Let shore excursions just happen!!!?

Question

My wife and I are going to the Grand Turks, Half moon Cay, and Nassau on our cruise. We want to try snorkeling for the first time. we want to spend time at Margaritaville, and Senor Frogs, and just enjoy the Islands. Should we just wing it on our own, and not book early to maybe save some bucks, or should we go ahead and book it and be done with it?

Answer 1

I'd suggest buying your own (nice) snorkel equipment here and bring it so you won't have to pay for a snorkeling trip.  just hop in a taxi and ask the man to drive you to the best beach, safe, for you and ask him to pick you up too.  that's what I've done in the past many times.  it works great...and it's cheaper that way.  The only excursions I've seen that seem to be worthwhile, are the drinking sailing cruises...all those people come back loaded and happy, singing.  You'll have fun.   Try cruisecritic.com and find out what they say about each island so you might want to plan something, but just take their taxi when you get off the ship.  Enjoy!

Answer 2

If you're only interested in Margaritaville and Senor Frogs, then you don't need ship tours.  I think it would be a shame to visit the islands and go to chain bars [altho M'ville in Ocho Rios would be an exception, in my book].  You can drink on the ship!

Half Moon Cay is a private island, so there's no "excursion" to think about [although they do offer some activities there].  Perfect place to just relax and enjoy - a beautiful island!

For info on doing tours on your own, go to CruiseCritic.com, click on "Boards" at the top of the page, then go to the "Ports of Call" board and choose your port.  There's lots of info on good/bad independent tours/activities, etc.

Have a great time!

Answer 3

Shore excursion prices do not change as you get closer to the date of the excursion.  If the excursion sells out, then you will not be able to go.  If not enough are sold, the excursion will be canceled.  So, if there is a shore excursion that you are interested in, then I suggest you sign up for it.

Answer 4

Prices do not change, and you can do many of those things on your own without paying the cruise line shore excursion price.  Especially at the places that you are stopping at.  I'd wing it if I were you - and save lots of $$$$.

Answer 5

As other's have answered before me, there is no discounts for excursions as you get closer to the sail date only thing you are risking is that you may lose out on that excursion because it is sold out.

Here is an important fact about going on your own versus booking through the cruise line.  There are few websites that sells shore excursions that you can book through outside of the cruise line.

Pros:  They may offer options or trips that cruise line may not.  

Usually cheaper than cruise line excursions.

BUT booking through the cruiseline GUARANTEES you that the ship will not leave you behind if your excursion is late getting back to the ship. I've seen it happen on 3 different cruises. If you are not on board at the time of departure, the ship WILL LEAVE YOU.  The shore excursion vendors are not in business to leave tourists stranded, that is not good for business.. but sometimes depending on local traffic and weather, you cannot be sure that they will get you back on time.

Buying through the ship, they have a roster of who is on which excursion and if the entire excursion is late due to whatever, the ship will wait for you to return.

Second good thing is that sure it's a little more expensive but you are assured that the excursion vendor is approved by the ship.  Going out on your own, in a strange island/country, especially if you don't speak the native language, you can run in to some undesirables.  Unless you know the town you are visiting, stick with the ship excursions... it is safer.  

I have bought excursions on my own. IN St. Maarten I was taking 5 of my nieces/nephews on a scuba diving excursion, so rather than paying $99 per person on the ship, I called the dive shop directly and got it for $70 per person. That saved me $150.  But it is a risk, we barely got back on board with 5 minutes to spare.  It was not fun experience. So becareful when you book.

Answer 6

I have been on 15 cruises and very rarely have I booked an excursion through a cruise line.  I always wait until arriving at the port of call and i have always been able to find an excursion to my liking for a lot less money.  I say take a chance and book your excursion at the port of call.