Until I stepped ashore in Costa Rica, my style of cruising consisted of sitting contentedly in a deck chair as the sea passed by, trashy novel in one hand and a cool cocktail in the other. But then a shore excursion manager gently twisted my arm and convinced me to join fellow passengers in an afternoon of whitewater rafting. Even a couch potato like me, he promised, would have a blast.
As I donned a life vest and climbed into our eight-person raft, the river looked fairly tame. What followed, however, was a three-hour-long adrenalin rush, as I channeled my inner Meryl Streep and battled rapids to stay afloat during one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. It was so exciting that I became addicted to shore excursions that guarantee a maximum number of high-energy thrills ‘n’ spills and offer me opportunities to push my own limits.
One of the best reasons to take a cruise is that it offers you lots of chances to try something new (I imagine that plenty of the folks I see walking off ships toting their own snorkeling equipment were introduced to the sport on an earlier sailing). And each year, cruise lines add new excursions that promise adventures you never thought possible.
It wasn’t so long ago that the phrase “zip-line” didn’t exist. But the experience – of being strapped into a harness for a ride above a forest canopy at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour – is now so popular that you’ll find it offered on most Caribbean islands, as well as in Alaska and Mexico. Typically, you’ll drive to a hilly area where you’ll be supplied with gloves, a safety harness, and other equipment. After climbing a winding staircase leading to a platform, you’re connected to a cable and told to raise your legs as your guide releases a safety clip. Suddenly, you’re airborne above the jungle and taking a thrilling ten- to thirty-second ride to the next platform. Zip-lines are available over water, too. The longest, stretching some 4,000 feet, can be found in Labadee, Haiti (Royal Caribbean’s private island paradise).
If you happen to visit Ocho Rios, Jamaica aboard a Carnival cruise ship, be sure to sign up for a bobsled ride (and yes, you read that correctly). These custom-designed bobsleds travel along winding and plunging stainless-steel rails on a 3,290-foot, gravity-driven trip through the tropical forest. The bobsled track has been constructed in such a way as to avoid disturbing the natural landscape – curving around ancient trees and hugging majestic cliff faces and limestone outcroppings via narrow openings in the dense foliage. Riders control their rate of descent with an in-sled handbrake, allowing for either a leisurely tour or a pulse-quickening journey through the forest.
A more laidback airborne experience awaits those lucky enough to dock in Roatan, Honduras – home of the “Magical Flying Beach Chair.” Built by Carnival Corporation, this first-of-its-kind chairlift transports cruisers between their ship’s terminal and beautiful Mahogany Beach.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) also offers several offbeat excursions that promise an exciting time ashore. If you’re in St. Maarten, try their “power-rafting, snorkel & beach” outing (a high-speed raft ride to a secluded snorkeling cove, followed by a quiet stroll to the charming town of Marigot). Cruisers in Costa Maya (and in good shape) may want to give NCL’s “bike & kayak adventure” a try (guests cycle past a small mangrove lagoon, then paddle along a reef past beaches lined with palm trees).
Fortunately (for those of us who aren’t athletically inclined), many of the new high-adrenalin excursions don’t require that you join a gym. You simply need to gather your courage and show up – your shore excursion’s staff takes over from there and sets the stage for an unforgettable adventure.
Lastly, here’s a tip: since these are among the most popular shore excursions currently being offered, be sure to reserve them before leaving home and before they sell out (and be sure to reserve all of your excursions through CruisesOnly’s website – you’ll reap huge savings there that aren’t available when you book directly with your cruise line). You can always cancel if you change your mind (or get too comfortable in that deck chair)!
by: Anne Campbell
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