When going on a cruise to Key West / Bahamas, do you really need to book an excursion to get to the beach?

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TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

NO, there are always independent tour operators and taxis available on or near the pier to get to the beaches. The ship will likely give you a map of the port stop, mainly showing shopping, but this will be a guide to finding the beaches. Or, just go online before you go and print off a map of the island showing the beaches. Then you will know where to go, how far it is and be sure not to be late getting back. Plan on getting back at least a half hour before departure time, more is better.

kimmer727

Absolutely not. You can go off and do whatever you want. When stopping in the Bahamas - you can go over to the Atlantis Resort - they have a public beach there. They only thing you cannot use at the resort are the slides and pools.

Rottenmutts

Don't waste your money---shore excursions are a huge rip-off. Especially in Key West and Nassau. There is a water taxi right from the dock in Nassau over to Atlantis = nice beach(Paradise Island). In Key West, we paid $60 for 2 for a biplane ride over the reefs and the town and they picked us up at the dock. The shore excursion price was $198. You choose.

Rath

Hell no, especially not in the Bahamas. You just get off the ship in Nassau and take a cab to the best beaches for a few bucks. Or you can take a cab to the Atlantis resort and sneak onto one of their beaches. That place is so busy no one will notice, and the Bahamians are way too laid back to care. Shore excursions, as a rule, are overpriced and for suckers. Just don't do it.

Missy

No. You can always take a taxi on your own. We took a bus tour on the Bahamas that we booked right on the boat dock. The drivers have to have special government issued licenses to do this, so make sure they have them for safety. She took us all around the island and over to Atlantis, and then to the beach, and actually waited for us for 2 hours and took us back to the boat!!! Have fun, be safe.

Tabatha M

Excursion's often fill up very fast. If you want to do any of the activities while on land then YES do book it! If you just wantto go do you own thing, then a "tender" boat will take you to shore.

Noble Angel

No
I have been to Nassau, Bahamas and will be going again, and there are tour guides there that will be very happy to get you to where you want to go and even cabs too. the city is close together and you can walk to a lot of it, I suggest this first and then get the cab to go to Cable Beach or even the Atlantis, or just get the our that will take you to all of the highlights including the beach.

as for the Keys I have not been, as I live in florida I have not book this port for a port of call, but on every other port I have been to there is always tour guides and cabs ready to take you to where ever you want, most of the time for less than the ship charges, Just watch the time and if you are late the ship will not wait, but if all you want is the beach as a general tour you should be fine.

Allison

You don't have to, but if it's not an exursion, you won't get the transportation provided by the cruise line, and you might have to pay a fee to get onto the beach, whatever that may be. Also, a lot of excursions offer beach accessories like a beach chair and umbrella, and things to do in the water (floating beach mats, kayaks, etc.) You just have to weigh the options and see if you would want to use those things. It might wind up being the same amount when you put everything together.

moo

it depends on what ship you're on. provide more information. but in my case when i went on a holland america one i just disembarked the ship and walked to the beach. simple. but if you need tenders to go to the beach, yeah... probably.

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