I am a little confused being a first time cruiser. Reading about the different port am I am assuming once the ship dock you have to be taken to a beach or an excursion. Like when you dock can you just run to the seven mile beach located right there or do you have to have a bus take you to the different excursions that are listed in particular the Grand Cayman said they have the excursion with the stingray that is a short bus trip. When you stop can you just enjoy the beach also without doing any excursions and some have a time frame like 3 hours do you do the excursion then spend the remainder of the time shopping sitting on the beach or what is this all like. Confused

Hi Nita,
I remember wondering the same things on my first cruise. You do not have to book an excursion on the ship if you do not want to. You may get off the ship, catch your own taxi to the beach, or just walk around the port area or town and shop. You can also book your excursions from other vendors besides the ship. Go to this site and look at what is offered Shore Excursions. I would recommend that you search out all that is available at each port and post as many questions as you want to be well prepared before you get to each port.

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I read that some of the excursion feel p quick so I was going to buy before we even leave to go on the cruise does that sound feasible??

A lot of people purchase their shore excursions before leaving for their cruise. Many do fill up early, but the cruiseline always have some availability on some of the excursions. Keep in mind most of them have a minimum limit that they have to fill. Did you book directly through the cruiseline or through a TA? Whichever you did, call them and ask what their advise would be on your particular cruise.

I can tell you in Cayman's, the shopping is right by where you get off the tender. It is very expensive to shop there though you do save money over what you pay in states i.e. I saved about 30% on the perfumes I bought for my daughters and about the same on the men's cologne. We booked the stingray tour/HELL/Turtle Farm privately thru Captain Marvins and it was very enjoyable and we had about 1 1/2 hrs to shop afterwards which with the prices was more than enough time. Our cruise did not go to Ocho so can't advise on that port.