What to Do When You're in Port: Shore Excursions

The food. The shows. The people-watching. With all there is to do on board, why would you want to do something that's not even on the ship?

Well, there are a few very good reasons why you should get off the ship when it's at port.

First of all, when you paid for the cruise, the charges included something called "port charges," which often range from $40 for a short cruise up to $400 for a world cruise. Since you're paying for the port charges whether you like it or not, why not get something in return for that investment and actually get off the boat and onto the beautiful port?

Second, although the boat has SO many things to do onboard, there are even more things to do in port! There are many tour operators, some initiated by the cruise lines themselves, that give cruise ship passengers the benefits of seeing and experiencing things farther away from the ports themselves. Things such as helicopter rides, river canoeing, glacier hiking, submarine tour, downtown and island tours, and snorkeling.

Third, the food near the ports are often amazingly delicious! O. K., so you have to pay for them when you're not onboard, but they are almost always well worth it! You can try local dishes, which the ships don't offer. You can even have some fruits or dishes which are unique to the area itself, and which you can get nowhere else in the world.

Fourth, you get to shop! Port vendors love when the cruise ships are in port for the day. They have a huge influx of customers, and you can really snag an incredible deal. Of course, as it is at home, it pays to shop around. Also, most stores in port are able and willing to reduce their prices/commission percentages so that you will buy from them. Just be sure that you are truly getting a good deal for your money. Chances are, the salespeople would recognize you as a tourist, anyways. And some of them do try to take advantage of unsuspecting visitors and overcharge them terribly! Also, there is probably a town very near the port itself which has many more shops and sometimes even better deals, so look around!

Fifth, there are things to see on land that you just can't see on or from the ship. By all means you must go on an island tour in the Caribbean, for example. On such tours, you can visit gorgeous resorts, historical museums and houses, breathtaking floral gardens, and who knows what else is going to be around the next corner. Since the ports are obviously at sea level, many of the tours take you into higher terrain where you can get incredible vistas from the hillsides or through the helicopter windows. Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can when you're at port!

Tours and most shore excursions take you where the cruise ships can't possibly go. And that alone will make it worthwhile!

For more information about the dangers of shore excursions, go over to "Shore Excursions: The Hidden Dangers."

So, now that you are familiar with what to do off the boat, why not book yourself on a cruise so you can experience the shore excursions personally? Just go to my exclusive travel website!