Norwegian Getaway Family Cruising First Timers need excursion tips / help

[packetloss]

Good day everyone!

 

We are a family of 5 going on our first cruise on the Norwegian Getaway in late February. We typically go away 2-3 times a year on all inclusive resort vacations and we know the process to book for tours and getting around etc..

 

This is our first cruise and not really sure the best way to approach this. We want to book excursions for the 3 ports of call we will be visiting during our trip but not sure with who or when to book these?

Is it best to book these in advance? Book through the cruise line, tour operator or book them when we get on the ship? I've also been reading around about people just getting off of the ship and booking them there on the spot.

 

Is there any advantage/disadvantage to booking an excursion in advance? We have 3 kids 1, 4, and 8 years old and wondering if others have any suggestions or recommendations?

 

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[cb at sea]

The first thing you should do is get a guidebook on your ports..it will tell you EVERYTHING about where you're going....then decide WHAT you want to do. You may find what interests you doesn't require an "excursion" at all...many things are easy to do on your own! Info is key, tho...don't expect to not do your research and hop off the ship...you'll be at a huge loss!

 

So, read up, decide what you're going to do, then go to the "Port of Call forums on these boards ....lots of info there, once you have an idea of what interests you!

 

DIY is much cheaper and not hard at all! Excursions for 5 will be costly!

Edited January 27, 2015 by cb at sea

[kydustbunny]

PocketLoss:

There are alternatives to reading Guide Books on each port.

I highly recommend TripAdvisor.

 

Simply google "Things To Do In _______ Tripadvisor"

and read up on each port.

 

Happy Sailing!

[jacketwatch]

The first thing you should do is get a guidebook on your ports..it will tell you EVERYTHING about where you're going....then decide WHAT you want to do. You may find what interests you doesn't require an "excursion" at all...many things are easy to do on your own! Info is key, tho...don't expect to not do your research and hop off the ship...you'll be at a huge loss!

 

So, read up, decide what you're going to do, then go to the "Port of Call forums on these boards ....lots of info there, once you have an idea of what interests you!

 

DIY is much cheaper and not hard at all! Excursions for 5 will be costly!

I agree 100%. We will be on that ship in May which is our 1st on NCL. However we have taken 11 other cruises and nearly always book excursions privately. You can google say private tour operators in and add the name of the island. You ca also do what is suggested and look up points of interest and most probably just book it when you get off the ship. There will be plenty of tour operators on the docks.

If you are going to St. Maarten, Antigua or St. Lucia I can recommend some operators that we have used. Just let me know. :)

[kjquilts]

One thing your family might enjoy is Coral World in St. Thomas. Your youngest child would be admitted free and a $60 family admission ticket would cover the rest of you. Coral World is next to Coki Beach - literally right next door. Your little ones could play in the soft sand or splash in the water. The water was calmer at the far end of the beach - not very far since it is a small beach. The beach can get crowded depending on how many ships are in port.

 

Here is link to Coral World website

 

http://coralworldvi.com/

 

Here is a random youtube video that shows a lot of the attraction and happens to feature children :)

 

 

You don't need a ship tour - lots of taxis in St Thomas.

[Bluestar01]

Good day everyone!

 

We are a family of 5 going on our first cruise on the Norwegian Getaway in late February. We typically go away 2-3 times a year on all inclusive resort vacations and we know the process to book for tours and getting around etc..

 

This is our first cruise and not really sure the best way to approach this. We want to book excursions for the 3 ports of call we will be visiting during our trip but not sure with who or when to book these?

Is it best to book these in advance? Book through the cruise line, tour operator or book them when we get on the ship? I've also been reading around about people just getting off of the ship and booking them there on the spot.

 

Is there any advantage/disadvantage to booking an excursion in advance? We have 3 kids 1, 4, and 8 years old and wondering if others have any suggestions or recommendations?

 

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

We just came back from Getaway, kids ages 6 & 8, as mentioned earlier, Coki beach worked just fine, you can take a taxi from the port, $9pp, negotiate for your youngest child though, on the way back they didn't charge me for our youngest as the taxi cab was almost full. The beach is very small though & yes does get crowded. I've also heard good things about St. John's.

 

In St. Maarten though the water is very rough, we went to Mullet's bay as it was closest to Maho beach where planes land & that was a wrong choice from kids point of view due to crowd & rough water.

 

In Bahamas, we booked Blue Lagoon thru NCL, good choice as the food was included, & facility was good too. However, Atlantis, or Hilton could had been just equally good.

In short, you don't have to book thru NCL if you don't want to.

[spidybabe]

Godfrey tours in St Thomas is the best. Picks you up at the ship...time for shopping...back on tour bus for wonderful tour of the Island, stop at Mountaintop-beautiful views, free Babanna daiquiri, botanical gardens with great birds and nature paths to see and views-free rum punch, Godfrey provides free drinks (soda, water) all day. Final stop at beach or coral world(right next to Coki beach) then picked up and dropped off back at ship. Wonderful full day for only $35-

[harbede]

Keep in mind that if you book with NCL and for some reason your tour is late returning to the ship they will wait for you. If you book with someone else the ship will not wait for you if your late!