There’s some debate about whether cruisers should book shore excursions – the organized activities you do off a ship – through the cruise or a third party. I always look at everything on the cruise line’s website and on third-party websites. Some believe third-party companies are cheaper and/or offer better value, but I’ve found you have to compare pricing and what you get on the excursion.

I didn’t have much time to look around other sites for my recent Carnival Celebration cruise, so I ignored my usual work and just checked out what the cruise lines had to offer.  Naturally, I gravitated to anything with a culinary or active-adventure focus, just as I did in last week's post. So, here is what I did: snorkeling on Grand Turk, an eat, drink and dance in Puerto Plata, D.R., and a food tour on Nassau. Each one of these was enjoyable and worthwhile, primarily because of the guides and participants. Also, we stopped at Celebration Key, Carnival’s private resort, but I only walked around and then returned immediately to the ship.

With my shore time being occupied with these tours, I didn’t visit the immediate port landings at each stop. But this wasn’t a problem for me. Each of these places looks essentially the same, with nearly the same shops (there’s always a Diamonds International jewelry store), places for “local” tchotchkes that are often made overseas, and overpriced bars. So, I honestly didn’t think I was missing much here.

Grand Turk: snorkeling in the void

The first stop on the cruise was the largest island in the Turks and Caicos, which is part of the Bahamas but is often considered its own destination. One of the best places for diving, it’s also great for snorkeling —ocean exploration for the rest of us. I booked the two-reef snorkel excursion, which was essentially as advertised and enjoyable, save for the dozens of others I shared this experience with.

The crew who took us to the sites and shared snorkeling tips was entertaining, making the seemingly intimidating site of Library Reef (a coral reef with a 7,000-foot drop-off), our first stop, not so scary. The problem here was the presence of other parties at the scene. Going into the “void” was like being in L.A. traffic, especially over the edge of the reef, where I couldn’t see anything besides a blue nothingness. Another issue was the reef itself. Most of it was about 30 feet below the surface, so visibility was fair at best. I saw only a few schools of fish from a short distance away. The second stop at Oasis Reef was much better, with clear views of all undersea life from roughly ten feet under.

Puerto Plata: eat, drink, dance (and shop)

I’ve heard positive things about the Dominican Republic from those who’ve been there, but it’s mostly been about the southern area around Punta Cana and nearby communities. We landed near Puerto Plata, where most cruise ships dock. But I must say that this tour alone convinced me of how welcoming the locals here are, and I would love to return here someday. Perhaps it was Elvis, our tour guide, and the others we met along the way, but I enjoyed this port stop.

We first learned about amber, the mineral that’s abundant on the island and popularized by the first “Jurassic Park” movie. We then boarded a slightly crowded van that first went to a rum museum, where we learned how the spirit was made and sampled fresh sugarcane juice (with or without rum). Next, we stopped at Rancho La Catalina, where we did the shore excursion as described – dining on sancocho (a meat, vegetable and rice stew and the Dominican national dish), drinking unlimited cocktails and punch and learning both merengue and bachata dances. Finally, we made a retail stop in Puerto Plata, but I didn’t buy anything.

Nassau: taste and history of the city

Before taking this tour, I didn’t think much of Nassau, the Caribbean cruise port I’ve frequented the most, even though I’ve only gone off the ship once before. That time, RAS and I went to the Blue Lagoon, located on a private island and twenty minutes away by boat. My assumptions about Nassau were like most people’s – nothing but sketchy retail and touristy bars and restaurants. But this tour convinced me there’s more to the Bahamas’ capital.

Our entertaining guide, Patrice, shared plenty of local history and culture along with our food tour, which started at the Rum Cake Bakery, where the treats were so good I bought four (and got a free shot of rum). We then moved on to a medicinal tea shop, where we sampled combinations, along with conch fritters and “crack” conch —tasty and crispy but slightly chewy. Our third stop was the John Watling’s Rum Distillery, where we saw how they create the spirit of the Caribbean and sipped a pina colada. Finally, we enjoyed a barbecue lunch at the Bahamian Grill.

Celebration Key: sun and fun resort

I won’t say a lot about Carnival’s private resort, located on Grand Bahama Island, because it’s not that much different from other cruise lines’ resorts. Maybe its only distinguishing feature is its gigantic sandcastle structure in the middle of the property, which serves as a customer service center, and a food truck court. But it has two massive swimming pools – one in the all-ages area Calypso Cove, the other in the family area Starfish Cove – like Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at Cococay.

The other places at Celebration Key include the retail area, Lokono Cove, and the adults-only Pearl Cove Beach Club. I probably should have gone here, but I honestly didn’t want to shell out the $99 surcharge for the day. Those in my group who visited it said it was worth the quiet a childless place affords.