Hello, I’m Elke, and together with my husband, I have been an enthusiastic cruise traveler since 2014. I had wanted to go on a cruise for years, but my husband was more skeptical. So, we booked a Mediterranean cruise to see if this way of traveling was for us. We were immediately hooked by the cruise virus, and since then, we have explored 24 cruises across Europe. 

At some point, the idea for this travel blog emerged, where I share our experiences with you. Additionally, I provide valuable tips for both cruise beginners and those who wish to customize their shore excursions. 

I hope you enjoy Elke's Cruises, and I look forward to helping you plan your own cruise adventure!

More comfortable than exploring the world on a cruise is hard to imagine. Once your suitcase is unpacked, your hotel travels with you. Since the ships set sail for the next port at night, you usually wake up in a different city or even a different country the next morning.

Shore excursions are definitely the highlight of any cruise, as sea voyages are also about exploration. For most cruise travelers, seeing a lot and experiencing even more is the essence of a perfect trip.

Once the cruise ship has docked in the harbor, you have three options for shore excursions:

1. Organized excursions through the cruise line

2. Organized excursions by local providers

3. Self-organized excursions on your own

If you haven’t taken the time to research the individual ports and think about what you want to see before your cruise, you will ultimately rely on the excursions offered by the cruise line.

Therefore, it is certainly advisable to prepare for a cruise. If you know what you would like to see, you should consider how to best fulfill your desires. On this page, I will introduce you to many cruise ports and hope that my port descriptions will be helpful in selecting your excursions.

In every port, shipping companies offer excursions. Booking through the cruise line is the most convenient and secure way to arrange shore excursions. If an excursion is delayed in returning to the port, the ship will wait. If a port is not visited, the cancellation of the booked excursion is a mere formality. There is a wide and varied selection of excursions available, so everyone can find the right one for them. Excursions can be reserved relatively quickly after booking the cruise. For those who prefer to take care of excursions onboard, every ship has an excursion desk. Additionally, excursions are usually presented in detail in the theater one day before reaching the port. For cruise lines, excursions are a lucrative additional source of income, and as such, they are heavily promoted. However, these excursions can often be slightly more expensive and may be available for a lower price on-site or through relevant online platforms.

In the meantime, in ports that are regularly visited by cruise ships, local providers have become a great alternative. The range of excursions is diverse, and these trips are often more affordable than those offered by cruise lines. In almost all ports, local guides can be found at the harbor offering their excursions. A great way to book a local provider from home is through platforms like Meine Landausflüge and GetYourGuide. These platforms connect shore excursionists with local providers. Here, you can find detailed information about the offerings and also read reviews from other travelers. Nowadays, these providers also offer good cancellation options in case the ship cannot dock at a port for any reason. They not only cater to cruise passengers but also offer tickets for many attractions without waiting in line, culinary excursions, and tickets for various hop-on hop-off buses. On my page, you will find plenty of tips for excursions with local providers.

In the section "Book Shore Excursions," you will find excursion offers from Meine Landausflüge. Meine Landausflüge is a German provider that offers excursions in small groups with:

- Pickup at the port

- Small group sizes

- Mostly German-speaking guides

- On-time return to the ship guarantee

- Flex option (free cancellation up to 60 minutes before the      start of the excursion)

If you prefer to embark on a land excursion individually and alone, you can certainly do that as well. Some excursionists do not wish to explore the surroundings in groups or follow a fixed itinerary.

It’s best to gather information in advance about the conditions at each port, for instance, on my website. Under "Port Information," I have summarized the most important details for many destinations. In industrial ports, free shuttle buses will take you from the port area, while in other ports, this service may come at a cost. You can obtain road maps and excursion information either at the terminal or at the tourist information center.

Taxis and rental cars are readily available at almost every port. Taxis often offer excursions at fixed prices. Additionally, hop-on hop-off buses provide city tours.

If you go ashore on your own, keep an eye on the time. If you are delayed, the ship may not wait for you. For excursions with local providers, you are guaranteed to be back at the ship on time. If you miss the ship despite everything, the operator will ensure that you reach the ship at the next port. For excursions booked through the cruise line, the ship will definitely wait for late returnees. If the ship cannot wait for cost reasons, the cruise line will make sure you reach the ship at the next port.

If you like my website and want to support my work, it would be great if you could book your trips through the links I have provided here. There are no additional costs for you, but I receive a small commission.

It is important that you access the sites through my links and do not leave the page until your booking is complete.

Thank you very much for your support!