Can You Leave Cruise Ship Without Excursion?

Depending on the port you visit, there may be a nearby beach that you can walk to from where your ship docks. However, not all ports have this option, and it is best to ask locals for suggestions. It is important to keep in mind that the closest beach may not be the most convenient.

When you arrive at a port, you can disembark from the cruise ship on foot or by taking a tender boat. Celebrity’s website lists which ports require ships excursions and which you can get off at on your own. However, it is important to note that passengers cannot sail from one U.S. port and get off at another U.S. port (even for the day). Cruise ships do not leave guests behind who were on an excursion booked through the ship. Travelers on a tour with an independent operator can and will be left behind if a problem prevents their excursion from returning to the ship.

Guests are not obligated to book a shore excursion and are free to explore ports of call on their own. While onboard the ship, all guests will be advised as to when they should be back on board the ship prior to sailing. If you take a non-cruise sponsored shore excursion and are too late to board, they will leave without you. You can even buy an excursion on the dock from a company, but do not take random taxi rides to sightsee.

In the Caribbean, some dozen ports have shore excursions, but without doing them, you are wasting vacation money because you will not experience the destinations you paid to see. Shore excursions are not required, and with few exceptions, you are free to walk off the cruise ship and do your own thing. However, if you want to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion, consider drinking for cheap at a bar, finding free wifi, and asking locals for a nearby beach.

Can you just not get back on a cruise ship?

If you intend to sail on the cruise as dictated in the itinerary, and you do not return before the ship is scheduled to depart: They will leave without you. Some ships have as many as 6,600 people on board, so again – they will leave you behind.

Do you have to do an excursion on a cruise?

Shore excursions are one of the most common parts of a trip that cruise passengers take an extra credit card hit on. From guided tours to private beach clubs, shore excursions can help make the most of your time in each port your cruise visits. You don’t need to book a shore excursion at all you can simply get off the ship and walk around or explore on your own. But going on an excursion can certainly be a worthwhile experience.

You might have dozens, or even hundreds of options to choose from for shore activities. But all can be broken down into two general categories those sold directly by your cruise line and those sold through local or third-party companies.

As an avid cruiser, I’ve done both and have had good and bad experiences with each option. Neither is necessarily a bad way to go. One of my favorite shore excursions I’ve ever done was a resort day pass in St. Kitts I booked through a third-party travel site. But another all-time favorite was a guided tour of top attractions in Jamaica that I booked directly through Carnival while on one of their ships.

Is it cheaper to buy shore excursions on the ship?

Is it cheaper to book shore excursions on the ship?. No. Most cruise lines either charge the same prices for shore excursions booked online and on board or offer a discount for tours purchased in advance. For example, Royal Caribbean often advertises up to 30% off select tours reserved ahead of the sailing.

Do I need to tip on shore excursions?. Whether you’re on a cruise line sponsored or independent shore excursion, a best practice is to tip your tour guides at the end of the tour. Exceptions are if tips are included in the price or if you’re visiting a country with a non-tipping culture, where offering cash would be awkward.

Tipping is a personal matter, and there are no hard and fast rules. I canvassed TPG’s cruise team and we agreed that we give roughly $5 to $10 per person for half-day tours and $10 to $20 per person for full-day excursions, adjusted for service and quality. Tip non-guide drivers roughly $2 per person in your party.

Can you still get off a cruise ship without an excursion?

Do I have to book a shore excursion through Carnival or can I go off on my own?You are not obligated to book shore excursions through Carnival in order to leave the ship. Public transportation is available at each port. We suggest you visit your local library, bookstore or a pertinent website to determine where you would like to go.

Carnival does not offer any alternatives from the established shore excursion program. All shore excursions sold through Carnival are coordinated with reputable tour operators and include all of the most popular sites of interest.

One of the many benefits of booking excursions through Carnival is a guarantee that the ship will remain in port until all guests are back onboard. Carnival will not be aware of shore excursions that are booked independently. Also, keep in mind that some ports have visa requirements that may prevent you from venturing off on your own.

What happens if you don’t make it back to your cruise ship on time?

Travelers who do not board their ship in time are generally responsible for getting themselves to the next port of call, according to Kuther. Travel insurance won’t be much good in that scenario, either.

Can you leave in the middle of a cruise?

So, Can You Get off a Cruise Early?. Outside of emergencies, passengers rarely end their cruises before completion. No matter the reason, the question remains: Can you end your cruise at any port on the itinerary? Technically, the answer is yes. However, it’s not quite as easy as just getting off and going home on your terms when you are ready. There are a few “stumbling blocks” and laws that have to be taken into consideration, and they are, truthfully, quite confusing.

The Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (also known as the PVSA) was enacted essentially to protect U.S. maritime interests. This law still exists today. In a nutshell, the PVSA states that foreign ships cannot transport passengers between U.S. ports, or they will face a fine ( currently $778 per passenger!). But what about leaving a U.S. port and getting off at a foreign port? According to U.S. law, you can set sail and then disembark at a foreign port. However, although it is allowed by U.S. law, there are still foreign laws and cruise line policies to contend with. In some countries, laws prohibit cruise passengers from permanently disembarking.

For customers who only want to take part of their cruise, it’s also not a cut-and-dry process. Royal Caribbean lays out its rules on its website: “Royal Caribbean no longer allows cruise passengers to pre-plan early debark or late embarkation for any of our ships.” Not all cruise lines post their rules, so it’s best to contact your cruise provider for specific information.

Will Royal Caribbean leave you behind?

When you book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean, we guarantee that if your tour is delayed, the ship will wait for you. In the unlikely event that your tour is significantly delayed, and the ship cannot wait, we will make all the arrangements for you to return to the ship at no expense to you.

The ship will not wait for any guest faring on their own, as it is their responsibility to be onboard before the ship’s scheduled departure time.

Is it worth paying for cruise excursions?

Bottom line. Shore excursions are a great way to make the most of your time in port, but you might get the most value out of a mix of guided tours and independent exploration. Choose the best option based on your budget and interests, and remember to look at both ship-sponsored and independent tour and activity options. And if you feel like staying on board one day while your ship is docked in a port that doesn’t interest you, that’s okay, too.

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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Can you get off a cruise ship and explore?

In most cases, you don’t need to book a shore excursion to explore a port of call. You can simply walk off the ship and stroll into town or catch a cab to take you wherever you want to go.

However, in some destinations, a shore excursion, or independently operated guided tour, is highly encouraged. This could be in places where it’s difficult to navigate as a foreigner who can’t speak the language or understand street signs or where the tourism infrastructure is not yet fully developed.

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Do you have to go ashore on a cruise?

Do I have to get off the cruise ship when it calls on a port?. Nope. The choice is totally yours. You can go ashore on a tour, explore the cruise port on your own or stay onboard and relax by the pool, book a (usually discounted on port days) spa treatment or take advantage of other activities on your ship during the day.

How do I get off the ship?. Your ship will usually arrive at its destination in the early morning. After the crew is given the go-ahead by the proper port officials, passengers can begin debarking. The cruise director will usually make an announcement telling passengers they’re welcome to go ashore and directing them to the proper exits or assembly points. Cruisers who’ve booked ship-sponsored shore excursions, suite guests, those who are upper-tier loyalty program members (meaning they’ve cruised with the line many times before) and those who’ve paid for priority debarkation are the first people allowed to leave the ship. To avoid crowding at the exits, passengers on larger ships might have to report to a designated area ahead of time to obtain color-coded or numbered cards that dictate the order in which they’re allowed to go ashore.

Depending on the depth of the water and the available infrastructure at the port you’re visiting, your ship will either dock at a pier or anchor offshore. If your ship is docked, you’ll be able to simply walk off the vessel directly onto dry land via a movable ramp called a gangway. If it’s anchored, you’ll have to take a tender a small boat that ferries passengers ashore in groups. (Remember those color-coded cards we just mentioned? They’re particularly common in cases where tendering is necessary.) Be warned that gangways and the tendering process can sometimes be tricky for passengers with mobility issues. If you require assistance, visit the customer service desk onboard ahead of time to make special arrangements.