You'll definitely want to book your excursions ahead of time. This is super important for anything with "limited availability". Think golf, scuba diving, helicopter tours, and most definitely Alaska – stuff where there's only so much room for people at one time. You don't want to miss out on those cool experiences, so book early! Also, if there's an excursion you absolutely have to do, go ahead and pre-book that too.

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Where to Book?

Now, when it comes to actually booking, you really only have two safe bets. Seriously, don't just Google some random tour guide. You never know if they'll show up, if they have insurance, or if they'll even get you back to the ship on time. That's a recipe for disaster!

So, stick to these two options:

1. 1. Book with the cruise line.
   2. Book with a reliable third-party, which there are several I work with!

Both have their good points and things to consider:

Booking with the Cruise Line

Good Points:

• The ship won't leave without you! If your excursion runs late, they'll wait.
• If the ship does skip a port, getting a refund is super easy on board.
• Everyone on your tour is from your ship.
• The cost usually gets added to your shipboard account, so you can pay for it all at the end.
• You might be able to change your excursion once you're on the cruise.

Things to Consider:

• Often more expensive than third-party options.
• It might not offer as many unique excursions as third parties.
• You usually can't book until you've made your final cruise payment.

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Booking with a Third-Party (like the ones I list here on my website)

Good Points:

• Often cheaper and you get more choices than what the cruise line offers.
• Reputable vendors (which is only what I link to) guarantee they'll get you back to the ship on time. If they don't, they'll fly you to the next port at their expense. (Seriously, we've never had a client miss their ship with them!)
• You can book these anytime, even before your cruise is fully paid off.

Things to Consider:

• If the ship misses a port, you almost always get a refund, but you might have to request it.
• Not everyone on your tour will be from your ship, which can be fun.
• They might not offer all the same excursions as the cruise line.
• Once you're on your cruise, it can be tough to change or cancel a third-party excursion if you change your mind.
• Payment is most often due when you book.

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So, What Should You Do?

We think it's smart to be an informed traveler! So, check out both options: what the cruise line offers and what the reliable third parties I list have. Compare prices, especially if the excursion seems identical. Figure out what you really want to do during your time in port and book accordingly.

Just remember, the third parties I list on my website all have that fantastic guarantee: they'll get you back to your ship, or they'll get you to the next port. And in all our years working with them, we've never had anyone miss their ship.

Ready to check out your options with click on the logos below.