JanH

Is it better to book a tour through the cruiseline or is it better to go outside? Has anyone heard or used portpromotions.com?

Paul Therault

Hi Jan,<BR><BR>Port Promotions are a good company but you will not save that much money. <BR><BR>If it is your first cruise and therefore not travel savvy, it is best to go with the cruise line. First, you will not miss the ship and second you know you will get to see what is published. <BR><BR>A few years ago we wished to see a botanical garden that the ship offered for a tour and since we know it would not take that long to visit the gardens and we wished to sleep late, we got off the ship and none of the cab drivers would take us there. One even said it was closed.<BR><BR>If you really wish to try to go on your own, best to plan on getting back to the ship at least 2 hours before sailing time.<BR><BR>Paul

Cathy

It really depends on how independent of a traveler you are, how much you have traveled or cruised before. I would not bother with port promotions - I think they are more expensive than the cruise line. I recommend you either book a shore excursion through the ship or own your own.<BR><BR>Some people like the convinence and safety of booking a ship tour. Sometimes the logistics of trying to do it on your own are just too much - for example, when my brother, sister-in-law and I sailed the Pride this summer, I did a snorkel trip offered by the cruise line because there was no way I could do it on my own. My brother and sister-in-law were thinking about going over to St. John on their own, but when I totaled the taxi, ferry costs, and the time it would take, etc., they would only save a few dollars, and the hassle just was not worth it. Another place that I would do a ships tour would be if I wanted to go to Tulum from Cozumel - to do it on your own would be too much trouble and expense.<BR><BR>However, 95% of my cruise shore experiences have been on my own. I love planning a trip and seeing the island on my own terms, in my own time frame and not with hordes of other people. I save considerable money doing it on my own and have had some great experiences meeting the islanders and experiencing the culture. I have also had unique experiences that I would never have if I had taken the cruise ship excursion. It takes a little more work to research and make arrangements, but it is always worth it to me. I am comfortable with doing my own excursions because I travel a lot and since I do land trips that I plan completely as well.

xxx

JanH, people could probably help more if you stated what Islands you will be visiting. They can offer suggestions specific to that Island.

Peter

Paul is right, portpromotions.com won't save you any money over the ship's excursions - they too are 50% higher than doing it on your own. As another poster said, JanH - please list the ports you'll visit and we'll give you some advice. I have been to most of the caribbean ports and have organized my own excursions in each.<BR><BR>And don't worry about the &quot;missing the ship&quot; threat or the &quot;two hours before the ship leaves&quot; advice - all scare tacticts from those with cruise line agendas like Paul.

JanH

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I will give it all some thought. Yes, this is my very first cruise. Have traveled quite a bit but never by sea. We're going through RCI's Explorer. We'll be cruising through the Eastern Carribbean. Stops will be in San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Nassau. Appreciate everyone's advice. Thank you.

Cathy

You are very welcome Jan. These ports are VERY easy to do on your own. Here are my suggestions for each island<BR><BR>Puerto Rico - if you dock during the day, the only ship excursion I would recommend is the trip to El Yunque, the rain forest, although you won't have much time for hiking - this is mostly a sightseeing bus trip. You can do old <BR>San Juan on your own. You can walk, plus there is a get on/get off trolly that runs in the old city that was free when I used it. El Morro Fort is very interesting.<BR><BR>St. Thomas - lots to do, especially shopping. Going to St. John for 1/2 a day is very popular and you can either do it on your own or with a shore excursion. On your own gives you more time on St. John.<BR><BR>St. Maarten - definitely do on your own unless you want to do the America's Cup Boat race - this is a popular, but very taxing ship excursion. I usually shop and go to the beach on this island.<BR><BR>Nassau - you can go on your own to Paradise Island and check out Atlantis and the beach, shop, or take the excursion to the Dolphin Encounter to swim with the dolphins. <BR><BR>These are just a few of the choices you have. Have fun deciding!

Annette

Has anyone did the day at the Dunes Hotel in the Isle of Margarita? How about parasailing? We will be going to the Southern Caribbean &amp; would like to try this.<BR>Thanks

cd

We loved, loved, loved the parasailing! I listened to the directions, and asked them to be repeated, and did much better than my husband who was much too cool to have directions repeated.

cherikm

We're going on the Enchantment August 2nd with stops in Cozumel, Belize and Key West. Would love advice on which shore excusions to book and companies to use to book them. My husband is a scuba diver and is looking forward to diving in either Belize or Cozumel or both. Suggestions would be great. And recommendations for scuba companies at both ports. Thanks so much. CheriKM

lisakat60

Shore Excursions: Hawaii

Please recomend excursions for Hilo &amp; Kailua Konaon on Hawaii, Nawiliwilion on Kauai, Lahaina on Muai, and Oahu on Honolulu. It's our first cruise ever, and we are going in the spring.

What should we not miss, and what should we not waste our time and money on??

I would like to know the best places to watch surfers, sunsets, and to snorkel. THANKS!! ;-)

simonv

The best place to snorkel in Hawaii is in Kona. A boat out of Kealakakua Bay goes to the Captain Cook's monument. It's a marine park. There used to be only one boat called Fairwind that had license to go there. Cruise ships usually run excursions on Fairwind. You need to have a car to get to Kealakakua Bay. It's pretty far. Taxi would cost you a fortune and then the problem of getting a taxi back. Access to the park from land is difficult. You need to kayak into the bay. Not recommended for a cruise ship passenger. So as might as well buy it through the ship.
Kauai used to be heaven for snorkelers. Not anymore. Hord of snorkelers and harricane have taken its toll. But it's still a beautiful island. Nawilliwili is in the middle of the island. I recommend going to Waimea Canyon - helicopter ride is good. If you are going in late May or June, then boat ride to Napili Coast is dramatic. They might offer snorkeling on that one, but snorkeling there is pathetic. Scenery is not. I don't think they'd go to Napili Coat before May, but if they do, don't take it. Seas are too high and dangerous along north coast in winter. In all Hawaiian islands waves are big in north in winter, so you head north to watch surfers, and south for swiming and snorkeling. Summer is reverse. For you it depends how early in spring you going there. You need to ask locals.