A guide to cruise ship shore excursions

As the most convenient way to travel with a plethora of activities at your fingertips, cruising is an attractive holiday option. But shore excursions also play a huge role. The ability to visit numerous destinations in one trip is an exciting prospect but choosing the right shore excursions will ensure you take full advantage of all the location has to offer. For those new to cruising, we dive into the world of shore excursions, giving you all the information you may need prior to setting sail: 

Really, it’s just a way of saying an organised trip or tour when docked at a port. Shore excursions are arranged for the enjoyment and convenience of the ship’s guests, helping you to experience some of the delights that your chosen destination has to offer. These are most often arranged by your cruise line and can either be booked in advance or when you’re on the ship. 

Shore excursions come in all shapes and sizes. Depending on the destination you’re visiting and the port you’re stopping at, there is a great array of options available. Shore excursions can take the form of activities like wine tasting and shopping or often sightseeing tours of fascinating historical sites. There are also active excursions like biking and hiking for those who love exploring the great outdoors. 

Shore excursions can last all day or just half a day. For example, you could spend the morning visiting the immediate attractions of the port or book a full-day trip to a world-famous historic site that’s a bit further afield. 

There are also options regarding the structure of the shore excursion. They can be guided tours that are led by experts who know the ins and outs of the various locations or the tour can bring you to a destination where you’re then free to explore at your leisure. There are also excursions that combine guided tours with free time for the best of both worlds.

Some shore excursions also pack more in than others. For day-long trips, you may get to visit lots of other attractions along the way or your chosen shore excursion may just focus on one single location for an in-depth visit. 

• Full-day tours
• Half-day tours
• Guided tours
• Tours with free time
• In-depth excursions
• Tours with numerous highlights 

So, whether you’d like to spend all day enjoying the highlights of beautiful Barcelona or just a select highlight from magical Lisbon, the choice is yours. 

If you’ve got a destination in mind, what’s the best way to experience it? Should you book a shore excursion or venture off alone for independent exploration? Of course, the choice is yours and depends on your personal tastes and your budget. Shore excursions certainly vary in price, but perhaps mixing things up from port to port might be a smart idea.

If you book a tour in every port of call, the bill can soon stack up. However, if you decide to go it alone every now and then, you can look to strike the right balance. Shore excursions are certainly worth it if you want to venture further afield to an attraction or activity, but if a simple stroll around the port and a trip to the beach is all you desire, going solo could be right for you.

However, it should be noted that for big cities like Rome and Athens that are further from the port, booking a shore excursion or organised tour will ensure everything is taken care of. After all, you are here to relax, so relying on the experience of professionals and intimate knowledge of guides will help facilitate this.  

There are two options for booking your cruise ship shore excursions. You can either decide to book in advance or while you’re on board. There are benefits to both.

For excursions with limited availability or tours that you 100% don’t want to miss out on, it’s a good idea to book in advance of your cruise as there can be high demand. However, if there is a port where you’re not so sure or have numerous options, seeing how you feel nearer the time could be the way to go. As, if you change your mind, some cruise lines charge a cancellation fee. You should also consider how weather dependent your desired excursion is so it may be better to make up your mind on the day and hope there are places available. 

Most people tend to book their shore excursions with the cruise line for the level of trust and peace of mind that they can offer. However, you can also book excursions privately, which can offer benefits in terms of price, for example. 

Emrys from Cruise Hive recommends booking shore excursions with the cruise line, “My most important advice for booking shore excursions would be to always book through the cruise line because if your tour ends up being late, then the cruise ship will wait for you. Tours will also be refunded if, for any reason, the port of call is cancelled.” 

Jennifer from Just Chasing Rabbits agrees, “For first-time cruisers, we would almost always recommend booking shore excursions through the cruise company. There are tons of sites that will tell you to save money by booking the excursion on your own and we would generally agree, but not for a first-time cruiser who is unfamiliar with the port, surrounding area, time difference, language barriers and cruise rules.

“What’s the difference between booking through your cruise line or on your own? Well, through a cruise line, you’re paying for convenience and peace of mind. Cruise lines work with certain trusted tour groups that have been tried and tested by previous cruisers. You’ll find information about these excursions, reviews and ratings all on the website of your cruise line. 

“By booking through your cruiser, you’ll also guarantee that the ship will wait for you if the tour runs late. Sometimes, you can even pay for your excursions using your onboard ship credit, which will help with the higher price. By booking on your own, you’re left to your own judgement about the tours and whatever guarantees they offer. Once you understand how shore excursions and cruise ships operate, you’ll be more prepared to possibly book on your own in the future.” 

Gary from Tips For Travellers highlights the benefits of booking privately in certain situations, “As the cruise line guarantees the ship will wait until all their excursions have returned before departing, many first-time cruise passengers feel more comfortable using the line tours. However, you can find the same tours cheaper and with smaller group sizes through independent providers online. They have a lot of experience in the ports and most will include guarantees on getting you back in time or covering the costs and organisation if there is an issue and the ship departs. They know they need to ensure guests get back or their reputation would be destroyed. So, before just going with the cruise line tours, at least check your options.” 

Emrys advises travellers to do their research, “Find out what items you need to take with you. If possible, do this before your cruise as purchasing essentials such as a snorkel kit, insect repellent and sun tan lotion can be very expensive on the cruise ship. You can then focus on enjoying your tour experience without scrambling to make sure you have the things you need.”

Research should include reading the excursion’s itinerary and details carefully. You will want to make sure you know exactly what you’re signing up for - for example, how long it takes and how much travel is involved so that there are no unwanted surprises. You should also make sure that you are physically capable of going on a particular excursion. Some trips can venture onto difficult terrain or include prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures. So, if you are older or perhaps have limited mobility, do plenty of research. Cruise lines will often point out the excursions that are more physically strenuous. 

“Before booking a tour, look at the hop-on hop-off bus availability and routes in each port,” says Gary. “You’ll often find they call in at the port, often at times that coincide with arrival and departure time. They are generally inexpensive, have commentary in English or any other main language you want, and call at the most important sites and places that the tour will be going. You could have more flexibility and save a lot of money this way.” 

“To get the most out of a shore excursion, I recommend tours that include multiple activities, if possible,” says Jennifer. “Especially any with unique experiences and/or learning opportunities. We totally understand that some people just want to relax on vacation, but great memories will be made when you push yourself out of your comfort zone and really look for incredible, once-in-a-lifetime adventures.”

Once you have decided on your shore excursions, make sure you pack with these in mind. You don’t want to have booked a beautiful mountain hike in sandals. Don’t let packing mistakes impede what should be an unforgettable holiday.

Read next: How to pack for a cruise

For insider tips and information on each port, such as the best local beaches and restaurants, make sure to ask cruise ship staff members as they often visit the same ports every week.