We have booked our honeymoon on Mariner of the Sea in September and we have already selected our shore excursions.. the ones offered by the cruise line.. It has been suggestioned to schedule excursions by private companies at each port becuase they are not as crowded?? How does that work? I am reluctant to try an outside company becuase I know nothing about the vendors for each of the islands.. what is the better choice.. to stick with the cruise excursions and risk an 'over crowding issue' or book thru private companies in each port we visit?

We never book cruise offered excursions, preferring to research and do our own. IME, it saves money and offers more flexibility.

You really need to spend time on the cruisecritic.com website. Their Ports of Call board will be a huge help and the RCI forum is very active indeed.

great thanks.. this is my first time on a forum and I am new too all of this internet stuff.. thanks for the tip.. Kat

The better known private excursion operators will do a far better job for you. Check cruise critic. Where are you going and what do you want to do?

Was it Mariner of the Sea that ran ashore? Was in the news this morning.

No, it was the Empress of the North:
The Empress of the North is operated by Majestic America Line of Seattle. The ship has 112 staterooms, a three-story paddlewheel and galleries featuring Native American masks and Russian artwork, including Faberge eggs, according to its Web site. Half the size of most cruise ships sailing the Caribbean.