Self-arranged tours are best for us - Letters - Letter to the Editor

Cruise Travel, Jan-Feb, 2003 by Tom Smith

In response to the letter "Pricey Shore Excursion Add-Ons" Cruise Travel, December 2002, I have been on seven cruises and have found shore excursions to be very overpriced, plus many tours leave at very early times, and some return very late--especially if one is at the early seating for dinner. Many of these tours stop at local vendor sites where one is "hounded to death" to purchase merchandise.

I travel with several people, and we barter with the local taxi drivers for a price, telling them where we want to go in, usually, a three-hour time span. We can stop where we want, when we want, and generally get a very good guided tour by them. Most of these cruises have been in all parts of the Caribbean.

Tom Smith, Dyer, IN