Cruising is taking to the shores, with excursions off the ship becoming more and more integral to the industry’s appeal.
And leading the charge is Carnival Cruise Line, who has taken its shore excursion offerings to greater heights, adding exclusive new landside experiences and customised private tours, as well as new family-friendly enhancements such as complimentary beachside activities, value pricing and free tours in select ports for children under age five.
The new options are an addition to Carnival’s already existing excursions, including nearly 1200 tours on shore at ports of call such as Mexico, the Bahamas, Canada and South America.
“Shore excursions are an important part of the Carnival vacation experience and we’ve gone to great lengths to provide our guests with even more choices and offer families unique value-added services and pricing options that are exclusive to Carnival,” Carnival’s director of product development Erika Tache said.
We unpack what’s in store for your clients here:
Exclusive ‘Only-On-Carnival’ Tour Options In Select Caribbean Ports
Carnival now offers exclusive tours that not only include amenities like access to luxurious private villas but also unique enrichment activities that get guests amongst the local culture and cuisine. These come in five new colours:
La Casa en la Playa (Cozumel) – think beach house, Margaritas and cooking classes with your personal chef.
Eat, Drink & Dance (Ocho Rios) – an “island time” tour of Jamaica’s unique food, music and culture.
Jamaican Home for the Day (Ocho Rios) – offers guests their own Jamaican home for a day with food, private beach and of course, rum.
Photo Safari & Beach Expedition (Cozumel) – Two-day tour with a photo seminar and exploring to catch the perfect pic.
Eat, Drink & Walk (St. Thomas) – self-described “walking culinary/culture tour” through the countryside.
New Family-Friendly Services and Tours
Carnival is offering new “family friendly” shore excursion options in ports throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico, which include:
Family Beach Escape (Freeport) – a beachside resort with treasure hunts, face-painting and water sports, while the ‘rents relax with a cocktail.
Island Beach Escape for Families by Power Catamaran (Cozumel) – catamarans and hammocks for mum and dad, water trampolines, volleyball and pedal boats for the kids. With guacamole.
Family Treasure Hunt with Lunch at Blue Lagoon (Nassau) – fun-filled adventure where participants must discover hidden treasures, collect clues and answer trivia questions.
All Inclusive Family Beach Resort Getaway (Montego Bay) – an oceanfront property boasting live entertainment, lunch, drinks and some afternoon water fun.
Unique Valued-Added Options
For a touch more authenticity, guests can take a coach, sailboat, yacht or even helicopter to get off the beaten path and get up close and personal.
Carnival is the only cruise operator in the Caribbean to have local tour operators involved with getting to know more about the local culture.
Industry-Leading Programs and Offerings
All of these new offerings complement Carnival’s industry-leading programs such as the Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee.
Each of Carnival’s 24 ships also offers a dedicated shore excursion desk with highly trained and experienced staff members who can recommend particular tours and answer any questions guests may have.
Carnival has also revamped the shore excursion section of its web site to include a greater variety of photos and videos, enhanced navigation and on-line reservations for both desktop and mobile devices, as well as guest-written reviews of the various options ashore.
