Thread: Research tips please!

Hi - We've done a few cruises now and I'm determined to be a lot more independent on our next trip (Europe on the Eclipse) - my husband is still reeling from the last excursions bill!!
Please can anyone share their tips for what to put into the search engines that gets the best results for stuff to do/see in port? Thanks!!

Hey there! Welcome to our friendly cruise community!

You don't have to go far for some info about your ports of call.
We have a section here called Cruise Places that has the ports that you would likely be visiting.

Here is the link to Cruise Places --> Cruise Places
After you get there scroll down until you find the places that you are interested in. Then if you have questions you can post them on those particular forums for answers from members of cruiselinefans.

Enjoy researching!

I usually go straight to Frommers.com, Fodors .com, and lonelyplanet.com to read what they have on the city.

I also hit the library and see what books they have (the travel section is in the 910's). Fodors has an excellent book, European Ports of Call, that is a good starting place as well.

I also type in just the name of the town, and what local websites come up. For instance, if I type in Barcelona, and I see visitbarcelona.es , that's what I want to look at!

If you have one specific thing you both like to do in ports you might want to add that to your search. And if you keep getting websites for businesses and real estate, you may want to add "tourism" to your searches.

Here are some things that might work for you

Monte Carlo race cars
Barcelona museums
Pisa self-guided walking tours
Rome monuments
Athens restaurants
Copenhagen parks

Another great resource is Rick Steves' books and website. He tends to direct his info toward land trips, so you won't be able to do some things he suggests, because you would miss the ship! But his info on the museum highlights is usually very good.

If you tell us what ports you are visiting, I know people will be happy to give you the benefit of their experience - and help you sort through some of your research.

Happy hunting!!

Originally Posted by Ilovecruising

Please can anyone share their tips for what to put into the search engines that gets the best results for stuff to do/see in port? Thanks!!

Hi there... I have always had very good luck with Google
I Google the port of call ..
after those results
I then Google what i want to do.. and that Google may include a complete sentence just to see what comes up.. after I have those results
then i Google tour operators in the port that does what i want to do...
I then email those results.. until i find a company I am happy/comfortable with I have been able to provide us with some excellent private tours over the years ..

Thats how I do it.. Google is my friend...
and bravo on becoming a more engaged traveler!

You've already gotten some great information, but it really depends on what you want to do. As with others, we research the port and find out what there is to see and do, and then we develop a plan to see it or do it. Many times, we'll just get off the ship, grab a taxi and do our own thing. Cost less, we get to do what we want to do in our timeframe, and it's a whole lot less crowded.

You really don't need to do organized tours for most of the things, but if you want to or feel you have to, there are many choices other than through the cruise lines.

Pete

Thanks guys - such a quick response and great ideas - I'm off to try them out!

Welcome to
CruiseLineFans

Reggie

You are going to like it here at CLF!!

While I seldom use the cruise line's tours I just want to caution that the cheapest price is not always the best tour. My bff just got back from Italy and she cheaped out on an Amalfi Coast tour. She had a very shy driver and he hardly spoke and she wished she would have paid the extra $200 for the one she found recommended.