Enhance Your Cruise Excursions: Forward Planning Helps You to Get the Most Out of Your Cruise

Written By: Gail Clifford | Published By: Weekend Notes| June 04, 2022

https://www.weekendnotes.com/enhance-your-cruise-excursions/

Cruises are the perfect solution for couples that want to reduce the schlep and add to the number of sites to see. Unpack once and your hotel moves whilst you sleep at night. Glorious.

We spend our vacations as we spend our lives. Full tilt or relaxed, it’s mostly the location that changes. So, if you’re a planner, use your skills to get the most out of your next cruise adventure. Taking the time to customize your experience allows you to capture the very best of every destination.

Until you know what’s there, though, an overview sightseeing tour when you first visit any new location is highly recommended. Utilize the Hop On Hop Off Bus in your departure port city when you allow an extra day.

To maximize the value of your time ashore, there are several steps you can take before you start your journey.

First, have the proper currency. Rick Steves recommends using your ATM card abroad as one way to reduce fees. If you don’t want to do that, have sufficient funds exchanged prior to departure (Euros, Sols, NZ or AUS dollars) or find a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Credit cards won’t give you as good an exchange rate as you’ll typically find from either using your ATM card or exchanging money at home, but the convenience may make up for the cost.

Second, learn the language or at least be able to say these five wherever you go:

a. Do you speak English?

b. Please

c. Thank you

d. Where’s the bathroom?

e. May I please have a glass of wine?

Third, if you’re considering renting a car, get your International Driver’s license and consider learning how to drive a stick. They’re much more common in Europe and usually cheaper to rent.

TIP: Save yourself a lot of heartache – if you get a car, buy the insurance.

Planners find great value in perusing the ship’s itinerary well ahead of time to laser focus your interest. It leaves you shipshape, knowing the amenities and entertainment available. The excursion list is the blueprint from which you’ll make your adjustments. Pick your favorites. Discard anything that doesn’t interest you.

Take your excursion list over to your search engine. Google “Day Trips from (your port).” See what TripAdvisor, Groupon, AirBnB Experiences, Expedia, or Travelocity have to offer at the same port and time. Or find the same company that caters to the cruise ship and contact them directly. See how their price differs.

Check out AtlasObscura.com for unique, off the beaten path experiences earlier visitors recommend. Your photos will be different from anyone else’s, and so will your experience.