Viator Travel Blog

Spend some time talking to regular cruise-goers about shore excursions and a common view becomes clear: generally speaking, the shore excursions offered by cruise lines are cookie-cutter operations, designed to move large groups off the ship, through some points of interest onshore, and back onboard again with a minimum amount of fuss.

As much as Vancouver is known for its sophisticated restaurants and vibrant cultural scene, the city is also an exciting outdoor playground. Within the city limits are miles of sandy beaches for sunning, leafy parks for strolling and biking, and inlets, bays, and wide open waters for paddling and sailing. Plus its moderate climate, highlighted by dry and sunny summers, enable outdoor enthusiasts to take advantage of active pursuits year-round. And if skiing and snowboarding is your thing, you can do that here, too, for snow-capped mountains are only a short drive away!

Back in February I wrote about Viator’s new focus on shore excursions for cruise passengers, pointing out the numerous good reasons to look further than your cruise line’s own offerings. Since then we’ve added a range of new excursions around popular European ports that are already proving to be big hits.

Divers and snorkelers will find plenty of tropical treasures under the translucent waters that surround St. Kitts and its sister island Nevis. The island has some 70 dive sites, many of which harbor rarely explored shipwrecks and even thermal vents teeming with abundant sea life. Colorful coral reefs protect much of these waters, which serve as prime snorkeling spots where you can see as far as 60 to 100 feet down. Snorkeling is easy to do right off beach; for diving, check with Pro-Divers on St. Kitts or Scuba Safaris in Nevis, two of the best outfitters on the islands. Remember to bring your underwater camera when you try our top 8 spots to dive and snorkel in St. Kitts and Nevis.

It’s an odd thing about cruising that many of the highlights are not on-board, but on-shore! Well, that’s fine: relaxing nights on the ship, good food and friends and all that, then shopping and sightseeing and excursions in each new port of call. But making sure those ports of call live up to their promise is not as easy as you might expect, and many passengers have experiences they’d prefer to forget!

January kicks off cruise season in the Caribbean, and one of the top ports of call is the tropical paradise of the Bahamas. With its miles of fabulous white sand beaches, intoxicating mix of restaurants and shops, snorkeling and swimming in always-warm waters, and inviting underwater caves and nature reserves, the Bahamas offers plenty of excursions for every traveler. Here’s our picks for how to make the most of your time while you’re in port.

Ah Jamaica! As your ship pulls into Montego Bay or Ocho Rios, you can already hear the gentle reggae rhythms lulling you into dreamland, as you imagine yourself swaying back and forth on a beachside hammock. You can smell the freshly roasted Blue Mountain coffee, and see the inviting lush mountain paths that lead you to clear, rushing waterfalls. And you’re here! So make the most of your time while you’re in port with one of these excursions.

All of us who work at Viator strive each and every day to make our site a trusted online resource where you can quickly book the world’s most popular tours and travel experiences, at the best value. And, for more than a decade, we’ve done a good job of doing just that – for most travelers. I say most because there’s one group that, until now, we didn’t serve as well as we could. I am proud to announce Viator Shore Excursions!

When it comes to the Caribbean, there’s a temptation to just head to whichever island is easiest to get to. After all, they’re all just beaches and cocktails, yes? But sometimes it pays to look beyond the usual suspects, island destinations such as the Bahamas, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. A connecting flight to one of the smaller, less-visited islands can pay dividends for those prepared to spend a little longer in the air.