A great cruise wouldn’t be complete without a memorable shore excursion. However, sometimes those shore excursions can be memorable for all the wrong reasons – like getting injured.
Choosing the right shore excursion can be a tricky business. You have to know what to look for to ensure that it’s safe and to understand what you should do if something goes wrong. Here are a few tips to help you find the best shore excursions for your next cruise, plus what you can do if something on your excursion doesn’t quite go to plan.
Planning Safely
If you want to choose a shore excursion that is right for you, then the best place to start is with safety. To ensure you’re booking excursions that are safe, you should:
Do Your Research
This might sound like a no-brainer to the safety-minded traveler, but some people really do wing it when it comes to shore excursions. If you want to book one that is not only fun but safe, then you have to do scour the internet a bit.
Find out what parts of the port should be avoided, what places you shouldn’t eat, where you need to go to attend the excursion, and how you plan to get there. If you’re not booking through your cruise line, then you may need to figure out transportation as well as the currency needed.
Keep Track of Your Things
In a large group of people, it’s easy to get your pocket picked by skilled thieves. So, make sure to invest in a bag that allows you to keep it in sight at all times. Perhaps look into a money belt that goes under your clothes, which would make it more difficult for things to be stolen unnoticed.
Just make sure you are aware of where your person and valuables are at every point on your journey. Don’t bring anything with you that isn’t necessary. Leave your important documents, extra cash, and backup credit cards in your stateroom.
Be Realistic
It’s important to assess the activity level of the excursion you’re going on. Choose one that suits you best. This will help to keep you safe and make your outing enjoyable – rather than being miserable because you’re doing way more than you bargained for. Knowing your limitations is a good thing. However, just in case, never forget your travel insurance!
Stay in Control
You should really only book your excursions ahead of time with a reputable company. Don’t wait and find someone walking around the port that can offer to take you sightseeing – that can put you in danger. It’s not that people can’t be trusted – but it’s a good idea to avoid walking into the situation blind, for the sake of your own safety.
What If You’re Hurt?
If you are injured while on a shore excursion, it’s very important to:
Get Medical Help
For both the sake of your health and as a record of the injuries you sustained, medical treatment is a must for any injury – no matter how minor you think it is.
Report It
Your excursion guide or the crew of the ship must be made aware of the accident. Normally, you’ll fill out an accident report. Also, take pictures for your own records. Ask for a copy of any written report as well.
About the Author:
Andrew Winston is a partner at the personal injury law firm of Winston Law. For over 20 years, he has successfully represented countless people in all kinds of personal injury cases, with a particular focus on child injury, legal malpractice, and premises liability. He has been recognized for excellence in the representation of injured clients by admission to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and named one of America’s Top 100 High-Stakes Litigators. Mr. Winston is AV Preeminent Rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, enjoys a 10.0 rating by AVVO as a Top Personal Injury Attorney, has been selected as a Florida “SuperLawyer” from 2011-2021 – an honor reserved for the top 5% of lawyers in the state – was voted to Florida Trend’s ”Legal Elite,” recognized by Expertise as one of the 20 Best Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys, named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Miami area for 2015-2021, and one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Florida for 2015-2017 and 2019-2021.
