How To Plan Your Royal Caribbean Cruise’S Excursions?

Royal Caribbean offers a variety of shore excursions to help guests immerse themselves in each port they visit. These include land tours, Europe excursions, private tours for small groups, exclusive shore trips, snorkel and scuba excursions, and more. Guests can view available shore excursions on the Royal Caribbean website or MyRoyal Cruise. They can also purchase excursions before embarkation day by visiting MyRoyal Cruise.

To maximize their Royal Caribbean cruise experience, it is recommended to register your cruise on Royal Caribbean’s My Cruises section and visit the Cruise Planner. CruiseCompete links you to third-party shore excursion providers, providing access to premium shore excursions from your Royal Caribbean International cruise.

Embarkation and disembarking the Royal Caribbean cruise ship is an important part of the experience, and these tips can make it easier. Guests can book shore excursions by visiting the Shore Excursion desk onboard during their cruise or purchasing them on MyRoyal Cruise.

There are many beach and water-related excursions available on TripAdvisor, which are generally cheaper and of better quality. It is not mandatory to book a shore excursion while on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as guests are free to explore ports of call on their own. Some excursions may sell out in advance of the sail date, so guests should book when they become available.

Can you do your own excursions on Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean offers various excursions, including adventure tours such as horseback riding, mountain biking, parasailing, rain forest hiking, and 4×4 off-roading. Guests can book a shore excursion by visiting the Shore Excursion desk onboard during their cruise or purchasing them before they cruise. However, they are not obligated to touch, move, or remove any marine life. If a tour allows feeding, it will be communicated in the tour briefing. Guests can also purchase excursions through MyRoyal Cruise. Guests are advised to return to the ship prior to sailing.

Are cruise ship excursions worth the money?

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.

Can you do a cruise without excursions?

Most ports of call don’t require a shore excursion to explore, but some destinations may require a shore excursion or independently operated guided tour due to difficulty in navigation or undeveloped tourism infrastructure. To stay updated, join over 700, 000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides, and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts. By signing up, you agree to Terms of Use and acknowledge data practices in their Privacy Policy, and can unsubscribe at any time.

Is it cheaper to book excursions before a cruise?

Cruise lines typically charge the same prices for shore excursions booked online and on board, or offer discounts for tours purchased in advance. Royal Caribbean often offers up to 30 off select tours reserved ahead of sailing. It is best practice to tip tour guides at the end of the tour, except if tips are included in the price or if visiting a non-tipping culture where offering cash would be awkward.

Do I need cash for cruise excursions?

CruiseInsider offers extra perks and additional shipboard credit on most sailings, with the amount varying by cruise line, special offer, stateroom category, or itinerary. Cash is typically needed in port, especially in foreign ports, to save money on foreign transaction fees and in places where credit cards aren’t accepted. To reduce cash requirements and maintain a good record of purchases, it is recommended to pay for onshore purchases over $10 with a credit card and use pocket change or local currency for the rest.

Cash is needed for sweets, sodas, souvenirs, street vendors, and small mom-and-pop shops. Large cities like Rome or Barcelona can use plastic in most cases. When budgeting, consider the overall itinerary and prioritize your priorities when budgeting money.

Does Royal Caribbean have free excursions?

Passengers are at liberty to explore the ports of call at their own discretion and are not obliged to reserve shore excursions. Passengers will be informed of the time at which they are required to proceed to their cabins, which is typically 30 minutes prior to departure. It is recommended that this time be verified on board and posted in a prominent location near the ship’s gangway. The vessel will not delay its departure from the port of call in anticipation of the arrival of all passengers.

Can you book excursions through the Royal Caribbean app?

Before your cruise, you can purchase internet and beverage packages, spa services, specialty dining and shore excursion reservations, and schedule your My Time dining seating times. Onboard, you can modify or purchase an internet package, book specialty dining and shore excursion reservations, and schedule your My Time dining seating times. For a smooth departure day, you can schedule your departure time, luggage, and transportation requests in the app, receiving notifications leading up to your departure time.

How do you get excursions on a cruise?

Cruise passengers can book shore excursions either directly through the cruise line or with independent tour operators based at the port. Cruise lines have teams dedicated to selecting high-quality shore excursions, but they may add markups to their offerings. The main benefit of booking directly through the cruise line is convenience, as cruise line-offered excursions are charged directly to shipboard accounts, can be changed or canceled up to a day prior, and offer a seamless experience. Passengers are escorted off the ship when the excursion is ready to depart, and tour leaders on shore maintain contact with the shore excursion team onboard to communicate any changes or delays.

Is it cheaper to book excursions on the ship?

Cruise lines typically charge the same prices for shore excursions booked online and on board, or offer discounts for tours purchased in advance. Royal Caribbean often offers up to 30 off select tours reserved ahead of sailing. It is best practice to tip tour guides at the end of the tour, except if tips are included in the price or if visiting a non-tipping culture where offering cash would be awkward.

How to book cruise excursion?

Shore excursions can be purchased through the cruise line, either through the website, phone, or onboard the ship at the shore excursions desk. Cruise ships ensure that guests on excursions booked through the line are not left behind, unlike independent operators who may be left behind if their tour group arrives late. Booking an excursion through the cruise line is simple, and if not done before the cruise, passengers can walk up to the shore excursions desk for confirmation.

However, line-bought excursions are more expensive due to the line’s commission and large groups, making tours slow and cumbersome. Lines are aware of their convenience and “ship-won’t-leave” guarantee, so they have little incentive to price them competitively or offer a superior experience.

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.