Your clients have decided on the destination and dates for their next luxury ocean cruise but before you book their spot on their ideal ship, it pays to check out what is offered in the way of shore excursions.
Here are a few things cruise travellers should consider about shore excursions:
- Do you like to do your own thing in port or prefer to join a ship-organised tour? Which cruise lines include shore excursions in the fare and which lines charge extra for them? How long is the ship in port, and how far the is the port from the main attractions?
- Once the cruise has been booked, it’s advisable for the guest or their travel advisor to go online as soon as possible to book ship-organised shore excursions because they often fill quickly.
- Seasoned cruisers know that if you take an independent tour or go exploring on your own, there’s always a slight risk that you won’t make it back to the port before the ship departs – and if that happens, the ship won’t wait for you! However, if you’re on a ship-organised excursion and it returns late, the ship will stay in port until you’re back onboard.
- Some ports are a long way from the destination’s main city, meaning there’s a lengthy trip in a private car, bus or train to get there – Civitavecchia is 80 kilometres from Rome, Southampton 128 kilometres from London, Livorno 105 kilometres from Florence. As there’s only so much you can do in culture-packed cities like these in one day, why not look at what you can do closer to the port?
- Small ports in remote areas may not offer much in the way of local tours or transport, so a ship-organised excursion might be the only option.
- Luxury cruise lines offer tours and experiences that would be virtually impossible for travellers to organise themselves – for example, visiting world-famous sites after hours, diving below the sea’s surface in a mini-submarine, dining in privately owned palaces and chateaux.
- Do you want to spend more time in one place? Mid-voyage land trips and pre- and post-cruise land programs add even more possibilities for exploring ashore and are now offered by most luxury cruise lines.
AzAmazing Evenings
AzAmazing Evenings are spectacular cultural events held on every Azamara cruise of seven or more days. Available to all guests free of charge, the AzAmazing Evening might be a private concert in a heritage site, a tribal dance performance or live jazz in a vineyard – you get the picture.
Azamara’s for-fee shore excursions encompass several categories: Exclusive Experiences (including world events, overnight stays and bespoke tours); Landmarks & Locales (sightseeing with experts); and Local Immersions, including food and wine, ancient wonders, nature and wildlife, and more (limited to 26 guests).
There is also a selection of accessible shore excursion tours for wheelchair users.
For more information, visit azamara.com
Crystal’s A&K connections
Now that Crystal’s two luxurous ships Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony are owned by premium adventure specialists Abercrombie & Kent, guests can expect an exceptionally high standard of shore excursions, mid-voyage overland adventures and pre- and post-cruise land tours.
Unique Experiences are a collection of exclusive experiences designed by A&K’s destination experts for a maximum of 18 guests. Guests can also add bespoke overland adventures to their itinerary, perhaps flying off for a three-day safari before rejoining the cruise, or book-ending a voyage with breaks on land. Shore excursions are not included in the fare.
For more information, visit crystalcruises.com
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: most inclusive
Regent includes a selection of free shore excursions in every port (more than 4,500 across every region of the world) along with an impressive array of for-fee experiences.
For fee-excursions are divided into Regent Choice; the new Eco-Connect Tours and Behind the Design Tours; Gourmet Explorer Tours; Wellness Tours; the customisable Executive Collection; and In-Port Overnights.
The ultra-luxe line recently introduced a series of voyages called Immersive Overnights that feature overnight stays in every port of call. These allow guests to enjoy special evening tours such as a sunset wine-tasting and dinner at a Tuscan vineyard or a geisha performance with dinner in Kyoto.
The new Immersive Overnights itineraries are in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Asia between October 2024 and October 2025.
For more information, visit rssc.com
Scenic Eclipse: ultra-luxe adventure
Equipped with two helicopters and a mini-submarine apiece, Scenic’s two ‘discovery yachts’ provide incredible adventures above and below the ocean – in select destinations and when weather permits.
Fees apply for 30-minute flights and 40-minute dives. Seabob dives are FOC in warm-weather destinations such as Australia, Indonesia and the South Pacific.
Complimentary excursions are offered in every port and depending on the destination, range from exclusive classical concerts to wildlife expeditions. Tours fall into three main categories: Scenic Discovery (expedition cruises), Scenic Enrich (private access and cultural encounters) and Scenic Freechoice (tours designed for different interests and fitness levels).
Expert Discovery Teams lead Scenic Discovery excursions that include zodiac cruises, guided hikes, snorkelling and kayaking adventures.
For more information, visit scenic.com.au
Silversea: classic and expedition
With the recent christening of Silver Ray, the Silversea fleet now numbers 12: eight classic ships and four luxury expedition vessels.
Every Silversea classic cruise includes at least one complimentary shore excursion in every port, along with a comprehensive selection of optional and bespoke tours.
Ships that offer the S.A.L.T. program (Silver Moon, Silver Dawn, Silver Nova and Silver Ray) also provide S.A.L.T. shore excursions. These go beyond the usual ‘market tour with the chef’ to introducing guests to local producers, chefs and hands-on foodie-focused experiences.
Shore excursions on Silver Expedition voyages are included in the fare and vary according to the destination. Silver Origin sails in the Galapagos islands, while Silver Endeavour, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind operate in the polar regions, South America, Northern Europe, the Kimberley, Africa and the South Pacific.
For more information, visit silversea.com
Viking: ocean and expeditions
Viking Ocean Cruises and Viking Expedition Cruises include one free shore excursion in every port, plus a selection of for-fee tours.
Non-included excursions on Viking’s ocean cruise ships, which sail all over the world (apart from the polar regions) are divided into three main categories: Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access.
Expedition ships Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris cruise in Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes. To take just one example, excursions at Niagara Falls on a Great Lakes itinerary include a (free) boat ride to the base of the Falls, and optional tours such as a helicopter flight above the Falls, wine-tasting at one of Canada’s top wineries and an evening at the Niagara Falls Power Station.
For more information, visit vikingcruises.com.au
