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8 Wacky and Wild Cruise Excursions to Try This Year

By U.S. News & World Report

Trade popular shore-side forays for these offbeat expeditions.

With food, lodging and entertainment wrapped into one predictable price, cruising offers a high-value vacation for families. You can embark on an epic journey, enjoy unlimited meals and onboard programming, try your luck at the casino and relax with leisurely days at sea. However, if you want your cruise to be more eventful, shore excursions can add another layer of fun. While some excursions up the wow factor with extreme sports, others entice thrill-seekers with snorkeling adventures and behind-the-scenes film location tours. If you want a cruise experience you’ll never forget, try these game-changing wacky and wild excursions.

Go bobsledding and explore Dunn’s River Falls.

MSC Cruises offers the opportunity to visit a world-famous waterfall and join the Jamaican bobsled team — all in one fell swoop. Start your morning on an air-conditioned bus to Dunn’s River Falls. There, you’ll climb 600 feet of cascading and slippery falls that empty into the sea. Next, you’ll drive to Mystic Mountain for a bobsledding experience you won’t forget. After learning about local Jamaican culture and history, you’ll take a chairlift to the top of the mountain before plunging through 2,780 feet of exciting twists and turns.

Brush up on history at France’s Abbey of Saint-Wandrille.

Uniworld’s Paris and Normandy itinerary offers an excursion filled with French history. At Abbey of Saint-Wandrille, you’ll learn about this famous monastery, which was founded in 649 and ravaged by vikings. Learn about the religious wars of the French Revolution while touring the monastery, which has been revitalized over time. You can also test and sample the locally made brew and take a beer home with you.

Embark on a seaplane excursion across British Columbia.

Adventure-seekers can get a bird’s-eye view of the lush British Columbia wilderness with this shore excursion from Regent Seven Seas Cruises. It all starts with a climb into a seaplane. Soar over lush rainforests and rugged mountain fjords before gliding over the Khutzeymateen Valley, a region known for its high concentration of grizzly bears. Ultimately, you’ll land near a hidden inlet that’s home to a dramatic glacial waterfall for a memorable outdoorsy adventure.

Join an Arctic Circle air adventure.

Available on select Holland America itineraries weaving through Alaska, this excursion offers the chance to explore the Arctic Circle. You’ll leave Denali National Park and Preserve and travel across the expansive Yukon River Valley and Alaskan Rockies before entering the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. From there, you’ll visit two wilderness communities — Wiseman and Coldfoot — that offer insight into how residents survived living in this remote arctic region known for extreme temperatures. After the expedition, you’ll also earn an Article Circle completion certificate to prove that you’ve mastered navigating this rugged landscape.

Retrace the footsteps of your favorite ‘Lord of the Rings’ characters.

Princess Cruises makes it possible to book the be-all and end-all tour for “Lord of the Rings” fans. While at port in New Zealand, adventure-seekers can explore the area where the famous series was created. An expert guide directs aficionados to locations where important scenes were filmed, including the Outer Shire, where Frodo and the Hobbits began their journey. You’ll also learn behind-the-scenes secrets and insider information on how the movies were made.

Go on a snorkeling adventure in Alaska.

While Alaska isn’t necessarily known as a snorkeling destination, its crystal-clear waters merit a visit. During this snorkeling adventure with Princess Cruises, you’ll don a state-of-the-art wetsuit outfitted with a hood and gloves before diving into the waters to hover over Alaskan sea life. Keep your eyes peeled for local flora and fauna, along with multicolored sea urchin, sea cucumbers and other fascinating sea life.

Admire dramatic ‘Game of Thrones’ film settings.

In Dubrovnik, Croatia’s beautiful old town, you’ll dive into the popular HBO series “Game of Thrones” with an experienced guide who will take you to various places where memorable scenes were shot. Experience the location of the “Battle of Blackwater” episode, for example, as you learn the history of this Croatian city from an expert. After the guided tour, you’ll visit a reproduction of the throne itself for the ultimate selfie opportunity. By the time the next season of the series rolls around, you’ll be an in-the-know whiz on how the show is made.

Tag along a catamaran adventure to Sunshine’s Bar & Grill in Nevis.

Reputable outfitter U.Tours offers a full-day snorkeling and bar adventure from St. Kitts to the nearby island of Nevis. Starting from a spot near the cruise port, you’ll board a state-of-the-art catamaran to cruise around scenic St. Kitts. From there, you’ll stop at famous snorkeling spots for a peek at tropical fish such as snappers and angelfish. After snorkeling, you’ll hop back on the boat for a ride to Nevis. From there, you can meander down the beach for a drink and lunch at the legendary Sunshine’s Beach Bar & Grill. Enjoy the renowned Killer Bee cocktail and mingle with the crowd with a refreshing beverage in hand.

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8 Wacky and Wild Cruise Excursions to Try This Year originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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