cruiseline, even if they may be a bit more expensive than outside tour groups.
In my opinion, booking directly with the cruiseline makes travel so easy. You'll receive your excursion tickets when you arrive on board, so that all you have to do is show up at the scheduled meeting time and location. The cruiseline handles everything else, logistics-wise. Also, if the excursion runs late, the ship will wait for you. This is not the case with private tour groups. You're on your own with those.
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u/msears101 9h ago
need specific ports to help you.
I personally like being among the first off, and take in the sights and sounds of the local culture in each port.
One last bit if you ship misses a port and you prepaid for your excursion, you lose your money. You do not lose the money if you use the cruiseline's excursions. You are also guaranteed to not miss the boat.
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u/sjsharksfan38 9h ago
This is my itinerary:
December 9 - Great Stirrup Cay December 10 - Sea December 11 - Cabo Rojo, DR December 12 - Oranjestad Aruba December 13 - Willemstad Curacao December 14 - Sea December 15 - Falmouth Jamaica December 16 - George Town, Grand Cayman December 17 - Sea December 18 - Miami Florida (Disembark)
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u/CymroBachUSA 3h ago
Jamaica is known to be unsafe for solo travellers outside the port area. Go with the cruise line excursion. That said, Falmouth port (the enclosed part) is safe but you'll only see souvenir stands and a few bars.
Aruba and Curacao are very safe. If you just want to walk around the town(s), you can find walking tours via Google. Free and will take in all the sights. If you want a beach, an excursion with any reputable provider should be fine (see cruise critic notice boards and roll calls for your specific itinerary). Grand Cayman is also safe. You can go to Hell for $2.50 each way by public bus and stop off at 7 mile beach on the way back - way cheaper than any excursions.
Miami port is a nightmare - expect to be stuck in traffic to/from the port area so leave time to get to the ship/airport.
Not been to Great Stirrup Cay (but if it's owned by the cruise line, it's safe). Not been to Cabo Rojo.
YMMV.
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u/Dismal-Salt663 8h ago
Nice itinerary. I personally think you could do your own thing in all of those ports except Jamaica. I would stick to a ship excursion there. Cabo Rojo really doesn’t require an excursion. It’s a new port area which has lots of amenities and a beach which should be open if you’re on a larger ship. In the others you shouldn’t have any problem either taking a cab to a beach or doing your own thing or finding a third-party excursion.
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u/jongps 8h ago
OP: My advice as a 58 time cruiser to you as a 1st time cruiser:
go with the cruise line excursions on this your first cruise to learn how the cruise excursion game works.
Look at it like paying a bit extra on this cruise for an On-The-Job training class on cruise excursions. A plus is that you will have no risk of returning late from an excursion and missing the ship on this cruise.
Save your booking of 3rd party excursions for your 2nd cruise.
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u/sjsharksfan38 8h ago
That's probably the best strategy. I'm learning how this whole thing works, so make the mistakes now so you can learn in the future. Also, considering who I'm going with, I don't think I want the added stress.
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u/jongps 7h ago
And I will add one more plus for you booking cruise line versus 3rd party excursions, for a first time cruiser.
If you under estimate how long it will take you to disembark the ship at an excursion port, and you miss the start of your 3rd party excursion, you will be charged by the 3rd party for your error.
Cruise line excursions may meet up on ship and disembark as a group, or provide details on where and when to meet as a group on the pier.
That may also provide more flexibilty and reduced risk with your limited mobilty person.
Enjoy your cruise!
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u/DizzyCod3204 7h ago
I totally agree with this and have been honest ship where a couples excursion came back late and have heard from several others that it’s happened to
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u/gkal1964 7h ago
Like the other said for your first cruise stick with the cruise ship and get your sea legs. Then on your next cruise, you can use Viator or get a Guide are both excellent. Just watch The Times and make sure you got a little cushion cause you don’t have a guarantee to get back on the ship. So if the excursion is gonna be close book it to the ship.
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u/Missus_Aitch_99 6h ago
Viator and Shore Excursions Group are both good. You can also book directly by googling local provider, like "St. Thomas Jetski Rental" etc.
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u/dogmonkeybaby 9h ago
Just go explore. You don't need a middle man to do 90% of the stuff thats advertised. Just do your research
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u/AvtrPete 9h ago
The only times you want to book an excursion through the cruise line is if you’re headed somewhere that is far from the cruise port, and the logistics to get there and back are challenging or more complicated. You will pay extra for an excursion through the cruise line, but it will be worth it for the peace of mind knowing that the ship will wait for you if you’re running late.
Otherwise, you can do most things on your own, not even needing a third party shore excursion operator. Personally, I’ll research what I want to see or do, figure out different ways of making it happen, and the vast majority of times I can do it on my own, either by walking there, taking a taxi, or public transportation. I haven’t purchased an excursion in many years.
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u/WishIwastravelin 8h ago
There are times you should book with the cruise line, and always compare the ship excursions with private vendors. If they are priced similarly, book through the cruise. If it’s a full day excursion and an hour away from port, book through the cruise. If there are safety concerns in port, book through the cruise. A big advantage to booking through the cruise is also that the ship won’t leave you behind in case of delays on the road. If I book an outside vendor, I prefer half day excursions so I know I have enough time. I also look for activities I can do on my own, especially if I want a beach day or a resort pass for a day. So websites that I use are Resort for a day and TripAdvisor.
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u/CuratedbyKarin 8h ago
Resort for a day and shore excursions group I have used both personally without issues. Don't go with the cruise ship options unless there is something very specific you can't access otherwise.
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u/stychentyme 7h ago
I’d stick with the Cruise line excursions. It might cost a bit more but you’ll never be late back to the ship.
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u/bigedthebad 2h ago
We were like 3 hours late getting back on a ship excursion and they waited for us.
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u/BasketAffectionate49 3h ago
I am taking my very first cruise in September to Alaska. I booked one excursion through the cruise line and two others independently. You'll be fine if you want to book independently. Just really be on top of your time management.
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u/band-of-horses 9h ago
Depends... I like to just look up basic info on the best sights, activities, dining, etc and figure out what interests me and what I'd like to do there. Then you can look up operators offering tours to do whatever it is you decide you want to do, through Viator or independent providers found via a google search. Or if it's just a specific area you want to go to, just taking a taxi or uber there.
Just be very mindful of times and tour lengths. If you book independently, the boat will not wait for you to return and you'll have to find your way to the next port or back home on your own dime if you miss the boat.
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u/Graztine 9h ago
It’s definitely cheaper to book excursions directly instead of through the cruise line, but given this is your first cruise, it may be worthwhile to pay the extra for the convenience and piece of mind knowing that they will get you back in time. Life Well Cruised gives a lot of good information, but just because something works well for her and her family, does not mean it’s the best choice for you. I don’t know about her specifically, but some YouTubers have referral programs with the excursion companies, so the information they provide may be biased.
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u/sjsharksfan38 9h ago
At the time I saw it it was one of those sponsor type ad reads so I do admit it was biased. The whole message though of you don't need to book through a cruise line (And the recommendation to not do that) just gave me things to think about before I go. I also am going with someone who did have a stroke last year and it took a lot of his eyesight and is a lot more sleepy than prior to the stroke, so that is a consideration as well
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u/Old_Cats_Only 9h ago
Definitely watch some other videos as I found hers are pretty biased and don’t address situations that someone needs for accessibility. I’m mobility challenged and prefer Fraser at Sea as he includes areas for scooter/wheelchair users and other things to consider for special needs. Someone with less eyesight and less energy is going to tire out on the long walks through some ports so you may want to consider a scooter rental to save their energy. It’s been a complete game changer for me. I couldn’t travel otherwise and could never have traveled solo like I do. Also, I have a driver in Jamaica if you’d like his number. He’s amazing and shared a lot of history with me.
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u/LayerNo3634 9h ago
Sometimes, depending on port times, it does make sense to book through the cruise. We wanted to do a certain excursion, but timing was going to be tight due to a short port day. We decided it was worth the extra money to get that guarantee and make them responsible to get us back on the ship.
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u/CruisePlanners 9h ago
Since it’s your first cruise I’d get excursions via the cruise line so you learn about the ships schedule for getting on and off the ship. I think doing that is a great way learn how you cruise and what you feel comfortable with doing. If you do use another vendor make sure they have a return to ship guarantee and that they track the status of your ships time for getting into the dock. Just my thoughts…
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u/SnooDonuts2341 9h ago
Taking a cruise line excursion may cost a bit more however you are “guaranteed” to get back on the ship. If the excursion you are considering is a bit far from the from the ship, using a third party excursion can be risky. Cruise ships use “All-aboard” time, not actual departure time. If the gangway has been locked, you need to find your own way to get to the next port of call. We have seen so many people left behind running frantically towards the ship after the gangway has been locked and then dropping to their knees and sobbing.
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u/WorldWideJake 9h ago
My favorites are the following because they have return-to-ship guarantees. If you miss the boat, they will return you to your ship at their expense.
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u/Suspicious_Fish_960 7h ago
I’m going to conzumel and plan on booking tickets to Kuza Beach Club on their site. It’s not my first cruise but my first time doing an excursion. I have done research and many just take cabs to the beach club and return to port 2 hours before port call. The price via cruise for the package we want is way cheaper through the direct website vs. cruise line. Any thoughts or advice on what is best to do would be helpful.
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u/bigedthebad 2h ago
Get off the ship and walk around.
Also, I know lots of people use third party for excursions but I refuse to take that chance just to save a few bucks
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u/ExtraAd7611 1h ago edited 1h ago
A 3rd party excursion is fine as long as you do a little extra research and take an excursion that starts after you arrive at port and ends at least a couple hours before the ship departs. This is usually not a big deal because most excursions are just a few hours. The longer ones tend to cost well over $100 per person and sometimes over $200. Keep in mind that non cruise tours may need to meet you outside the port complex. Also the ship time is often different from the local time in port so be aware of the ship departure on its time and set an alarm on your phone to remind you to get back. In our experience we will get tired and be ready to get back to the ship with plenty of time to spare.
In a lot of ports you don't even need a formal excursion if you want to just spend a few hours at a beach. You can just take a taxi or in some places like Nassau you can walk. Some taxis charge by the person and others you can hire the car. A lot of ports have posted fixed taxi rates. Get clarity about the fare being one way or round trip. A driver will often offer to pick you up and bring you back at a particular time but pay for your trip back when you take the trip back in case the driver doesn't show up and you get a ride from someone else.
Then when you get to the beach you can rent a chair and an umbrella or often you can sit on the sand. Some places may give you a place to sit if you buy food or charge one all inclusive price but usually it's separate, especially if it is a lower budget operation.
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u/BlueWizardoftheWest 9h ago edited 9h ago
As many have said, I recommend booking through the cruise line only for excursions far away from port. Anything more than 45 min away, I want the piece of mind that I will not
Miss the boat. I have been on tours that have been delayed and the boat waited for us. Gangway closed on our butts.
But for local port attractions, things within walking distance or a short cab/transit ride, I do my own thing. I go to museums on my own, I walk around, find my own shops and restaurants. I usually research the port and where the ship actually docks by looking at forums and tourist websites. I estimate travel times on Google Maps ahead of time so I have an idea. I plan my wandering to be back well before all aboard. I look into how tight customs is in the port.
For example, the tender at Villa Franche sur-Mer? It’s just a short security line at the port. No one but the cruise ship is using it.
But La Spieza? A major industrial port that the cruise ship is one of many many ships docking that day? Oh man, the line to get back into the port can be hours long if you aren’t on a ship tour.
There’s no hard and fast rule form when to go it alone and when to book through the line. Your quality of tours will probably be similar. Sometimes on your own is better because you aren’t a captive audience so folks may be more likely to put on their A-game. But my rule of thumb is that the cruise line tours are worth the premium when it’s a distant location from the actual ship. It is better to go it alone when the ship is very close to where you want to be.
In the carribean, a large ship may be miles and miles from the actual downtown worth seeing. Sometimes there is a shuttle or something but sometimes you’re on your own after you clear security.
Or you can be tendering right up to a touristy port, no muss, no fuss. That info is usually available on the internet, but sometimes docking locations are switched at the last moment so you never have perfect information.
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u/Fantastic-Dingo-5869 9h ago
Viator perhaps but you need someone who guarantees you make the boat on time…
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u/Dismal-Salt663 9h ago
You really need to research the specific ports if you’re planning on doing your own thing or taking an independent excursion. I would be a little wary of doing my own thing in Jamaica. I’ve been to Falmouth on a cruise, and I would not leave that port area on my own.
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u/sharkduo 9h ago edited 9h ago
In St Maarten, I rented a car and drove around the island ourselves. Went to a butterfly garden, went to a hotel for pool and bar and food, drove to top of island for sightseeing, had a great time. Of course I planned everything in advance so it’s not like we winged it but it was far better than cruise excursions.
Other cruises where we’ve been multiple times already, we stayed on the ship to use the amenities because so many people get off that is feels great to have mostly everything to yourselves.
Edit: forgot to add that airport where the planes fly right over your head. Oh man that was fun. We held onto the gate while a huge plane was taking off.
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u/AutoModerator 9h ago
The following is a copy of the original post to record the post as it was originally written.
u/sjsharksfan38
Hello all,
I'm going on my first Cruise in December on NCL. Going to the Caribbean and Jamaica. I'm looking forward to it, but watching some Youtube Videos (specifically Life Well Cruised), they said don't pay for Excursions via the cruise but do it via third party sites. I know of Shore excursions, but are there other sites you would recommend to look at? If paying for Excursions through the cruise line is not worth it, what are the good alternatives?
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