Shore Excursions 101: Everything First-Time Cruisers Need to Know

Planning your first cruise is exciting — until you realize that choosing what to do at each port of call is a whole other project. Shore excursions come in every shape, size, and price point, and the options can feel endless. This guide breaks down every decision you’ll need to make, so you can stop second-guessing and start looking forward to your time ashore.

What is a Shore Excursion?

If you are new to cruising, you may not know the lingo. The term “shore excursion” can refer to any number of different organized ashore activities. Cruise shore excursions occur off the ship and are completed during the hours you are docked at the port.

Unless you are booked on a luxury cruise line, shore excursions are not covered in your cruise fare. You will have to pay extra for these guided tours and experiences. So, we always recommend reserving a portion of your travel budget for shore excursions.

Why Should You Book a Shore Excursion?

Shore excursions give cruisers the opportunity to maximize their time ashore while eliminating some of the legwork of planning (tickets, transportation, etc.) for a DIY tour. That’s part of the reason you’ve decided to explore these wonderful destinations via cruise ship, right?

These tours are usually designed to highlight the best attractions that the area has to offer. Further, they have likely been modified over time based on previous customers’ feedback to give you the best experience possible.

These tours are usually led by locals who can provide some first-hand knowledge and insight into the history, culture, and folklore of the landmarks in addition to just the information that you can read on a sign or in a guidebook. We always prefer a guided tour over a self-guided tour for this very reason.

Over the years, we have heard many personal accounts that have given us great appreciation for the destination and its people.

What’s Included on a Shore Excursion?

What’s included in your shore excursion will vary based on the tour you book. At minimum, transportation and a tour guide is usually included. Most excursions will also include admission to the places you visit and use of whatever equipment is necessary for the tour, unless otherwise specified in the description.

Many tours include a complimentary bottle of water or alcoholic drink (think beer, rum punch, etc.). Some even include lunch. Keep in mind that while some tours provide a lunch stop, the meal itself might be at your own expense. So, be sure to read the tour’s description.

Generally speaking, items that are not included are food and drinks, any professional-type photos taken during the tour, and gratuities. We always have cash on hand to tip our bus drivers and tour guides for providing us a wonderful day ashore.

Transportation to and from the cruise port itself may or may not be included. Often times, local tour operators will provide walking instructions from the cruise ship to a meeting point. Or, the instructions will indicate that a taxi is required to reach the meeting point. However, most cruise line excursions do depart right from the port area.

Do You Have to Book a Shore Excursion?

Just because your cruise ship is stopping at a port doesn’t mean that you need to purchase a shore excursion. While a few regions of the world do have specific visa requirements to leave the ship, you are allowed to freely walk off the ship in nearly all cruise ports.

You could explore the port on your own, head to a local restaurant or bar, or grab a taxi to the beach. Perhaps, you might even decide to stay on the ship. While your cruise ship will visit many exciting destinations, maybe you have no desire to visit a certain port. Or, you have visited so many times before that you decide to skip getting off the ship this time around. In fact, there are several advantages to staying on the ship while in port, and we always try to allocate one day to do exactly that.

What Happens When You Get Off the Ship?

Before you can start your shore excursion, you actually have to get off the ship — and how that works depends on the port. There are three common scenarios you’ll encounter as a cruiser.

The most common is a docked port, where the ship pulls directly up to a pier and you simply walk off at your leisure during the port hours. Easy. However, not all docked ports are created equal. In some destinations, particularly in Europe and other working ports, the pier itself may be far from the town center. In these cases, the cruise line will typically offer a shuttle service to transport you to a more central location, either included in your fare or for a small fee. Your shore excursion will likely still meet directly at the pier, but it’s worth checking the meeting point details carefully before you head off.

The second scenario is a tender port, where the water is too shallow or the harbor too small for the ship to dock directly. Instead, you’ll take a small boat — called a tender — from the ship to shore. Tendering adds time to your day and can occasionally be cancelled altogether if seas are too rough. If you have a shore excursion booked through the cruise line at a tender port, you’ll typically get priority tendering, meaning you board early with your excursion group. If you booked independently, factor in extra time to get ashore.

Regardless of which scenario applies, your cruise director will communicate the process for each port during the voyage — so you’ll never be completely in the dark.

Where Do You Find Shore Excursion Suggestions?

Each cruise line has its own list of shore excursion options with provided descriptions and usually customer ratings. You can take comfort in knowing that these shore excursion vendors are vetted by the cruise line.

If you are looking for suggestions on the most popular activities in each port of call, there are several cruise blogs and vlogs out there. You can also find feedback from travelers on sites like TripAdvisor, Cruise Critic, Facebook groups, or your favorite social media platform. Odds are there is someone out there who has taken the exact shore excursion that you are considering and has posted their thoughts about it.

What Type of Shore Excursion Do You Want to Book?

There are endless shore excursion options. First, you will need to decide what type of activity you want to book. Are you looking for an all-inclusive beach break or a relaxing day ashore? If this is your first time visiting a port of call, you might want to book a sightseeing tour. These tours usually make quick stops at all the popular attractions, with just enough time for photos and a bit of information. These excursions are usually bus tours or walking tours.

If you are the adventurous type, then you will want to catch your latest thrill. From zip-lining, ATVs, and horseback riding to hiking in a rainforest, up a volcano, or on a glacier, there are plenty of activities for thrill-seekers like ourselves to enjoy in every port of call.

If you are looking for something a bit less touristy, many cruise lines offer cultural immersion shore excursions. These tours will get you closer to the people, culture, and authentic cuisine of the region you are visiting. Some premium cruise lines even offer privileged access to popular attractions where you can go during off-hours or to areas that are normally off-limits to the general public.

What Should You Consider Before Booking?

When looking through shore excursions trying to figure out which one to choose, there are some further factors you’ll want to keep in mind.

First, consider how much of the tour you want to be guided and in a group, and how much time you want to wander around on your own at various points of interest. Reading past guest’s reviews of a particular excursion is a great way to get a feel for how much time you’ll have on your own. Evaluate whether you want to be guided every step of the way or whether you want a more “hands-off” tour that mostly just transports you from spot to spot. If you want the latter, find tours that have something along the lines of “on your own” in the description.

Another factor to think about is the activity level that you’re able to partake in/are comfortable with. Many walking tours or hiking excursions can include lots of uneven terrain, stairs, and elevation changes that may be difficult for those with mobility issues. Some excursions feature focal point destinations that may not be accessible for those with walkers or wheelchairs. Or maybe you have a health condition that prevents you from partaking in a long bicycling or kayaking tour. The good news is that tours are usually labeled with an “activity level” and have clear descriptions so you know exactly what you’re getting into. Just be realistic about your limitations and don’t book something that you won’t be able to handle.

How Long Do You Want to Be in Port?

When planning shore excursions, you need to keep in mind how long your ship will be docked at each destination. Usually, you are at a port for somewhere around 8 hours, though this does vary by itinerary. Be sure to check your ship’s specific arrival and departure times for each port of call before booking anything.

Once you know how long you have, decide how much of that time you want to allocate to a shore excursion. Some tours last only a few hours with multiple morning and afternoon booking times, while others can last almost the entire time the ship is in port. If you want free time to explore on your own afterward, pick your excursion accordingly.

For first-timers, we recommend sticking to one excursion per port. Booking a morning and afternoon tour back to back sounds appealing in theory, but tours frequently run long due to traffic or an enthusiastic guide who lets you linger at the beach. Instead, pick one tour and use the remaining free time to walk around on your own. Just make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship.

Should You Book an Excursion in Every Port?

While you certainly can book an excursion in every port of call, you should be mindful of travel fatigue. Before committing to a full itinerary of tours, it’s worth thinking through a few things — how long your cruise is and how many ports you’ll visit, how your sea days and port days are spread out, how much time you’ll actually have at each stop, and whether there’s a shore excursion that genuinely excites you at every destination.

While it depends on the region we’re visiting, we generally do not book a shore excursion in every single port. We also tend to offset a long, adventurous tour with a shorter, more relaxing one to avoid burnout. If we’re familiar with a port, we might just get off the ship and walk around on our own for a few hours. And if we’ve visited a port many times before, we don’t hesitate to skip it entirely and enjoy a quieter day on the ship.

Ultimately, the decision is completely up to you — and it might depend heavily on whether you’re visiting the Caribbean or a more bucket list destination like Alaska or the Mediterranean.

How Much Money Do You Want to Spend?

Cruise shore excursions can have a wide range of pricing depending on the type of tour and the port of call. So, this is definitely something you’ll want to keep in mind if you’re cruising on a budget. Excursions like beach breaks and city tours tend to cost $150 or less per person, while adventure tours and unique experiences can cost quite a bit more. We have spent $500+ per person on some shore excursions, like helicopter rides and glacier walks. Private tours can even come close to $1,000 per person for exclusive access and VIP treatment.

The cruise region can also have an impact on the prices of shore excursions. For example, Alaska and the Mediterranean tend to have more expensive tours and activities than the Caribbean and Bahamas.

When pricing out a cruise, we usually plan to allocate about $100-$150 per person, per port of call for cruise excursions. Again, this is an average, as some ports you may spend very little, while other ports you may splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime tour. Or, you may just decide not to book an excursion at all in some ports. But as a general rule of thumb: if your cruise has four ports, plan to spend at least $400-$600 per person, and that number climbs quickly if you book excursions at every stop.

Who Should You Book With?

When booking a shore excursion for your upcoming cruise, you basically have three options. Each option has its pros and cons. We always explore all avenues to find the right tour for our particular cruise and usually book a combination of the three.

For complex ports or those where the attractions are far away, a cruise ship excursion usually works best. For all others, we usually compare Shore Excursions Group to the cruise line’s offerings and pick the best balance of inclusions and pricing.

Directly with the Cruise Line

The easiest way to arrange for cruise excursions is to book them directly with your cruise line. Once you have a deposit on a cruise, most lines allow you to book shore excursions through their website’s online cruise planner.

When booking directly with the cruise line, you can usually cancel the tour up to 24 to 72 hours before the departure time and receive a full refund. Also, you are guaranteed to get back to the ship on time when you book with the cruise line. If your tour is delayed for any reason, the ship will wait for you.

However, this convenience comes at a price, as these shore excursions are usually more expensive.

Third Party Vendor

Your second option to book shore excursions is a third-party vendor. Several sites now exist that allow you to purchase shore excursions outside of the cruise lines, such as Shore Excursions Group. These companies usually offer similar tours at often discounted rates. The other benefit is that these tours are sometimes limited to smaller groups as opposed to the large tour buses that cruise lines often use.

If you are looking for a beach break, Resort for a Day is another great option that offers day passes to popular resort hotels.

These third-party operators will also often guarantee that you will not miss your ship or pay for travel arrangements to get you to the next port of call in the unlikely event that you do. They will usually also refund your money if your ship misses the port of call for any reason.

Local Tour Operator

Lastly, you could opt to book a cruise excursion directly with a local tour operator. Given the wealth of online information, it is pretty easy to find local companies that come highly recommended from other cruisers.

However, you will not have any protection from the cruise company or the third-party vendor with this route. Each tour operator has their own policies when it comes to cancellations, payment methods, and guarantees on getting you back to the ship on time. So, make sure to find out all the details before booking.

Pricing can also vary. Some of these operators offer more unique experiences at lower costs. Not all direct bookings will save you money though. If the tour promises unique access or small group/private tours, they will likely be pricey. However, the ability to customize the experience might be worth the cost to some.

When Should You Book?

While technically you can book your shore excursions at any time, we recommend booking early. Popular tours and activities do sell out.

If you didn’t get around to booking before your cruise departs, don’t panic. Most cruise lines have a shore excursion desk onboard where you can browse and book tours once you’re sailing. Keep in mind that the most popular excursions will likely be sold out — but it’s good to know the option exists if you’re still undecided on a port or two.

At any time after you make a deposit on your cruise, you will have access to the online planner. Here, you can begin to research, plan, and book your cruise excursions.

If you have booked your cruise well in advance, you may want to wait and see if the cruise line will run any promotions that include discounts on shore excursions. Of course, there is always the possibility that the tour could sell out in the meantime. Full payment will be required for the excursion when booking.

If you choose to book with third party vendors or local providers, we would also recommend researching and booking as soon as you have your cruise booked. Again, many of these tours tend to be limited to fewer people, so they can sell out quickly. Third-party companies will usually require full payment when booking. Local companies can vary from full payment due at booking, to a deposit to reserve your spot, to full payment due in cash the day of the tour.

What Should You Pack?

First and foremost: you will always want to have your ship card, photo identification, and plenty of water packed when heading off to explore your port of call.

What you pack to go ashore for your excursion, specifically, is dependent on your destination and the type of shore excursion that you have booked. You will certainly want to have some cash on hand to tip guides, purchase food and drinks, and/or buy souvenirs. Keep in mind that you may want to carry cash in the local currency. While most ports in the Caribbean do accept U.S. dollars, that isn’t necessarily the case for other regions.

For many excursions, you will want to pack your phone, camera, and/or binoculars to capture all the fun, along with a power pack to charge devices as needed. It’s also a good idea to pack a raincoat or poncho, as you don’t want to be caught in a rainstorm unprepared.

If you are visiting a warmer destination, be sure to pack sunglasses and sunscreen. If you are visiting a cooler climate, pack layers in case it gets warmer or colder as the day progresses. Consider the level of walking involved in your tour and be sure to pack the appropriate footwear. Also, read the tour’s description before heading ashore as it might specify to pack a change of clothes, bathing suit, or towel.

What If Something Goes Wrong?

Even the best-planned cruises can hit an unexpected snag, and shore excursions are no exception. The good news is that you have more protection than you might think — especially if you’ve booked through the cruise line or a reputable third-party vendor.

Ports can occasionally be skipped due to weather, mechanical issues, or other unforeseen circumstances. If you booked through the cruise line, you will automatically receive a full refund to your onboard account. Most reputable third-party vendors like Shore Excursions Group also have policies in place to refund you if the ship misses a port. Local operators are the most variable here — some will refund you, others may not, which is another reason to clarify cancellation policies before booking independently.

If something goes wrong on the excursion itself — the tour doesn’t deliver what was promised, a significant portion is cancelled, or the experience falls well short of expectations — you also have recourse. Cruise line excursions are the most straightforward; guest services onboard may issue partial refunds for legitimate complaints. Third-party vendors also have customer service processes for these situations. With local operators, your options are more limited, which is why reading recent reviews carefully before booking independently is so important.

Ready to Book?

Much like the cruise itself, planning shore excursions doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Now that you understand how they work, what to expect, and how to make smart decisions at every step, you’re well equipped to make the most of every port of call on your first cruise. Whether you opt for an adventurous full-day tour, a relaxing beach break, or a cultural immersion experience, the most important thing is that you get off the ship and explore — that’s what cruising is all about.

Comments

What else would you add to our shore excursions guide for first-timers? What types of ashore activities do you usually book? Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences booking cruise excursions.