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Cruise Line vs DIY: How We Decide Who to Book With 🚢🧭

Core Four Adventures
Core Four Adventures
Casual
👁️ 541 views📅 1 months ago⏱️ 15:45
What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsTips & AdviceCasual Creator
Veteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

We book with the cruise line anytime it's time-sensitive.

We've had great success with third-party vendors, including CityPASS, GetYourGuide, and especially Viator.

It doesn't have to be either/or. Sometimes you can mix and match.

We don't avoid excursions, we just book them very intentionally.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Book through the cruise line for time-sensitive excursions or when you need the guarantee that the ship will wait.
Consider doing ports on your own when it's an easy port, a simple beach day, or an overnight stay.
Check reviews for any excursion you book to go in with eyes wide open.

Questions This Creator Answers

QHow do we decide who to book our shore excursions with?
QWhen should we book through the cruise line vs. a third-party vendor vs. on our own?
QWhat are the benefits and drawbacks of each booking method?

Topics Covered

Excursions2½ Happy BaconLoyalty Program3 Happy BaconService Crew4 Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Mazatlán3 Happy Bacon
Top: Topless bus tour ($45 for all three)
Vienna, Austria3 Happy Bacon
Top:
London, UK3½ Happy Bacon
Top: Thames boat cruise
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology
YouTube Video Description

We love cruise excursions. Some of our favorite travel memories have happened off the ship. 🚢🌍 But over the years, we’ve learned that there isn’t one “right” way to book them. Sometimes we book through the cruise line. Sometimes we use third party vendors like Viator or Get Your Guide. And sometimes we explore completely on our own. We’re sharing exactly how we decide who to book with and why we don’t automatically choose cruise line excursions in every port. If you’re planning a cruise and trying to figure out the best way to book your shore days, we hope this helps you choose with confidence. How do you book your excursions? Through the cruise line, third party vendors, or on your own? Let us know in the comments. Links: 🧳 Shop Our Amazon Storefront for Travel Essentials https://www.amazon.com/shop/corefouradventures 🚐 Find Amazing Excursions at Viator https://www.viator.com/?pid=P00249349&mcid=42383&medium=link 🎟️ City Pass https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101231286-10770031 🚢 Cruise with Norwegian Cruise Linehttps://www.ncl.com 🛳 Learn More About AmaWaterways River Cruiseshttps://www.amawaterways.com Just a quick heads-up: Some of the links in this video’s description are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we might earn a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra! We only recommend products we genuinely love and trust. Thanks for supporting the channel! As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. About Us: Hi there! We’re Core Four Adventures, a team of adventurers from California’s Central Coast. Carol, Laura, and Pepper are passionate about sharing stories of travel and discovery, from local spots to exciting international experiences. Thanks for joining us! Music: Get You Off My Mind (Instrumental Version) by Ten Towers feat. Anders Beckman https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jSMBCvwD1L/ Social Media Pages: https://www.facebook.com/corefouradventures https://www.instagram.com/core_four_adventures/ Email for collaborations: corefouradventures@gmail.com