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 columns for:
1) countries, continents or regions,
2) cities,
3) Travel Bud sites or experiences you have been exposed to OR dreamed of.
Your mind is filled with your own Travel Buds, if you look for them.
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, or 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 1st on their Shore Excursions offerings.
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.
Subscribe!
Join my mailing list to get new content notifications.