[RugnirViking]

presumably it has something to do with the fact that when sailing an oceangoing vessel you aren't likely to be interacting with others for much of any reason until you pull into port. Which when a lot of these places were named, didnt exist. Shore excursions would have been ones where the large ship is moored off the coast and rowboats will be sent to shore with a dozen or so people for a temporary stay. Almost all of the food and safety would be back on the big ship