Safety shore excursions while cruising, follow the instructions.

I was on the Internet as usual doing research for articles and finding great travel deals for the web site and there it was on the front page of AOL and MSN "12 Americans reported killed in tourist bus accident in Chile - They were returning to Celebrity Cruises' ship Millennium"

With cruising being my most favorite and cheapest vacation, I immediately begin to read the headlines.

"The statement by Celebrity Cruises said the tourists were sailing aboard Celebrity Cruises' Millennium, but it was an independent private tour, not affiliated with the cruise line"

I felt pain, because I instantly remembered my past cruises. You have spent big bucks to spend 15 days on a 5 star floating resort. You have saved for the little expenses such as your wine with dinner, cocktails before or after dinner, photos of special moments, shopping and your biggest expense, shore excursions.

Shore Excursions are the greatest thing since Disneyland. At each exotic port of call, you can choose from dozens of day trips on shore. Everything from trips to the beach, tours of the city, trip to the zoo (San Diego) and any of the major attractions of the city or area that are within driving distance. (On a few excursions you can actually catch a flight on a one or two day excursion)

If you are on a 15 day cruise, there are two of you, and about 8 to 9 different port of calls and you want to see everything, it can get a little expensive. All of the side trips are provided by licensed high quality tour companies with insurance, experience and safety training. However, once you get ashore, the locals will offer you the same trips at 75% less then what the ship excursion office offered. You are with your friends, (that you have meet aboard ship) so you all say why not? DON'T DO IT.

The locals are nice enough people, and we have no reason to believe that they would not return you to the ship safely. Its just that, they may not have license, insurance or real experience. You jeopardize you safety zone when you go outside of the suggestion box in a foreign country.

Stay with the program. It may be a little expensive, but it beats rolling down a 300 feet embankment and returning home in a box. I am sorry to be so graphic, however, safety is no accident.

This article was written by Cassandra Ingraham, webmaster and travel coordinator for www.travel360degrees.com where you can find cruises discounted by the state you live in, your age and past cruise discounts.