HENRY NOWICKI
15 AUGUST 2002
www.maxpages.com/shorex
Shore Excursions come in a large assortment of sizes and costs. They range from an individual exploration on foot, with possible use of public transportation, to the all-inclusive tour package usually offered by the various cruise lines. A few lines, such as those operating the highest-priced luxury cruises and a variety of river cruises, tend to include the cost of shore excursions in their ticket prices.
1. One can quickly get an idea of what a port area has to offer by consulting the World Port Directory and reviewing the various attractions and tours that have been especially selected for these port briefs.
2. The cruise lines, of course, offer a large assortment of shore excursions. They tend to be on the expensive side although there are a number of reasons to utilize them. They are easy to order aboard ship (some lines allow one to preorder usually online), you will not miss the ship if you stay with the tour, they are safe and fairly reliable and you can charge the costs of the excursion to your ship's account. You also may get immediate satisfaction if the excursion is canceled. Lastly, you will undoubtedly be among the first off the ship if a tender operation is required and you have a ship-sponsored excursion. A sample of the type of tours offered can be elicited by clicking on any of the selected items below:
Bergen Cruise Line Shore Excursions.
Carnival Cruises Shore Excursions.
Celebrity Shore Excursions.
Disney Shore Excursions.
Holland America Shore Excursions.
Louis Cruises Shore Excursions.
NCL Shore Excursions.
P&O Cruises Shore Excursions.
Princess Cruises Shore Excursions.
Radisson Seven Seas Shore Excursions.
Regal Cruises Shore Excursions.
Royal Caribbean Shore Excursions.
Royal Olympic Cruises Shore Excursions.
St. Lawrence Cruise Lines Shore Excursions.
Seabourn Shore Excursions.
Silversea Cruises Shore Excursions.
Cruise News Daily Shore Excursions Library.
3. A growing number of cruise passengers opt for their own arrangements in port and a number of operators have been created to better serve these clients. The argument is made that non-cruise-line arrangements are more reasonable in cost, they are less crowded and less regimented, they may offer something different and there are no dangers of an excursion being sold out. A sample of these offerings can be had by clicking on any of the selected items below:
Port Promotions Shore Excursions.
CruisExcursions Shore Excursions.
Questions and Answers about Shore Excursions.
Mytravelco Shore Excursions.
European Ports of Call.
Gray Line Worldwide Tours.
Shore Excursions Worldwide Operators (incomplete).
4. Most tour operators are limited to a single region or a single port. Here are some examples:
Alaska Shore Excursions.
British Virgin Islands Shore Excursions.
China River Cruise Shore Excursions.
Greece and Cyprus Shore Excursions.
Ireland's Port of Cork Shore Excursions.
Italy's Tuscany Taxi Tours.
Jamaica Shore Excursions.
Northamerica Shore Excursions.
Turkey Shore Excursions.
5. Individuals have an unlimited variety of self-organized shore excursions that require nothing more than a bit of confidence and the willingness to ask a lot of questions. It is a particularly attractive option for those passengers who may have visited a given port before and have already experienced its major attractions. Buses, trams, trains, taxis, boats and any number
of local transportation modes may be employed and sometimes a day pass is available at a reduced price for visitors and senior citizens. Ask and the best place to start ashore is at the local tourist office which supplies maps and advice. If one is able, a walking tour is generally a great way to see the more intimate parts of the city or town. Below are some samples of what is available:
Independent Shore Tours.
Boston's Freedom Trail Walking Tours.
Philadelphia Walking Tours.
Escorted San Francisco Walking Tours.
Non-Escorted San Francisco Walking Tours.
London Walking Tours.
6. Finally, a number of useful shore excursion reviews, discussion groups, articles and travel tips are to be found online. Examples, such as Epinion.com are listed below:
Mexican Riviera, 19 Apr 02, Epinion Shore Excursion Review.
Viking Spirit Rhine/Danube River Cruise, 31 Jul 02.
Venice Cruising Guide.
Hawaii On Your Own.
Barcelona Shore Excursions.
Sealetter Cruise Port Shore Excursions.
Shore Excursions Forum.
Independent Traveler Message Boards.
Choosing a Shore Excursion, 4 Aug 00.
Caribbean Shore Excursion Tips.
Shore Excursions Travel Tips.
Cruise Critic Shore Excursion Tips.
General Cruise Information.
Copyright 2002, All Rights Reserved.
The Tropics Shoreline
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