Shore Excursion Booking: Through The Ship Or Direct?

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If you've recently booked your very first cruise, you may be considering your shore excursion options. Shore excursions are a great way to get out and see some of the sights of the ports you pull into, so they are well worth the time and money invested just for the experience. However, you have two options when booking those excursions. You can either book them through your cruise ship, or you can book them directly with the tour companies that are offering the excursions. Here are a few things you should know before you start booking anything.

Know All Of Your Options First

Make a list of each port and how long your ship will be docked there. That way, you can see at a glance how much time you will have in each place. Then, research each port and determine what you want to see while you are there. Once you know which attractions you'd like to see, you can start narrowing each list to those things that you could see in the time allowed to you.

This research may seem like a waste of time because your cruise company will give you a list of excursions that they can book for you. However, if you only go by that list, you may miss out on something that's there that you wouldn't have known about without your own research.

Inquire With The Tour Operators

Even for excursions that you can book through the ship, it's often beneficial to inquire directly with the tour operators before you book. Remember that the cruise line is going to make a profit on the excursions as well if you book through them, so you may actually get a better deal by working directly with the tour operator. If you're traveling with a large group, you could even get a group discount or a private tour option, which you wouldn't necessarily get through your cruise ship booking service.

Don't Panic About Timing

Many times, the cruise ship operators will tell you that if you don't book your excursion through them, they can't guarantee that you will be back to the ship on time for port departure. While this is technically true, if you contact the tour company directly and let them know which ship you're on, they will coordinate your times accordingly. Remember that these tours are what keep these companies in business, so it is in their best interest to plan all of their excursions around the ship port times so that you don't miss a departure.

Contact a company like Rome Limousines today for more information. 

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