Ocean Cruises

I. Introduction:

Ocean Cruise ships are enormous ocean liners with 1000’s of fellow passengers & crew .… sailing the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea & other major waters for days, months or even years (onboard retirement plans).

A brief extravagant lifestyle experience most passengers seldom experience in their real lives.

Whether your first Cruise or one of many, IT should be one of your life’s highlights. It's important that it be a most fulfilling experience possible for the money you budget. The following information should help you choose a Cruise Package at your ideal quality vs. price.

For many cruising tourists or ‘cruisers’, cruising is an escape from the humdrum monotony or grinding pressure of their daily lives AND a reward for sacrifices they have made for their children & family over decades. For others, perhaps the thrill of living a millionaire movie star’s life for a few days.

The most important attribute of cruising to most folks, particularly, 1st-time tourists, is that a cruise can be worry-free, well planned & organized, & professionally guided to fulfill your travel dreams for the energy & budget you have.

Couched midst a mind-boggling array of amenities & activities appealing to all ages & fitness levels, priced from relatively inexpensive to luxury.

Show up on time with luggage, some pocket change & you are off.
Your Cruise Company does all the rest … if you wish.

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II. The Ocean Cruising Experience/Description:
Ocean Cruising is a mix of 2 totally different experiences:
A. ocean or big sea sailing AND B. in-port sightseeing options.

A. Daily Ocean sailing & “at-sea” days:

➥ On-board Initial Experience:

Once settled into your cabin, unpacked & relaxing from long flights & ship’s boarding process, you’ll then strikeout on a wandering walkabout of your vast ship, marveling at its colossal size, modern sophisticated design & construction.

Awed by seemingly endless amenities, activities & attractions appealing to all ages & fitness levels, priced from relatively inexpensive to luxury. Soon you lean at the ship’s railings gazing at the watery world surrounding you.

Scand ???

Within hours your ship puts out to sea en route to your next port.

Cruise ships invariably depart port in late afternoon sailing all night to arrive at the next port and its Shore Excursions. Often, however, a cruise ship spends more than a full day at sea i.e. a ‘sea-day’ usually far from land with only endless ocean vistas

sailing to the next port-of-call.

(VID Embed: from Scand Cruise: early morning port entry) Yes convert DV to MP4: 1) , 2) import, 3) port arrival; unique on board activities

Eventually, you’ll settle into a deck chair with a cool drink savoring the expansive ocean views you have dreamt of, then, …. fall into conversation with a few of the 1000’s of other passengers.

Life is good!

Depending on your cruise package’s itinerary, your next day may be either a sea-day or sightseeing your next port of call.

A sea-day is a minimum 24 hrs at sea usually far from anything interesting to see other than sea birds and the occasional seal. …. Scand ??? sea day

Unfortunately, your endless ship wandering exploration, endless unlimited buffet dining, or deck chair lounging pretending you are enjoying a book you could have read at home devolves into an ever-increasing boredom desperately hoping for diversion.

Boredom may kick in, prompting you to abandon the freebie amenities & indulgences and seek out the ship’s more tempting Premium options, which abound depending on the ship & size. Good or ill, your diversions will come from the innumerable included & Premium cost options.

V. In-port Shore Experiences (jump link)

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III. General Ocean Cruising FACTORs:

NOTE: Some Cruise Factors may have one or more links taking you deeper into that Factor’s content making you even better informed.

1.Traveler’s anxiety: IMO, all travelers (me) suffer some anxiety, but ocean cruisers justifiably suffer much less once safely onboard their giant ship & acclimated a bit.

Dig Deeper.

Traveler’s Anxiety

Life & travel are very much a balance between dangers we perceive, & the knowledge & experience that reduces those dangers’ risks.

Foreign travel means leaving the comfortable, confident security of our home for something often very unfamiliar: different streets, language, rules, mannerisms, foods, clothing, etc.

Yet, ocean cruising is perhaps the most worry, risk-free, mode of travel once you are on board ship because your on-board ship experience is a luxurious, pampered catered version of ‘home’ with a mix of free and premium experiences not readily available elsewhere.

More like a Las Vegas vacation: endless free food, gambling & stage shows. 😀 Dig Deeper. [close]

My ‘anxiety-reduction’ Strategy:
history, novels, & cash

A. Your Pre-trip Responsibilities:
1. Understand my Cruise Factors: enough to wisely
choose your ideal cruise package.
2. Book flights: to & from cruise ship unless traveling
further.
3. Book lodging: the night before & after unless
unnecessary.

On Board: Your Cruise company intentionally tries to eliminate any
unnerving
circumstances.

B. My pre-trip history & culture immersion
The more you can learn about a country’s history & culture…. the richer your travel experiences & lifetime memories will be…. AND .… the less ‘travel anxiety’ I can almost guarantee you will have.

1. Study Country & Sites: After choosing your cruise package based on your desired sites & activities, online search (Google, Grok, etc.) go
a) country, region or city's history
b) each of your package's sites that interest you. This deeper dive will increase your excitement & appreciation of this foreign culture.

Anecdote: 5000 years of Chinese History” video: I watched & outlined Professor Ken Hammond’s, entire 18 part video lecture series. “From Yao to Mao: 5000 years of Chinese History” before my 3 month 'free independent travel' trip throughout China: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWVlOaO8gr0&list=PL-zm2mrr9onY5hrGya2DhgBn_-xUk51p3

My YouTube video of my walk along an unrestored, no-tourists Great Wall section in Eastern China, now used only by locals.

2) Read Country’s or Site’s Classic Novels: A country’s classic novels often reflect the country’s respect & love for its history & culture, kinda-like America’s “Gone with the Wind”. Such novels are a traveler’s fascinating insight into a culture & history.

Anecdote(s): Japan: Shimazaki Toson’s Before the Dawn including the Nakasendo Road. AND read 1 or 2 more classical novels
Australia: Tom Cole’s “Hell West & Crooked” about an early 1900’s ‘outback life & walkabouts’
Poland: Robert Michener’s “Poland”,
Florence, Italy’s Filippo Brunelleschi-built cathedral dome competition. Note: After 100 years without a dome, Brunelleschi finally designed & built the Duomo's 'dome-within-a-dome.'

TIP: ALWAYS carry Ship’s Name, port location and Ship’s phone number AND cash hidden carefully on your person. [pplk: Safety: Soft Crime ]

Ancedote: Really 'lost' in Rome: On my student trip to Rome, I temporarily got separated from my guide & group in a main square.
I panicked until after a while I looked far down a road leading from the square & saw them going away. Later I reflected I didn’t know our hostel's name or how to find it.
I still have bi-monthly dreams of being lost in a foreign city with no cash & no idea how to find my lodgings.

[close]

Elegant dinners with new friends.

Engine Room

Fitness Trainer or Room service

IV. On-board Ocean Cruising Factors:

On-board ship days can be divided into two broad realms: 1) self-entertainment AND ship’s free & Premium diversions.

Cruise ships invariably depart port in afternoon sailing all night to arrive at the next port and its sundry Shore Excursions. Often a cruise ship will sail 24 hours between ports-of-call usually far from land with only endless ocean vistas.

Once settled in your cabin, within hours your ship puts out to sea to your next port. Depending on its itinerary, your next day may be either an at-sea day of even more sailing, OR an in-port Shore Excursion.

You will likely relax in your cabin for a few minutes and then strike out to explore your cruise ship with a wandering walkabout of the vast ship, marveling at its colossal size, extravagant lighting, modern design & construction, and seemingly endless amenities, activities & attractions. Soon you lean at the ship’s railings gazing at the watery world surrounding you, searching for animals & birds.

Eventually, tho, your wandering search slowly devolves into an ever-increasing boredom desperately hoping for diversion. Fortunately, your diversions will come from the innumerable included & extra-cost options.

Diversion comes from a seemingly unlimited array of free facilities and paid-for experiences; lounging in deck chairs, the sea breeze on your face, soaking in various pools, exercising in weight rooms, or attending art auctions (you don’t have to buy.)

A. Self- entertainment:
1. Ship Exploration:
a. Deck lounge chairs:
b. Walk interior & decks: for views.
c. Engine Room tours: Maybe Premium ship's engine room tours for $100 -$150 for brief look because extremely noisy & potentially dangerous. PIK K12
d. Interior Lounges & libraries
2. Cabin:

a. Relax: read, etc.

b. Starlink’s internet access: —free, like air.

c. ocean views

B. Ships’s Perks/Diversions:
1. Free: 24hr buffet.
2. Premium:
a. Themed or specialty cafes
b. Premium alcohol, coffee & wine packages
c. Off hours Room Service.
d. More elaborate dishes,
e. Cooking classes, wine tastings
3. Exercise Room:
a. Free: machines etc,
b. Premium: fitness trainer & classes: advanced
or specialized. PIK K12
4. Spa:
a. Free: steam room,
b. Premium: massage, facials, & salon services
5. Specialty Activities:
a. Art auctions, etc.
Free: attend
Premium: purchase
b. Novel Athletics: generally free
Rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, or water parks
6. Shopping:
a. Free: window shopping
b. Premium: if buy something 😀
7. Stage shows/Performances:
a. Free: nightly
b. Premium: special shows etc.
8. Miscellaneous Premiums:
a. Professional photos:
b. Casino Play losses: (Note: Ship eventually wins (LOL), PIK K12
c. Retail Purchases: obviously,
d. Room Upgrade Fees:
e. Laundry Services:

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V. In-port Shore Experiences:

A. Introduction:

After much time at sea you will look forward to the freedom and novelty of your ship’s port visits and Shore Excursions to the notable foreign cities & sites you have dreamed of.

Realistically, cruising is mainly an on-board ship lifestyle & activities punctuated by Shore Excursions whenever your ship puts into port. Less than 25% of a cruise’s total time is in-port Shore Excursions to & at tourist sites.

FYI, in contrast, Large Bus Tours tourists spend 1) 30-40% of their total tour time at tourist sites & experiences, AND 2) 40-50% of their total time on related travel time: (long & short drives between tourist sites. Just so you recognize the difference.

Shore Excursions allow you to visit foreign sights & activities without long & frequent large bus tour rides AND without the intense pre-trip research & planning that I ➩➩➩➩➩
do as a solo independent traveler.

Your 1^st true exposure to a foreign culture comes on your 1^st in-port day’s Shore Excursion, curated by your Cruise Company for its worthwhileness, quality, safety & reliability and traveling thru the countryside or city to some famous Roman or Greek site or an authentic local

cooking class, etc. Your choices are limited only by your ship’s in-port hours. Scand YT Vid

Cruise companies AND private tour companies design their Shore Excursions packages to include a variety of sights & experiences that historically appeal to most cruisers’ diverse wants & budgets.

Shore Excursions design focuses on quality, safety, guide expertise, site & experience variety & all-passenger access (handicapped, infirm).

B. General In-port Factors:
1. Ship’s Port Arrival & Departure: Cruise Ship’s MUST dock on time & MUST depart on time defined by on several factors including regulations, tides, weather, econ ➩➩➩➩➩
& eco concerns, security & safety. Dig Deeper.

Ship’s Port Arrival & Departure Limitations

Unfortunately, your in-port experience is constrained by a cruise ship’s arrival & departure ‘port call’ * schedule for each port. (e.g.: busy ports, like Nassau, with MAX “port call’ of 8 hrs & some even less’
* “Port call” means the time a ship is docked in port. Scand YT vid of our passing outgoing ship

a. Port Authorities and Regulations: own schedule regs based on adequate
space, cruise line's itinerary, port capacity, berths availability & local regs
on vessel size, eco-impact, & safety.

b. Cruise Line Itineraries: planned years ahead, including negotiated dock
times, in-port stay; a balance between shore time & ship's schedule,
which is why your 'return on time' before ship MUST depart is so critical.

c. Econ Considerations: Both ports & cruise lines have economic interests:
Ports: max ship & guest #s,
Ships: optimize costs & guest satisfaction.
Trend is reversing as ports reject huge crowds damaging local quality of life.

d. Eco-Restrictions: Some ports (Amsterdam & Venice) restrict dock times &
even some ships.

e. Tide, Weather & Boat Draft: can influence docking safety & access. Example: If tide goes out before ship departs, ship is trapped and may tip over until tide returns. ➩➩➩➩➩

f. Security & Safety Protocols: can influence port-of-call times: security checks, customs process, & compliance.

g. Passenger & Crew Logistics: time required for: passenger’s disembark/reboard, crew changes, supply & maintenance

h. International Agreements & Laws: safety and environmental standards (International Maritime Organization (IMO) [close]

2. Ship’s Limited ‘Berth Time’: restricts both ship & private Shore Excursions and guest’s self-guided walking tours…. on-site visit time & worthwhileness, particularly if long travel distance to sites.

Many ships arrive in early morning & depart late afternoon, often docked the 8-9 hours between 7 AM to 9 AM & departing around 4 PM to 5 PM. Some may stay overnight or remain only 4-5 hr.
Confirm Berth Time relative to Shore Excursions ambitions. YT VD Scand

Example: Civitavecchia is the cruise ship port for Rome Shore Excursions. It is 80 km from Rome, requiring ~1-1½ hr (2½ - 3 hr round trip) bus, car, trarin ride, which may severely limit your available on-site times.
Dig Deeper.

A Rome Example of Cruiser’s
Shore Excursions Issues & Solutions

A summary of a few actual cruisers’ Shore Excursion issues and solutions.

a. Time Management: ‘Too many sites, too little time'; rather focus on 1 or 2 key sites or activities: the Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican Art Museums. Opt for advance ticket booking &/or expensive VIP access.

Anecdote: London's 'double-decker, open' bus tour: went so fast through the streets of London that the guy's commentary often came when we were well past the sites he was referring to. Too many sites, ... too fast. Scand YT VID

b. Highlights and Recommendations:
Tier 1 Sites: Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Vatican City (including St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel), Piazza Navona. Takes time to walk through Roman Forum.
➩➩➩➩➩
Foodie Experience: authentic Roman cuisine, tasting tours or dining away from tourist traps are favored for authenticity.
Local Interaction: local authentic cooking classes, and local artisans. YT VID: Dale, Chi dumplings.

c. Ship’s Shore Excursions Alternatives:
Private Tours: Ideal flexibility (Cruising Rome: offers customizable Tier 2 experiences & skipped line access.
Hop-On Hop-Off Buses: Excellent version/alternative ‘self-guide walking tour’ for overview.
Walking Tours: Student-guided ‘free’ walking tour YT Reykjavik>

d. Competitive pricing with more personalized experiences thru: RomeCabs or Shore Excursions Group (e.g., Stefano’s RomeCabs: focused on max site & experience time at less crowded Tier 2 time sites, THUS, avoiding long waits & chaos.

e. Logistics from Civitavecchia (Rome’s cruise ship port): 1 hr to Rome; public transport options exist, but easier pre-arranged transfers or tours AND Guaranteed return to ship on time (cruise ship Shore Excursions’s significant advantage.)

My Advice: If you really want to explore Rome' sites, take a SEPARATE bus tour focused on Rome.
[close]

3. Available Start & End Shore Excursions Times: Limited Ship’s ‘Berth Time’ defines & rigidly limits Shore Excursions time: Dig Deeper.

Typical Berth Times

a. Morning Excursions: 8 AM to 10 AM or ASAP after ship docks, ending by early afternoon to allow boarding from 12 PM to 2 PM. YT VID:Scand

b. Afternoon Excursions: Uncommon because 2 PM MAX is usual return & final boarding times, but if offered: 1 PM to 4 PM, ensuring passengers on-time return for ship's late afternoon or early evening departure. (*e.g. Rome Shore Excursions)

c. Duration: Most Shore Excursions: 2 to 4 hrs, but can be longer depending on ship’s time in port. 4 hr is adequate for city tours, cultural experiences, or brief major landmark visits, but not enough for Shore Excursions to sites a long distance from port. [close]

Tourists sightseeing

YT VID: Viking Ship SEX

Scand VID : ship's arrival

lkjbn;

Scand YT vid of our passing outgoing ship

TEST

CCC

Walk thru Forum takes time

YT VID

4. Late “Return to Ship” DANGER: If you miss your ship’s mandatory Departure Time, very expensive to catch up at next port.[LINK] YT Cruise grp clips ??? ]. Major Risk: Late ship return:

Suggestion: Don’t book more than 1 Shore Excursions/ day unless positive you have plenty of time to return to ship on time.

5. Safety & Security: Safer, more secure access to dicey sights/activities.

Anecdote: St Petersburg’s “The Cheese Cake Palace (Catherine’s Palace) GYPSY benign assault: On a Baltic Cruise, but for some reason without a guide, we were standing as a group of 8 fellow travelers waiting outside for it to open when we were assaulted by a family of gypsies poking & grabbing at us. I immediately warned everyone to be CAUTIOUS. One person touched me and I intuitively karate-chopped his arm away and he backed off.

6. Shore Excursion CAUTIONS: Your 1^st true exposure to a foreign culture comes on your 1^st in-port day’s Shore Excursions, curated by your Cruise Company for its worthwhileness, quality, safety & reliability.

Your Shore Excursions will travel safely thru the countryside or city to some famous Roman or Greek site or an authentic local cooking class, etc. Your choices are limited only by ship’s in-port hours.
a. Rushed shore excursions: Too little time for too many sites equals a tiring, rushed superficial experience AND risk of ‘late return’.

b. Distracting Guide Commentary: large, rushed tour group’s guide commentary at chaotic crowded Tier 1 sites may be boringly ‘canned’, distracts from your reflections, and may not be easily heard UNLESS Tour Earphone System is used. Small group Guides can be more intimate & flexible.

c. Crowded Tier 1 & 2 tourist sites: long entry wait times & jammed with multiple large, noisy, jostling tourist groups.

7. ’Shop-steering” visits: Shop-steering” visits are undisclosed or dubious time-wasting, impromptu Shore Excursion stops usually at retail shops or factory sites that make & sell tourist goods: souvenirs, diamonds, leather/silk clothing, & even occasionally illegal or immoral options. YT VID: Asian (?) factory pots

Unlikely for ship’s Shore Excursions, but possible if self-booked. Confirm with on-shore booking company.

8. Authentic Local Culture Visits: May be your 1^st true exposure to a foreign culture, but often faux, Americanized unless Shore Excursions or self-guided walking tour.

9. Local Guides: with deep site expertise: history, culture, & local stories may have greater expertise & insight. Can be highly motivated & respected experts on their local turf. Cruise operators may consistently use a tested local private guide to complement your tour guide. ➩➩➩➩➩

10. “support local economy’: cruise ships inject massive income into ports-of-call: tourist’s local purchases, all sector job creation, port fees & taxes, good local infrastructure.

11. Eco-friendly: huge cruise ships have a great eco-impact on local areas belching diesel, polluting waters, overrunning resources, infrastructure & Tier 1 tourist sites …despite recent pro-eco agendas
BEWARE: Greenwashing: [jlk: eco-friendly)

Back to Table of Contents

Man frantically waves at boat he MISSED. Expensive to catch up to at next port.

Local Guide ---

C. 4 in-port options:
1. Relaxation on board a half-empty ship: to relish relative solitude, better amenity & special activities access (pool), and more staff engagement (cool!) Hour after hour of on/off-site walkabouts can be exhausting to some guests who will seek the solitude & relaxation of a ‘quiet corner.’ Dig Deeper.

On-board Diversions

Ships often offer great on-board diversions to those who remain on board.
a. Easier Access to Amenities: pools, spa services, dining, fun venues, gym, particularly on high-end cruises.
b. Slower Paced: Crew can engage more; tailored services
c. Special Activities: engine room tours, cooking classes, workshops; high-tech demos, wine tastings, gourmet cooking demos.
d. Dining Experience: more intimate, private, with unique dishes, leisurely.
e. Ship Photography: minimal people. [close]

2. Ship’s Optional Shore Excursions: Ostensibly, a prime reason for Cruising is to visit notable foreign countries, cities & sites. Ship’s offered Shore Excursions are your prime vehicle for doing that.

Shore Excursions allow you to visit foreign sights & activities without long & frequent bus rides AND without the intense pre-trip research & planning and full responsibility of the solo independent traveler.

Here are your insights —-
Cruise companies offer an array of diverse historical & cultural sites & experiential Shore Excursions to satisfy foreign travelers’ ambition to visit foreign cities & their tourist sites.

While most Cruise operators don’t usually create their Shore Excursions, they do meticulously curate them for safety, worthiness, guide experience & overall guest satisfaction … because Shore Excursions are a customer’s prime booking consideration.

Guest reviews seem to endorse Shore Excursions as the “icing on the …’ extravagant luxurious cruising lifestyle. Dig Deeper.

Ship’s Due Diligence AND Shore Excursion FACTORS:

A. Ship’s Due Diligence Factors:
1. Professional Excursion Operator Evaluation: operators meticulously curate their Shore Excursions offerings for:
a. safety standards,
b. service,
c. safety, &
d. variety & worthiness of sights experience.

Shore Excursions selections are often based on the experiences that historically appeal to most cruiser’s diverse wants & budgets. all-passenger-access (handicapped, infirm).

Royal Caribbean: a wide range of Shore Excursions tailored to various interests, from adventure to cultural & curated local respected vendors.

2. Feedback Mechanisms: an extensive customer feedback loop after Shore Excursions to validate or eliminate Shore Excursions providers. Grok confirms X posters approve of most Shore Excursions. Great effort is expended on upgrading and innovating Shore Excursions packages.

3. Excursions Standardization: consistency of guest experiences & satisfaction; guide’s knowledge & personalization, language fluency, & group size. However, Royal Caribbean: will customize Shore Excursions for small groups or individuals.

4. Activity Mix: large variety of sites & activities: cultural tours, adventure sports, & relaxation options; something at a price for everyone.

5. Training Guide & Quality Control: mandated guide & local company training & guidelines to ensure service standards. ➩➩➩➩➩

6. Customer Experience Management Teams: constantly developing new Shore Excursions, enhanced customer service, and prompt issue resolution to improve future offerings.

7. Insurance & Safety Measures: all activities covered by insurance; strict safety guidelines protect company & guests.

8. Shop Steering: Ships Shore Excursions: unlikely because well-curated,

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B. Ship’s Shore Excursion FACTORS:
1. Start & End Times:
a. Morning Excursions: 8 AM to 10 AM or ASAP after ship docks, ending by early afternoon to allow boarding 12 PM to 2 PM.
b. Afternoon Excursions: Uncommon because 2 PM MAX return & final boarding times, but if offered: 1 PM to 4 PM, ensuring passengers on-time return for the ship's late afternoon or early evening departure. (*e.g. Rome Shore Excursions)

2. Variety availability: wide variety of well-curated excursion, but Local In-port Options may be greater & different

3. Marketing thoroughness, & transparency: that clearly aligns with & validates guest expectations.

4. Specialty Options: e.g. National Geographic Lindblad Expedition’s Alaska cruises offers expedition cruises focused on education, eccology, and adventure.

5. Customization: Royal Caribbean’s great variety of exclusive, personalized & customized Shore Excursions tailored to various interests: adventure to cultural & curated local respected vendors. for small groups or individuals.

6. Specialization: educational, environmental, adventure, & more serious cruises (Nat’l Geo’s Lindblad Expeditions

7. Habitually late Excursions guests:
a): inconsiderate boors reduce everyone’s on-site visits.
b) late ship return is very expensive ‘catch up” ($1000s)

8. Exclusive Access: Shore Excursions’ negotiated exclusive access to sites or services, not publicly available. ➩ ➩➩➩➩

Anecdote: All Saints Church London,

Authentic Local Culture: unlikely, unless Shore Excursions intentionally focus or …. your self-guided walking tour. This should be # nine.

10. Pricing Strategy: Fairly priced compared to similar /identical On-Shore Excursions, activity uniqueness & service level, site access exclusivity, amenities, group size & dining options.

11. Back-to-ship guarantee: e.g.: Royal Caribbean's promise: back-to-ship guarantee AND authentic cultural immersion

12. Extra Costs: entry fees, meals, other transport, etc. etc. etc.

13. Price-match Policy: against local Shore Excursion operators' prices to reassure Guest’s booking ship’s Shore Excursion.

14. Quality Assurance: Royal Caribbean: promises immersive & accessibility experiences AND a ‘back-to-ship’ guarantee indicating a focus on quality, safety, and inclusivity.

15. Guide: professional, trained, screened, trained expert guide handles everything: logistics, your needs & personalized commentary. Dig Deeper.

Guide's Professional Responsibilities & Skills

A. Logistics: 1) Transportation, & 2) Food
1. Transportation: Shore Excursions vehicles range from very large touring bus to various appropriate smaller vehicles and when appropriate other conveyances : boats, electric rickshaws, etc.

Anecdote: My Mekong Delta multi-day excursion: included 1) large tour van, 2) ferry, 3) large wooden river cruising boat-hotel with overnight room & meals, and 4) a native’s swamp canoe.

YT Embed: Mekong Delta canoe footage

2. Food: Most long (4-7 hours) Cruise Shore Excursions may provide dining options, or if a cultural Shore Excursions, authentic local dishes.

B. Guest’s care/special needs/concerns: 1) monitors guest constantly, 2) bonds with guests, 3) resolves guest issues

Your Shore Excursions guide is trained & experienced to:
1. monitor constantly your safety & security, ever alert to pickpockets, lurking thieves, bogus vendors, a broken step or a nasty dog.

2. bond with guests & encouraging a group camaraderie; perhaps even searching out those introverts in the shadows.

3. solve guest issues & questions: 1) guest needs: if pre-arranged & agreed to in advance, and 2) unforeseen issues: emergencies, illness, accidents.

NOTE: Cruise & local Shore Excursions companies should disclose standard of guest fitness etc required before you book, particularly if a demanding, unusual activity to ensure a worthwhile trip for all.

Anecdote: Florence Cathedral’s double dome: The climb up between Brunelleschi’s famously designed Florence Cathedral’s double dome involves 463 steps, through winding staircases, sometimes steep, & narrow corridors. No elevator. Demands fitness & agility. [ytlk: Italy: Dome climb]

NOTE: Not ethical to complain on Shore Excursions when you ignored ‘physical ability’ warning advice. You must solve YOUR issue, perhaps, by staying on bus or wandering the surrounding area’s shops etc.

SEE [pplk: TRAV KINDs B for detailed ‘big bus Cruise’ vs ‘small bus Cruise’ differences for each of these factors.

C. Guide’s Commentary Quality: Your guide’s goal to expose a site’s Charisma of Place.

Charisma of Place, is a term implying a compelling emotional admiration inherent in a tourist site or person that the world has long revered or that you learned about in school. [jlk: Charisma of Place]

Anecdote: Standing in the drizzling rain in the ancient Roman Forum: I saw, “…. a small mound which was the altar, a few bits of the walls, and not much more, covered by a modern roof.” (Trip Advisor) — one of billions of nondescript mounds in the world, BUT, this is the site of Julius Cesar’s cremation.

I was emotionally overwhelmed by its Charisma of Place. The emotional awareness of standing so near to Caesar absent the transparent glass of ‘time passed.” The vague 1000 yr Roman history somehow, Caesar’s Imperial power and his assassination felt very real. Not religious, but spiritual.

Your Shore Excursions guide’s narration hopefully will re-ignite your research-inspired, pent-up excitement by summarizing a sight’s cultural importance, exposing its unique history & today’s relevance with bristling exciting & intriguing insights adding to your original curiosity & anticipation.

Presumably, you are visiting a site because you researched it or have been intrigued since school, a movie or a book you read. Something about this ‘travel bud’ [jlk] tickled your imagination AND now you are REALLY here.

Smaller-sized Shore Excursions Guide’s commentary:
PROs:
1. Personalized, intimate
2. Mix of humor & confidence with entertaining insights.
3. Tailored info to guest’s interests
4. Greater depth & detail of information
5. Encourages guest-guide interactive discussion.
6. Usually guest’s language although English often added

CONs:
1. May distract from your contemplation, but probably tour so relaxed you roam a bit with guide’s approval.

[close]

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Optional Excursion’s Pros/Cons & Examples:

Variably priced Optional Shore Excursions (group discounts ?) allow guests to enrich their overall cruise experience by choosing from a variety of curated Optional Excursions. Of course, many tourists will have chosen their cruise package because of these sites & experiences.
PROs:
1. Well curated for quality & guide skills. Check all Reviews. if any.
2. Ideally scheduled’ for ‘on-time-return.’
3. Overall experience values
4. Guarantee ‘on-time -ship-return”
5. Occasionally, included in cruise packages:
Viking Cruises: 888-703-2664/-888-703-2664 1 complimentary
shore excursion in each port of call.

Typical example of Ship Shore Excursions offerings:
Norwegian Cruise Lines: 800 657 5773.

I did some simple research (10/1/2024) of 3 cruise companies:
1. Celebrity Cruises: exuberantly promotes individual short excursions, BUT without much detail, including price,
2. Viking Cruises: offers “One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call.” but gives no further complimentary Shore Excursions or paid for alternatives details.
3. Norwegian Cruise Lines: gives limited detail, total time & price

CAUTION: Do your due diligence when searching a cruise package’s Shore Excursions.

CONs:
1. Pre-trip Google Search may offer a greater variety of Local Shore Excursions
2. On-shore options may be less expensive.
3. Pre-trip Google Search makes Local Excursion research & booking almost as easy as booking with Tour Operator.
4. Usually includes all necessary transportation, but may NOT include meals or site entry fees. Enquire before booking.
5. Cruise operators may ignore more narrow focus options of limited interest to most guests.

Back to Table of Contents

lonely on-board guest

Exclusive access to All Hallows Church

trained guide

C. 3rd Party Local Shore Excursions:
Most cruise ship ports, if not all, offer Shore Excursions either by local guides, local tour companies or through national online booking companies (think Air BnB-like). (see below)

40-50% of cruisers might engage in independent activities, which include tours not organized by the cruise company.

Often, in-port local Shore Excursions providers AND local guides offer more numerous, diverse, special focus & less expensive Shore Excursions.

1. Guest’s Booked Alternative Shore Excursions FACTORs:
(1) Pre-trip Google Search: makes Local Excursion research & booking almost as easy as booking thru your cruise company.

(2) Convenience: Less convenience than Ship’s Shore Excursions, BUT greater variety & lower price; sometimes same tour & guide. CAUTION: Late Return issue

(3) Greater Site/Experience Variety: 3^rd Party Shore Excursions companies may offer greater variety &/or lower costs, (ShoreExcursions.com Dig Deeper.

Greater Site/Experience Variety

1. All Tier 1,2 & 3 tourist Site & Experience Classification: The travel industry often classifies travel sites & experiences as:
Tier 1: …. usually globally recognized & revered sites:
- Paris’ Eiffel Tower, Peru’s Machu Picchu & Beijing China’s Forbidden City….

Tier 2: …. lack the global prestige, but are nevertheless significant sites in their regions
or country:
- Italy’s Herculaneum buried at same time as Pompei
- Esoteric Reykjavik, Iceland’s Penis Museum (really? Really!!! 😀)

Tier 3: IMO, are either uninteresting, very minor or very niche & not worth the
average cruisers time & money.

2. Specialized Experiences: (French cooking class, hiking trails)

3. Esoteric interests: Edinburgh Penis Museum [close]

(4) Authentic Local Culture: unlikely, unless Shore Excursion is specifically designed OR your self-guided walking tour.

Anecdote: Albania’s Kruja’s Castle: Arriving early before tourists I roamed the castle grounds and, then, entered the original preserved residential area. Soon I was met by a gracious young man who ... uninvited ... accompanied me … tossing out tidbits of local history. He & his aged mother actually lived there. Don’t get much more authentic.!

(5) Group Size: Super high cruising demand & Tier 1 & 2 site popularity equals large tour group size.

TIP: purposely select small or private-guide tours with: 1) priority access tickets, 2) nimble movement, & 3) silent/private Tour Guide Audio System …. or immediately jump-ship on landing, grab a taxi & get to a Tier 1 site before others.

(6) Booking Tips: book through reputable local in-port companies or use independent booking platforms like Viator which can offer both quality, safety & savings, …. BUT MUST GUARANTEE:
a. NO Shop Steering
b.’on-time ship return.” Ship’s don’t normally wait for late non-ship Shore
Excursion’s late passengers.
Dig Deeper

2. My Review Research of world-wide booking platforms: Note: My Review research after ONLY 15 minutes of online research & from personal experience:
a. Shore Excursion Group: mostly positive; On Time Ship Rerturn guarantee PLUS $1,000 USD per customer for inconvenience of missing ship.
b. Get Your Guide: mostly positive
c. Tours by Locals: mostly positive except for full group prepay requirement; “… think
Viator, but a lot better run…”, with both clients & guide support, & dispute
resolution service that works. Guides are curated before being listed.

CRITICAL Guarantee: If late to boat … guarantee to, “ arrange for and cover the costs of overnight accommodation and transportation to your next feasible port-of-call.”
d. Trip Advisor & Viviator (TripAdvisor company): AVOID, unreliable & overpriced.
TIP: read a page or 2 of reviews on these organizations, BUT NOT reviews on their site

(7) Late Return: Reputable 3^rd Party Shore Excursions operators usually guarantee “on-time return”. Check all Reviews. Dig Deeper.

Captain’s Discretion controls:
a) priority to Ship’s Shore Excursion passengers
b) all other: may be based on …:
1) # late,
2) how far away (in time),
3) wait costs ( ship’s dock fees, extra fuel),
4) next port arrival schedule,
5) weather etc, 6) tug/harbor pilot availability. [close]

(8) Price: Pricing Strategy: Often competitively lower price to compete with Cruise Ship’s similar or identical offers, perhaps greater booking convenience AND most important: Ship’s Late Return guarantee.

(9) Local Guides: Local folks-turned-guides & local tour companies may have a highly developed knowledge of everything local — sites, history, culture, & local stories & can offer specific & unique Itineraries or will craft one for you. May also guide cruise ship’s shore excursions

(10) VIP Site Access: private access:

Anecdote: Mandawa, India’s painted Havelis (homes): Jumping on the back of my Nawalgarh guide's motorcycle for a 60-mile loop to Mandawa, Fatephur & other small town's to visit the many remaining beautifully painted exterior & interior old residences of wealthy Silk Road merchants. Even more exciting were welcomes into private living quarters of several of these havelis. PIK. ytembed

(11) Safety & Security: More reliably safe than solo access to dicey sights/activities.

(12) Dining: included if necessary (e.g.: lunch on 6 hr excursion)

(13) Peer-to-peer local private host & guide: Peer-to-peer is a relatively new option rapidly growing as travel demand has shifted from ‘destination’ to ‘experiential’ based vacations.
Reuters Events: destination to experience-led vacations, Dig Deeper.

Peer-to-Peer Deeper Dive

Tens of thousands of private hosts in 30 cities across Asia and Europe & expanding to more cities, local hosts and local sites & experiences; often language tailored i.e. English for Brits, American, Aussies & Kiwis, etc.

Private host’s unique, personalized itineraries, sites & activities offered directly to passion-driven traveller’s at an affordable cost, but focused on off the beaten path experiences: actual local events, family dinners etc. sites & activities.

Typical peer to peer 3^rd party operators:
a. Withlocals.com and heal2go.com.
b. Reuter Events - Travel: https://www.reutersevents.com/travel/social-media-and-marketing/bye-bye-mass-tourism-hello-healing-touch
c. Crunchbase: 1,200 fully customizable, 100% private Cruises & activities led by 900 local hosts in dozens of international cities.
d. Tours by Locals: Slowlife Family Farm: Cooking Experience: https://www.toursbylocals.com/tours/italy/siracusa/tour-details/slowlife-family-farm-cooking-experience-664d242717832fdc0dbb5afd

CAUTIONS:
1. Shore Excursions Ship ‘Return on-time’ Guarantee.

[close]

Back to Table of Contents

Family doing self-guided walking tour.

K14

3. Guest Booked 3rd Party Local Shore Excursions:

Most cruise ship ports, if not all, offer Shore Excursions either by local guides, local tour companies or through national online booking companies (think Air BnB-like).(see below)

40-50% of cruisers might engage in independent activities, which includes tours not organized by the cruise company.

Often, in-port local Shore Excursions providers AND local guides offer more numerous, diverse, special focus & less expensive Shore Excursions.

A. Guest’s Booked Alternative Shore Excursions FACTORs:
1. Pre-trip Google Search: makes Local Excursion research & booking almost as easy as booking thru your cruise company.

2. Convenience: Less convenience than Ship’s Shore Excursions, BUT greater variety & lower price; sometimes same tour & guide. CAUTION: Late Return issue

3. Greater Site/Experience Variety: 3^rd Party Shore Excursions companies may offer greater variety &/or lower costs,(ShoreExcursions.com

a. All Tier 1,2 & 3 tourist sites & experiences Dig Deeper.

FYI: Site & Experience Classification: The travel industry often classifies travel sites & experiences as:
Tier 1: …. usually globally recognized & revered sites:
Paris’ Eiffel Tower,
Peru’s Machu Picchu
Beijing China’s Forbidden City
Mexico's Teotihuacan's Temple of the Sun

</p

Tier 2: …. lack the global prestige, but are nevertheless significant sites in their regions or country:
Italy’s Herculaneum buried at same time as Pompeii
France's Chateau de Cheverny in Loire Valley ➩➩➩➩➩

Tier 3: IMO, are either uninteresting, very minor or very niche & not worth average cruisers
time & money.

b. Specialized Experiences: (French cooking class, hiking trails)

c. Esoteric interests: Rekjavik, Iceland’s The Icelandic Phallological (penis) Museum: Really?
Really!!! 😀 For propriety's sake I provide a link only, leaving its pursuit up to you. 😇.
https://www.phallus.is/ [close]

4. Authentic Local Culture: unlikely, unless Shore Excursion specifically designed OR your self-guided walking tour.

Anecdote: Albania’s Kruja’s Castle: Arriving early before tourists I roamed the castle grounds and then entered the original preserved residential area. Soon I was met by a gracious young man who, uninvited, accompanied me … tossing out tidbits of local history. He & his aged mother actually lived there. Don’t get much more authentic.!

5. Group Size: Super high cruising demand & Tier 1 & 2 site popularity equals large tour group size.
TIP: purposely select small or private-guide tours with:
1) priority access tickets,
2) nimble movement, &
3) silent/private Tour Guide Audio System …. or immediately jump-ship on landing, grab a taxi & get to top Tier 1 before others get there.

6. Booking Tips: book through reputable local in-port companies or use independent booking platforms which can offer both quality, safety & savings, …. BUT MUST GUARANTEE:
a. NO Shop Steering
b.’on-time ship return.” Ship’s don’t normally wait for late non-ship Shore Excursion’s late passengers. Dig Deeper.

My Review Research of World wide booking platforms:

NOTE: My Review research after 15 minutes of online research & from personal experience:

1. Shore Excursion Group: mostly positive; On Time Ship Rerturn guarantee PLUS $1,000 USD
per customer for inconvenience of missing ship.

2. Your Guide: mostly positive …

3. Tours by Locals: mostly positive except for full group prepay requirement;
“… think Viator, but a lot better run…”, with both clients & guide support, &
dispute resolution service that works. Guides curated before being listed.

CRITICAL Guarantee: If late to boat … guarantee to, “ arrange for and cover the costs of overnight accommodation and transportation to your next feasible port-of-call.”

4. Trip Advisor & Viviator (TripAdvisor company): AVOID, unreliable & overpriced.
TIP: read a page or 2 of reviews on these organizations, BUT NOT reviews on their site

[close]

7. Late Return: Reputable 3^rd Party Shore Excursions operators usually guarantee “on-time return”.
Check all Reviews. Dig Deeper.

Captain’s Discretion controls Ship's Departure Flexibility

a) priority to Ship’s Shore Excursion passengers

b) all other: may be based on …:
1) # late,
2) how far away (in time),
3) wait costs ( ship’s dock fees, extra fuel),
4) next port arrival schedule,
5) weather etc, 6) tug/harbor pilot availability. Dig Deeper

[close]

8. Price: Pricing Strategy: Often competitively lower price to compete with Cruise Ship’s similar or identical offers, perhaps greater booking convenience, AND most importantly: Ship’s Late Return guarantee.

9. Local Guides: Local folks-turned-guides & local tour companies may have a highly developed knowledge of everything local — sites, history, culture, & local stories & can offer specific & unique Itineraries or will craft one for you. May also guide cruise ship’s shore excursions

10. VIP Site Access: private access:

Anecdote: Mandawa, India’s painted havelis (homes): Jumping on my Nawalghar private guide's motorcycle for a 60 mile loop to Mandala, Fatehpur and other small towns to visit exquisitely exterior & interior-painted ancient residences of wealthy Silk Road merchants, ....ultimately welcoming my guide & I into a few still occupied private residences. A real treat.

11. Safety & Security: Safer than solo access to dicey sights/activities.

12. Dining: included if necessary (e.g.: lunch on 6 hr excursion)

13. Peer-to-peer local private host & guide: Peer-to-peer is a relatively new option rapidly
growing as travel demand has shifted from ‘destination’ to ‘experiential’ based vacations.
Reuters Events: destination to experience-led vacations, Dig Deeper.

Peer-to-peer local private host & guide

Tens of thousands of private hosts in 30 cities across Asia and Europe & expanding to more cities, local hosts, and local sites & experiences; often language tailored i.e. English for Brits, Americans, Aussies & Kiwis, etc.

Private hosts’ unique, personalized itineraries, sites & activities are offered directly to passion-driven travelers at an affordable cost but focused on off-the-beaten-path experiences: actual local events, family dinners, etc. sites & activities.

Typical peer to peer 3^rd party operators:

a. Withlocals.com and heal2go.com.

b. Reuter Events - Travel: https://www.reutersevents.com/travel/social-media-and-marketing/bye-bye-mass-tourism-hello-healing-touch

c. Crunchbase: 1,200 fully customizable, 100% private Cruises & activities led by 900 local hosts in dozens of international cities.

d. Tours by Locals: Slowlife Family Farm: Cooking Experience: https://www.toursbylocals.com/tours/italy/siracusa/tour-details/slowlife-family-farm-cooking-experience-664d242717832fdc0dbb5afd

CAUTION: Shore Excursions Ship ‘Return on-time’ Guarantee.

[close]

Back to Table of Contents

Woman booking her own Shore Excursion!

Tier 2 site: Chateau de Cheverny, S France:

My visit to my motorcycle guide's friend's authentic family farm still embedded in the old Nalwalgarh town.

XXXX

India's Mandawa beautifully painted exterior & interior havelies (homes)

B. How to choose your ideal Shore Excursions:

I chose many of my travel sites from a lifetime of education, public media, reading, videos, & even the news. Each tiny bit of interesting travel site or activity info was what I now call ‘Travel Buds’.

Like tiny rose buds, this near-infinite numbered ‘Travel Buds’ were potential travel ideas lying asleep in my mind 'under the snow' waiting for me to turn them into Spring’s travel targets. Same is true for you!

So how can you resurrect those Travel Buds? This can be an exciting personal research adventure in itself.

Very few Travel Buds that you can’t safely visit. You only have to discover them & decide how & when to make your travels a “genuine probability rather than just a mere day-dream fantasy”

Please re-read “2. Ship’s Optional Shore Excursions: " above jlk ??

1. My simple 7 step process : (2^nd Level) (3^rd Level). (I should provide links to existing text
List your desired travel sites, Google Search for more, prioritize and match to your ship’s port-of-calls that can access your site(s). Dig Deeper

2^nd Level:

My simple 7 step process

1. If you already know what Country region or city you want, then skip to 3) below

2. If you DON’T already know what continent, regions, countries or cities you want, follow these suggestions:
a) Create a simple Potential Site LIST, written or computer , with 3 columns: See Resources: Docs
1) region or country,
2) cities,
3) the Travel Bud sites or experiences you have always dreamed of.
Your mind is filled with your own Travel Buds, if you look for them.
[pplk; Resources: “Future Travel” document ] [pplk: Future Travel list]
Throughout our lives each of us have been exposed to Travel Buds.

Anecdote: some of my Travel Buds:
Audrey Hepburn’s “Two for the Road’ romantic European travel movie; European travels.
Russel Crowe’s “Gladiator's Coliseum; my Rome visits.
Brad Pitt’s “Seven Years in Tibet.”; triggered 3 months in China .
Art History class: exposed Athen’s Parthenon's intentional optical illusion of slightly
bowed steps & bulging columns.

b) Watch some TV or Netflix travel shows:
“50 of the Best Travel-ish Shows to Watch”: https://www.going.com/guides/best-travel-shows

c) Explore some Travel blogs. (Don’t search “Travel websites” yet cuz mostly Cruise
company advertisements)
“FeedSpot”: ”100 Best Travel Blogs To Read”: https://travel.feedspot.com/travel_blogs/

As you build your list, some country, region, city, sites & activities
will truly speak to your interest.
It will happen. Trust me.

3. Confirm your continuing interest of your lists’s Travel Buds with Google Search your list to. You may have changed your opinions. eliminating those that you have less interest in.

4. Google Search your desired countries & cities for all tourist sights & experiences that you didn’t know about … that excite you enough to add to your list.

5. Prioritize your FULL ‘List’s of most desired sights & activities (maybe with colored circled numbers next to site or activity.

TIP: I use a different color, often making circled numbers to left of list items. Examples:

Tier 1: (1) Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, (2) Vatican, St Peter’s Basilica, Trevi Fountain & Spanish Steps.

Tier 2: Baths of Caracalla, Trastevere neighborhood, Galleria Borghese museum, (3) Michelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, Basilica di San Clemente and so on.

You NOW have a condensed checklist for screening through Cruise company internet Shore Excursions offerings

6. Search usual cruise ship ports to discover sites & activities there or accessible from there.
Example:
Cadiz, Spain is a main cruise ship port with a few sites of interest: 1) Old Town (El Pópulo)
, 2) old city walls and gates, 3) Cadiz Cathedral (Catedral de Cádiz), 4) Plaza de San
Juan de Dios, 5) Roman Theatre, 6) Museo de Cádiz, 7) Tavira Watch Tower, &
8) Santa Catalina Castle.

Accessible from Cadiz: 1) Seville, 2) Jerez de la Frontera, 3) Ronda’s Puente Nuevo,
4) Arcos de la Frontera, 5) Gibraltar, 6) Costa de la Luz, 7) Tarifa, 8) Roman Theater,
and 9) Museum of Cadiz.

7. Choose your ideal Cruise Company quality level & style the cruise package that includes your top available sites & experiences. Note: maybe only 1 or 2 sites far from Cadiz because usually not enough time for multiple sites & activities unless close together.

Cruise Categories: Luxury levels to Adventure, etc.

Before you wade into the gargantuan pool of all available cruise packages, select the cruise company style that most suits you and, THEN, focus 1^st on their Shore Excursions offerings. Dig Deeper.

Cruise Categories

1. Luxury Cruises:
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises: all-inclusive luxury,
- Crystal Cruises: synonymous with luxury, recently refurbished.

2. Premium Cruises:
- Celebrity Cruises: modern & luxury blend, younger clientele, high-end amenities:
spas & fine dining.
- Princess Cruises: aka "Love Boat" line, age mix, tends to older adults & families, a
luxury step down, but still high standards & fun.

3. Adventure and Expedition Cruises:
- Aqua Expeditions: small-ship cruises focused on:
- biodiversity & culture, intimate & educational experience, very immersive;
NOT typical cruise activities.

4. Mainstream/Family-Friendly Cruises:
- Carnival Cruise Line: aka "fun ships”: party-oriented, young, families,& lively.
- Royal Caribbean: innovative activity features: water slides, ice skating rinks, &
surf simulators; families.

5. Service and Atmosphere:
- Holland America Line: classic elegance, older, extensive enrichment programs:
classical music, & onboard music programs.

6. Value for Money:
- Norwegian Cruise Line: good mid-tier option, 'freestyle' cruising: flexible dining
times etc.;luxury & freedom blend.

7. NOW, look for your highest priority Shore Excursions site for each port within your budget as you analyze each Cruise Shore Excursions package l

8. Shore Excursions Packages: NOW start combing thru the Shore Excursions packages of the Cruise Company Category you like. You may have so many exciting Shore Excursions options, it may be like “deciding’ which child you love the most.’ BUT YOU MUST.😃

FYI, Again! : Site & Experience Classification: The travel industry often classifies travel sites & experiences as:
Tier 1: …. usually globally recognized & revered sites:
Paris’ Eiffel Tower
Peru’s Machu Picchu
Beijing China’s Forbidden City….

Tier 2: …. lack the global prestige, but are nevertheless significant sites in their regions or country:
Italy’s Herculaneum buried under volcanic flow at same time as Pompei
Esoteric Reykjavik, Iceland’s Penis Museum (really? Really!!! 😀)

Tier 3: IMO, are either uninteresting, very minor or very niche & not worth average cruisers time & money.

[close]

Partial LIst of just 1 country's Travel Buds list.

V. Guest designed ‘self-guided walking tour’ of port sights & activities. [jlk: Free time]
Your wandering, self-guided walkabout of discovery around an Old Town with a local cafe’s meal may be your most authentic engagement with a country or city’s actual culture.

Anecdote: Tallinn, Estonia: Bus or taxi can whisk you quickly from your cruise ship to Tallinn’s Old Town Square where you can either wallow in tourist kiosks or immediately start exploring surrounding streets for Tallinn's historical flavor & a local’s cafe.

Click link to go directly to FULL discussion of Local Shore Excursions: [jlk:]. ???

Guest-designed ‘free time’ opportunities can be the most rewarding, fulfilling & exciting Cruising experiences because you can shift into your independent travel mode by visiting a port’s sites easily & far less expensively on your own.

A. Self-guided Walking Tour FACTORS:
1. Freedom’s flexibility: pre-plan itinerary or just wander with whimsy.

Anecdote: Tallinn, Estonia: Bus or taxi can whisk you quickly from your cruise ship to Tallinn’s Old Town Square where you can either wallow in tourist kiosks or immediately start exploring surrounding streets for Tallinn's historical flavor & a local’s cafe.

2. Full personal responsibility: as price for flexible freedom

3. ‘On-time Ship Return’: ONLY you are fully responsible for On-time Ship Return; expensive catch-up.

4. Planning: Pre-trip/onboard internet (Elon’s Starlink) create a sequential site list of sites, etc. plotted
on Google Maps, or not.

5. Navigation: on smartphone use guidebook maps, GPSmyCity app or plot yourself on Google
Maps/Apple Maps —

6. Sites & activities: same Shore Excursion variety, but more logistically difficult to fit your limited time
AND YOU MUST self-guarantee On-time

7. Local Cuisine: find a local’s non-tourist restaurant.

8. Route Strategies: 1) Best: a loop from ship & back, 2) taxi to farthest point & wander back taxi out,
walk back, 3) "hop-on, hop-off" bus route; many buses run same route.

Anecdote: Yangon, Myanmar:

take taxi to farthest site & then walk back from site to site to ship

9. Walking Tour Websites/apps: e.g. GPSmyCity smart phone apps,

10. Less expensive: little, if any, necessary expense

11. Curious Cultural Immersion: In Asia I often realized I was an invisible Caucasian wandering amongst the Asian multitude’s buying dinner at local outdoor markets & poking into antique shops, etc. I relished that.

Anecdote: QinChina

12. Miscellaneous: comfortable, broken-in shoes, hat, sun glasses, of course,

Back to Table of Contents

13. IMPORTANT TIP: always carry hidden emergency USD & local currency for snacks, etc.. pplk: money

Necessary:

My Suggested Cruise Factors research tutorial:

This Research Tutorial will help you condense & analyze what you learn so you can make a wise package choice.

NOTE: I purposely introduce this research tutorial before the Expanded Cruise Factor discussion so you can anticipate the research process. ???

1) Review my Succinct Cruise Factors to get a "feel" for Cruise package’s nuances. Make particular note of those Factors that resonate with you.

NOTE: That each Succinct Cruise Factor’s title is actually a quick link to skip directly to that Cruise Factor’s expanded discussion.

2) Start a written or computer list of my “Expanded Cruise Factors” for recording details you deem important. (At 84 I don’t remember if I don’t write it down.😀 Your list will be critical to your hunting for an ideal Cruise package.

3) Read each Cruise Factor thoroughly noting what's important to you and rejecting the rest.

If you initially skipped around to different Cruise Factors that caught your attention, I strongly urge you to go back through the entire expanded list for the factors you missed. Those missed factors may well have key information you have not thought of that may be valuable to you.

4) Now you are quite knowledgable about Cruise Factors, Your ONLY reasonable guarantee of wisely choosing your Cruise Package of quality vs cost is the thoroughness of your understanding of my Cruise Factors. [Jump LK]

NOTE: Your ideal Cruise package choice will be based upon the collective value YOU place on your evaluation of my Cruise Factors. Your summary opinion will guide you toward your ideal Cruise package.

5) Finally condense your rough list into a final checklist you can refer to when screening through Cruise package offerings

NOW, your knowledge of these Cruise Factors coupled with your Google research & prudence, makes you REALLY ready to choose your ideal package Cruise.

NOW start combing thru the Shore Excursions packages of the Cruise Company(s) whose style you like. You may have so many exciting Shore Excursions options, it may be like “deciding’ which child you love the most.’ BUT YOU MUST.😃

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Save

7) Shore Excursions Packages:

FYI: Site & Experience Classification: The travel industry often classifies travel sites & experiences as:

Tier 1: …. usually globally recognized & revered sites: Paris’ Eiffel Tower, Peru’s Machu Picchu & Beijing China’s’s Forbidden City….

Tier 2: …. lack the global prestige, but are nevertheless significant sites in their regions or country: Italy’s Herculaneum buried at same time as Pompei or esoteric Rekjavik, Iceland’s Penis Museum (really? Really!!! 😀)

Tier 3: IMO, are either uninteresting, very minor or very niche & not worth average cruisers time & money.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the end everything else is somehow extra and redundant. Plow through and remove what's not necessary.

Back to Table of Contents

IV. On-board Ocean Cruising Factors:

On-board ship days can be divided into two broad realms: 1) self-entertainment AND ship’s free & Premium diversions.

Cruise ships invariably depart port in afternoon sailing all night to arrive at the next port and its sundry Shore Excursions. Often a cruise ship will sail 24 hours between ports-of-call usually far from land with only endless ocean vistas.

Once settled in your cabin, within hours your ship puts out to sea to your next port. Depending on its itinerary, your next day may be either an at-sea day of even more sailing, OR an in-port Shore Excursion.

You will likely relax in your cabin for a few minutes and then strike out to explore your cruise ship with a wandering walkabout of the vast ship, marveling at its colossal size, extravagant lighting, modern design & construction, and seemingly endless amenities, activities & attractions. Soon you lean at the ship’s railings gazing at the watery world surrounding you, searching for animals & birds.

Eventually, tho, your wandering search slowly devolves into an ever-increasing boredom desperately hoping for diversion. Fortunately, your diversions will come from the innumerable included & extra-cost options.

Diversion comes from a seemingly unlimited array of free facilities and paid-for experiences; lounging in deck chairs, the sea breeze on your face, soaking in various pools, exercising in weight rooms, or attending art auctions (you don’t have to buy.)

A. Self- entertainment:
1. Ship Exploration:
a. Deck lounge chairs:
b. Walk interior & decks: for views.
c. Engine Room tours: Maybe Premium ship's engine room tours for $100 -$150 for brief look because extremely noisy & potentially dangerous. PIK K12
d. Interior Lounges & libraries
2. Cabin:

a. Relax: read, etc.

b. Starlink’s internet access: —free, like air.

c. ocean views

B. Ships’s Perks/Diversions:
1. Free: 24hr buffet. PIK K1
2. Premium:
a. Themed or specialty cafes
b. Premium alcohol, coffee & wine packages
c. Off hours Room Service.
d. More elaborate dishes,
e. Cooking classes, wine tastings
3. Exercise Room:
a. Free: machines etc,
b. Premium: fitness trainer & classes: advanced
or specialized. PIK K12
4. Spa:
a. Free: steam room,
b. Premium: massage, facials, & salon services
5. Specialty Activities:
a. Art auctions, etc.
Free: attend
Premium: purchase
b. Novel Athletics: generally free
Rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, or water parks
6. Shopping:
a. Free: window shopping
b. Premium: if buy something 😀
7. Stage shows/Performances:
a. Free: nightly
b. Premium: special shows etc.
8. Miscellaneous Premiums:
a. Professional photos:
b. Casino Play losses: (Note: Ship eventually wins (LOL), PIK K12
c. Retail Purchases: obviously,
d. Room Upgrade Fees:
e. Laundry Services:

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