I am going on a Carnival Elation Western Caribean cruise. When the ship docks at a different port each day, do I have to pay as an excursion to attend the beach or is there a free beach?
If you want the security and professionalism of a beach excursion provided by the cruise line, you will have to pay $40-70 or so each. They guarantee you will get back to the ship on time, or the ship will wait. Not so with your own beach trip.
You can get off the ship and take a taxi to a beach, but there is some risk in finding the right beach and getting a taxi back to the ship on time.
The same goes for al the cruise ship excursions, nit just the beach.
Cruising is great. You can do most things on your own for a minimal fee. This includes the beach. Some cruisers pay for ship transportation to and from the beach. This is called a ship sponsored excursion. Other travelers simply find a local cabbie and go to the beach this way. It is much cheaper to go to the beach on your own. However, you must keep track of ship time (the captain will leave you if you're late, ive seen it happen). If you want to save money, go to the beach via cab or public transportation. If you want peace of mind, purchase a ship excursion to the beach. For the first time cruiser, id recommend going purchasing the ship excursion. But since I'm a frequent cruiser now, I save tons of money doing these things on my own. Stay safe and enjoy your cruise!
Depends on the location. You never have to pay for an excursion to go to the beaches, but you may have to pay for public transportation (bus or taxi) if it's not in walking distance.