Shore Excursions-booking outside the cruise line

[rle1982]

I would like to see if there are any good deals booking outside Carnival's shore excursions, also I'd like to see if there is a larger variety of things to do. We are sailing on the Pride from Baltimore to Port Canaveral, Nassau and Freeport. Any suggestions on RELIABLE sites to book through, or is it better to stick with Carnival?

[Room Service!]

Check 'Ports of Call'.

[rle1982]

Check 'Ports of Call'.

 

Is that a website?

[Banditswife]

Go to the ports of call section of this board. Click on each port you will stopping at. There will be tons of suggestions there. Personally, we find the private tours better & cheaper than what CCL offers. In most cases, it will be a smaller group- which we like.

[Banditswife]

Is that a website?

It is on this Cruise Critic messege board. Click on Ports of call. then click on each port to get info.

[cccer]

You will find a lot more detailed information on the ports of call section. The only time we book through the ship is if the tour we really want to do is only offered through the ship.

As Banditswife mentioned, pritate tours are cheaper and you will usually be in a smaller group. You just have to make sure you get back to the ship on time, but the tour operators would not stay in business long if they didn't get people back in time.

[mousey]

Here's our personal take on this issue. If there is any doubt in your mind that a tour you book through an outside agency might be on too tight a schedule to get you back on board the ship in time...don't do it. When we are in port and aren't sure about this we always book through the ship.

 

The advantage of booking through the ship is that if the tour is late getting back the ship will wait for a short time, if your outside tour is late..sorry the ship will not wait for you. Just check you-tube for people running on the dock trying to get on a ship while people are hooting and hollering at them from the ship as it sails away. If it's a tour off the ship and it's late getting back and the ship can't wait...they will pay for you to get to the next port. That's what I've read on CC anyway.

 

Having said that, we have booked many many times with outside vendors and never ever had a problem. The most important thing is giving yourself lots of time to get back to the ship on time. Most importantly, always be sure that you set your watch to the same time as the ship not to the time of the port you are in!

 

Go to the "port of call" board here on CC and you will extensive information and tips regarding all the ports of call on your itinerary.

 

Happy planning and sailing! We're just starting to do the same with our cruise to Mexico which we just booked today! Yea!:D

[megmno]

Also look at tripadvisor dot com. (I think it's affiliated with Cruise Critic, so hopefully it's ok to suggest that here!)

[rle1982]

thanks for the info guys!!