So you have your cruise all booked and everything is ready to go. Then you get a notice that all the amazing ports that you are going to have all these excursions that you can take part in and to make sure that you book ahead as many of the options get completely booked in advance so you do not want to miss out. Many travelers when they find this out, they go into panic mode and get stressed out by trying figure out every aspect of their trip and plan every single minute. It can be a little over whelming because there are so many options at every port you are heading to that it can seem like you want to review every option so you make sure you pick the right activity. You can rest a little easier however as reservations for many of the best cruise excursions can still be done once you board your cruise ship.
So what should you do? Where should you go? While there are going to be very popular options that tend to attract many travelers first, there are just as many options that are not going to be as crowded and may be more of an interest to you or your group anyway. On Caribbean cruise, it is very popular to book sunset catamaran excursions as well as Jet Ski tours, but what about the island tours that take you to see the culture and history of the island. This may sound like much more of an experience that you would like to take part in. It most likely is going to be less crowded as well because it is not a mainstream activity. Don’t that that ever fool you however. Some of the best experiences are going to be those that are more intimate and provide a more hands on experience with smaller groups.
Beautiful Sights
Keep in mind that you are already traveling to some of the most beautiful places in the world. Arriving by cruise ship gives you a perspective that is much more impressive than just arriving at the airport. If you are going to be in Mexico, Panama, Mediterranean, Caribbean or Alaska just to name a handful of selections, there is going to be plenty for you to experience just by walking around and enjoying the port and nearby nature areas that are going to be filled with plenty of sights to fill your senses.
Adrenaline Activities
If you are someone that likes to take part in exhilarating activities, there is no shortage of that no matter where you are traveling to. From Jet Skis to dog sledding, mountain hikes, 4 wheeler tours and helicopter excursions, whatever you are looking to experience it will be waiting for you when you arrive. Keep in mind that these sorts of activities do tend to book up pretty quickly so if you do not book ahead of time, make sure that is one of the first things that you do as soon as you board your ship.
Museums & Historic Sights
There is no shortage of culture and history no matter where your itinerary may be taking you. Museums and historic sights provide you a closer look at the native culture and people of the land. You can learn so many beautiful things about the land and people of the region and some of the historic sights are going to be a once in a lifetime experience. Many museums will be entire day excursions to allow you the opportunity to see as much as possible so make sure you plan on being gone for the entire day.
Guided Tours
Guided walking tours can take you to some the best locations in the area you are visiting and are a great way to learn a little about the area than if you were to just walk around on your own. Your guides are going to be able to give you a little history, story-line and facts about the places that you visit. Walking tours tend to be popular because they put you right the local culture among the local people and he region. Many different tours also include food and wine tastings so keep an eye out for those options.
Immersive Culture
More and more people like to experience the local region where they are traveling to rather than just visiting the tourists shops when their ship docks. Because of this, things like coffee plantation tours, Luau dinners, Husky sledding dog visits, Flamenco dancing lessons and much more creates real cultural experience that provide lasting memories much more than just getting a local t-shirt from the gift shops. Try to take advantage of the experiences that are offered to you in the region. You will not regret it.
Free Self-Guided Experiences
If you are the adventurous type, keep in mind that there are plenty of things that you are going to be able to do on your own and that are free. There are endless nature trails, cultural town squares to explore, food, wine and coffee houses to try, walks along the beach, hikes through the Tundra, or picturesque areas to head to and listen to nature. Never feel like you have to spend a lot of money to get some of the best experiences out of the region you are visiting. Just simply enjoy the surroundings.
Individual Interests
One of the best things about any cruise is everyone can take part in as little or much as they want to based on their own individual interests. The same goes for excursions. On a week-long cruise or longer, you will be traveling to many amazing ports of call. If you’re traveling with a group of friends or family, one suggestion would be for your group to pick at least one location to experience one of the best cruise excursions all together and then everyone can do something of their own interest at another port.
Groups that tend to travel like this enjoy their time together more because they have their own time as well as have the ability to do the things that interest them. It’s also nice to have so much to talk about at dinner when your group gets to share with everyone the experiences they had during the day.