What is Independent Cruising?

Independent Cruising is a philosophy for creating a superior cruising experience out of what the major cruise lines offer -- a floating hotel with meals, entertainment, and most services included for one price -- supplemented by our own research and initiative to get more bang for the buck. IC is a contrarian credo which should appeal to iconclasts, thrill seekers, and yes, cheapskates. It is not for everyone. Many go on vacation to escape the decisions of life, and having to read maps and signs, speak languages, and otherwise interact with the locals is just not their idea of fun. A tour bus and guide is what they all came for, and all of the cruise lines offer a stunning variety of safe, easy, if not exactly inexpensive tours.

We think that this way of vacationing is at the very least bland, if not suffocating. We've taken ship's tours, and land based ones for that matter, that consist of getting off a bus, crowding around the tour guide to listen, snapping the obligatory pictures, and then standing in line like schoolchildren to get back on the bus for the drive to the next stop, and this is just not for us. Most cruisers never meet a local except the tour guide, and any English-speaking sales-clerks at the "forced shopping stops" that occur on the tour.

Yes, cynicism abounds at The Independent Cruiser. Still, the tour as mentioned above may be perfect for you if you have:

1. Lots of money
2. Not much time to search the web and research ports
3. Don't want to take any chance whatsoever that you will make an error and miss the ship sailing!

We've never been left behind yet, 23 cruises and counting , but it's always a possibility if you are off on your own. The ship will never leave port without collecting all of those passengers who are on their tours, or at least making arrangements for their cost-free return. Also, for the most part, the tours are safe. Although we did see a woman get bucked off a horse in Uruguay, and there is the famous story about the tour bus being held up in Jamaica. At any rate, the cruise lines go out of the way to make sure you are not stepping out of your comfort zone too far. Just don't trip on that last step leaving the bus!

Our philosophy is to make our own arrangements in port, which include:

1. Eating the local food
2. Interacting with the local people
3. Taking trains, subways, city busses, or renting cars or hiring taxis as needed for local transportation
4. Doing the activities we most enjoy, which, depending on the port could be anything from laying on a beach, to zip-lining or river-rafting.

To accomplish this, we thoroughly research each port in advance, and look for the best activities available. Sometimes these activities involve hiking, or something strenuous. In major cities, we do a lot of walking. At more scenic locations, we rent cars, or hire taxis to take us to the sites.

We have found we usually can see more, all or most of what is on the best ship's tour for that port, and have lunch, for less money. We think we have a better time, too, and isn't that the idea of a vacation?

Next: Life Onboard (and the Herd Mentality)