Cruises encompass multiple vacations into one unforgettable experience. Every stop you make opens the door to a new culture, exciting activities, and delicious food. Of course, with every port stop comes the opportunity to expand your horizons and get out and explore through excursions offered by your cruise line. Here are some of the most popular types of excursions to consider taking on your next ocean adventure.
Cultural Tours and Experiences
Immerse yourself in the culture of the port you are at for the day. Cultural experiences allow you to learn more about the country or community you are visiting.
Local tours will take you through the city and by local attractions, usually led by a tour guide who can provide intriguing insights into the area.
You can also hike or drive those areas on your own to view the community from a different point of view.
Some cultural experiences you will want to plan ahead of time. For example, performances and local music are magical ways to experience a culture. Your visit might also coincide with a local festival or holiday that you might participate in.
Historical Tours and Exhibitions
Understanding a community’s past helps you respect and embrace who they are today. You can also learn about the community’s impact on the world. Take time on your cruise excursion to learn the history with a historical tour.
Historical tours can be through a tour bus that travels through historic districts. You can also visit famous ruins and archeological sites to see history up close. Museums are always a fantastic way to learn about the past in an engaging and educational environment.
Food and Wine Tours
Calling all foodies!
Stop for lunch at your next port or make your food experience your entire day’s activity. Food and wine tours allow you to explore the more delicious side of an area’s culture. A food tour includes sampling local cuisine at well-known restaurants. Some restaurants might offer several dishes in one place. However, you can also plan a day of sampling the best the area offers based on what each restaurant specializes in.
Another convenient way to sample a wide variety of local foods is by stopping by a food market near the port. You may be able to purchase pre-made dishes as well as local fruits, vegetables, and treats to take with you and sample throughout your cruise.
During your food stops, swing by several wineries, breweries, or distilleries to try the local varieties, bringing a bottle with you for later.
Shopping Trips
While visiting an area, don’t forget to pick up some souvenirs. Souvenirs and gifts help you remember your trip and allow you to share those memories and new knowledge with others. Shopping also helps support the local economy.
Leisure Experiences
Are you tired of rushing about
Use your shore excursion as a time to step away from the crowds and relax. You might visit a local beach, book a day at a resort, or stop by a spa.
Reflect on what you have experienced so far and re-energize your body. That way, you are at peak energy and focus for your cruise and can savor it even more, feeling refreshed and de-stressed.
The joy of travel is the ability to make the trip your own and savor every moment by planning a cruise around your interests and personality.
Shore excursions allow you to experience a place in a new way or with new eyes. No matter how often you visit a location or if it’s the first time, use your cruise shore excursions to see even more during your stops.
While you can book excursions through the cruise lines, and that’s often what we recommend, there are third-party options we also suggest. Project Expedition, Venture Ashore, Resort for a Day, and Fishing Booker are a few of our favorites.