If your vision of a cruise shore excursion is following a guide and a flag, you haven’t experienced a Virgin Voyage excursion. Virgin Voyages has taken the typical shore excursions and kicked it up a notch. The group sizes are small, and they offer experiences that are immersive by taking you off the beaten path.

Virgin refers to their excursion as “shore things”. They can be booked through your travel agent or directly through the Virgin app. They are an excellent way to experience the culture and the area of each port. They give you memories to take home with you.

For example, In Puerta Plata, in the Dominican Republic, I explored the jungle and mountains via a dune buggy. We had a small group of 28 people. This was a great way to explore the non-tourist area of the city. We got dirty – ok, VERY muddy riding through streams and trails into the jungle, but it was fun. We ended the excursion by spending time at a private beach and relaxing. It was a great combination of adventure and rest and provided us the ability to see the Dominican Republic that many other excursions don’t show.

Virgin’s choices of excursions are extensive to provide a variety of experiences from traditional dining in with music, relaxation, or adventure, to opportunities to learn more about the people and the lives of the cities you visit. If you want to avoid the typical touristy experiences, Virgin provides an array of options that get to the heart of the culture, the people, and the traditions of the port city you are visiting.