Are Excursions Worth It? A Travel Agent’s Perspective

The million dollar question - Is it worth doing an excursion on your cruise? The short answer is that it depends. Having said that, most of the time the answer is going to be yes. Part of the reason to cruise is to not only enjoy the ship you are on, but to get a taste of what the different ports of call offer. Many times cruisers will fall in love with a country and then take an extended land vacation later to that same destination. (And yes, Markwood Magic can also help with land vacations).

Lets dive a bit deeper into the four options at each port of call: 1  - Booking an excursion through the cruise line 2- Booking an excursion through your travel agent 3 – Exploring on your own and 4 – Staying on the ship

Option 1: Booking excursions through a cruise line  Cruise lines offer pre-selected excursions for your entire ship to choose from. Because of this, excursions booked through the cruise lines offer a great opportunity for you to meet with other guests on your ship. Additionally, for a select ports of calls, if you book an excursion through the cruise line, you might be guaranteed to be the first group of passengers off the ship which can help maximize your time in port. Booking through the cruise lines could grant you exclusive access to specific areas not available to the public, especially on private islands.  

Option 2: Booking excursions through your travel agent

Markwood Magic is an expert  in curating specialized excursion experiences. Particularly, this option works great for those seeking private (or small group) tours. Some tours that Markwood Magic books are; a private tour of the Amalfi coast, a private photography sessions, cooking class with a local, wildlife encounters, and more. This gives you more control over the schedule and it nice touring with a smaller group or just your travel party.

Alaska State Capitol

Option 3: Exploring on your own

This option is fantastic when you already have an excursion booked for part of the day and have some extra time to explore. For example, if you have a sea plane excursion in Juneau, you could have enough time to go visit the Alaska State Capital on your own and grab a quick drink before or after your excursion. It is also fantastic if you are at a private island and just want a relaxing beach day (although having a cabana can be really nice). Excursions are not required for all travelers. Plenty of ports offer the opportunity for local exploration.  This option also works great if there are local beaches or bars/restaurants that are easily accessible. Be sure to check the public transportation schedule and taxi availability if you are venturing farther from the port. As a reminder, If you decide to do an adventure in the port on your own, make sure to set your phone to the SHIP TIME. Ship time and local time can vary. It is imperative that you set an alarm (or two) to give yourself plenty of time to get to the ship.

Option 4: Skip an excursion and stay onboard This option is great for experienced cruisers who have been to a particular port multiple time or if their main motive for this cruise was to experience the cruise ship to its fullest potential. Do NOT do this option if this is the only time you will be visiting the port of call in the near future. When in port, most of the guests will not be on the cruise ship. They will be exploring the port and surrounding areas. It can be nice being on a ship with less guests. Additionally, port days tend to have discounts for the spa, cabana rentals (not every ship has this), and more. Port days also have less lines for the more popular things to do onboard – so less people wanting to zip line, ride the water slides, and get that perfect spot at the pool.  The disadvantage to doing this is that there may be limited hours and not as much entertainment available on a port day compared to a sea day.

So which option is best for you? My recommendations will vary depending on each travelers vision for the trip, future trips they are taking, and past experiences with each port of call. When you are ready to start planning your next vacation, schedule a consultation below.

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