Day tours - what is acceptable

[Auzjak]

Hi all, we have booked a 10 night RC cruise HK to Sing in Oct 2015. Our question is... is it expected that you only do day tours offered by the ship or do other people organise their own tours? If you do this, do you pre-book before the cruise, or just wing it when you get to shore? Other than the risk of something going wrong and not making it back to the ship in time, what are the other risks? TIA, Auzjak

[Essiesmom]

I think it depends on your comfort zone in that part of the world. There is a place here on Cruise Critic called Ports of Call, where you can research your ports, and find out about excursions. Another resource is the roll call for your cruise. That is where you 'meet' others on your cruise and pick their brains about what they are doing. Some will be organizing independent tours and looking for others to join and share the cost. Getting a guidebook will help you to plan. I found Hong Kong and Singapore very easy to do on my own. EM

[paul929207]

There is certainly no obligation to take any excursions offered by the cruise line. We rarely do. However, some are more comfortable sticking with the cruise line

[Shorex]

The cruise line hopes (not expects) that you will book their tours, ship sponsored shore excursions are a source of revenue. However, many people book their own tours, either by themselves or as part of a group, a group often formed around the roll call for the cruise. Join your roll call and see what other people are planning. Sometimes it pays to share expenses for a guided tour, other places lend themselves to independent exploration.

 

For most ports I would recommend doing research and booking your own tours (or planning your independent exploring) in advance. Check the Asia ports of call board for ideas and to ask questions. Google "36 hours in Hong Kong" (fill in your city of choice) to get to the NY Times Travel section for most cities of the world. Check Trip Advisor for the top activities in your ports. Go to wikitravel.org for more ideas.

 

Your time in port is precious and limited -- more so in Asia than in the Caribbean where it's mostly one beach after another. Try to spend a few days pre cruise in Hong Kong and post cruise in Singapore -- great things to do in both cities than you can do on your own with a little planning.

[Nebr.cruiser]

There is absolutely no expectation or obligation to take ship tours--we hardly ever do. In fact, we'd only do a ship tour if there was no other viable option, having had some bad experiences with them.

 

Some places we DIY, others we find private tours ahead of time, once in a while we pick up a tour on the dock. Research the ports on these boards, on your roll call and other internet sites, as well as guide books. For more exotic locations, joining a tour someone on your roll call organizes often works very well.

[Auzjak]

Thank you. I'm not worried at all about HK or Singapore - have a few days in each and have been there before. It was more the ports we call into - Manilla, Boracay, Brunei, etc so will look at those Ports of Call. One question though, does it matter if the ship actually docks at the Port? If it is a tender to shore, can you just get a lift on a tender to shore to do your own thing from there? How do you find out if we dock or tender?

[ithaca gal]

Thank you. I'm not worried at all about HK or Singapore - have a few days in each and have been there before. It was more the ports we call into - Manilla, Boracay, Brunei, etc so will look at those Ports of Call. One question though, does it matter if the ship actually docks at the Port? If it is a tender to shore, can you just get a lift on a tender to shore to do your own thing from there? How do you find out if we dock or tender?

 

When you look at the itinerary, it should note "TR" for ports that require a tender.

[Mary Ellen]

If it is a tender to shore, can you just get a lift on a tender to shore to do your own thing from there?

Anyone can use the tenders. Usually those with the ship's shore ex have priority in the beginning. Those with higher repeat passenger levels and those in suites also have priority. The daily program will let everyone know where to go collect a tender ticket once they are ready to go ashore. This only matters soon after tender service begins. After a while the crowds die down and tender tickets are no longer needed.

[nolatravelgirl]

My biggest issue with ship sponsored tours are almost always on a big giant tour bus and you can only move as quick as the slowest passenger. Pre-booking small group private excursions means you are in a smaller vehicle and you are only traveling with your small group.

 

For example we booked a private excursion in Jakarta and we used "tours by locals" and paid less than the ship's tour. On our city tour we saw several more stops than the ship tour and were able to move out own pace and were also able to customize the tour. While talking to our driver we mentioned we would like to try some local treats so our tour guide interpreted to our driver to make a stop at a local bakery and market where she walked us through several of the items since we couldn't read any of the signs nor could we speak the local language to speak to the shop keepers. We got a much more personalized experience and saw more than the typical ship tour.

[BlueRiband]

Thank you. I'm not worried at all about HK or Singapore - have a few days in each and have been there before. It was more the ports we call into - Manilla, Boracay, Brunei, etc so will look at those Ports of Call. One question though, does it matter if the ship actually docks at the Port? If it is a tender to shore, can you just get a lift on a tender to shore to do your own thing from there? How do you find out if we dock or tender?

 

You sound like you are new to cruising. There are three situations where a ship sponsored tour makes sense:

1) this is your first cruise,

2) the port is in an economically or politically challenged area, or

3) the scheduled tour takes all of your time in port.

 

However you go ashore, note the All Aboard time and don't cut it close. The only time a ship waits for latecomers is for those on a ship sponsored tour. Do something on your own, lose track of time, and you will be on your own to get to the next port. They do not wait!

 

If it is a tender port don't wait for the last tender.

Edited March 18, 2015 by BlueRiband

[Karysa]

I can think of other reasons to use a cruise line tour. If you book last minute or do not have the time or interest in researching excursions. If the port is far from the attractions example Rome. If you are tendered and want to get off of the ship ASAP.

[cb at sea]

We rarely take ANY "tour" at all! We research our ports with a guidebook, and do almost everything on our own. There is little risk of "missing the ship", if you watch the time!

[donaldsc]

Hi all, we have booked a 10 night RC cruise HK to Sing in Oct 2015. Our question is... is it expected that you only do day tours offered by the ship or do other people organise their own tours? If you do this, do you pre-book before the cruise, or just wing it when you get to shore? Other than the risk of something going wrong and not making it back to the ship in time, what are the other risks? TIA, Auzjak

 

It sounds as if you are asking if it is somehow "wrong" to take tours that are not sponsored by the ship. Definitely not. Considering that most ship tours are over priced and over peopled, most definitely not.

 

Do what is comfortable for you but don't worry about insulting the cruise line or figuring that they will be hurt either financially or emotionally if you do not take the ship sponsored tours. It is your trip.

 

DON

Edited March 19, 2015 by donaldsc

[GUT2407]

We often just go for a walk, jump on a bus or grab a cab.

 

You can tender if on a ships excursion or not, with a few exceptions, but they are rare.