Is it so silly to not want to do excursions?

[blaneyliss]

We are a couple in our 20's and we love to do adventurous things, however we feel like on this trip we just want to chill out. Do we have to do excursions in port or can we just hang out at the beach? I see these excursions TO the beach in our travel guide. It seems pretty silly to pay 30 bucks per person to go to the damn beach. Someone straighten things out for me here!!! Thanks :)

[wrp96]

Nope, you don't have to do excursions if you don't want to. In most ports, it is cheaper and easier to just walk off the ship and grab a taxi to the beach if that is all you want to do. It all depends on what you want to do and what your risk level is.

[johnql]

Some people, who have been to many of the same islands on previous cruises, simply choose to stay on the ship and thoroughly enjoy the ship's amenities with little or no competition since the majority of the ship's passengers are ashore. That's a great way to just chill out and it won't cost you a penny extra.

[wraithe]

Wife and I just got done with a 9 night cruise, 5 port calls, and didn't do a single formal excursion. Walked to Bayside Mall in Miami, did our own walking tour, Pepper's, Key West Winery, Last Flight Out, Margaritaville, Southernmost Point, etc, etc, in Key West. Did our own thing in Cozumel, shopping. Went to the little club at the end of the wharf/pier in Costa Maya. Rented a car and did our own driving tour in Port Canaveral.

 

Bottom line, do your own thing, or like someone else said, do nothing, hang out on the ship and just relax. I learned on my first cruise not to get wrapped around the axle on excursions, since port calls can change.

 

Happy cruising.

[NAS-KARR]

HEY......don't forget, this is YOUR vacation and you do EXACTLY what you want to do. Believe me, nobody notices what you're about doing or not doing.Everyone does THEIR own thing.

 

CIAO,

[suntan]

I always thought that since we're going to all these beautiful islands you must do something.

 

That thought changed this year when we docked in Martinque. We had been on the go since before the cruise and we were getting a little tired by the time Martinque showed up on our itinerary. We were going to get off the ship and walk around the town, but decided to stay on the ship and do nothing. We had our pick of deck chairs by the pool and had a very relaxing and rejunvenating day.:)

 

Our upcoming Feb. 2007 cruise will visit 8 islands in 10-nights. I'm sure we will build into our cruise a day or two where we either do not get off the ship or take in a little shopping in the port area.

 

It is your vacation and you can do whatever you want.

[cusyl]

We don't do excursions in the islands, but did in the Med. because there was so much history to see. We live in a beach town so don't do beaches either because none of them compare to the sugar white sand in Sarasota.

 

On our upcoming cruise there will be 7 ships in Grand Cayman and 8 in Cozumel on the same day. Both of these are tender ports, so we are going to stay on the ship and relax, not fight the crowds.:eek:

[Crusin Karen]

What everyone else said! My dream cruise would actually be floating around on the deep blue sea for a week :D Do a little bit of research first, tho. You might get back and hear about excursions or places of interest that others had been to and wished you had gone there. If you are interested in a beach, tell us where you will be going. I am sure there are others who could tell you the best beach and the easiest and cheapest way to get there too. As everyone said, it is YOUR vacation, so do as you please. Have a great cruise!

[Cotton]

Since I've been to the islands many times, both cruising and by air, I never take any organized excursions. In fact, the only one I did take was during my very first cruise 'way back in 1987. Never again. I grab a cab and go to whatever beach I want, or simply walk around in the port area. I also sometimes stay on the ship for a very relaxing day. Do your own thing!:)

[Canuck Cruzer]

If you are looking at ship excursions, they typically have a "beach break" type tour. Instead, if you want to just chill out...like previous posters have said, just get a cab to take you to a beach. A lot less expensive, and you can choose where to go.

[Nitra]

I seldom do the excursions. Only done a few in all my cruises. Depending on the island, some beaches have an admission charge, or the excursion for the beach includes other things, such as use of a chair, lunch, a cocktail, etc. Seven Mile beach in Grand Cayman has a public beach, but you have to have a towel to sit on, from what I understand. I have only been to the beach there a couple of times and one time did not do the excursion, just went, had to have my towel to sit on, next time did the excursion with lunch, it was okay but not great, last time friends and I went to a hotel, paid 40 each for use of the hotel facilities, had to pay extra for lunch and drinks.

 

If you dont want to do an excursion, then do your own thing. If you want to go to the beach on your own, research the area and find something that will fit your needs. Staying on the ship is nice too, hardly anyone around, very peaceful!

[newmexicoNita]

This depends on what you mean by not doing excursions. Do you mean, at all ports you just want to stay on the ship or maybe get off and shop for a couple of minutes: in my humble opinion you will miss out if you don't, at least hire a taxi to show you the highlights, but if that is what you want, it's your vacation and you can do whatever. I will say, a couple of times we have chosen to do nothing but get off the ship and right back on; usually we have regretted not doing a little more. Now, for the islands, we have been to more than once or once and didn't care for, we love to stay on the ship and enjoy the non crowded conditions, the spa discounts etc. As foon as we became somewhat experienced cruisers we stopped booking our tours through the ship. They are way overpriced and not as interensting or as fun as planning them on your own.

 

Nita

[samtig]

We took a lot of excursions on the first few cruises. We still take some. We started doing just what you said - go to the beach in some ports. In Cozumel we take a cab to Paradise Beach for $12 one-way. Admission is free with plenty of chairs, great service, food & margueritas. It's a wonderful beach. Can pay $8 to do other things. In Grand Cayman we are going to try Sea Grape Beach this time & will take a cab there. We also started renting a car & driver for the day to take us on a tour of the island or to specific sites. That has also worked out very well with nice guides who speak great English. Also much cheaper than ship excursions. Excursions can be very expensive & are worth it if it is something you really want to do. They are much cheaper booked outside of the cruise line. If the area is somewhat unsafe, however, we do book through the cruise ship. Have a great cruise!

[JLC@SD]

We are a couple in our 20's and we love to do adventurous things, however we feel like on this trip we just want to chill out. Do we have to do excursions in port or can we just hang out at the beach? I see these excursions TO the beach in our travel guide. It seems pretty silly to pay 30 bucks per person to go to the damn beach. Someone straighten things out for me here!!! Thanks :)

When we have cruised to Mexico..........we skip the excursions.........we are not interested in seeing any more of Mexico.......it is a dump to us.......so we stay on board because the ship is the destination...:)

[caviargal]

We are a couple in our 20's and we love to do adventurous things, however we feel like on this trip we just want to chill out. Do we have to do excursions in port or can we just hang out at the beach? I see these excursions TO the beach in our travel guide. It seems pretty silly to pay 30 bucks per person to go to the damn beach. Someone straighten things out for me here!!! Thanks :)

 

First of all, you do not HAVE to do anything!

 

I hate planned excursions and being herded around in a group. I always opt for an independent experience. We head to the beach or to an adult only AI and just enjoy the day away from the tourist crowds. Do a bit of reseach and enjoy each port in your own special style.:)

[hajekfam]

There are a few of us that cruise for the cruise experience and ship itself - not the ports or excursions.

The ship is our vacation destination - the ports and excursions are just gravy - we do as much or as little as we want.

[KKB]

We LOVE sea days...but I love the bustle w/ everyone on.

Golfing in Jamaica excursion is a must. I did Dunn's River Falls Excursion, probably best idea since DH was golfing. We did Mayan ruins tour in Costa Maya & LOVED it.

 

Didn't do a single excursion on our Disney cruise. Hit casinos in St. Maarten; taxi to beach in St. Thomas.

 

We cabbed it to Paradise Beach in Cozumel, and will do same in March. I felt beach excursions were a waste of $. Only excursion will be golfing at Sandals in Jamaica again for the guys. (you couldn't golf at Sandals unless you did excursion).

 

Happy cruising!

Kris

[DaisyGirl55]

There are a few of us that cruise for the cruise experience and ship itself - not the ports or excursions.

The ship is our vacation destination - the ports and excursions are just gravy - we do as much or as little as we want.

 

I totally agree! I always look at an itinerary first, before room, or price, or anything. I usually try to pick at least 2 days at sea, and enjoy the ship. There is so much to see and do on a cruise ship! Port intense itineraries do not leave enough time to enjoy the ship itself.

 

If we have cruised a certain route several times before, we also love to stay onboard while in port, and have the ship virtually to ourselves. That is also when I usually book my massage. (reduced prices most of the time) :)

 

I hate it when I get back from my vacation needing a vacation! Relaxing days spent on the ship are the answer to this! ;)

[caviargal]

There are a few of us that cruise for the cruise experience and ship itself - not the ports or excursions.

The ship is our vacation destination - the ports and excursions are just gravy - we do as much or as little as we want.

 

For Caribbean (and similar) itineraries, I agree completely. The ship is the primary consideration. For the exotic destinations, I focus on itinerary but never at the expense of my preferred onboard experience.

[BobBeaSea]

In the Caribbean we don't bother with excursions anymore. If it's a port we like, we will do our own thing, whether it's grabbing a cab to go to a beach or place of interest-whatever, or just walking around visiting the "haunts" we know. We don't bother getting off the ship at some ports now...the ship has become the destination :) Whatever you do..or don't do-have fun :)

[flvol77]

We are a couple in our 20's and we love to do adventurous things, however we feel like on this trip we just want to chill out. Do we have to do excursions in port or can we just hang out at the beach? I see these excursions TO the beach in our travel guide. It seems pretty silly to pay 30 bucks per person to go to the damn beach. Someone straighten things out for me here!!! Thanks :)

 

we are in our 20's also...we live in fl and we love just going to the beach when we cruise...we research where to go and we just take a cab or ferry to the beach and snorkel and hang out...

 

its your cruise do whatever you want.....

 

have fun and enjoy your cruise!

[packercruising]

There is a certain amount of tension involved with excursions. These are regimented activities kinda like work s a regimented activity. If you just want to chill out, find your own way to the beach, whatever, sounds like a plan to me!:)

[momofmeg]

We are a couple in our 20's and we love to do adventurous things, however we feel like on this trip we just want to chill out. Do we have to do excursions in port or can we just hang out at the beach? I see these excursions TO the beach in our travel guide. It seems pretty silly to pay 30 bucks per person to go to the damn beach. Someone straighten things out for me here!!! Thanks :)

 

I do not do alot of excurions, usually only 1 or 2. Where are you going? Most places you can take a taxi to go to the beach.

 

Another thing you can also consider-I love to use the ship's pool area on port days- there are much less people around-so I have the pool area almost to myself.

 

So you are NOT silly to not do excurions-at least if you are-I am also!

[momofmeg]

We don't do excursions in the islands, but did in the Med. because there was so much history to see. We live in a beach town so don't do beaches either because none of them compare to the sugar white sand in Sarasota.

 

On our upcoming cruise there will be 7 ships in Grand Cayman and 8 in Cozumel on the same day. Both of these are tender ports, so we are going to stay on the ship and relax, not fight the crowds.:eek:

 

we had 5 in Grand Cayman last week-we were on Caribbean Princess, a big ship and that Freedom of the Seas was there that day also. It was HORRIBLE-I suggest you just stay on ship.

[samtig]

Staying on the ship sounds good, but I just can't make myself do it! At a minimum have to get off the ship & shop & eat local food. Favorite thing is to take a cab to a great beach & relax.