Caribbean Cruise Excursions: Book Through MSC or DIY?

Hi everyone, I’m going on a cruise at the end of January with MSC and I’m looking into the excursions I could do. I’d like to know if I can do the excursions on my own or if I absolutely have to go through MSC based on safety levels. We’ll be stopping in Montego Bay in Jamaica, Cartagena in Colombia, Puerto Limón in Costa Rica, Belize City, and Colón in Panama. Thanks! Emeline

Hi, it all depends on how long your port stops are! If they're long, you can handle the planning yourself.

Hi, of course the layover time is key. Personally, I only know Montego Bay, and based on my experience there, I wouldn’t go independently. Honestly, given the layout and variety of places to visit, I wouldn’t even know where to start. And safety seemed to require some kind of guided setup. Have a good layover. Francis

In the Caribbean, it's super easy to do it yourself—there are tons of taxis at every port, and they're used to working with cruise ships! Don't worry, when the stop is long, there's no risk :)

Indeed, Emeline, the taxis are charming and efficient. But as everywhere, it's best to check the recommendations from country guides that rate the level of danger for tourists. In this case, for Jamaica, it's high, but don’t hesitate to consult the French government’s website (diplomatie.gouv.fr), which lists "red" areas location by location. I mention this because, while very friendly, my driver—"wanting to show me the whole island"—took me into a very high-risk part of the center (I verified afterward). We ended up in narrow, overcrowded alleys, extremely poor and clogged with more scarves than cars, where it was even tough for him to get us out. But as with anywhere, if you’re aware of the risks and avoid the properly flagged ones, everything goes smoothly.

And it’ll be a magnificent cruise. F.