Our ultimate guide to getting the most out of your day on shore wherever you are.
No matter where in the world you are cruising to, there are a few simple things you can do to maximise your day in port. Often the hours are limited, and there is a lot to see and do. Even if you don’t want to book anything in particular, it is always beneficial to do a little research ahead of time, just to make sure you aren’t missing something incredible!
In this guide, we will show you how we prepare for our days in port, our favourite resources, go-to websites and top tips on how to maximise your time and your budget in any country.
Pre-Bookable Shore Excursions – offered by the cruise line
Our first port of call when planning our time in port is always the cruise line’s own excursion offerings, not to book anything, but to get a feel for the types of activities available in the destination. You don’t have to purchase anything in order to browse the trips and tours on offer. The cruise lines will always advertise the most popular sights and attractions available from each port, though often with inflated prices and limited availability. Whilst there may be occasions where you would be best to book direct (for example excursions that are offered exclusively for a specific voyage, or those where time is tight and you need to be guaranteed to get back to the ship in time), it is not often that we actually book the cruise line’s own excursions. Why? Because they are so darn expensive! In our real-life example below, the cruise line wanted +270% more than the locals!
Pre-Bookable Shore Excursions – offered by 3rd parties
If you like the look of a shore excursion but don’t like the look of the price, consider purchasing your tour through a reputable third party tour operator, such as ShoreExcursionsGroup.com or VentureAshore.com. We booked our tour of St Petersburg, Russia with Venture Ashore (previously known as CruisingExcursions.com) in 2019, and they provided a seamless tour, arranged our tourist visas, English speaking guides and transportation from and to the ship. It was significantly cheaper than booking directly with the cruise line and the tour group size fit on a minibus instead of a coach. The best advice I can give you is to read the reviews of the company and the tour before booking. Most reputable sellers will also add a ‘guarantee to get you back to the ship’ for extra peace of mind. It’s a great alternative to booking direct, and you’ll likely find other people from your ship on your excursion with you, so its still safety in (smaller) numbers.
TripAdvisor
If an organised tour or excursion isn’t the right thing for you, the next best place to go for ideas of what to do in any given area is TripAdvisor. Whether you want to discover the lunch that locals love or the best beach in the bay, TripAdvisor is a great way to fund unbiased information from people who have been there, done that and taken the time to write about it. You can also pose questions and receive responses from people who have actual experience of a place, and it can be about anything from transportation to photo opportunities, allergies to dress code… you name it, you can find it! We once found an incredible little Thai restaurant in Stavanger, Norway that had a delicious curry for a bargain price thanks to trusty TripAdvisor!
Top Tip: Not sure where to eat? Don’t waste time pounding the pavements – just search on TripAdvisor! If you have data roaming or free wi-fi available near you, turn on your location services, search something like ‘restaurants near me’, then use filters to narrow down the selections (location, cuisine and price). You’ll be eating sooner than you can say ‘bon appétit‘!
Viator
Though not specifically offering cruise excursions, Viator is a great place to look for tours and attractions in any destination worldwide. Much like its parent company, TripAdvisor, the search and review functions of Viator make browsing what’s on offer a breeze. With self-guided audio tours from just £2 in some locations, there is something for all budgets and interests. You can also see real reviews from genuine travellers which is also incredibly insightful. Not only will the website offer you the main tourist attractions and tours, but also unique activities like escape rooms, street food tours and floating saunas… and that’s just in Oslo!
Tourist Boards
There is no point denying it, whether we like the term or not, as cruise passengers, we are tourists! Embrace it! Tourist boards love us, its literally their job to help us make the most of our time in their area, make the most of their free resources! Many “Visit [insert destination here]” websites are usually available in English and provide maps, useful information and links to genuine partner websites that will help you plan ahead without the obstacle of a language barrier. Often they will offer discounts, coupons or promotions to help you save money too.
Lonely Planet
Another useful tried and tested resource is lonelyplanet.com. With up-to-date information and news, incredible images and professional travel guides, this is the online version of a glossy coffee table magazine. More inspiration than practical advice in my opinion, it can help build excitement for what’s to come if nothing else!
Local Transportation Websites
Particularly useful when visiting city ports, the local transportation websites are often a great way of planning a journey in real time at a significantly cheaper price than on a guided tour. If you know where you want to go, plan your route, check the relevant costs and payment methods and go for it! Just watch out for strikes and public holidays – these can really ruin a holiday if you haven’t thought of an alternative!
Travel Blogs
First person resources like this blog (OurWhimsicalWorld.com) are a great source of information from the perspective of like-minded travellers. Often blogs will give a more detailed insight in to what to expect and anecdotal advice on how to maximise your time and avoid tourist traps.
Another great way of finding inspiration is by searching or creating a board on Pinterest. Once you have searched or expressed interest in a destination, it is great at recommending other articles and websites which you may be interested in. It also really helps small travel blogs like us reach more people as search engines like Google always favour the rich and famous over wee folk like us!
YouTube / Vlogs
Seeking more familiarity in port? YouTube is your friend! There is a video for everything. Want a minute-by-minute walk-through of the port? Done. Want a quick ‘best of’ video? No problem. Post-travel excursion review? Absolutely. There is a video for everything! If you like the thrill of discovering something new however, I urge you NOT to watch videos. It can spoil that feeling of discovery that you get when you first visit a place that is nothing like you’ve ever experienced before. If you get anxious going to somewhere new, then a thorough video could help put your mind at rest and establish some familiarity. Quite simply, use it wisely!
Onboard Information
If you really have left it until the last possible minute to discover what your port has in store, you can usually rely on the cruise line to provide a brief but handy guide to your destination. Sometimes they are printed on your daily ship planner, sometimes they are on your in room television, other times they are on a smartphone app, but I am yet to go on a cruise that doesn’t offer you any information ahead of arrival in to your next destination. Many cruise lines offer talks on board that give passengers an insight in to the history or culture of the region you are sailing to, often inviting guest speakers to host Q&As too. If all of that isn’t enough, don’t forget you can ask the staff at the shore excursions desk any questions you have, even if they are not about the bookable excursions. Many of them will have been in port multiple times before and can answer your burning questions for free!
Cruise Port Planner: Pre-Departure Checklist
In short, there are six things we never go to a port without establishing first. These are:
- Arrival & Departure Times (don’t miss the boat – it won’t wait for you!)
- Highlights & Attractions (what to see & do)
- Transportation (tender, shuttle bus or walkable from port is a must-know)
- Currency & Payment Methods (currency, sterling cash or credit card)
- Climate & Clothing (layers, sun cream, rain coat, bobble hat… be prepared!)
- Emergency Contact Details (usually on your daily planner, the ship’s contact number is vital if you end up in an emergency situation or think you may miss the boat)
You’re All Set!
Whether you plan ahead or wing-it on the day, you’re bound to have a great time – you’re on holiday after all!
Useful Links:
Shore Excursions Group www.ShoreExcursionsGroup.com
Venture Ashore www.VentureAshore.com
TripAdvisor www.TripAdvisor.co.uk
Viator www.Viator.com
Lonely Planet www.LonelyPlanet.com
Our Whimsical World OurWhimsicalWorld.com
Pinterest www.Pinterest.co.uk
YouTube www.YouTube.com
We hope you found this port planning guide useful. If so, you can check out our other Cruise posts here.
How do you prepare for each cruise port? Have we missed your go-to information source? Let us know in the comments – we’re always looking for inspiration!
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