Ashley KosciolekWhen it comes to cruises, we see plenty of people obsessing about the onboard details – cabins, dining, drink packages, entertainment, kids clubs – but it’s important to remember that the ship-related stuff is only half of the experience. It’s just as important to think about what you’ll do ashore, and that brings us to shore excursions.
Maybe you’re brand-new to cruising, or maybe you’ve spent more days at sea than you can count. Either way, there are plenty of mistakes to be made when planning, booking and heading out on shore tours.
We’re here to point out the pitfalls and share some shore excursion tips that will have you exploring ports like a pro in no time flat. Here’s what not to do and what to do instead.
1. Booking Excursions After You Board
One of our best cruise excursion tips is to book before you set sail. Certain excursions fill up quickly, so if your heart is set on a particular activity or landmark, lock your reservations in early. Plus, it will save you from standing in line at the shore excursions desk.
Depending on your cruise line, you can start booking excursions as far as six months out from your sailing date. Even if you don’t make reservations as soon as bookings open, you can still start looking through what’s available to get an idea of what you might like to sign up for.
2. Only Taking Ship-Sponsored Shore Excursions
There are certain perks that come with booking shore excursions offered by your cruise line. The tour operators with which your line works have been vetted by the line for safety and reliability. Plus, if your tour runs late, the ship will wait for you so you won’t be stranded.
However, ship-sponsored tours can also cost an arm and a leg. You can often save a significant chunk of change if you opt for a tour with a third-party provider that operates during the hours your ship will be in port. You can Google local providers or check out third-party booking sites like Shore Excursions Group to find suitable alternatives to the excursions for sale on your ship.
3. Not Booking Through a Reputable Third Party
Another one of our tried-and-true shore excursion tips is that, if you go the third-party route, it’s imperative to thoroughly research the company with which you’re booking. Look for these key things:
- It’s an actual company and not a scam
- It has a decent number of reviews from people who have tried it
- It’s got a clean safety record
- It offers a refund if your call on the port is canceled
- It guarantees it will return you to your vessel on time or pay for you to get to the next port
4. Forgetting to Insure Your Shore Excursions
We always recommend travel insurance to cruisers. It’s generally affordable and offers peace of mind if something goes wrong on your vacation. However, for it to work properly, you must remember to insure every facet of your trip – not just your cruise booking. That includes flights, pre- and post-cruise hotel stays, and shore excursions, too.
It’s best to buy a policy shortly after booking your cruise. You can adjust coverage later as you add the other components mentioned above.
5. Losing Track of Your Shore Excursion Tickets
Whether you’ve booked your excursion pre-cruise or onboard, your cruise line will deliver tickets to your cabin at least one day prior to your tour’s departure (unless they’re digital and in the cruise line’s app). A solid piece of advice as far as cruise excursion tips is to keep them in a safe place so you don’t accidentally throw them away with yesterday’s daily schedule or art auction flyer. (Pro tip: The walls in most cabins are metal, so bring a couple of small magnets with you, and use them to pin your tickets away from the chaos in order to stay more organized.)
Also don’t forget them on the day of the excursion. It will start your day on a sour note if you reach your meeting point and don’t have your tickets to show whoever is checking you in for your scheduled activity.
6. Being Late
Most cruise shore excursions depart early in the morning so you can maximize your time in port. That means you won’t be able to sleep in. Set an alarm (or two), grab a filling breakfast (room service is a good option to save you time), know where your tour’s meeting point is, and plan to be there at least 10 minutes before the posted time. This is especially important if you need to tender ashore.
This also applies at the end of your excursion. If your guide gives you free time to meander on your own, make sure you know where and when to meet. Before you go, take note of the predetermined meeting place, and make sure you know how to find your way back there. Losing your way in an unfamiliar place is not only stressful, but it could delay the entire group and everyone’s return to the ship. So always give yourself plenty of time and plan to be back early.
7. Canceling Late or Not at All
Sometimes plans change, and that’s OK. However, if you no longer wish to embark on a shore excursion you’ve booked, you should cancel as far in advance as possible. There are two reasons for this.
First, it allows you to get your money back. Most cruise line require you to cancel at least 48 hours in advance for a full refund. Otherwise, you might not be able to recoup what you’ve paid. Even if you’ve passed the refund window, canceling is always better than being a no-show.
Second, it allows for better planning. If you’re booked on a tour that’s in high demand, canceling early allows the cruise line to open up the spot to other passengers who might be on a waitlist. It also gives the tour operator a more accurate head count so they can properly accommodate everyone. (In some cases, if a tour doesn’t receive enough sign-ups, it will be canceled.)
8. Ignoring Your Physical Abilities
All cruise ship excursions list activity levels that take factors like the length of the tour, type of terrain and physical exertion into account. If you have mobility concerns, it’s best to contact your cruise line in advance to ask which tours are appropriate for your level of mobility and to inquire about possible accommodations that can be made.
On the other side of the coin, if you’re someone who’s generally active, you might find yourself bored or antsy on a bus tour. Be sure to match the activities you choose to your energy level and the amount of physical ability you have.
9. Not Reading Tour Descriptions
We know you’re doing a lot of reading as you plan for your cruise, so it can be tempting to skim. One area where you won’t want to do that is shore excursion descriptions.
Imagine showing up for what you think is an e-bike tour, and it turns out to be a traditional bike ride – with hills. Or perhaps that fun city tour you thought you booked is actually one that has you spending most of your time on a motorcoach. Or maybe your 8-hour tour doesn’t include a meal and you didn’t bring enough cash for food.
The descriptions also will tell you if an activity is family-friendly, how long it lasts, whether it includes a meal and other important details that could make or break your enjoyment of the excursion, so be sure to read all descriptions carefully.
10. Overlooking the Dress Code Recommendations
Also in the shore excursion descriptions are recommendations for what to wear and what to bring.
If you’re heading out for a beach day, remember a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, sunglasses and a cover-up or change of clothes. If you’re going for a hike, you’ll likely want layers and a bottle of water. City tours that include stops at historic churches and cathedrals might require you to cover shoulders and knees.
Footwear is another key consideration. For the beach, put on something that can get wet and won’t trap sand. For a hike or a walk on uneven cobblestones streets, sturdy shoes like sneakers or hiking boots are essential. Pay close attention to these suggestions so you’re prepared and comfortable during your tour.
11. Forgetting to Charge and Bring Your Vox Box
Depending on your cruise line and the tour you’ve chosen, excursion instructions might ask you to bring Vox Boxes that you’ll find in your cabin. You’ll wear yours on a lanyard around your neck. The boxes serve as mini-radios that, when you attach headphones, allow you to hear your guide better when they speak.
Don’t forget to fully charge the boxes the night before your excursion and bring them with you the next day if your tour requires them. (Instructions should note this in both the tour description and on your excursion ticket.)
12. Being Disrespectful Visitors
As a general rule, it’s good practice to be polite when you’re visiting someone else’s country. This is true whether you’re setting out on your own in port or joining a shore tour. Pay attention to posted signage, dress modestly in countries where that’s the norm, and avoid being excessively loud.
Additionally, if you’re visiting museums or other historic places, avoid touching exhibits and artifacts, and always listen to your guide’s instructions.
13. Not Sticking With Your Group
Your guide has a responsibility to make sure all passengers arrive back to the ship on time and that they don’t leave anyone behind. This is one of the most obvious shore excursion tips, but stay with your group at all times. If you divert from the group, even briefly, to use the bathroom or catch your breath – or if you decide to leave the group entirely to do your own thing – let your guide know. If your guide has to spend time looking for you, it takes away from the tour everyone else also paid for.
14. Not Tipping Your Guide and Driver
Regardless of where you’re from, it’s customary to leave a tip for guides and drivers at the end of a shore excursion in most countries. Although the amount is completely up to you, we recommend anywhere from $2-$5 (or equivalent local currency) per person for drivers and $5-$10 (or local equivalent) per person for guides. Even if you’ve booked an all-inclusive luxury cruise that rolls shore excursions into the price of your fare, check with your line to see if they also factor in these tips; often, they do not.
15. Calling it Quits After Your Tour
If you’ve booked a shore excursion that only lasts for part of the day, you’ll still have time either before it begins or after it ends to explore port on your own. Just because you’re not part of an official group doesn’t mean you have to stay on the ship. Find a cute cafe, a restaurant that catches your eye or a locally owned shop that sells gifts you’re unlikely to find elsewhere.
If you do plan to venture off on your own, take a picture of the ship’s contact information just in case something happens. You can usually find this info on the front of the daily program.
16. Not Budgeting Appropriately
Shore excursions can range from a modestly priced walking tour or panoramic drive to several hundred dollars for premium experiences like culinary tours or ATV adventures. Before booking, tally up the total cost of all the excursions you’re considering across your entire itinerary so you’re not caught off guard by the total. Alternatively, you can set a per-port budget ahead of time and make sure you stick to it when booking your tours.
17. Booking an Excursion in the First Place
And, finally, keep in mind that an excursion isn’t required in order for you to leave the vessel. If where you dock is within walking distance of local points of interest, you might not need to book a tour at all. This might be one of the most controversial cruise excursion tips, but skip the scheduled sightseeing, save some money, and take a leisurely walk, grab lunch ashore, or plot your own route to see landmarks. Just be sure you know how to get back to your ship, and be there with plenty of time to spare before sailaway. Remember: the ship will not wait for you if you’re late.
Comments
Do you have any other shore excursion tips or tricks to add to this list? What cruise excursion mistakes do you see travelers make? Drop us an anchor below to share how you enjoy your time in ports of call.
