Frank wrote:
> In Dominica, we walked past the hordes of tour operators at the pier and found
> a tour operator that booked my wife and I for an all day tour of the island saving
> us almost half of what the cruise line offered.
Good strategy. I often do the same with accomodations when I'm
traveling independently.
I find the tourist centers, then walk down the road a while and often
find better, less crowded accomodations with lower prices. I also use
guidebooks to find these alternative tourist areas (typically Lonely
Planet), then inquire about rooms and prices at places *not* listed in
the guide book.
These places often have to work harder to get customers. Over the
years, I've realized that there isn't always anything special about
accomodations listed in guidebooks. Only that it is a lot of free,
sometimes unjustified, advertising for the places that get listed.
If anyone here has been schooled in, and enjoys, the Rick Steves style
of travel, I'd love more tips on making a cruise vacation more like
independent travel. I see cruise travel as the ultimate opposite of
Rick Steves' philosophy - everything done for you vs. DIY. I wonder if
with cruising it's possible to have the best of both. That's what I'm
shooting for on my first cruise.
I know I'll have at least two opportunities to really get away from the
manicured cruise thing; when the ship arrives early in Maui and Kauai,
then overnights, then leaves the next afternoon. Not a huge window of
opportunity, but I'll take it.
Diana wrote:
> We rarely book through the ship. As the other posters have related, it is
> easy to DIY (Do It Yourself) if you do your homework and advance planning.
> We did all of the Hawaiian ports on our own--it's a snap. You will
> definitely save money over the cruise-sponsored tours, but as you have
> probably learned or been warned, Hawaii is expensive. Period. So budget
> accordingly.
Thanks Diana. Good to hear about going independently.
A Scott W in another current thread I started claims there is no
difference in price between cruise line tours and tours not associated
with cruise lines in Hawaii, or at least for Kona:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.travel.cruises/browse_thread/thread/617ff2cb8e8e7551/ce388edef41cda27?lnk=st&q=&rnum=4&hl=en#ce388edef41cda27
Of course he also gave great advice about good snorkeling within
walking distance from port in Kona. Thanks for the guidebook
recommendations and CruiseCritic forum suggestion.
> Although the major companies routinely send shuttles through the port to pick up
> clients, you may eliminate delay by letting them know you are ready to be picked up
Excellent bit of advice, thanks.
> I assume you are cruising with NCL.
Indeed. I'll be on the Pride of Hawaii ship. Thanks for the advice on
em/disembarkation.
This is valuable to know.
For meals ashore, the cruise lines invariably go to a hotel, or worse,
to some touristy "garden" or "cultural center" that caters to bus
tours. You wind up with a dumbed-down version of local cuisine, or
worse, an "international menu".
Walt wrote:
> For meals ashore, the cruise lines invariably go to a hotel, or worse,
> to some touristy "garden" or "cultural center" that caters to bus
> tours. You wind up with a dumbed-down version of local cuisine, or
> worse, an "international menu".
Walt, I feel your pain. Been there, found a work around. Please see the
other thread I mentioned above.
It's titled: "Excursions on NCL Hawaii cruises - cheaper to purchase
off-ship?" if the link I posted doesn'twork.
Thanks again to all for the great advice.
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