Cruise organised excursions or do-it-yourself

There are no rules on this, but here are some guidelines to help you decide: Taking what the cruise line offers is good when: • You're a first-time cruiser • The port is particularly exotic • The port is a long ride from the main attraction – it doubles your changes of missing the boat (literally) by failing to get back on time. On an organised tour, the boat WILL wait for you • The cruise line specialises in a certain subject: some lines have historical or sport specialists who will travel with you to really enhance your excursion • It's a high-risk trip – helicopter rides, paragliding and boat trips can all be adventurous and may not be covered by your insurance, while cruise organised trips usually will be. Good times to make your own way: • When the port is close to the cruise terminal and you speak some of the local language, why not hop in a cab and ask your cabbie what’s best to see in his town? • Sunbathing trips – often these simply transport you to a beach nearby and you can usually find local public transport or a taxi at a fraction of the cruise organised cost • Shopping trips – use the internet to do your homework and then get in a cab. No need to visit overpriced shops that don’t appeal to you, you can focus on the ones that you’ve always wanted to experience • History and culture tours – especially if you have a connection with the area, it can be best to try and hire a local guide to really get you under the skin of a place. Click story headline to see image