A cruise offers the perfect blend of activities both onboard and onshore. To ensure you maximize your time in each port, cruise lines provide a comprehensive schedule of shore excursions. However, for first-time cruisers, selecting and booking these tours can be quite daunting.
Having experienced shore excursions across the globe—with both cruise line offerings and independent tours—I’ve spent many enjoyable days exploring ports at my own pace. Let me guide you through the essentials of cruise shore excursions so you can enjoy your trip, no matter your budget.
What Are Cruise Shore Excursions?
A shore excursion consists of group tours or activities designed for cruise passengers who only have a brief time to explore each port on their itinerary.
These excursions can range from sightseeing bus tours, guided visits to museums or historical landmarks, to engaging activities like hiking, biking, snorkeling, or taking a cooking or dance class. Typically, shore excursions showcase the key attractions or cultural experiences of the destination. Some excursions may lead you to locations within walking distance of the cruise ship, while others could be day trips to nearby cities.
Many excursions cater to families and can accommodate children, while others may be suitable for individuals with mobility challenges. Some activities, however, may require a certain level of fitness and may not be appropriate for all guests.
Shore excursions can be organized and sold by the cruise line in partnership with providers, or booked through independent operators and third-party tour vendors.
Are Shore Excursions Mandatory?
You typically do not need to buy a shore excursion to explore a port of call. You can simply disembark and wander into town or take a taxi to your desired destination.
However, in certain locations, booking an excursion or guided tour is highly recommended, particularly if navigating the area as a foreigner is challenging due to language barriers or underdeveloped tourism infrastructure.
Can You Book Shore Excursions Independently?
Absolutely! Several factors influence my decision on whether to join a ship-sponsored tour, schedule an independent excursion, or explore solo. If you’re a novice traveler, you might prefer to stick with ship tours as they are often the most straightforward and convenient options.
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The advantages of booking a cruise line’s shore excursions include the convenience of departing directly from the ship and knowing that the ship will wait for you should there be any issues during your outing (like traffic delays or emergencies) until all ship-managed tours have returned.
On the flip side, independent tours can be more affordable. For instance, I once organized a group for an overnight trip to see Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza from Port Said, Egypt, saving hundreds compared to the cruise line’s prices. Additionally, if you have specific interests, the ship’s tours may not cover all the activities or attractions you’re eager to experience.
Related: Ship-sponsored vs. independent shore excursions on cruises: Which should you book?
Some independent operators offer customizable tours for you or your group, allowing you to spend more time at your preferred sites. Often, these tours are smaller than those provided by cruise lines, which can have groups of 30 to 60 people, making the experience less hurried.
Lastly, many ports are delightful to explore on foot, inviting you to visit local shops and eateries at your leisure. Personally, I’ve opted to skip tours in places like Key West, Florida; Tallinn, Estonia; Monaco; Nassau, Bahamas; Skagway, Alaska; Geiranger, Norway; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, successfully navigating with just a map and guidebook.
How Much Do Shore Excursions Cost?
The prices for cruise shore excursions can vary significantly, influenced by factors like the local cost of living, the type of activity, and whether the tour is a half-day or full-day experience. Discounts are often available for young children.
For instance, Princess Cruises offers several excursions in Grand Cayman: a 2.5-hour stingray swim for $70 per person, a 5-hour scenic island drive for $100, and a 4-hour, two-tank scuba dive for $180. In Juneau, Alaska, a 3-hour tour to the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center costs $50, while a gold panning activity with a salmon bake is priced at $125. A 2.25-hour helicopter ride to the glacier, allowing for half an hour on the ice, is $420.
Some cruise lines, like Viking and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, include basic shore excursion costs in their cruise fares, allowing guests to enjoy port activities without additional expenses. In contrast, lines like Norwegian Cruise Line often provide limited-time discounts or excursion credits as promotional offers.
Related: 8 tips for booking the best cruise shore excursion for your money
What’s the Best Way to Book Shore Excursions?
If you aim to book excursions through your cruise line, you have two main options.
You can reserve your tours online ahead of time, or your travel agent can handle it for you. This is advisable if there’s a specific excursion you’re eager to take, ensuring you secure your spot before they sell out. During my parents’ luxury Regent Seven Seas cruise, they discovered that waiting until the next morning resulted in missed opportunities on popular tours.
However, booking in advance often requires full payment upfront instead of allowing you to add charges to your final cruise bill, which may complicate using onboard credits for excursions booked online.
Related: Avoid these mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions
Alternatively, you can wait until you’re on the ship and book your excursions in person at the shore excursion desk, where staff are available to answer any questions. This option will add charges to your final cruise bill, but popular tours might sell out by the time you’re ready to book.
The same situation applies to independent tours. Most travelers arrange these before their trip through tour operators or travel agents, but in busy ports, there are often local representatives available at tourist information centers to help you find same-day tours, subject to availability.
Is It Cheaper to Book Shore Excursions on the Ship?
No. Most cruise lines maintain consistent pricing for shore excursions, whether booked online or onboard, with many offering discounts for advance reservations. For example, Royal Caribbean often advertises discounts of up to 30% for tours booked before sailing.
Should I Tip on Shore Excursions?
It’s customary to tip your guides at the conclusion of both cruise line-sponsored and independent excursions, unless gratuities are included in the tour price or if you’re in a region where tipping is culturally inappropriate.
Related: Ultimate guide to tipping on cruise ships
Tipping practices are subjective, but our Flying Frugal cruise team typically recommends around $5 to $10 per person for half-day tours and $10 to $20 per person for full-day excursions, with adjustments based on service quality. For non-guide drivers, a recommendation is to tip approximately $2 per member of your party.
For private tours, especially customized experiences, consider tipping 5% to 20% of the total tour cost.
Maximizing Your Cruise Shore Excursion Experience
To maximize your experience with cruise shore excursions, it’s important to clarify your desires and ensure that the tour description meets your expectations. My own cruising experience has led me to take fewer ship-sponsored excursions in favor of options that better match my interests.
For instance, if you’re contemplating a bus tour, make sure you’re aware of how much time will be spent on the bus versus at attractions, whether you’ll have access to key sights, and if there’s additional free time for exploration. For activities like snorkeling or helicopter tours, consider the time allocated for travel and preparation compared to your hands-on experience.
Additionally, check the fitness level required and avoid taking on more than you can handle—especially in areas where terrain may be uneven or challenging.
Related: 11 cruise ship excursions to avoid
For tours that coincide with lunchtime, confirm whether meals are included or if you have time to grab something to eat.
Organized tours are often most beneficial when engaging in activities that are difficult to do independently (like kayaking, zip-lining, or wine tasting), when traveling long distances that would otherwise require public transportation or car rental, or when a cultural context may make independent navigation difficult. In some cases, an expert guide’s insight is invaluable, such as when exploring sites like Pompeii.
Final Thoughts
Shore excursions provide a fantastic opportunity to enrich your time in port, and a balanced approach combining guided tours with independent exploration often offers the best value. Choose options that resonate with your budget and interests, and don’t forget to weigh both cruise line and independent excursions. And remember, it’s perfectly fine to relax onboard when the ship docks at a port that doesn’t pique your interest.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these helpful resources:
