Excursion questions

We are first time cruisers. Do we need to book through the ship or is it safe to book through an outside tour company? Would love tour company recs for Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios. Thanks!!:)

We are first time cruisers. Do we need to book through the ship or is it safe to book through an outside tour company? Would love tour company recs for Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios. Thanks!!:)

You are not required to book through the cruise line, you can do it all on your own.

If you want to go to the Mayan Ruins in Tulum, I would recommend booking through the ship. It is a long way away involving ferries and busses and you want to be guaranteed to make it back.

Some things (like in GC) don't even NEED an excursion! That's a very easy DIY place...a guidebook will set you in the right direction!

If you go to the Ports of Call section here on Cruise Critic and check under each of your ports stop, people are always recommending private operators they have used.

There's also nothing wrong with taking an excursion through the ship.

When possible, we like to book our own excursions. The advantage- there are fewer people on private tours so you get more personal service & they are usually less expensive.

Another way we find excursions is through the roll call for your sailing. We've joined many tours with fellow roll call members & have always been happy with our choices.

We are first time cruisers. Do we need to book through the ship or is it safe to book through an outside tour company? Would love tour company recs for Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios. Thanks!!:)

As mentioned ports of call board is a good source for this information.

When you say is it safe the key is to do the research and to find tour companies that come highly recommended.

When it comes to Jamaica my own view is to not go it on your own and I would only do a ships excursion.

Keith

Not much to add to what has already been posted, but I would say that if you are a seasoned traveler and are used to making reservations or travel without a guide, you will be fine! Most tour operators that you will find on your own make their living doing tours and shuffling cruise passengers around their respective islands. Most ports will have some sort of local information center where you can figure out what it is you want to do and they will assist in pointing you in the right direction. But, if you are the type that is constantly late for appointments, not sure which way to go in strange places, etc, then you probably need to book your excursion through the cruise line and just sit back and relax!