excursion
ik-SKUR-zhun
/ɪkˈskɜːr.ʒən/
A short trip or outing, especially one taken for pleasure or leisure during a voyage.
In cruise contexts, refers to land tours organized at port stops before returning to the ship.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'excursio', from 'excurrer' (to run out), formed from 'ex-' (out) and 'currere' (to run). Originally meant a military raid or sally out before shifting to a pleasant day trip.
Word relationships
- outing: 'Outing' is an informal casual day trip, whereas 'excursion' is often structured.
- side-trip: 'Side-trip' highlights a deviation from a main route rather than an organized port tour.
Commonly confused with
- expedition: An 'expedition' is a long, difficult journey with a serious research or exploration purpose.
Word family
- excursionist (noun): A person who goes on an excursion.
Collocations
- shore excursion
- day excursion
- guided excursion
- excursion package
Example sentences
- "Passengers signed up for a guided excursion to ancient ruins during their afternoon in port." Port itinerary description
- "Our shore excursion included snorkeling near a coral reef and lunch at a coastal cafe." Travel article
Memory hook
An EX-CURSION is an EX-cellent quick trip out. EX-CURSION: run out for a short trip.
When not to use
Do not use for permanent relocations or lengthy multi-month expeditions.
Fun facts
- Shore excursions generate up to twenty percent of revenue for major commercial cruise operators.
Related words
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