Shore Excursions?

Question

Is it neccessary to book shore excursions when you go on a cruise? My husband and I are going to Key West and Nassau on the Carnival Celebration. Can't we just walk around and hang out on the beaches and goof off on our on for the day? Or do the ships port where it's impossible to find your way around or what? This is the first time either of us have been on a cruise.

Answer 1

WE cruise many times and never book a tour.  Most places you dock at a pier in a town and you can just get off the ship and go where you want or even when you are required to take a tender to shore you can go on your own.  Just be sure that you have the correct time on your watch and know what time you are to be back on ship.  They will leave you.

Answer 2

It is not required that you take the tours, those are optional.

You can walk around an do what you prefer, it is up to you.

the only benefit is that if you take a tour with the cruise line, if you're late, the boat will wait for you, if you do it on your own, you should look out for the time.

Answer 3

No, you do not have to book excursions but they encourage you to (more money for them). If you go off on your own and are detained from returning to the ship on time however, they will not wait. If that happens when you are on a booked excursion, they will wait for your return before leaving port. Keep that in mind.

Otherwise, do what you want to do. Both times I've cruised to Cozumel my group rented a vehicle and did our own thing, in our own time, and enjoyed it a lot. Some ports of call an excursion is preferable to trying to make your way around a huge city or to a far off tourist site without a guide.

You also get better deals when shopping, the further from the port you go. The shops you are encouraged to patronize will be the more expensive ones so do your shopping away from the high traffic area of the port, and just use common sense and know what you are wanting and willing to pay.

Enjoy!

Answer 4

I pretty much agree with everyone. I've been on the cruise you are going on. In Key West we took the trolley tour, since we didn't have time for diving, and it was our first visit there. Then we walked around. Cruise line excursions are usually disappointing for many reason, but if you are new to a port or cruising, it's the easier way to go. We like to do our own thing also for much less money. The last few times to Nassau we took the water taxi (cheapest way) over to Paradise Is. and walked around the Atlantis, costing nothing to see inside and around the aquarium below (which we found by mistake one time). Don't miss Atlantis, it's beautiful. There's a good beach to the right of it not too far. They do massages right there for a good price, and some other ways to spend some money. (nothing bad)

Answer 5

get a cab or shuttle and do what ever you want .just watch the time

Answer 6

No it's not required at all.  When you get off the ship you'll have many locals offering private tours or you can jump in a taxi and do your own thing.  In Nassau you'll be docked downtown in the shopping area, and if you take a 5-10 minute taxi you'll be at the beach near the Atlantis hotel where most people go.  In Key West, you take a train shuttle into town (it's free), and again everything is there.  Not much for beaches in Key West though, mostly shopping.  Their both fun ports though, so you'll definately enjoy yourself with whatever you do.  Have fun!!!

Answer 7

dont book a excursion for either place. key west u can just walk duval street or you can rent one of those scooters or electic cars.. they are a plast. go to the blonde girafee for key lime pie. they also have those trolly tours for real cheap if u dont want to walk. in nassu u can walk around and take a taxi to atlantis. atlantis is that nice resort that has bars casinos shopping,,, everything. its a cheap fare i forget the price but its cheap. the straw market is fun too.

Answer 8

If there is something special you just have to see or do, its a good idea to book ahead of time so your tickets are delivered to your room your first day at sea. We had the same problem. My wife had to see the Myan ruins in Mexico so we booked that as soon as we could. But we were stuck on what to do for Jamaica and Grand Cayman. We didn't HAVE to do anything. Our first stop on Hiati we loved the beach so much we decided to book for the private beach the next day on Jamaica. By the time we got to Grand Cayman we had our fill of beaches and the island offered the greatest shopping of all the stops so we decided to shop that day. So yes, you can do what ever you want, but do some research about your stops first and ask questions of people who were there to see which are the best ones fro shopping and self touring. I'm glad we did not decide to shop in Jamaica as it was horrible and we don't think the people who just went shopping had much fun at all. So research and do what you want to do there is no obligation.

Answer 9

we have been to Nassau already and we did not get any Excursions through the cruise line and we are glad we did not, Nassau is easy to walk to most of it and there are cabs and tour guides that bombard you as soon as you step off the ship walk around first then go the the cab (about $25 for 2 hrs each person) if you want, there is a horse drawn carriage tour too.

we have found most port to be the same with the exception of on in Costa Maya Mexico that is mostly a place to get Mayan ruins site, that is the only one I would book the Excursions through the ship.  a quick search of hte ports of call is helpfull too