Planning Your Own Shore Excursions — Why It’s A Great Idea

Planning Your Own Shore Excursions May Be Cheaper & More Tailored to Your Interests Than Booking the Cruise Lines’ Tours

By Judi Cuervo, with Heidi Sarna

The dream of a flight with Napa Valley Balloons couldn’t have been better timed. A cruise was on the horizon, a 10-day sailing that would include an overnight stay in San Francisco, just a 90-minute distance from the balloon’s Yountville, CA launch site. 

But there was a dilemma. The gentle breezes that allow these magnificent craft to float serenely above Napa Valley typically occur just before daybreak. During our December sailing, that would mean a departure from the ship at 4:30 am. No thanks! 

Solution? We’d jump ship the day before as soon as we arrived in San Francisco. 

Judi & her hubby, just to left of center, on their magical hot hair balloon ride over Napa. * Photo. * Judi Cuervo

A Magical Napa Valley Balloon Experience

Six inches off the ground…a foot….three feet… Slowly, quietly, we were aloft, the flight perfectly timed to catch a magnificent sunrise over the distant mountains. Below and before us was an aerial view of the brilliant golds, crimsons and emeralds of wintertime Napa Valley, the precise rows of its vineyards and gently rolling hills interrupted only by elaborate chateaus.   

That’s exactly what we experienced during a magical hot air balloon flight. We arranged our own transportation from the ship while it was docked in San Fran and booked an overnight stay near the launch site for our super early-morning “flight,” avoiding the hefty $1,000 round-trip taxi fare from San Francisco.

While the early morning balloon ride required meticulous planning, the breathtaking views and serenity made it one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. This is just one example of how planning your own excursion, instead of sticking to the list of high-priced tours offered by your small-ship cruise, can lead to incredible adventures perfectly aligned to your personal interests and passions. 

The breathtaking views of Judi’s hot air balloon ride. * Photo: Judi Cuervo

Why Plan Your Own Shore Excursions?

By planning your own tours, you gain the flexibility to:

• Save Money: Ship-organized tours can be expensive. Private or self-guided options are often cheaper, especially when booking your whole family/friend group.
• Tailor Experiences: Choose activities and locations that match your personal interests, whether it’s a serene vineyard tour or guided bicycle ride or hardy hike.
• Explore Beyond the Itinerary: Discover hidden gems and offbeat places that typical cruise tours may overlook.

Hiking in Alaska on an independent tour. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

Tips for Planning Independent Shore Excursions

To line up customized shore tours that tickle your fancy, be sure to:

1. Do Your Homework: Research the best local attractions and activities at each port before booking independent tours.
2. Compare Tour Options: Look at reviews and pricing for local tour companies.
3. Check the Ship’s Schedule: Ensure your tour aligns with the ship’s arrival and departure times.
4. Stay Safe: Choose reputable tour operators (like the ones in this article!) and communicate your plans with someone onboard.
5. Read Cancellation Policies: Be prepared for unexpected itinerary changes. (Like that time when I booked a private Isle of Lewis tour that would visit many of the sites featured in “The Lewis Trilogy,” books by my favorite author Peter May. The waters, it turned out, were too rough to tender into Stornoway, but since I booked a refundable tour, I didn’t lose a dime.)

Scenic scooter ride in Greek Isles, in Amorgos, where there is little car traffic. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

Below are some reputable independent tour companies to consider when planning your next small-ship cruise. We’ve divided the resources into two buckets — worldwide “anywhere” options and local tour options based in a particular place.

Recommended Independent Tour Companies

Consider these reliable companies when planning your own shore excursions:

Worldwide Tour Options

• ToursByLocals: Offers customized private tours with vetted local guides and a “No One Left Behind” guarantee, a commitment to getting you back to the ship on time.
• Viator: Acquired by Trip Advisor in 2014, Viator offers more than 300,000 travel experiences. They tend to have flexible cancellation policies. loyalty program, 24/7 customer support, free cancellation, and a reserve now/pay later scheme.
• GetYourGuide: Known for its extensive offerings and multilingual customer support, GetYourGuide offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
• Showaround: Connects you with friendly locals for personalized tours, with an emphasis on establishing friendships with like-minded locals who aims to show you spots that will resonate with your interests.
• WithLocals: Focuses on unique private experiences with a “green” slant focused on themes such as vegan culinary, walking or cycle tours. The company’s most highly-rated tours include The Crown filming locations tours in London and a family-friendly graffiti workshop in Prague.
• CityUnscripted: Matches travelers with local hosts for authentic city experiences. All must be university students, graduates or licensed tour guides, and current local hosts at CityUnscripted range from 18 years old to 73 years old. They’re an eclectic mix of designers, comedians, photographers, musicians, lawyers, Ph.D. ‘s and more.
• TourMega: This search engine aggregates tours from various providers, such as Trip Advisor and GetYourGuide. To land the best price, find your tour on TourMega and then check its price against that charged by the partner company sponsoring it.

Guided Viator cycle ride in Santa Ynez wine country northwest of Santa Barbara, CA. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

Local Touring Ideas

• New York City — Big Apple Greeters: Passionate, volunteer-led neighborhood tours for groups up to six take visitors through New York City neighborhoods on free informal, unscripted walks.
  • Small-ship cruise lines visiting New York City include American Cruise Lines and Swan Hellenic.
• Thomas, USVI — St. Thomas Adventure Tours: Kayak and snorkel tours included guaranteed turtle sightings.
  • Small-ship cruise lines that may visit St Thomas include Star Clippers, SeaCloud and SeaDream Yacht Club.
• Alexandria, VA — Alexandria History Tours: Walking tours of historic Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington DC, explore George Washington’s legacy here and the area’s 18th- and 19th-century architecture, from old taverns and homes, to warehouses and cobblestoned streets.
  • Small-ship cruise lines that visit Alexandria VA and/or nearby Washington DC include American Cruise Lines.
• Southeast Asia & Europe — Grasshopper Adventures: Choose from quality guided day-long and multi-day bicycling adventures in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka and Taiwan, as well as Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia. Heidi has sampled Grasshopper’s guided rides in Cambodia and Vietnam and she highly recommends them.
  • Small-ship cruise lines that visit ports in Southeast Asia include Mekong River Adventures, Pandaw River Cruises, Scenic and Star Clippers. For Europe, there are many, from Uniworld to AmaWaterways, Viking, CroisiEurope, Small Ship Cruise Collection and others.

A Grasshopper cycle tour in Mandalay, Myanmar. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

Important Considerations

• Ship-Guaranteed Return: Booking through the ship ensures the ship will wait for your group if your tour runs late. Independent tours don’t offer this guarantee.
• Late Departures and Overnight Stays: Ideal for independent touring, when your ship is in port late or overnight it allows more flexibility for exploring on y0ur own.

Final Thoughts About Independent Shore Excursions

Planning your own shore excursions is a smart way to make the most of your cruise experience. Whether it’s a hot air balloon ride over Napa Valley or a guided bicycle ride through a bustling city, the possibilities are endless. Take the time to research and organize your tours, and you’ll create travel memories that last a lifetime.

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