Shore Excursions
Best
tip I've heard for first-time cruisers is not only to research tours
offered by your cruise line before leaving home to be sure
you get on a ship that offers what you want. Also, book any tours
you would like on the first day on board (if not before) to be sure you get the excursions
you want at your preferred times. Shore excursions are very popular
and fill up quickly.
It's better to book and cancel a few days in
advance than to miss the tour all together.
Many ships offer shore excursions that rival any adventure travel
outfitters, depending, of course, on where you go. Cruise lines offer kayaking, diving, snorkeling, flying through the jungle on a zip-line (pretty amazing, actually). All of which would require
advance reservations and guides and the health to do them (so you might want to consider that APY 60 course listed on the right).
Or you can shop and visit antiquities,
in which case you can decide if you want to book through the ship's
concierge or go it alone, and then you have to decide if you can get
back to the ship on time. You need to find out if the ship actually
is in port, or if passengers are ferried to/from, which means you
will be behind anyone that has booked their excusions through ship
personnel.
Really important: Get to your boarding area a little early. Don't wait for announcements
that a tour is ready to go. If you lag behind, especially when they
are ferrying passengers ashore, you could be left behind.
Bring water . . . although cruise lines generally have bottled water available near the exit doors, you want to be ready to go and not worry about getting that bottle before leaving the ship.
The ground is really uneven in many older cities, so be sure your feet can handle the shoes you are wearing. (Shoe recommendations.)
Always have an extra sweater, light jacket, shawl. You just never know when you're going to need that.
Your First Cruise: A Complete Guide to Planning and Attaining the Perfect Cruise Vacation
This book will be your traveling companion. Learn how to choose a cruise line, ship, and cabin; how to choose a cruise vacation; how to pick a destination; how to avoid cruise scams; how to book online; how to cruise on a budget; how to watch for hidden costs; how to book excursions; how to pack; how to get to the cruise terminal; how to get married onboard; how tipping works; how to plan a reunion or family cruise; and more.
Cruise Ship Truths!
A cruise ship Officer's Tales: This is a behind-the-scenes look at cruise ships in a new way. Don't you wonder what goes on behind the "Crew Only" doors? Some of the stories are shocking, some are enlightening, but most are just laugh-out-loud entertaining. The Officer reveals:- How romance on a cruise ship is unlike anywhere else
- The insane things passengers do
- Why alcohol is mandatory at sea
- How nude cruises compare to Christian cruises
- What happens when things go horribly wrong at sea
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Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude