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Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. Seabourn has a significant amount of Epicurean Collection tours that may take you to a winery, distillery or other venue where you can purchase alcoholic beverages. You are free to bring those back to the ship and no corkage fees apply. Head out to Magens Bay for a couple of hours of fun in the sun; afterward, you'll be transferred to Charlotte Amalie for some duty-free shopping. You can snorkel among the coral and sea life for about an hour (a snorkeling lesson may be included, too), or just enjoy the views (and the rum punch included on the way back). If you're visiting the "Spice Island" of Grenada, you'll likely want to see a spice plantation.
Does Holland America Line offer accessible shore excursions?
Many tours have limited availability, and booking tours in advance reduces the chance of disappointment. Tours are booked and paid with a credit card and a confirmation will be sent to your email address. We recommend booking your shore excursions with either The Cruise Web's third party excursions partner, Shore Excursions Group, or through the cruise line directly. Some shore tours -- such as daylong trips from Tunis to the marketplace, museum and ancient Carthage -- pack many activities into one trip. Others focus on one destination or activity, like a trip to the Mayan ruins from Cozumel.
What happens if I want to take a shore excursion but don't want to book it through my cruise line?
Determine which inclusions or activities you will actually use before deciding which specific excursion will provide you with the best value for money. Before you book that shore excursion, compare the tour price to doing the same activity on your own or with an outside tour operator. Then, decide whether having a guide and the security and ease of booking through your cruise line outweigh any difference in price. If something went wrong or you feel that you didn't get what you paid for on an excursion you booked through your ship, you can report your concerns to the onboard shore tours desk.
How do I know which tours are right for me?
If you wait too long, though, you'll forfeit the entirety of what you paid. Be sure to check with your particular line or independent tour provider for its refund policy before booking. Also, if your independent tour is late returning to the pier, the ship is not required to wait for you. You can disembark and explore each port on your own if you'd like -- on foot or by cab, public transit or rental car.
With so much located near the port of Curacao, you can squeeze a number of activities into a single day with a combination excursion. Take a scenic island tour to visit highlights like the Hato Caves with their underground limestone formations and pools. These tours often include a visit to a distillery where the island's namesake Curacao liqueur is distilled (do try a sample of the blue drink). Too many tours in a row with early departures or long days in port can be exhausting. You don't want to book three days straight of all-day excursions, nor do you want to plan to skip a port for a quiet day on board after you've just spent a day or two at sea. Just make sure you read the fine print regarding tour cancellation policies.
How do I book a ship-sponsored shore excursion?
Cancellations for pre-paid tours are allowed up to 3 days prior to cruise embarkation and will be refunded to the credit card used for the purchase. If within 3 days of embarkation, all changes/cancellations must be done onboard the ship and refunds will be applied to your onboard account. If the credit is not fully utilized during the cruise, the balance will be paid to that passenger by the ship's Purser at the end of the voyage. If cancellation occurs onboard after the cancellation deadline for specific shore excursions, a 100% cancellation fee will apply.
First-Timers' Guide to Shore Excursions
I've taken more than 50 cruises, and I've made my share of tour booking mistakes. 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. The purchase window for certain products and activities closes before to the sail end date. If you missed the purchase window, check with us on board, we'll help you find what you’re looking for.
Booking Shore Excursions in Advance vs. Booking Onboard
Purchases can also be made using our Seabourn SOURCE App or after boarding your ship. Space may be limited on select tours, so book early for the best selection and the best price. Sales are made on a first-come, first-serve basis and waitlisted excursions are cleared in the order received. Choosing and booking shore excursions for your upcoming cruise should be simple. Pick a port, read the list of options provided by your cruise line, choose an activity you enjoy and then sign up.
Will I encounter difficulties (dis)embarking the ship during some ports of call?
Shore excursions may be sold by your cruise line and organized with a partner provider. They can also be purchased through independent operators or third-party tour sellers. Visitors have the unusual opportunity to hop in the shallow water with the habituated creatures, feel their velvety skin and pose for photos.
Many lines offer these boutique-sized excursions, which could be cooking classes at a renowned French cooking school or visits to Native American villages in Alaska. Many lines also offer car-and-driver packages (so you can customize your own tour) or have concierges to arrange shoreside activities exclusively for your travel party. You can skip the caravan of four large tour buses and trade up for a more exclusive experience. Remember that shore excursions look different in different parts of the world. 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.
And while it's great that there are tons of Caribbean shore excursions, it doesn't make the decision-making process any easier. Many tours will include some sort of meal or snack, particularly ones that last for longer periods of time. 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.
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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. Make the most of your time in each port with an optional shore excursion.
For those looking for a more personalized adventure, there’s Private Journeys. Our Destination Insiders leverage extensive knowledge and years of travel expertise to hand craft one-of-a-kind private tours with you in mind. You can customize an existing tour that catches your eye, or work with an Insider to create an exclusive tour experience that’s completely unique to you or a small group.
There's no guarantee you'll get satisfaction, but at least someone will be made aware of the problem, and it might work out in your favor. The ship’s excursions get you to the markets, often with some city highlights along the way, then leave you with a few hours of shopping time. You are then free to make your way back to the ship or to a meeting point for the return trip as a group.
Most cruise lines either charge the same prices for shore excursions booked online and on board or offer a discount for tours purchased in advance. For example, Royal Caribbean often advertises up to 30% off select tours reserved ahead of the sailing. Shore excursions typically highlight the marquee attractions or culture of the destination you're visiting.
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