You can only get there on Royal . + In the unlikely event that your tour is significantly delayed, well make all the arrangements for you to return to the ship at the earliest opportunity at no expense to you. Be sure to check cancellation policies for your tour before booking, especially if youre not entirely sure you plan to do the excursion. * Tours involving flights, trains, special events, overnight stays, hotel stays and Private Journeys must be cancelled 30 days prior to sailing to avoid cancellation penalties. Another reason not to book multiple excursions in one port is that shore excursions can be tiring. Some of the best shore excursions you will see on a cruise lines website or app may be quite a distance from the port. Tours are more prone to sell out on cruises to bucket-list destinations like Alaska or popular cities in the Mediterranean. If an excursion is titled "Mexico Beach Break," for example, it will likely mean you'll be provided transport to and from the beach with no guided tour in between. The tour required a 1-hour bus journey across the island to reach the boat. No matter where your journey takes you, these experiences will make every moment memorable. Since 2017, Royal Caribbean has joint ownership of Grand Bahama Shipyard (Freeport), where major drydock refurbishments and ship maintenance works take place. I booked the tour from a local operator when I arrived in port, and the tour looked awesome from the brochure and photos available. ShoreTrips makes no claim to be the designated activity and excursion operator of Royal Caribbean. Read through the fine print when booking a tour independently to ensure you dont end up disappointed if you want to cancel the tour later on. You have entered an incorrect email address! Adventure doesnt just happen onshore there are countless marvels waiting to be discovered just below the waterline. This is a common misconception especially in the Mexican Riviera as well, where long stretches of beaches are open to all, even if hotel operators prefer you dont know that. As of 2020, RCI ships visit a total of 322 call ports worldwide, offering 4500+ shore excursions through local tour companies. Most people organize these ahead of time through a tour operator or travel agent. . Participants wishing to snorkel must be able to swim in water that will be over their head. You may cancel purchase(s) made via Cruise Planner up to forty-eight hours prior to the cruise departure date. Some may not be around anymore. We are an office of knowledgeable travelers who know our product well. One benefit of booking tours through Royal Caribbean is that you can reprice the tour until 48 hours before the cruise. I just typed the terms "excursion brochure" in the RCI search bar and the first entry was for the below link. Download a Shore Excursions Brochure. Theres nothing like the feeling of flying high above the beach on a parasailing excursion. Currently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean are not allowing unvaccinated guests - mainly children under age 12 - to go ashore in many ports unless they're on a specific ship-sponsored shore excursion deemed a "bubble tour." These are special tours with extra precautions taken to protect unvaccinated travelers from the local population, and vice versa. After the tour, feel free to grab lunch, have a few drinks, or shop before getting back onboard. Thanks in advance! Six Secret Finds During Your Weekend Cruise. Im still struggling to view any shore excursion brochures despite having tried on multiple devices! Cruise shore excursion prices vary widely depending on the cost of living in the cruise destination, what type of activity is involved and whether its a full- or half-day tour. Our team personally tests every tour in a destination to select only the best shore excursions for your Explorer of the Seas cruise . If its an activity, like snorkeling or a helicopter tour, read up on how much time is spent in transit and prep and how much time you will spend actually doing the activity. Swim with sea turtles and manta rays, float over vibrant reefs, and explore colorful coral forests on a snorkeling excursion designed to bring you up close with the oceans most beautiful natural treasures. The cruise destination brochures will help you with everything from what to do before you sail to what to do when you get there. Need help? Find the right card for you. So why is it on my overrated list? that you are the first off the ship in order to maximize your I have been trying to download those for about 3 weeks now for our cruise on FOS for 3/12/17. Show All Caribbean Ports Previous Port Next Port. Shore excursions can run anywhere from $50 to well over $500. Certain destinations have complex visa requirements that make it tricky for cruisers to explore on their own. Just remember to go back into your print dialog box and set it to your printer again. $ 419. view 1 date. Search Now Looking for more information about Events at Sea? Onboard Experience; Ports; Air & Ground Transportation; Shore Excursions; Order a Brochure; Extend Your Vacation; Groups; CRUISE DEALS. If you read the fine print, youll find that many of these mistakes (transportation logistics, cancellation policies, etc.) Just know what youre getting into. . No refunds are made for failure to use all of the described services included in the excursion price. They might even point you to a better beach or a better spot at the beach that most of the tourists dont know about. You only have a few hours to spend in each port of call, so picking an excursion that disappoints can cause both regret and serious FOMO over what else the destination had to offer. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. Learn more. Insider Tips. . By Explore every shore your way with excursions and guided shore trips designed to thrill all kinds of traveler, from couples craving a little extra romance to families looking to bond over bucket list moments. The downside to booking tours in advance is that some cruise lines require that you pay for the tours in full, rather than putting them on your final cruise bill. For those looking for a more personalized adventure, theres Private Journeys. It may take some time to rebuild a complete shore excursion portfolio once cruising resumes. Started August 27, 2021, By beaches and delight *Please see all applicable Terms & Conditions for Promotions. Ah I see - thank you for letting me know! If you're searching for long weekend cruises, there's no better Private Journeys are at your service. The fun of a cruise is equal parts what you do on board and what you do on shore. Heres everything you need to know about Shore Excursions. The glass-bottom boat I was on showed its age all too well. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. The main benefit of booking right away, though . At ShoreTrips we are committed to enhancing your shore excursions with small, creative and personal day tours and adventures. Brave the depths and venture down to the ocean floor, or scope out the reefs as you snorkel along the surface of the sea. In the event a tour is canceled, a full refund will be provided to the guests onboard account. VIEW OUR LATEST E-BROCHURE. Have an overnight in port? As a result, there is no risk you will not return before the ship departs for the next destination. Our team personally tests every tour in a destination to select only the best shore excursions for your Royal Caribbean cruise adventure. Company changes 2023 When I was in St. Maarten I hired a taxi driver for a tour of the island and it was a wonderful experience. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. Start planning your next cruise vacation by selecting a destination and departure port. If you are dependent on oxygen or require oxygen therapy, you must supply your own oxygen, and meet certain requirements prior to boarding the ship. Swim with turtles and manta rays, float over vibrant reefs and explore colorful coral forests on a snorkelling excursion designed to bring you up close with the oceans most beautiful natural treasures. Better still, should an unexpected problem occur (traffic, a medical emergency), the ship will not leave port until all of its own tours have returned. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The excursions and guided tours designed to take your getaway to the next level from locally-taught culinary classes and land tours infused with culture and history, to adrenaline amping outdoor thrills and off-the-grid exploration. Just let us know the ship and sail date you're interested in and the brochure will include detailed information about all of the excursions that are available. Is it better to book excursions through the cruise ship? A dream excursion for one passenger can be a nightmare to another. Royal Caribbean offers wonderful shore excursion opportunities, from whale watching in Alaska to guided tours of Rome and catamaran excursions in Mexico. A map and a guidebook got me where I wanted to go. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Many first-time cruisers are afraid to venture off on their own when it comes to shore excursions. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. Guests who wish to sightsee independently or sightsee outside of Royal Caribbean shore excursion hours must obtain an individual Russian Tourist Visa before leaving home. Bahamas Freeport Great Stirrup Cay Nassau Barbados Bridgetown Belize Belize City Harvest Caye Bermuda Hamilton Kings Wharf Royal Naval Dockyard St. George Bonaire . And yes, some ports of call in the Caribbean can offer fantastic shopping experiences. Stairs and steep hillsides are no-gos for these transportation gizmos. I have been getting that message to when I try to access the brochure for my Vision of the Seas sailing in August 2022. Cruise with Confidence New to Cruising .