No excursions boring

[maddhatta36]

My wife and I are first time cruising. Since we are new we opt to forgo the excursion but it seems to me that can be very boring. Will there be plenty of things to do to keep my interest? :eek:

[Ashland]

Welcome to Cruise Critic:

 

"Boring" a cruise is what you make it....We've done many cruise's without the need for excursions.

[GUT2407]

My wife and I are first time cruising. Since we are new we opt to forgo the excursion but it seems to me that can be very boring. Will there be plenty of things to do to keep my interest? :eek:

 

Welcome to CC, might help to know where you're cruising to.

 

But any port you can do your own thing. Or stay on the ship.

[ekajun1957]

Bored? I would not think so. There will be some ship activity, chances to meet and talk to others who did not go on excursions which more likely be regular cruiser and learn a lot from them. Being its your first then take a walk on the dock watch the how independent operators work in that port. Go to the exit see if it looks like an area you would be comfortable in for future reference. There are usually places for more local drinks and drink specials and food quite often intentionally not like ship food.

[sunshinechgo]

What cruise are you taking? We go to the beach. No excursions for us.

 

 

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[easyboy]

There are activities onboard for those who prefer to stay on ship while in port

 

 

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[vacationlover_mn]

Almost every port has an area you can walk around and shop. However, some are nicer than others. What is your itinerary?

 

 

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[Cruisin'Kim]

There's plenty to do on your own, but this is just my own opinion - our first cruise was the one that my husband and I took all of the sightseeing excursions. We took the ones that took us all around and gave us history and information about the island. We've been to all of the islands several times now, and know exactly what we want to do on each one, or if we even want to disembark, but I loved learning about each island the first time from someone that lived there. Whatever you decide to to, you will have a great time! Happy cruising!!

 

 

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[Nic6318]

My wife and I are first time cruising. Since we are new we opt to forgo the excursion but it seems to me that can be very boring. Will there be plenty of things to do to keep my interest? :eek:

 

Hi Madhatta

 

Welcome to cruise critic.

 

Just curious. So which are you cruising on and which islands are you not visiting?

 

Some cruise ships are indeed a destination in themselves, but all have some entertainment onboard. Why, however, do you feel that since this is your first cruise, that you should not explore? It would seem to defeat the purpose of travelling to these ports unless you have been to them all before.

 

Whatever you choose, enjoy. This site has many resources to help inform you if you do choose to explore.

 

have a great cruise

[Essiesmom]

There's plenty to do on your own' date=' but this is just my own opinion - our first cruise was the one that my husband and I took all of the sightseeing excursions. We took the ones that took us all around and gave us history and information about the island. We've been to all of the islands several times now, and know exactly what we want to do on each one, or if we even want to disembark, but I loved learning about each island the first time from someone that lived there. Whatever you decide to to, you will have a great time! Happy cruising!!

 

 

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This. We feel every island/port deserves a basic overview the first visit. After that - we go shopping. EM

[spookwife]

My wife and I are first time cruising. Since we are new we opt to forgo the excursion but it seems to me that can be very boring. Will there be plenty of things to do to keep my interest? :eek:

 

define 'boring'

 

furthermore, what ports? some can EASILY be done without any excursions at all, or doing them on your own on the cheap. many ports are nothing more than beach days.

 

that being said, we don't do beach days( he's a red head, skin cancer runs in my family) and we are rarely bored. we like to find things like zoos or botanical gardens and visit them. many are easily accessed by public transportation. you can window shop. just walk around. visit a museum. or, stay on board and enjoy a less full hot tub or main pool. ( shops and casino will be closed however) there will still be activities on board like trivia or dance lessons.

 

getting a tourist guide for the ports you will be visiting is an excellent idea to help you do research.

[cb at sea]

If you get a guidebook and do some research on your ports, there is SELDOM a reason to book excursions! Of course, that depends on what interests you! For things like beaches, shopping or other things close to the port, you can certainly go it alone! We do that all the time. The key is KNOWING something about the places you'll visit!

 

So...head to your library, and pick up a guidebook from the reference section...or buy one at a bookstore! It will be the best $ you can spend!

[Lionesss]

Welcome to cruise critic.

 

I guess a cruise is what you make of it.

 

And new to cruising and opt not to do excursions..............................

 

OKAY

 

Enjoy

[sloopsailor]

Some little visited ports are not very easy to get into or out of due to the fact the ship may dock at an industrial pier. There are ports where you will have to take a shuttle bus to the front entrance, then another local bus to town, which may be miles away. The easiest ports are where the ship docks in town. This gives you the freedom of simply walking off the ship and walking around on your own, taking a taxi to areas you want to see, hiring a taxi or a tour vendor who is at the pier hoping to get customers to show you around (much like a private excursion), booking an excursion in advance (either through the ship or with a private company), or staying on the ship. The most important consideration, however, is to get back in plenty of time before the ship leaves. If you are late for any reason, there is a very good chance you will be left behind to fend for yourself to get back to the ship at the next port.

 

Also, being new to cruising is a good time to take excursions. You are led by a tour guide who will explain the history and interesting features of the sites on the tour, and you would get a feel for how these tours operate so you will have more experience about such tours which will help you decide what to do in the future. On our first cruise, we took all ship's tours. Now we usually book with private tour companies, but occasionally do our own thing or book with the cruise line if it is more convenient.

 

Not knowing which ports you are visiting means we can only guess when providing advice. Please post where you are going so we can provide specific information for each port to help you decide what you might want to do.

Edited January 21, 2017 by sloopsailor

[Tiggertastic]

The op has never come back.

 

 

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[sloopsailor]

The op has never come back.

 

It's been less than 11 hours since he posted!!!!! Give him a chance. He may not live on these boards like some of us do. :D

Edited January 21, 2017 by sloopsailor

[spookwife]

The op has never come back.

 

 

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good gravy its been less than 12 hours since they started the thread! they have to sleep sometime, its the weekend so maybe they have running around to do or laundry to fold.

 

don't write them off so quickly.

 

give it at least 72 hours before you able anyone a One Post Wonder

[janetz]

OP's question makes no sense to me. :o

[sail7seas]

You don't give much informatrion from which we can gqrner enough to give qany answer that might have weight.

Wha arrte your intrestsws?

 

MY LATE DH and I gtook around 200ruises andsd on a huge pecentage, we did not do excursions. We often remained on the ship in a port we had preiisously visited. We sometimes left the ship on our own, no excuiirsions or guide for an hour or less.

 

Where are you sailing? Europe, Asia, Caribbean?

Edited January 21, 2017 by sail7seas

[sail7seas]

OP's question makes no sense to me. :o

tHERE SEEMS TO BE A NEW TREND around CC lately.

 

Posters ask a broad question but provide so little information, it becomes ridiculous to try and answer. I respect people keep their privacy but don't ask an unanswerable q question becaause T they won't give enough informgtion to enable expeiencerd cruisers to give a meaningful answer. What is the point? Eithe r they want an answer that might be helpful or not. :rolleyes:

Edited January 21, 2017 by sail7seas

[mom says]

tHERE SEEMS TO BE A NEW TREND around CC lately.

 

Posters ask a broad question but provide so little information, it becomes ridiculous to try and answer. I respect people keep their privacy but don't ask an unanswerable q question becaause T they won't give enough informgtion to enable expeiencerd cruisers to give a meaningful answer. What is the point? Eithe r they want an answer that might be helpful or not. :rolleyes:

 

It's posts like this that scare away new posters. The OP has never been on a cruise before. He didn't know that he needs to give us more info in order for us to really help him.We all know that you've been cruising for decades. Perhaps too long for you to remember that far back to the time before your first cruise. When you knew nothing about the ships, their amenities and activities, the ports, or their attractions. Cut the poor guy some slack. I'm sure he'll fill us in when he comes back.

[simplelife]

Welcome to Cruising and to Cruise Critic. One of my favorite features is the Ports of Call board -you can look up each scheduled port and browse information on each one. You will find out what there is to do at the port on your own and there will also be information about excursions.

 

 

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[Nic6318]

My wife and I are first time cruising. Since we are new we opt to forgo the excursion but it seems to me that can be very boring. Will there be plenty of things to do to keep my interest? :eek:

 

Hi Mom

 

I have to agree with Sail7Seas.

 

Look at the post. This person decides to seek out this site to tell us, that because this is their first cruise they will not go on any "excursions". I don't know what that means. Are they going to sit on the ship for the entire cruise, or are they just going to go out on their own? Have they been to all these ports before?

 

They don't say where they are going, with which cruise line, or for how long. Then they ask will there be "plenty of things to keep my interest?". Really...what on earth are you referring to.

 

I usually take into consideration how new a member is as well as their screen name when I respond to posts.

 

 

They have either failed to communicate or they are just having a bit of fun. Whichever, it's alright, but hard to take seriously and as Sail7Seas said there have been a number of posts from "new" members who are just asking "nothing".

[biker@sea]

My wife and I are first time cruising. Since we are new we opt to forgo the excursion but it seems to me that can be very boring. Will there be plenty of things to do to keep my interest? :eek:

 

I tried activty from the ships daily paper.

 

Art's & Craft's.

 

Learned a new dance.

 

Took a few Filipino history, culture , and language classes.

 

Cooking demo's

 

Etc.

 

.

[sail7seas]

Hi Mom

 

I have to agree with Sail7Seas.

 

Look at the post. This person decides to seek out this site to tell us, that because this is their first cruise they will not go on any "excursions". I don't know what that means. Are they going to sit on the ship for the entire cruise, or are they just going to go out on their own? Have they been to all these ports before?

 

They don't say where they are going, with which cruise line, or for how long. Then they ask will there be "plenty of things to keep my interest?". Really...what on earth are you referring to.

 

I usually take into consideration how new a member is as well as their screen name when I respond to posts.

 

 

They have either failed to communicate or they are just having a bit of fun. Whichever, it's alright, but hard to take seriously and as Sail7Seas said there have been a number of posts from "new" members who are just asking "nothing".

 

 

Thank you, n Nic, for getting it.. In Mom's eagerness to scold m e once again. :) She missed the point I was making and chose to make it about a single post and poster. My point is, , I have noticed something of a pattern of providing too little information when asking a question. This applies not only to questions on a cruise forum but life in general. In effort to maintain a little privacy,, it seems some people , not only regarding cruising, ask questions that are hard to answer with any meaningfulresponse because of lack of information. Mom, ....... chose to criticize without actually getting the point..

Edited January 22, 2017 by sail7seas