How To Cut Costs On Shore Excursions When Cruising?

Cruise lines offer shore excursions to enhance each port visit and increase profits. To save money on cruise excursions, consider booking with the cruise line, using shore excursion brokers, booking in advance through NextCruise, taking the bus, or staying onboard. Popular excursions and limited-participant tours often sell out before you even board your cruise ship. To save money, book excursions online as early as possible and explore alternative tour options.

For all-inclusive cruises, consider booking these excursions through a third party rather than RC. These lines include some trips in the cruise fare, providing free drinks, gratuities, and speciality dining. Self-guided tours can also save money, especially if you’re not familiar with the ship’s tours. When booking with other suppliers prior to going, you may save between 15-30%.

Booking must-do tours as early as possible and consider how much time will be spent in transit. Compare free tours and make sure to make it back to the ship on time. The most important thing to ensure a successful shore excursion is to make it back to the ship on time and look forward to enjoying the experience.

In this blog post, the author shares tips and strategies for planning successful and stress-free independent shore excursions. By booking with the cruise line, using shore excursion brokers, booking in advance, taking the bus, staying onboard, and exploring alternative tour options, cruise lines can help you save money on cruise excursions and make the most of your time on the ship.

Is it cheaper to buy shore excursions on the ship?

Cruise line shore excursions can be more expensive than comparable or identical alternatives. For instance, booking a shore excursion to a resort with a waterpark in the Bahamas through the cruise line is $19 cheaper per person than booking it directly through the resort itself. However, booking directly or through a third party can be easier on personal finances.

There are several advantages of booking shore excursions through the cruise line. There are often dozens of options listed for each port, making it time-consuming to research options. Cruise line excursions are designed to fit into your time in port, and the tour operator typically meets you upon arrival and provides transportation.

Seashore excursions sold through the cruise line are designed to get you back to the ship well before it leaves. However, if you are running late, the cruise line will either get you back to the ship on time or wait for you. Cruise lines also carefully select which excursion operators they are willing to do business with, as some foreign countries may have different safety standards than the United States.

What are the disadvantages of shore excursions?

Cruise line excursions offer advantages such as traveling with a group of passengers and comparing notes with fellow shipmates. They are also reputable and licensed, unlike independent tours. However, downsides include potential long lines, crowded buses, and long stops at souvenir shops. Port tours can range from free on cruise lines like Viking, Crystal, and Uniworld to over $100 per person for higher-priced options like golf, helicopter rides, seaplane rides, and visits to ancient ruins.

Some lines even offer overnight excursions to swanky hotels or private limo tours. Traditional shore excursions are worth it for exploring sites far from the cruise dock, accessing historic monuments, forts, or castles, and learning more about a region.

What are the disadvantages of shore excursion?

Cruise line excursions offer advantages such as traveling with a group of passengers and comparing notes with fellow shipmates. They are also reputable and licensed, unlike independent tours. However, downsides include potential long lines, crowded buses, and long stops at souvenir shops. Port tours can range from free on cruise lines like Viking, Crystal, and Uniworld to over $100 per person for higher-priced options like golf, helicopter rides, seaplane rides, and visits to ancient ruins.

Some lines even offer overnight excursions to swanky hotels or private limo tours. Traditional shore excursions are worth it for exploring sites far from the cruise dock, accessing historic monuments, forts, or castles, and learning more about a region.

Can I leave the cruise ship without an excursion?

Carnival does not require passengers to book shore excursions to leave the ship, as public transportation is available at each port. Instead, passengers can visit local libraries, bookstores, or websites to determine their desired destinations. Carnival does not offer alternatives from its established shore excursion program, but all excursions sold through Carnival are coordinated with reputable tour operators and include popular sites.

Booking excursions through Carnival guarantees the ship’s presence in port until all guests return, while independent excursions may not be recognized. Additionally, some ports may have visa requirements that may prevent passengers from venturing off on their own.

How do you save on cruise shore excursions?

All-inclusive cruises offer a cost-effective way to explore various port destinations without the need to make your own way. These cruise lines include cruise excursions within the overall holiday cost, providing free drinks, gratuities, and speciality dining. Some of the most popular all-inclusive cruise lines include Regent Seven Seas, Hebridean Island Cruises, Swan Hellenic, and Silversea. Regent Seven Seas is the most comprehensive all-inclusive line, offering numerous complimentary trips to enhance your stay in port.

Additionally, guests can upgrade to more unique or longer days out, with most choosing the complimentary options due to their excellent choices and standards. While the initial price may be higher, it’s worth considering the amount included before making any decisions.

Should I buy cruise excursions in advance?

Starting your search for the perfect shore excursion for your party is recommended as it ensures guaranteed seats and prevents last-minute trouble. Booking with us allows you to cancel any tour up to 7 days before the tour date, making it easy and hassle-free. We aim to offer availability for tours for the following cruise season as early as October the previous year and keep our website updated with availability year-round.

If you have any questions or need assistance, our customer service reps can be contacted via phone, email, or chat on our website. Start booking your tours now to relax and focus on other aspects of planning your vacation.

How to find the best shore excursions?

Ben Souza, editor of Cruise Fever, shares his experiences with unforgettable shore excursions. He recommends booking excursions early, sticking with cruise lines on complicated outings, researching tour options before the cruise, looking outside the terminal for better prices, asking locals for recommendations, and giving yourself at least an hour for the return. He shares his experiences with an elephant sanctuary and a ratty Bahamas resort on a Caribbean voyage, which he wishes could be erased from his memory. Souza has sailed on 75 ships with 18 cruise lines and wishes he could have left and gone to a better place to relax.

How to get lower price on cruise?

Christopher Festerman, a senior travel professional for CruisesOnly, offers seven tips for finding the best cruise deals. He suggests booking early for special needs or large parties, waiting for last-minute deals, not assuming an interior stateroom is the best deal, and booking shore excursions from outside vendors. He also advises not to assume that onboard drinks and Wi-Fi packages are worth the price, as prices may drop after paying for the trip. Festerman suggests that these tips can help you make the most of your cruise experience and find the best deals.

Are shore excursions worth it?

Shore excursions are a great way to make the most of your time in port, but a mix of guided tours and independent exploration can be the most value. Choose the best option based on your budget and interests, and consider both ship-sponsored and independent tour and activity options. If you want to stay on board while your ship is docked in a port that doesn’t interest you, that’s okay. There are several guides to choosing a cruise line, including the 5 most desirable cabin locations, the 8 worst cabin locations, the ultimate guide to packing, the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks, top ways cruisers waste money, and the ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin.

Why are shore excursions so expensive?

Ship-sponsored tours are often more expensive than directly offered tours through the operator, as the cruise line serves as the middleman and inflates fees to take a cut before paying the tour company. Independent tours take smaller groups, allowing for more personalized experiences. When booking a private tour, you may be one of fewer than 20 people, compared to the smaller group sizes of third-party tours. Therefore, it’s essential to choose the right tour option for your travel needs.

How to get discounts on cruise excursions?

Popular excursions and limited-participant tours often sell out before cruise ship boarding, so it’s recommended to book online as early as possible. Many cruise lines offer discounts for pre-purchased tours. However, read tour cancellation policies carefully and note that onboard credit cannot be used for tours booked before sailing. Join TPG’s readers for breaking news, in-depth guides, and exclusive deals. Sign up for newsletters, promotional content, and agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe at any time.