First-Timers' Guide to Shore Excursions
Shore excursions are activities cruisers can delve into while their cruise ship is in port. Imagine snorkeling through coral reefs, exploring ancient Roman ruins, hiking on glaciers and shopping at local outdoor markets -- all are prime examples of shore excursions. All of these fun tours are as much a part of the cruise experience as onboard amenities of your ship.
Cruise ship excursions are not a requirement and, with a few exceptions, you are free to walk off the ship and do your own thing. But if you prefer exploring with knowledgeable guides or hassle-free transportation, a cruise ship excursion is probably for you. To make the most of your days in port, take a look at our advice on what to expect from shore excursions and how to maximize the fun on your cruise vacation.
How Shore Excursions on Cruises Work
To enhance each port visit (as well as increase their profits), cruise lines offer organized shore excursions for additional fees. These trips range from sightseeing city tours to cultural events and active pursuits. You can take a sunset pleasure cruise in St. Lucia, visit penguin colonies in Antarctica, go wine tasting in Provence or bike through Copenhagen. Tours can be booked onboard at your ship's excursions desk or online before you depart on your trip.
Some cruise lines, and even some travel agents, offer shore excursion credit as a booking perk. This is a credit of a preset amount (often $50) applied to each day in port and which you can put towards shore excursions. If your excursion costs more than the credit amount, it becomes a discount. You rarely get credit back for unused shore excursion credits.
Most ships, especially larger ones, have a dedicated shore excursion desk where you can obtain detailed information about the available cruise excursions and make bookings. Guests have the option to book shore excursions in advance (from booking to near embarkation day) or while on board the ship (more on this later).
Shore Excursions' Costs: They Aren't Always Included in Your Fare
There are luxury lines, river cruises, small coastal ships and expedition ships where some, or all, shore excursions are included in the fare. If the line is not all-inclusive, you have the opportunity to purchase additional tours. Cruise excursions on mainstream lines must be purchased separately.
Budget a minimum of $50 per adult, per excursion. There is no real upper limit as exclusive tours, such as a helicopter or flightseeing tours, can cost hundreds of dollars.
Shore Excursions: Are They Mandatory? Are They Worth It?
No. You are free to come and go from most cruise ships and explore independently while they are in port. A cruise ship excursion is simply one way of discovering destinations visited by the ship with other passengers and participating in activities ashore.
For first time cruisers, shore excursions are definitely worth it. Visiting multiple ports you are unfamiliar with, and expecting to find the best things to do, would be challenging at best and disastrous at worst. In most cases, shore excursions give you access to something that might otherwise be hard to arrange on your own.
Passports on Shore Excursions: Are They Needed?
Your cruise director or the daily program will advise you if it's necessary to take your passport with you on a shore excursion. At a minimum, you need your cruise ship ID card. It's also wise to carry the telephone number of the ship, which is either on your cruise card or in the daily newsletter.
There are instances where having a passport would help you. For example, if you miss the ship's departure, life will be easier with a passport. The same would be true if you are injured and unable to contact the ship. Most travelers rely on carrying a copy of their passport in ports, leaving the originals safely locked away in their staterooms. Some cruise lines hold onto your passport throughout the cruise. In those cases, you should carry a copy with your photo ID.
Tipping on a Shore Excursion Depends on Where You Are
This depends on the tipping habits of the country you are visiting and your cruise director can advise. However, in most cases, tipping the bus driver, tour guides, and/or local experts or wait staff on your shore excursions is acceptable and appreciated. There is no need to tip any cruise ship staff who accompany the excursion.
Types of Shore Excursions to Consider on Your Cruise
Ship-Sponsored Shore Excursions vs. Private Independent Excursions
There are many benefits of booking a shore excursion through your cruise ship. You can save the time and trouble of researching and arranging your own onshore activities, you'll know the tour provider has been vetted by the cruise line and is licensed and reputable. The ship also won't leave until all of its tour buses have returned -- even if there are unforeseeable delays. You might also meet like-minded shipmates whose company you'll enjoy back on the ship.
But ship tours are not always the way to go. The knowledge and efficiency of tour operators vary, and some tour offerings aren't the most engaging. You'll also pay a premium for letting the cruise line arrange your day. Ship-arranged cruise excursions also tend to have broad appeal, so if your interests in a given port are more specific or niche, you may want something outside of the cruise line's standard offerings.
There are instances when you might be limited to excursions provided by the ship. These are usually when local restrictions do not allow cruise passengers to freely wander the streets. Your cruise line will advise you in advance if this might be the case in any of your scheduled ports of call.
Independent excursions, like excursions with Viator, tend to offer a more diverse variety of options. Oftentimes, guides are local and more exciting. However, these excursions do cost extra and are never included in your fare. Plus, cruise lines don't always wait for these excursions to conclude and return, increasing your chances of missing your ship.
Active Excursions vs. Sightseeing Tours
There are cruise excursions geared to all activity levels in all of the main cruise destinations. Active tours might include water sports, ziplining, hiking, biking, horseback riding or dog-sledding.
Activity-based trips might feature a relaxing day at the beach, a pleasurable cruise on a sailboat, wine or food tasting, a cultural performance or a visit to a museum. Sightseeing excursions are typically bus tours that take passengers to the highlights and shopping areas of the port city or nearby destinations.
Remember, shore excursions differ depending where you are. In the Caribbean, you'll find options like snorkeling with stingrays or trips to private beaches, while European tours focus more on sightseeing. For example, full-day tours from the port of Livorno to the museums and cathedrals of Florence or multi-hour lunches, featuring local produce, meats and wine at a farmhouse in Tuscany.
Full vs. Half-Day Tours
Cruise excursions vary in length. Some take up all your time in port, while others are just a few hours. Choose a full-day tour to see the most possible in one trip, or for journeys to destinations outside of the port city, such as Rome from Civitavecchia.
A half-day tour might focus on one specific itinerary -- a three-hour kayak trip or city highlights tour -- leaving you with free time to explore the port on your own before or after.
Guided Excursions vs. Free Time
Not all shore excursions involve busloads of tourists dutifully following flag- or umbrella-waving guides until it's time to go back to the ship. If you prefer to be more independent, there are shore excursions where the ship will provide transport to a destination, and you're free to explore until it's time to meet the bus and return. Others feature guided components, followed by an hour or two of free time.
Christmas market river cruises are a good example. The ship's excursions get you to the markets, often with some city highlights along the way, then leave you with a few hours of shopping time. You are then free to walk back to the ship by yourself or to go to a meeting point at a set time to return with the rest of the group.
Excursions That Cover Highlights vs. More Immersive Excursions
Some shore tours -- such as daylong trips from Tunis to the marketplace, museum and ancient Carthage -- pack multiple activities into one trip. Others focus on one destination or activity, like a trip to the Mayan ruins from Cozumel. It's up to you whether you'd prefer to see many things for short amounts of time or focus on one place in depth.
Boutique-Style Tours
There are also more intimate tours that are limited to 25 or so passengers. Many lines offer these boutique-sized excursions, which could be cooking classes at a renowned French culinary school or visits to Native American villages in Alaska. Upscale lines also offer car-and-driver packages (so you can customize your own tour) or have concierges to arrange shoreside activities exclusively for your travel party. This style of cruise ship excursion allows you to skip large tour buses and trade up for a more exclusive experience.
Booking Shore Excursions in Advance vs. Booking Onboard
If you've done your research and set your heart on a specific tour or want to sign up for limited-availability excursions -- like almost every excursion on an Alaskan cruise or flightseeing while docked on a cruise to Hawaii) -- it pays to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Waiting is a good idea if you're not inspired by the shore excursions you're seeing on your cruise. Some cruise lines charge penalty fees for canceling shore excursions onboard or within 24 to 48 hours of the port call, so you might want to wait to see how the weather is before booking.
You may also get some good word-of-mouth tips on board the ship that change your mind about what tour you'd like to do. Don't forget to come up with a Plan B, in case your desired tour gets canceled or is sold out. This happens more often than you'd think.
How to Get the Most From Your Shore Excursion: Pro Tips for Your Tour
For first-time cruisers, it can be helpful to have a few hacks to make your cruise ship excursion experience amazing. Keep these tips in mind when booking, preparing for and embarking on your tour.
Read shore excursion descriptions carefully to understand exactly how your time will be spent on the tour. Add up how much time is spent on the bus, driving between attractions, and compare that to how much time is spent at each destination. If you are unsure, ask the shore excursion manager to describe the tour in detail. You might have to decide between spending short amounts of time in a variety of places and getting an in-depth tour of one area, while missing out on several others.
Some tours involve strenuous treks in hot, humid climates or long days with lots of walking. Cruise lines are typically good at pointing out which excursions are strenuous and which are best for travelers with limited mobility. Be sure to pick tours that you can handle physically.
Crew members who work aboard ships are great sources of information on the best local beaches, restaurants and shopping (since they often visit the same ports every week). Ask where they go -- the purser's office is an especially good resource.
Your final bill can add up if you buy a shore excursion in every port. However, in some ports -- especially in Alaska, Europe or more far-flung destinations -- shore excursions are the only way to go. Budget accordingly.
If you like to scuba on cruises, check out local dive clubs on the islands you're visiting. They're listed on tourist office websites and information you can research online prior to your cruise. They might lead you to shore diving options at a fraction of the cost of a cruise ship excursion. Grand Cayman and Bonaire are good examples of places with those options.
Hiring a private taxi is often less expensive than the ship's own shore excursions, depending on the number of people you have in your group. When hiring a taxi, be sure to negotiate a flat rate -- based on your destination and the approximate amount of time you'll need -- before you leave. If you want narration in addition to transportation, make sure your language needs are met by whoever you choose if you're outside the U.S.
When renting a car in port, it's always best to reserve it before departure; rates are lower, and you know the agency won't be sold out. Check with your rental company to find out whether you'll need an International Driving Permit (available through AAA and other automobile associations) or if your driver's license will suffice.
Pay attention to the time. Yes, people do get left behind on cruise excursions if they haven't returned to port on time and aren't part of a ship-organized shore trip.