Best things to do in Nassau on a cruise

Table Of Content

• Can you get off a cruise ship without an excursion?
• Guide to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean shore excursion
• Mailbag: When do shore excursions become available to book for my Royal Caribbean cruise?
• Best cruise excursions in Alaska
• How much do shore excursions cost in Alaska?
• Research ports in advance
• Entertainment

Whale watching tours are offered in many Alaska cruise ports, but the most common ports for whale watching are Juneau and Icy Strait Point. Cruising to Alaska brings many of the same onboard features as cruising elsewhere in the world, such as entertainment, dining, and activities, but the cruise excursion experience could not be more different. Moreover, even if you check back at six months but shore excursions were added many weeks earlier than that, it shouldn't matter in terms of you being able to get the tour you want. But it's easy to miss out on these perks if you're not aware of what you can get.

Can you get off a cruise ship without an excursion?

Head over to Royal Caribbean's site to book shore excursions and see if any discounts apply to you. Be sure to check back periodically to see if there is has been a price drop. An island tour is a popular option if you want to see St. Kitts, but for an escape from the crowds, cruisers can hop a "sea taxi" to the less-traveled island of Nevis. While on Nevis, you'll typically visit some historical sites, lunch at a beachside restaurant and have some time to swim in the Caribbean waters. With so much located near the port of Curacao, you can squeeze a number of activities into a single day with a combination excursion. Take a scenic island tour to visit highlights like the Hato Caves with their underground limestone formations and pools.

Guide to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean shore excursion

Even better, Johnny Rockets outlets on Oasis-class ships (located in the Boardwalk amusement area) typically aren't crowded at breakfast time, in part because many people don't realize they're open. Some Royal Caribbean cruisers also swear by bringing magnets to ships to affix dinner invitations, excursion tickets and other important papers to their cabin walls. Walls on Royal Caribbean ships are made with metal (even if they don't look like they're made of metal, thanks to faux coverings) and will hold a magnet.

Roatan sloth excursion - Shore Excursions - Royal Caribbean Blog

Roatan sloth excursion - Shore Excursions.

Posted: Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Mailbag: When do shore excursions become available to book for my Royal Caribbean cruise?

You'll cruise the Atlantic for the first nine days, living it up on a ship that is packed with ways to play and relax. Immerse yourself in the local Spanish culture by spending part of your day exploring the Museum of Nature and Archaeology or the Basilica de Candelaria shrine. My best advice is to check back for shore excursions in the cruise planner around six months prior to your sail date because there's usually a good chance excursions will be added by that point. Royal Caribbean doesn't have a set time frame when it loads in shore excursions to the Cruise Planner.

If you're unsure, ask if a gratuity has already been included before adding another 15% or 20% to the total. Some of the biggest cruise ship horror stories you'll find on the internet are tales of cruising newbies who racked up thousands of dollars in cellphone charges while on ships. This can happen when you leave your phone turned on and, say, watch videos on the internet. Many phone plans — even international plans — do not include talking, texting and data on cruise ships, and you'll pay exorbitant roaming rates for such services that will show up weeks later on your phone bill. You check a box on an online form before sailing or while on board, and — poof! This is important to do if you want to be sure to get a seat for a specific show on a specific night.

Lessons learned after taking my first cruise - Royal Caribbean Blog

Lessons learned after taking my first cruise.

Posted: Sat, 30 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Royal Caribbean has ordered two more Icon Class ships that will begin sailing in 2025 and 2026, respectively. To find all of the shore excursions for your cruise, it is best to register your cruise on Royal Caribbean's My Cruises section and then visit the Cruise Planner. Royal Caribbean also guarantees if you take one of its shore excursions, they will ensure you do not miss the ship if you are delayed on the excursion. Even if the ship is slated to leave, the ship will wait for your group to return or provide transportation for your group to meet up with the ship at the next port. Some people will tack on extra days beyond that on the beginning or end of the cruise, so you will find that you may be spending a lot of time in your embarkation/disembarkation port.

The first place cruisers look for shore excursions is to book something with the cruise line. While there is nothing wrong with booking a tour through the cruise line, often this is the most expensive option. Plentiful smaller and affordable cabins, included casual dining options, and a plethora of bars and onboard attractions give Royal Caribbean ships a for-the-masses feel and make them accessible to travelers on a budget.

Do I need a shore excursion on an Alaska cruise?

Here you'll port within short distance of pristine beaches, a thrilling water park and countless ways to unwind beneath the palm trees. Freeport may not offer as many shore excursions to choose from compared to other Bahamian ports, but many visitors plan for a beach day or visit the Lucayan National Park. It’s always a better idea to book excursions as far in advance as possible to ensure you can pay the lowest price and secure a spot on the chance the excursion sells out. Because shore excursions are so popular on an Alaska cruise, it’s not uncommon to see popular tours like whale watching, glacier visits, and helicopter tours sell out. Helicopter and flightseeing tours are both popular shore excursions in Alaska, offering the unique opportunity to view the state’s nature from above. Helicopter tours often include a landing atop one of Alaska’s glaciers, where visitors have the chance to walk–or dogsled–on the glacier itself.

The beach offers excellent swimming as well as the opportunity to snorkel or rent water sport equipment. For those looking for a more personalized adventure, there’s Private Journeys. Our Destination Insiders leverage extensive knowledge and years of travel expertise to hand craft one-of-a-kind private tours with you in mind. You can customize an existing tour that catches your eye, or work with an Insider to create an exclusive tour experience that’s completely unique to you or a small group. Celebrating a special occasion, chasing a lifelong dream, or looking for ways to rediscover a favorite destination?

Given the many thousands of people on these ships on any given sailing, it's not uncommon to find that some shows book up in advance. Several hotels and resorts in Nassau offer day passes, which allow cruise ship guests to access the resorts’ amenities for the day. Some day passes are all-inclusive, whereas others give guests a monetary voucher for food and drinks. Paddleboards, kayaks, and snorkel gear are available to rent, and the island also offers nature tours with dolphins and stingrays. Tropical beach bars, food, and a Starbucks are available on the island for an extra cost.

The periods around major holidays — such as Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day — also are considered the busy season for cruising and bring higher prices. In addition, travel agents often can get you extra onboard credit and other perks on Royal Caribbean ships that you might not be able to get by booking directly with the line. Sure, you can book a Royal Caribbean cruise on your own, directly through the line's website. But given that you must make many decisions during the booking process, it can pay to use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises to help you arrange things. A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences and steer you to the perfect Royal Caribbean ship, itinerary and cabin for you.

Like TripAdvisor, your goal is to narrow down what activities you want to do while in each port based on others advice as well as descriptions and photos you run across. Wikipedia articles are often good starting points, because they will quickly get to why the port you are going to is frequented and some of the major attractions. Depending on your itinerary, you may even know what each port is known for ahead of time, such as major cites like Boston, Rome, Barcelona, or Venice.

It all starts with the boldest cruise ships at sea — and ours have won awards for everything from world class dining and spectacular entertainment, to record-setting onboard thrills and groundbreaking innovation. An Alaska cruise is a highly-anticipated vacation not only for the experience onboard the ship, but because of the wide range of unique shore excursions available in Alaska cruise ports. Depending on your cruise itinerary, you’ll be visiting 3-4 different ports on an Alaska cruise, each of which offers plenty of shore excursions to book.