A former cruise staff member who worked on cruise ships for a decade has shared how people can improve their experience of excursions. Lucy Southerton, 28, said passengers make two big mistakes when signing up for a cruise-run excursion. 

The first is that guests often rely on the ship, when the former crew member said it’s better to consider booking a local tour guide. Ms Southerton also recommended not having a tour at all, instead exploring alone. Taking to her YouTube channel, she explained: “So many people book cruise line excursions without doing any research on the port that they’re actually visiting. Many attractions that people are paying to see like the government buildings and the shopping streets, they could find on their own really easy.

“You should research the ports that you’re visiting and if you can see that the thing you want to visit and see is less than 30 minutes away from where the ship is going to dock.

“In my opinion, you don’t need an excursion. You can explore it on your own. 

“Or if you still want to do a tour, you could look at a local tour, which nine times out of 10 will be a lot more affordable than the same tour that’s offered by the cruise line.”

The former crew member also urged people to check the terms and conditions of a ship-run excursion, as you can get stung on the specifics of what cruise companies offer.

Ms Southerton said: “The T’s and C’s are where you might be caught out. So as much as it is a bit tedious to read it is worth it. And some of the things that you need to look out for is the fitness level of the excursion.

“So cruise lines will classify their excursions based on activity level and if you book without checking this you might end up on a tour that is a lot more physically demanding than you are prepared for. Another one is height and weight restrictions. 

“You also want to pay attention to time allocations, a lot of people don’t pay attention to how long each attraction has been allocated.

“So if you go on a tour and you’re really excited to see this one thing but then you find out that actually only 30 minutes has been allocated you might think actually I probably would have been better off booking a tour that only took me to this destination rather than trying to fit in loads of little attractions that I’m not really bothered about.”

With its breathtaking, mountainous natural beauty, ancient villages, and vibrant landscapes, this lesser-known region in mainland Greece offers an experience most of the touristic islands don’t. However, there’s a catch: public transport doesn’t quite reach this remote paradise, meaning visitors need to arrange their own way there and around the area.

For a truly unforgettable experience, Harry Anapliotis, CEO of Rental Center Crete advised: “You need a car to explore Zagori properly. The villages are spread out across the mountains, and some of the most breathtaking viewpoints aren’t accessible by public transport.” Located in the Pindus Mountains of northwestern Greece, the Zagori region is a haven for adventure lovers looking to take things a little slower.

As Anapliotis pointed out: “The most memorable Greek experiences often happen away from the crowded tourist spots.”

And Zagori perfectly fits this description, with its 46 traditional stone villages connected by arched stone bridges and stunning mountain scenery.

Zagori is truly a living history book, as Anapliotis described: “Zagori feels like stepping back in time.

“The architecture alone is worth the trip – stone mansions, cobblestone paths, and those incredible bridges built by master craftsmen centuries ago.”

The region’s unique charm is evident in every corner, from the cobbled streets to the centuries-old traditional buildings that have stood the test of time.

At the heart of Zagori lies the imposing Vikos Gorge, which holds the title of one of the world’s deepest canyons relative to its width.

It’s a sight to behold, with sheer cliffs plunging down into the canyon below, offering dramatic views and exceptional hiking opportunities for those keen to explore on foot.

The Vikos-Aoos National Park, with its network of trails connecting the villages, has numerous routes for exploring the area and reaching viewpoints from which to admire the beauty of the dense, coniferous and deciduous forest.

In spring, the weather in Zagori, Greece, is typically mild and pleasant, making it an ideal time to plan hikes and activities such as kayaking and caving.

Temperatures range from around 10C to 20C with moderate rainfall, particularly in April, which helps the wildflowers bloom, creating its staple vibrant colours.

A year ago, I made the decision to leave the quiet shores of New Zealand and fly across the world to one of the biggest cities on the planet: London. In that year, I have learned a lot about England, its customs and the quirks of the people here — but as wonderful as my life in England is, there are still a few things about my home country I miss.

Although there are things I miss about New Zealand, I love my life in England. Whenever I tell people where I moved from, the first question they always ask is ‘Why?!’ but my only answer is ‘Why not?’. It’s gorgeous here, there are so many opportunities to experience things I could never see in New Zealand and I don’t see myself moving back any time soon. Even though I might feel homesick sometimes, England is home too now. And there’s plenty to love.

Pubs

My favourite thing about England is the pub culture. It’s been said before a million times over but it’s so true. I love that pubs here aren’t just seen as a place to go and get drunk. In New Zealand, if you’re going out for drinks, your primary objective is drinking – there’s no culture of community when drinking in New Zealand, it truly is every man for themselves.

Buying rounds does not exist – you drink at your own pace and everyone buys for themselves. While buying rounds took me a minute to get used to, I absolutely love it now. Even though I know it’s not any cheaper (especially with London pint prices) it really feels like a buy one get one free policy and there’s a sense of satisfaction that comes with buying a round for the table and knowing you won’t have to go back up to the bar for the next one. I also love that pubs are seen as community spaces: kids and adults are equally welcome and everyone has a local watering hole they favour. 

Speech quirks

When I first moved over here, I was absolutely baffled by the phrase ‘You alright?’. I couldn’t figure out what I was supposed to reply or what the person asking me actually wanted to know. This led to a number of utterly pointless conversations where I told people who truly didn’t care about the minutiae of my day.

Now, a year in, not only have I learned to reply ‘Yeah, you?’ but I have even started using it myself. As soon as I could successfully deploy this greeting, I felt like I had properly assimilated and now I love it. It’s the perfect non-commital phrase for friends, family and the guy behind the desk at the cornershop.

Similarly, I’ve learned to love ‘Is it?’, the most versatile phrase in the world. ‘Is it?’ can be used as a question, a comment, or simply to fill a silence. When you don’t know how to reply to someone’s story simply drop an ‘Oh, is it?’ and the ball is right back in their court. Truly a perfect string of words, utterly meaningless and yet somehow coherent. 

Politeness

People will say this is hard to come by in London, but in my opinion they would be wrong. It’s built into the British consciousness and even the hustle and bustle of the big city can’t banish it. You people love a queue, you love a chance to defer to someone else and you absolutely love helping others – even at the detriment of your own wellbeing.

I have had people drop their plans and help me find a tube station, even going as far as to walk me to it themselves when my data wouldn’t work. I have had people help me carry suitcases up stairs, even though they were so heavy they might as well have been filled with rocks. As for the queuing, it is relentless. Trains, buses, bars, supermarkets — if there are more than two people in them, they will automatically form a queue. You’re a nation of delightful ant people and I love you.  

Things I miss

However, there is one thing about life in England that makes me miss the green grass of New Zealand: if I tried to go barefoot here, I would likely be sectioned. In Aotearoa no one looks twice if you nip to the shop sans shoes and there will probably be at least ten other people doing the same thing.

Although in the British winter this hasn’t been a problem I’ve needed to consider yet, the sun is beginning to creep out again and I desperately miss the feeling of grass between my toes. Although I do still take my shoes off at every opportunity, much to my boyfriend’s embarrassment, I miss just casually wandering barefoot to the shops.

I would never, ever do this in London, not only because people would think I was strange but because the pavements here likely harbour diseases for which there are no names, but if there’s a sun-soaked grass field around you better believe the shoes are coming off. There’s no better feeling than running barefoot through grass and if you get the chance, I highly recommend it.

I also desperately miss some niche New Zealand food, for example, a good steak and cheese pie that doesn’t collapse into beef soup when you bite into it. All the pies I have tried in England have lacked structural integrity. You should be able to eat it with one hand while driving with the other, and not risk third degree burns or gravy stains. I also miss proper chicken sushi – the one you can get from Sainsbury’s is a pale imitation of the stuff we get in New Zealand and although it’ll do in a pinch it doesn’t compare to the myriad of options we have in NZ – from chicken, to pineapple we will sushi literally anything and all of it bangs.