tessa74

If you are going in the off season you are best with the ship's tour. If you are going to Fortress Louisbourg in July or August there is no need for a guide as there are animators there to explain things. They do this in character as people living there in 1744.

Well worth the visit. The drive there is not so pretty but very interesting when you get there.

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Mine was a wasted day traveling to Tulum Mayan ruins. First, a long ferry ride from Cozumel to Playa deCarmen, then they paraded us through the streets to the bus. Then a long bus ride, where we had to stop at a souvenir shack, that must have been a relative of the bus driver, then finally to Tulum. And the ruins after that long hot journey was disappointing, and expensive tour. Never again!

I think a runner up would be to a beach with lunch in Falmouth. Booked through RCCL, the beach was crappy, with no umbrellas for shade offered, and lunch was sparse, and nearly gone by the time we got up to buffet from the long line.

 

 

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We went on a private tour to Tulum. They handed out bags for seasickness when we boarded the ferry. Even though I had taken medication for seasickness it was the worst case of seasickness I have had. No fault of the tour operator but it was a terrible experience. I continued to be sick on the van ride and don’t remember much about Tulum itself.

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Prebook, prebook, prebook!!! This is a hugely popular attraction in Wellington, not just with cruise passengers! I'd highly recommend the There & Back Again tour which leaves from the i-SITE Information Centre in the centre of town. Don't leave it until the day - you could easily miss out.

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We had a great experience with DenRus. Small bus carrying about 14 people with a very knowledgeable guide. Saw many more sites than the ship's shore excursions at about 2/3 the price.

We also had a great experience when we used them 2 years ago. We also went to an evening folk show they offered which was great.

Echoes From the Dead by Johan Theorin a Swedish author translated into English. This is a suspense novel set in Oland, Sweden which is not visited by any cruise ship but it gives a good flavor of the island. It reminds me a lot of Newfoundland in Canada.