hi...we always take the ships tours, mainly for the peace of mind that if anything goes wrong you will get back to the ship. that said, i know many people that have had terrific adventures just 'winging it' when they get off the ship. my brother just hires a taxi on the dock and off they go; of course there was that time in the yucatan when their driver got lost, and then it got dark....or their luggage was in one taxi and the people were in another and someohow everyone got seperated on the way to the airport in rome.....
but isn't travelling supposed to be adventurous?

jeff