Stupid to book a shore excursion at each port?

[Anchors Away 2016]

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.

bumbershoot might be onto something here. Of course, there are many other things we don't know. Maybe she LOVES surprises, or maybe you and she agreed that you would plan the Honeymoon and surprise her. Or maybe you know she wants a cruise, you just don't know if she would like all the excursions. So if it makes sense not to tell her, good for you. Good for her.

But it you aren't sure if she would like this, then maybe telling her ahead of time is the right thing. Plus, most people enjoy having a chance to give input on such a big event.

If that is the case, I would support bumbershoot's suggestion, with one modification:

You don't have to tell her RIGHT AWAY (Unless the wedding is imminent.) Research your plans, put it together (but not a non-refundable commitment), and then make an event out of telling her. Make it a big reveal as part of a special evening. That way, you'll both get the full effect and joy of the surprise, and yet, she will still have a chance to have input on the trip (or change it if she hates it).

But of course, as bumbershoot said, this is unsolicited advice, and you might already have it all in hand.

In any case, congratulations!

 

[cmph]

I've been married for 17 years and my dear dear husband who ought to know me better than anyone else in the world surprised me with a long weekend trip to see girlfriends. He'll never do that again. I'm not sure why he thought a surprise for me would be wise (I'm not the type to enjoy surprises), but I would guess he was sure his plan was perfect. And the gist of it was good! But the logistics made me nuts. I don't know why he chose the flights he did (wasn't Southwest, couldn't change them after), he didn't think through the airport shuttle timing particularly well, etc. Like I said, he'll never surprise me again with a fully planned (unchangeable) trip. If he had surprised me with the general plan and let me take care of the details for myself - it would have been perfect.

To answer your question, though, I think 3 excursions (all of which are quite different) would be fine. Assuming your fiancee doesn't have visions of laying on a beach doing nothing, that is, or some other honeymoon vision that doesn't quite fit.

 

[DetroitDisney]

She likes cruises. Its already been discussed that the honeymoon is a surprise, so she is fine with not knowing what we are doing.

 

[stephmarty]

She likes cruises. Its already been discussed that the honeymoon is a surprise, so she is fine with not knowing what we are doing.

Good for you...

 

[xlxo]

On my cruises.... I stack my excursions to maximize my port time. I look for combo excursions which maximizes the activities to save time and money.

Once you arrive a port.... I want see and learn everything I can..... I'm at the port for one excursion.... there is no extra transportation cost to participate in additional excursions.

 

[mevelandry]

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?

You only live once. I think it's smart to explore interesting ports you are visiting and excursions with a group is a safe way to do it.

 

[SteveMP]

You only live once. I think it's smart to explore interesting ports you are visiting and excursions with a group is a safe way to do it.

I agree, we try to do stuff we can't do at home. In Puert Vallarta, we really enjoyed the pirate ship adventure.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

She likes cruises. Its already been discussed that the honeymoon is a surprise, so she is fine with not knowing what we are doing.

Sounds like you have your bases covered, and your initial plans for the ports sound great. Maybe now people will give you their experiences on specific excursions that they have done in those ports that meet your criteria in your first post.

Any other cruising questions you have, feel free. We want to help you make your trip extra special!

 

[jrabbit]

at 20 cruises - we get off at all new to us ports. Usually do a DCL excursion or private tour. If we know what we want to do, we have gone off on our own (mostly in Italy and France). Just wandering around the port area and going to the "fake" shopping areas does NOT cut it for us.

Have been to Nassau several times - and never ever have to get off of the ship again!

 

[jrabbit]

in 2013 there were two different zip line excursions offered in Puerta Vallarta. We did one, tablemates did the other and both sounded fantastic!!

 

[Steam8oatW9]

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?[/QUO

My experience, especially for our first cruise-we, did way too much and we didn't do a port adventure for each one. We only do 1-2 port adventure per cruise. but again that's up to you. it's nice to explore the ports on your own some times. also if you get back to the ship early-it might be less crowded and more pool or rainforest room for you. However if there a must do an excursion and you have the means do it! you don't want to have regrets later. But basically, do whatever you make you guys happy. And congrats! on the wedding-have fun. the cruise is the best honeymoon!

 

[Shanti]

She likes cruises. Its already been discussed that the honeymoon is a surprise, so she is fine with not knowing what we are doing.

The surprise sounds very nice. I'd love to get those kinds of surprises in life...

I'd go with your plan of booking one excursion per port day. Just don't book 2 or more per day. That would be overdoing it imo without her prior buy-in. But one per day makes sense. She'll likely want to see each port, and a good excursion can be a great way to do it.