To help passengers make the most of their time in port, cruise lines offer shore excursions – a selection of fun, educational, and/or adventurous activities on land. For example, beach and snorkeling excursions are popular in the Caribbean, while tours of historic city centers are common in Europe. All shore excursions offer memorable experiences; it’s not every day you can swim with dolphins, tour an ancient fort or view masterpieces in a museum far from home.
The specific excursions available on any cruise depend
on where it sails, but here are a few examples that may catch your interest.
A partnership between Holland America Line and Food
& Wine magazine offers culinary shore excursions in many destinations,
including Northern Europe and the North Atlantic. You can discover the Danish
art of smorrebrod – beautiful and delicious open-based sandwiches – or how a
distillery in Iceland infuses flavors like rhubarb and crowberry into a variety
of spirits.
When you sail to Sri Lanka with Azamara Cruises, you can
take an excursion to Udawalawe National Park, which has a thriving herd of more
than 500 elephants. You may also see wild boar, mongoose, crocodiles, and
buffalo, as well as many species of birds and butterflies.
Silversea sails to Osaka, Japan, where you can take an
excursion to Hikone Castle, one of only five in Japan designated as a national
treasure. Completed in 1622, the moated castle, considered to be a masterpiece
of design, hosts a cherry blossom festival every spring.
Sail to Costa Rica with Windstar Cruises and you can discover
what rural life is like in this beautiful country. Venture into the Fila Chonta
Mountains to meet the residents of Santa Juana and learn about life in their
village; plus, you can fish for tilapia or cool off under a waterfall.
There’s usually a per-person fee for shore excursions,
but some luxury cruise lines include some or all shore excursions in your fare.
Some lines even have a special concierge who can arrange individual, customized
shore excursions.
And while some cruise passengers like to arrange their
own shore excursions, taking a ship-sponsored excursion is often a better option.
Cruise lines work with reputable and experienced tour operators. And, if your ship-sponsored
excursion runs a little late, the ship will wait for you. That’s not always
true if you’re on an independently arranged excursion.
Cruise lines constantly come up with new options for
shore excursions; for the latest information, talk with Anita, your
professional travel advisor.
Find
us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AtthetaTravel
