Stupid to book a shore excursion at each port?

[DetroitDisney]

Hey everyone,

I am taking my first cruise ever as part of my honeymoon and have a question. We are doing the Mexican Riviera cruise (7 night) and it includes 3 port days (along with 3 ship days). Am I crazy to book a shore excursion for all three days?

My current plan was to book something adventurous for Puerto Vallarta, something chill for mazatlan, and then the salsa and salsa (dance and cooking) in Cabo. Is this too much?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Not at all stupid! The only stupid thing is to let what others like to do dictate the cruise YOU take. Some people cruise almost exclusively for the cruise itself; others enjoy the ports.

I think your plan sounds fun, personally.

 

[Summer12315]

No it's not. That being said, we definitely booked too much our first cruise. My advice if you book something at at all ports would be to make at least one easy in some way. Either super short or something relaxing like a beach break. Even if you are really active people, I've discovered that vacations are more enjoyable when you don't try to do too much.

 

[llachance]

Loved Salsa and Salsa when I did it

 

[lizabu]

It sounds super fun to me

 

[smiths02]

We sailed a different cruise line for our first cruise, but we booked an excursion in every port. I really like the ship itself, but excursions were important as we had never been the places before. We had 4 excursions on our trip (well, one was cancelled due to weather so we bummed around port a little) and still felt we did a lot on the ship.

 

[ImprovGal]

Loved Salsa and Salsa when I did it

Salsa & Salsa is one of my favorite excursions! I've signed up for it every time I've had a port stop in Cozumel, and even added it in Cabo when i sailed panama canal. I called that my salsa & Salsa & Salsa & Salsa trip.

 

[ahain]

We always do an excursion any time we visit a port we've not been to previously. Even if we HAVE been to a port previously, we USUALLY do an excursion, not not always - i.e. Since we've been there a couple of times, we no longer have a burning desire to do a port excursion in Nassau (or even to get off the ship, for that matter!)

 

[GPaLarry]

Cruise your own cruise! After eight cruises to about every part of the world DCL sails, we have booked excursions (as others have said) in every port we have never visited before. We have had excursions and ports canceled, rain and medical emergencies. This is all part of the adventure. Go to your local library and research the ports you will be visiting. Take notes on activities/excursions that are of the most interest/fun for you and your family. Get the family involved in the planning, decide if DCL or a port-based vendor can meet your needs, then sign up. If the port is interesting on its own, don't book anything, get off the ship and just walk around on your own. If the port is so-so, stay on the ship...a number of people find it great fun on an empty ship with no lines and enough activities for everyone to fill your day. You are paying for a vacation...don't let it dictate what you should do, do what you enjoy doing.

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

Enjoy the ports! You will have 3 ship days to relax.

 

[cadien]

We always do excursions. Sometimes I've regretted two in the same day.

 

[Pens Fan]

We always do some type of excursion while in port. We love seeing new places and trying new things. Have fun! It sounds like you have a great plan with a nice variety.

 

[CamColt]

If those are all things you would like to do then it's not stupid at all. Enjoy!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

We booked 3, pretty much full day, excursions at our three ports (not counting Castaway Cay), and they were on back-to-back-to back days. By the third day, I was, indeed wishing I hadn't booked so many excursions.

Here's the thing, though. When I asked myself at the end which of those three excursions I wished I had skipped, I couldn't answer. I loved them all.

So, was it tiring? Yes! Was it EXPENSIVE? YES YES YES!

Was it worth it?
Yes, to me, it was. I wouldn't have changed it.



Have a great time on your trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

Am I crazy to book a shore excursion for all three days?

If you don't *want* to have shore excursions each day, then you're crazy to book excursions for each day.

If you want to book them but can't afford it, don't do it.

If you can afford it and want to book the excursions, then do it.


This is YOUR (and your new spouse's) trip, and you two are the only ones who get to make the decisions. It's not anyone else's trip. Do what you guys want to do; nothing more, nothing less (unless you can't afford it).

 

[ludari]

Like the others have mentioned it's not stupid to book excursions for each of your ports. I always book excursions at each of the ports the ship stops at unless it's a port I've been frequently and there is nothing I enjoy, however that is usually not the case with me. Enjoy your upcoming cruise.

 

[DetroitDisney]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm glad people have enjoyed the salsa and salsa.

My main issue (not a big one though) is that my fiancé doesn't actually know we are taking this cruise. It will be a surprise so I am trying to plan everything without her knowing. This is why I'm soliciting for help.

 

[mom4fun]

We always do.

 

[bumbershoot]

My main issue (not a big one though) is that my fiancé doesn't actually know we are taking this cruise. It will be a surprise

Unsolicited advice...

Don't do that. Unless you absolutely positively 100% know her preferences and likes and wishes for a cruise, just no.

And you don't know, because you're asking a bunch of strangers for advice.

Take a step back and talk to her about this. This is your honeymoon. You two, hopefully, only get ONE of these. If it turns out that a surprise cruise is her idea of a nightmare, you don't get a second chance to do this. It's part of your story.

You're asking us because you don't know what she wants. Don't ask us. Ask her. The surprise will happen tonight, when you spring it on her. So it won't happen at the port, big deal? It's still a surprise. And then you get the joy and FUN of planning this WITH her.

...Done with unsolicited advice.

 

[stephmarty]

I would book an excursion in every port if I could afford to do that. We usually explore on our own, but the excursions are great if you don't mind groups and some waiting. Besides the savings, I do enjoy the freedom and less wasted time when we head out on our own. But it takes more planning and confidence that you know your surroundings and can get back to the ship on time.