Normal
Terrie,Both pieces of advice are correct. The price difference is usually about 15-20%, with the cruiseline-offered excursions naturally costingmore.We usually (though not always) use the cruiseline's excursions for one reason, even though they are more expensive. That reason is safety. In addition to the safety of not getting left at the dock when an excursion is late returning, I am concerned about the honesty and competence of the guides themselves. I rely on the cruiseline to choose the vendors carefully and to dump them if there are too many complaints or other issues. I have no way to reliably check out excursion guides without a fair amount of effort, and I am lazy. So, I take the "safe" way out and use the cruiselines.If you do choose to book your own excursions outside of the line, give posters here (and on the Alaska board) a chance to review who you are thinking about. Someone may have used them before and be in a position to give you sound input.Ted
Terrie,
Both pieces of advice are correct. The price difference is usually about 15-20%, with the cruiseline-offered excursions naturally costing
more.
We usually (though not always) use the cruiseline's excursions for one reason, even though they are more expensive. That reason is safety. In addition to the safety of not getting left at the dock when an excursion is late returning, I am concerned about the honesty and competence of the guides themselves. I rely on the cruiseline to choose the vendors carefully and to dump them if there are too many complaints or other issues. I have no way to reliably check out excursion guides without a fair amount of effort, and I am lazy. So, I take the "safe" way out and use the cruiselines.
If you do choose to book your own excursions outside of the line, give posters here (and on the Alaska board) a chance to review who you are thinking about. Someone may have used them before and be in a position to give you sound input.
Ted