Worst Cruise Excursions Passengers Regret Booking

Let’s make it clear: shore excursions could make or break a cruise trip. Whereas many excursions ship wonderful experiences and might take you to wonderful locations, others would possibly go away a bitter style and even flip into a foul expertise.

From the Caribbean to Alaska (and past), it’s not unusual to learn critiques of sure excursions which can be labeled as overpriced, unsafe, or simply plain disappointing.

Under is a listing of about 10 shore excursions, drawn from actual critiques, that you just would possibly wish to skip in your subsequent cruise.

Seaside Day Excursions

Let’s begin with a quite common cruise tour package deal provided by many cruise strains, and that’s usually known as “seashore day”.

These packages usually promise a slice of paradise stuffed with enjoyable or leisure, however usually ship sticker shock and crowds. Many such excursions cost for what you would get at no cost by taking a taxi to a public seashore.

Contemplate that within the Bahamas and Caribbean, most seashores are public, which means you don’t must pay an tour charge for entry. Certain, reserving via the ship consists of transportation and a promise they received’t go away with out you, however it additionally means you’ll probably arrive with an entire busload.

Vacationers usually discover these seashore golf equipment packed elbow-to-elbow, with rows of chairs crammed so tightly “you barely have sufficient area to exist, not to mention benefit from the sand” (as one St. Lucia customer lamented).

For those who favor hidden and quieter locations, take into account arranging your personal seashore day, and also you’ll most likely additionally save some huge cash.

Glass-Backside Boat Excursions

The concept of peering at tropical fish with out getting moist sounds nice, however the actuality is usually fairly completely different.

Many cruise passengers report that these excursions usually function scratched or foggy glass and sparse marine life. One traveler famous the fish had been normally too far beneath to see clearly, and the boat’s loud motor tended to scare them off.

More often than not, you’ll most likely end up imprecise shapes and questioning if that blur was a fish or only a rock. For those who actually don’t like snorkeling or diving, a glass-bottom boat is usually a low-effort various, however bear in mind to maintain expectations very low.

Panoramic Tour

Watch out for any tour billed as a “panoramic” or “overview” tour of a metropolis or island. Business insiders translate “panoramic” as code for “see every little thing from inside a bus”.

These excursions generally contain driving previous landmarks with out stopping, so your images are snapped via tinted glass as you simply go by. For those who’re the sort who likes to truly expertise a cathedral or scenic overlook up shut, you’ll be fairly annoyed.

As soon as once more, some varieties of excursions are good for some passengers, so select correctly. For instance, for vacationers with mobility points, a panoramic bus tour is usually a handy solution to sightsee.

Mega-tour Tour

Typically cruise strains bundle a number of actions into one mega-tour, promising to examine all of the packing containers. The catch is you spend extra time hustling (or dozing) on a bus than truly having fun with the sights.

Personally, if I examine an eight-hour “See Every thing” tour, I’d have a couple of questions as a result of it might imply a blur of buses, trains, and fatigue, for instance, as occurs with the prepare trip and two bus legs on the Alaska/Yukon tour.

As you most likely already know, cruise stops are fairly brief, so a tour that has an excessive amount of in it might truly be unfavorable.

Lengthy Drives for Quick Visits (e.g. Mayan Ruins from Cozumel)

Assume twice about excursions to achieve locations which can be too far-off and would take too lengthy. A basic instance is the day journey from Cozumel to mainland Mayan ruins like Tulum.

Sure, Tulum’s pyramids are wonderful, however cruise visitors usually don’t notice this journey entails a ferry trip and hours on a bus every method. One cruiser who took a ship tour to the ruins complained it was 7–8 hours whole with “3 hours drive there and a 3 hours drive again with 45 minutes on the ruins”.

So the thought is that until you’re completely dying to see that distant attraction, you would possibly get extra enjoyment staying nearer to port and really doing one thing, somewhat than warming a bus seat all day.

Purchasing Stops Disguised as Excursions

Many cruisers’ pet peeve is the “procuring alternative” wedged into an in any other case first rate tour. Some official excursions will herd you into jewelers, memento outlets, or factories the place a “presentation” shortly turns right into a strain gross sales session.

It’s one of many issues I hate probably the most, and I at all times complain to the cruise strains when it occurs. Final time I used to be in Istanbul, I felt virtually held hostage at a carpet retailer for one hour.

One evaluate I discovered humorous was from a passenger in Cozumel: “Our worst tour was in Cozumel. We visited a tequila firm and acquired $300 value. Then the cruise line confiscated it and we couldn’t even take pleasure in it on board”.

So, two issues to bear in mind. Check out the listing of issues which can be at all times confiscated while you board a cruise, and watch out for excursions that prioritize your pockets over your expertise.

Overhyped Vacationer Traps

Simply because an attraction is known doesn’t imply it’s a must-do for you. Loads of cruisers step off the ship, pile into an tour, and find yourself at an overrated vacationer entice.

Living proof: Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica. It’s iconic, sure but in addition very crowded, with “quite a few tour teams climbing up the falls on the identical time”. You’ll spend extra time holding slippery fingers in a human chain than truly having fun with the waterfall.

Equally, many Caribbean “spotlight” excursions shuttle you to packed websites the place aggressive distributors lie in wait. Whether or not it’s a famed waterfall, a volcano mud bathtub, or a once-charming village now overrun with cruise crowds, ask your self for those who’re okay with the inevitable strains, gross sales pitches, and selfie-stick congestion.

Typically the perfect resolution is to skip the herd altogether and search a extra low-key slice of native life. And please be very cautious for those who go to one of many 10 most harmful ports the place cruise ships dock.

Atlantis Aquaventure in Nassau

I don’t know why however Atlantis Aquaventure in Nassau usually exhibits up in discussions of “was it value it?”.

Effectively, for a lot of, the Atlantis Resort’s water park in Nassau is a one-and-done. The very first thing to contemplate is that the day go via your cruise can price round $200 per individual, and sometimes you solely get a couple of hours on website.

One Royal Caribbean visitor reported it was “not well worth the costly price ticket for the little time you spend there”. By the point you navigate the large resort and wait in slide strains the day is virtually over.

Guests additionally point out the additional prices (lockers, meals, and so forth.) and generally detached workers. Don’t get me flawed, the slides and swimming pools are spectacular, and the Atlantis is principally a waterpark paradise, but when your ship is simply in port half a day, possibly it’s not value it.

Animal Encounters

Many cruise strains supply excursions with animals. They may very well be tempting (particularly for households with youngsters), however many vacationers and experts urge warning or outright avoidance.

One of many principal considerations is animal welfare. Dolphins saved in small enclosures for vacationer swims, tigers sedated for images, or donkey rides the place the animals are overworked definitely don’t characterize one of the best ways to deal with animals.

For those who can’t confirm that an animal encounter is actually moral, it’s higher to skip it. There are many methods to see wildlife responsibly, like whale-watching within the wild or visiting a good sanctuary.

Additionally, the “animal expertise” excursions usually include an exorbitant photograph package deal as an additional, they usually virtually really feel like a rip-off. Do not forget that there are 7 issues that it is best to by no means purchase on a cruise.

Segway Metropolis Excursions

Segway metropolis excursions sound enjoyable, and they are often, however many cruisers report that the novelty wears off quick.

A significant draw back is price: segway excursions booked via the cruise line are usually expensive for a comparatively brief trip. You’ll additionally spend a piece of time at first simply studying how to not faceplant on the factor.

In the course of the tour, it’s laborious to actually take in the sights while you’re busy not working over pedestrians or hitting potholes.

For those who’re dying to attempt a segway, you would possibly hire one independently for much less. In any other case, a superb strolling tour would possibly offer you a richer (and fewer unstable) expertise.