Onshore Experiences Make Cruises Unforgettable

With live shows, spa treatments and plenty of poolside fun, cruise ships are jam-packed with entertainment. It can be easy to spend a large duration of one’s vacation enjoying these onboard luxuries, but one of the most unique things about cruising is the ability to explore and experience a different destination each time the ship docks in a new port city. Here are a few ins-and-outs for helping your clients get the most out of their cruising experience with onshore excursions.

Pre- and Post-Cruise Options

Do you know of a few cruisers who would be interested in tacking on an added “mini-vacation” to the beginning or end of their trip? Of course you do and pre- and post-cruise vacations can make it happen. Pre- and post-cruise vacations allow travelers to spend additional time in major port cities around the world where they can enjoy unique sights and new adventures such as Amsterdam’s canal system and famous Red Light District or Miami’s impressive architecture and world-class shopping.

Booking Onshore Experiences

In some cases, travelers can book their pre- and post-cruise adventures directly through their cruise line. A great example of this is Uniworld who offers a number of outstanding cruise extensions to exciting destinations such as Europe, Asia, India and Egypt. Uniworld’s cruise extensions include important travel necessities such as guided tours, transportation and meals throughout the day.

Notable Cruise Line Onshore Excursions

Many ships offer handpicked excursions at every port of call. Here are a few notable experiences offered by major cruise lines:

• Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity organizes their excursions into categories such as family friendly, culinary, evening, multi-day, accessible and much more. Travelers can swim with sea turtles in Mexico, visit a Buddhist temple in Japan or drink microbrews in Iceland.
• Royal Caribbean – Royal Caribbean offers a unique brand of onshore excursions they refer to as “Royal Tour Challenges.” These excursions are organized to create some friendly competition between passengers and include activities such as Alaskan lumberjack axe challenges, scavenger hunts and canoe adventures.
• Princess Cruises – Princess Cruises took a unique approach to excursions and has partnered with a variety of companies such as Discovery, Local Connections, Bon Appetit, Animal Planet and Discover Family. The tours are organized by local experts and are designed to immerse cruisers in one-of-a-kind experiences.
• Carnival – Guests can browse excursions by destination or activity on Carnival’s website or inquire upon boarding the ship. Featured excursions include tubing through a Mayan cave system, exploring the ancient city of Tulum and a string ray encounter in the Cayman Islands.