are cruise ship shore excursions worth it

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Cruise Shore Excursions: Are They Worth It?

I t’s very easy to cruise for cheap. Cruise lines always have good deals available, especially when it comes to transatlantic crossings or repositioning cruises . But if you want to keep your cruise affordable, you have to watch for all the extras that are on offer, and often pushed on you during a sailing: drinks package, spa access, preventive sea sickness treatments, specialty dining, and shore excursions.

While cruise shore excursions can be booked on board the ship, I, a keen cruiser, recommend that you book them at home prior to your trip. No matter the destinations, there is usually a very long list of possible excursions to choose from, all of varying length and prices (although rarely under $100 each), and you don’t want to book anything without taking a good, long look at all the options first (and their reviews, if available).

When looking into cruise excursions, you should consider the following five questions:

Won’t I miss out if I don’t book shore excursions?

The short answer, which comes from experience, is no. I have gone on cruises during which I had excursions booked for every port call and it was utterly exhausting and gave me no time to explore on my own. I have circumnavigated Iceland on a cruise ship , a trip during which we stopped at very small towns, far away from the big attractions, and booked no excursions at all and it was the right decision. It allowed me the freedom to go at my own pace without anyone else around, find hiking trails and lovely areas where no group excursions would have taken me, and come back on board the ship whenever I felt like it. It is very important to find a good balance between shore excursions and free time, not only for your wallet, but also for your enjoyment.

Is this shore excursion a good use of my time at this destination?

Crowds on Mount Etna in Sicily. Photo: Dirk M. de Boer /Shutterstock

While one of the biggest trends in the cruising industry is to make longer port calls, sometimes even staying overnight, it’s still pretty common for ships to stay at one destination for only eight or nine hours, arriving early morning and leaving before dinner. With such a short amount of time, you’ll want to be careful about booking an excursion that will take up most of your day on land. Booking a lengthy shore excursion often means that you won’t be able to spend much, or even any, time exploring the destination on your own, going into local shops, visiting attractions, wandering the streets to look at the architecture, stopping in a small cafe, etc.

Before we boarded on a Mediterranean cruise with Oceania , my partner and I booked an excursion for the day we were going to spend docked in Messina, Sicily. We chose to book a 4×4 expedition of Mount Etna which would take 7.5 hours and cost nearly $500 each. We imagined it would be the chance of a lifetime to go see volcano craters up close accompanied by a professional guide who would share their knowledge with us. While we could not anticipate that the guide would be a disappointment, if we had done a little more research, we would have known that the place would be commercialized ad-nauseam and extremely crowded, making the experience unenjoyable. Also, we should have foreseen that the excursion was going to leave us with no time to visit Messina at all. All in all, we saw nearly nothing of Sicily and life on the island, which we regretted immensely.

Unless you have done prior research and are confident you’ll have a good experience, or you want to fulfill a lifelong dream, book an excursion that will take less than half your time at the destination, or one that will allow you to wander around at your leisure a little. A professionally guided tour of a city, stopping to visit or look at major attractions, but leaving you time to grab a snack from a street food vendor, is a good option if you’re able to walk for a couple of hours.

Is this shore excursion weather-dependent and what will I do if it gets canceled?

If you’re booking a weather-dependent shore excursion, you need to think of a back-up in case it gets canceled. This is especially true if you are cruising around Alaska, where a lot of the shore excursions on offer involve outdoors activities like whale watching, fishing, hiking around Mendenhall Glacier, kayaking, helicopter rides, etc. and the rain and fog can easily wreck the best laid plans.

Research the destination prior to your cruise, ask an AI travel assistant like GuideGeek , or have a guidebook handy so you can quickly adapt and find the best things to do at your destination and don’t waste your entire day. If the place is tiny and has very few things to do (like in Skagway, Alaska, for example), you can book a different excursion by visiting the appropriate desk on board.

During my 2022 cruise in Alaska with Holland America , the Tlingit-style canoe paddle across Mendenhall Lake that I had booked got canceled because of heavy rain and fog, and so did my partner’s salmon fishing expedition. The ship was docked very close to the center of Juneau, so we grabbed the paper map of the city provided by the cruise staff, donned our waterproof clothing and footwear, and went to explore the city for a few hours. We discovered great little shops and art galleries where we got to chat with locals, visited a tiny Russian Orthodox church, and generally wandered around to get a feel of the place. We had a blast and, while we were drenched, made the best out of a day that could have been disastrous. Of course, our shore excursions were refunded and that left us with unexpected money to spend elsewhere.

That said, don’t be discouraged to book an outdoorsy excursion when in Alaska or anywhere else where the weather can change very quickly. When the climate cooperates, those activities are fantastic.

Does this shore excursion require a lot of travel time?

The archeological site of Ephesus. Photo: Boat Rungchamrussopa /Shutterstock

A lot of shore excursions require spending many hours on buses with dozens of other passengers. That is true for cruise ships that dock in Civitavecchia, Italy, the port associated with Rome but which is about one hour by bus from the city. The same goes for ships that dock in Cadiz, Spain, from where many excursions go to Seville (1.5 hours one way), or Malaga, Spain, from where excursion take you to visit Granada and the Alhambra (two hours one way), among many other docking ports around the world. Hours spent on a bus getting to the location of your shore excursion usually mean three things:

• An early departure from the ship
• Limited amount of time on site, and sometimes a rushed visit.
• Very little time in the city where you docked, some of which like Cadiz and Malaga, are very much worth visiting.

Look carefully at the description of the shore excursion and make good use of Google maps to determine how long you’ll have to travel by bus from the ship to the location of your shore excursion, and how long you’ll have on site. It should help you make an informed decision.

My experience booking a shore excursion to Mount Etna from Messina, Sicily, is a good example of time poorly spent. While the excursion was 7.5-hour long, it included four hours spent zig zagging around in a bus without bathroom or snack breaks, and over one hour in a pre-arranged restaurant, leaving us with less than 2.5 hours on site. However, my experience visiting the stunning archeological site of Ephesus in Türkiye, which required a total of two hours on board a bus from and to the town of Izmir was worth the traveling time and money. A knowledgeable guide and plenty of time spent on site, including leisure time, made for money and time well spent.

Can I do it on my own for cheaper and the same amount of effort?

Once again, once you have selected a few cruise excursions you’d like to book, take the time to research how much it would cost, and how easy it would be if you organize them yourself.

The first question should be: Is the activity or attraction far from where the ship will dock? If you can walk there or take reliable public transportation, that’s a win. If you need to rent a vehicle for the day, the price may be higher than booking a shore excursion with the cruise line. And if the only way to get there is public transport in which you have little faith, abandon the idea immediately. Missing the ship’s departure will cost you big.

Once you’ve looked into the transportation options, examine the cost of the activity and attraction if you were to do it individually rather than in a group setting. It might be cheaper, but make sure that it’s cheap enough to be worth the hassle of organizing it yourself.

One thing for sure is that if your ship docks close to a city center, do not book a Hop On Hop Off bus tour via the cruise line. You’ll pay much less purchasing it yourself, and chances are there’s a stop nearby from where you can board the bus. I booked a Hop On Hop Off bus tour via a cruise line both in Naples and Rome and would not recommend it for those who are able-bodied enough to get to a stop, internet-savvy enough to book a ticket online, and have some sort of sense of direction.

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Are shore excursions worth it?

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Short answer: it depends. For a longer answer, read on.

When you arrive at a port of call on your cruise itinerary, you have two options for exploring your destination. The first is via a shore excursion which is planned and organised by the ship (I’m going to call these ‘ship’s shore excursions’) and the other option is to, well, just do it yourself and explore independently. To make things simple, I’m going to call everything that it not a ships shore excursion ‘independent travel’.

So what are the advantages of booking a ship’s shore excursion?

YOU WON’T MISS YOUR SHIP

Perhaps the most important advantage is that no matter how late your excursion gets back to the ship, (because of unforeseen delays for example) if you are on a ship’s shore excursion, the ship has to wait for you.

This is particularly important when visiting destinations that are prone to extensive traffic delays or last-minute public transport strikes and destinations which are quite a distance from the port itself (such as Rome from Civitavecchia, Florence from Livorno).

Exploring your port of call on a ship’s shore excursion can give you real peace of mind when you’re out exploring for the day and you can relax – which is what’s holiday is all about isn’t it?

YOU WON’T *WORRY* ABOUT MISSING YOUR SHIP

Linked to this is you don’t need to worry about what time you need to be back on ship as everything is taken of your hands and you can just sit back and relax and enjoy the sights.

YOU’LL SEE THE MAIN SIGHTS WITH A READY-MADE ITINERARY

If you have never visited a port before, then the ships shore excursion can be a really good way of seeing the all main sites within the time you have available in port – plus you won’t have to worry about what time you need to be heading back to the ship or worrying about getting lost – your itinerary is all planned out for you.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE GETTING

Your cruise operator will usually provide a summary of each shore excursion in a fairly standardised format to help you decide which shore excursion is best for you. This will usually indicate the amount of walking and level of activity involved, the type of terrain, any age restrictions or minimum levels of fitness required. This is particularly useful you are travelling with are children in pushchairs or for wheelchair users and passengers with any mobility restrictions.

YOU GET TRIED AND TESTED TOURS

The shore excursions organised by your cruise operator tend to be ones that have proved popular and successful in the past, based on passenger feedback and comments. So you can usually rely on the ship’s shore excursions to cover the most important and popular destinations.

THERE IS SOMETHING TO SUIT ALL TASTES

There tends to be a good variety of ship’s shore excursions available to appeal to all tastes; so, you’ll find anything from cultural insights to high adrenaline activities, wine tasting and food-oriented excursions to scenic routes which are a feast for the eyes. There’s lots to choose from.

CANCELLATION REFUNDS ARE DEALT WITH AUTOMATICALLY

If your ship does not call at a port, and you are booked on a ship’s shore excursion (which is cancelled as a result), then your cruise operator will refund you the full cost of your shore excursion automatically without hassle.

For example, ports like Monaco and St Peter Port (for Guernsey) tend to be a bit hit and miss. These tender ports have sea conditions which can change quite dramatically on the same day. Depending on the level of swell it might not always be safe to tender and you won’t be able to get off the ship to explore your port. So you might want to consider booking onto a ship’s shore excursion for these particular ports as opposed to organising independent travel; if your port is cancelled, you haven’t lost anything and don’t have to worry about claiming on your travel insurance (if you have taken out missed port cover) when you get back home.

YOU GET PRIORITY DISEMBARKATION

The ship’s shore excursions tend to have priority for getting off the ship (especially early morning excursions and those which require tenders to get to shore) so if you want to explore independently you may have to wait for the ships shore excursions to disembark first.

For some ports you will find your cruise operator offers an ‘on your own ‘ shore excursion option which is basically just a coach transfer to your destination where you have either a whole day or half a day to explore on your own before meeting at and agreed location to catch the coach back to the ship.

This option is particularly good for ports you may have visited before, offering you the flexibility to explore at your own pace and follow your own itinerary but with the peace of mind that you will get back onto the ship in time. Plus you get priority disembarkation. I’ve often done this in Florence and Rome for these exact reasons.

YOU GET A DISCOUNT (DEPENDING ON YOUR LOYALTY TIER)

Don’t forget that if you book a ship’s shore excursion, any loyalty discount you may have is applied to the cost of your excursion (for example on P&O this could be anything between 5-10% depending on your loyalty tier). So when you are comparing prices with other independent tour operators don’t forget to take this into account.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU’RE ON BOARD TO BOOK

About 12 weeks before your cruise is set to depart, you might find shore excursions ready to book online via your cruise personaliser (on P&O cruises). So, you can scroll through and make your plans well in advance of boarding. This can often help with budgeting for your holiday as you will pay upfront before you leave instead of the cost of the excursions adding to your final on board bill at the end of your cruise.

AND THE DISADVANTAGES?

Rather than disadvantages these are just some things to think about before you book on a ships shore excursion;

THEY TEND TO COST MORE

Ships shore excursions tend to be slightly more expensive than an equivalent or identical shore excursion that you might find available through an independent tour operator or by doing it yourself. So if you’re on a budget and want to do a shore excursion at each port the costs can really rack up if you book all your shore excursions through your cruise operator.

Most tour operators will visit exactly the same places as a ships shore excursion and will often offer a more competitive price. Some will also offer a ‘delay guarantee’ so if you are delayed and you can’t make it back to the ship in time before it leaves port, your tour operator will guarantee to get you to your next port of call at their cost – but remember to check whether this is something they offer and also check the terms and conditions thoroughly before booking.

YOU NEED TO BE QUICK NOT TO MISS OUT

You’ll find that some of the more popular ships shore excursions tend to book up quite fast and sometimes sell-out months before your cruise starts (The Flam Railway or the return train to the Vatican City in particular) so if you’ve got a particular destination or specific excursion in mind which you don’t want to miss out on, then you need to book early rather than leaving it until you board your ship- especially if you are on a larger ship or if there are a few big cruise ships in port on the same day.

YOU WILL HAVE TO QUEUE AND SHARE THE VIEW

You’ll usually be on a shore excursion with up to another 49 passengers. The same 49 passengers who want same photo opportunity in exactly the same spot as you within the same 15-30 minutes you have for a particular photo stop. There will also be queues to get on and off the coach and the same goes for any refreshment or comfort stops on the way too. So bear this in mind. This may also happen if you book on some larger independent tours too so keep this in mind.

YOU WON’T BE THE ONLY SHIP VISITING THE MAIN SITES

If there are other ships in port on the same day, they will probably be operating similar shore excursions leaving at similar times, visiting the same stops at the same time as your ship’s shore excursion. As you are tied to similar itineraries, you might find that it gets quite busy at popular stops or destinations.

By visiting on your own you can sometimes head off to the busiest stops early before the masses descend. We did this recently in Bergen and managed to visit both the Mount Floyen Funicular AND the Magic Ice Bar before our ships organised shore excursions arrived at each.

YOU MIGHT NOT NEED A SHIP’S SHORE EXCURSION AT ALL

You might want to check out which destinations on your itinerary allow you to walk off the ship directly. These ports will be relatively easy to explore on your own. At such ports you’ll usually find hop on hop off buses (sometimes referred to as HOHOs) which pickup and drop-off at the cruise terminal and can be a really inexpensive way to see the highlights of your destination; most will also give you an indication of how long the whole route takes without stepping off the bus and most are accessible – you can check itineraries (and book in advance) on their website.

YOU PREFER EXPLORING LIKE A LOCAL

If you like time to explore on your own and away from the crowds and you enjoy discovering those smaller, secluded bars and cafes (where you’ll usually find the locals retreating to when the cruise ships are in port), then exploring independently might be a better and cheaper option than a ship’s shore excursion – especially if you are confident in your ability to find your way back to the ship in time.

YOU KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND

If you’ve been to a port or destination many times before you might already know your way around (you’re almost a local!) so the ships shore excursions on offer might have covered everything you’ve seen on your previous visits and perhaps don’t fancy visiting again. Opting to explore independently, venturing further afield or even staying on ship might be a better option in such cases.

YOU ARE TIED TO THE SHIP’S SHORE EXCURSION ITINERARY

Ships shore excursions are on a predefined and quite tight itinerary. So if early morning starts don’t fill you with glee or you don’t like feeling you’re on a school trip then a small group option might be worth it. I’ve seen this ‘small group’ option start to creep into the shore excursion offerings on the bigger ships but again, they tend to be more expensive than booking independently.

FLEXIBILITY AND CUSTOMISATION IS RARE OR NOT AN OPTION

Ships operate their shore excursions on a volume basis with little or no room to customise a tour. Smaller, independent tours by comparison tend to be more flexible in terms of the time spent at different attractions or destinations and your tour guide will be able to offer you much more flexibility and customisation during your excursion – in fact the better ones will do this as a matter of course.

So, if you like the option to tailor your shore excursions throughout the day then and independent arranged smaller tour might be a good alternative. While some P&O shore excursions now include a bespoke option, independent tour operators might still provide you with greater variety at a more competitive price so it’s worth shopping around and comparing prices.

WHAT I DO…

When I’m on a cruise, I tend to mix it up with a combination of ship’s shore excursions and independent travel. I usually make my decision based on a bit of ‘port research’ beforehand. The great thing is there is a lot of choice available whatever you opt for. I hope you’ve found this guide useful and happy exploring!

You might be interested in taking a look at some of the shore excursions I’ve visited, and if you prefer watching videos instead then my you tube channel is the place for you.

Follow me on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to my YouTube Channel   to keep up to date with more cruise content and cruise tips.

Steph is the founder of Cruise with Amber. She been cruising since 2005 and spent over 100 nights at sea. She is a Mum, Wife, Chartered Psychologist, business owner, exceptionally bad surfer, artist and cruise blogger. 

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Cruise shore excursions - are they worth it.

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Cruise Shore Excursions – Are They Worth It?

At Travel Routes we love cruise holidays, and many of our Travel Specialists even enjoy their own cruise holidays as well. One of the things we are asked about most is the cruise-line organised excursions, and whether they are worth doing. So, we have gathered together 5 reasons why we think they make a great addition to your cruise holiday, and 4 things to watch out for:

The Positives

The following 5 points are reasons we think cruise shore excursions will make a great addition to your cruise holiday;

+ Great Choice of Things to Do

Cruise lines take their selection of cruise excursions very seriously, as they know that what you do off the ship is just as important as what you do on it, and great shore excursions can make or break a cruise. This means that they have teams of people working with all the local companies, operators and suppliers in all their destinations in order to make sure their selection of cruise excursions is the very best it can be. At every port of call in your cruise, you will normally find multiple different options of things to do, which will cater for almost everyone. From easy-going local walking tours to heading off for full-day excursions into the mountains or jungle, there is almost certainly going to be something to cater to your needs or preferences.

+ Tried and Tested

Because most of the cruise lines will have been serving the ports you visit for a number of years, they have had plenty of time to refine their excursions and programmes so as to ensure that their excursions are as good as they can possibly be, and that they make a worthwhile addition to your holiday. This means you can usually be assured that the excursion will be delivered exactly as described, you'll have good-quality vehicles and guides assigned to you, and that you have the cruise line's quality assurance. 

+ Variety of Budgets

All cruise lines will offer a shore-excursions programme to cover a range of different budgets at every port of call. This means you don’t have to spend a fortune on shore excursions if you don’t want to. In general, we find that shore excursions will start from around US$40 per person for a light half-day tour, and will go up to as much as you want to spend! At the top end of the market you will find some super special experiences, such as an Alaskan float plane flight followed by a salmon bake in a lodge, or a private dinner at a viewpoint over the Acropolis! Many of the more luxury cruise lines will also be able to offer completely tailor-made experiences, so you can do exactly what you want.

Without a doubt, taking a cruise-line organised shore excursion is the easiest option. You will be looked after from the minute you leave the ship until the minute you return. You won't have to work out how to navigate local transport, haggle with local guides or tour companies without knowing if the excursion will be any good, queue for hours for popular tourist attractions, or risk missing out on things you want to do. The cruise lines make their shore excursions nice and easy!

+ You Won’t Miss the Ship!

All cruise-line shore excursions are guaranteed to make it back to the ship in time for its departure from port. So you will never need to worry about time or getting lost when you are on a cruise-line shore excursion. If the excursion is late back to the ship, the ship has to wait for you!

Things to Watch Out For

The following 4 points are things to look out for when considering cruise shore excursions;

- You Can Always Do Your Own Thing

Of course, it's worth mentioning that you don’t have to take any cruise line shore excursions. You are always welcome to step off the ship and explore any of the destinations yourself. You can simply walk off the ship for a wander around the local area, jump in a taxi to explore further afield, or often negotiate with a local tour company at the port to go and see whatever you want! However, as mentioned above – if you do your own thing, you need to make sure you are back in time for departure, as the ship won't wait for late passengers who are not taking the cruise-line organised shore excursions! If you miss the ship, then you will also be responsible for the cost of travelling on to the next place where you can re-join the ship! 

It is fair to say that while cruise-line shore excursions do cater for a variety of budgets, cruise lines do generally charge a bit of a premium for the excursions they offer. It is normally possible to do the same activities they offer by yourself, and save a little bit of money. However, as mentioned, by doing the cruise-organised excursions you are also paying for their quality assurance, the ease, and the guarantee of being looked after throughout, including being returned to the ship on time. Personally, we think this makes the extra premium worth it most of the time!

- Book in Advance

The best shore excursions do sell out, so make sure that you book those you want to do in advance so as to not miss them! Most cruise lines will offer their shore excursions in advance of the cruise via some sort of online portal. At Travel Routes we think it’s well worth taking some time to look through the shore excursions as early as you can. This way, you can at least get booked on to the ones you'll definitely want to do, and make sure you won't miss out! Shore excursions can of course also be booked once you are on-board too, but generally we think you'll want to spend your time on-board enjoying your holiday rather than standing in line waiting to book shore excursions!

- Numbers of People

The number of people you will share a shore excursion with does vary by cruise line, and also by excursion. As you would expect, the numbers on the smaller and more boutique cruise lines will be less and as a general rule the more expensive tours will also attract less people too. However, if you are taking a cheaper shore excursion with a large cruise line, then do expect to be sharing your excursion with plenty of people. It normally makes for a nice sociable atmosphere and is a great chance to meet your fellow passengers, but it's not ideal if you were looking to spend some romantic time just the two of you!

Please note some of the information contained within our cruise guide may differ once cruising resumes in the wake of Covid-19.

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Cruise Shore Excursions – Are They Worth It? Inspiration

Relevant pages.

• Cruise Shore Excursions – Are They Worth It?
• Which is the Best Place to Have a Cabin on a Cruise Ship
• What Do I Need to Do Before My Cruise?
• Top 10 Questions About Taking A Cruise
• Our Top 5 Favourite Things About Cruise Holidays
• Top 6 Favourite Things About Celebrity Cruises
• What Happens on Disembarkation Day?
• What Happens On Embarkation Day?

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Shore Excursion Tips You Want to Know Before You Cruise (Booking, Tipping, & More)

Take a cruise and you’re likely looking forward to the port of calls. To be honest, however, the amount of time spent in port is relatively little compared to what is spent on the ship. That means you want to be able to make the most of the time in port you do have.

Enter shore excursions . These are pre-planned tours that you can purchase before your day in port. With one convenient purchase, everything is planned for you, and you get the opportunity to have an experience you just can’t do back home. At the end of your cruise, your excursions very well could be what you remember most about your vacation.

Before you book — especially if you’re a first-time cruiser — there are some things you’ll want to know about these excursions that you may not be familiar with. The following tips can give you a better idea of how to make the most of your adventure.

Not Sure What to Book? Talk to the Professionals

Any cruise line you sail will have a shore excursion desk. This is where you can meet with staff to purchase tickets, but you can also ask them any questions you might have. The staff members here specialize in excursions , and have often done many of them personally. They can speak to exactly what to expect.

If you have questions about a specific excursion or simply want to talk to someone about your options and figure out which is best for you, then be sure to take advantage. You’ll find the open hours for the shore excursion desk in the daily planner for your cruise or just stop by when you pass it walking around the ship.

Book Early for the Most Options

Like anything popular, there can be sell-outs for some of the most interesting shore excursions. If there is something that you have your heart set on doing, then don’t wait to book. The last thing you want is to be excited about a tour and then see that all the spots are filled.

The good news is that if something is sold out early enough then the cruise line can sometimes work with the tour company to add more capacity. Even so, we wouldn’t count on it. Book as early as you can to ensure your spot.

Book Early for Discounts

Another reason to book early? Sometimes you can get a deal on the excursion as well. Cruise lines love to offer discounts on everything from excursions to drink packages if you book them before you get on the ship. The reason is that passengers who book ahead of time usually end up spending more overall on their cruise as the money spent weeks or months before the vacation is “forgotten” by the time they board.

Even so, it’s hard to pass up a deal when you see it. Discounts will vary, but many times it’s easy to save 10% just by booking before the cruise instead of onboard.

Keep an Eye on What’s Available up to the Last Minute

So say that you have your heart set on one excursion and it’s sold out. You might be out of luck, but we’d suggest based on personal experience to keep checking regularly if there is an opening… right up until the tour’s start time.

Cruise lines offer apps where you can explore and book excursions. If they are booked up, they will show as unavailable. We’ve noticed that sometimes you can check and spots will open up, whether due to cancellations or more capacity being added. In fact, on one trip we were able to snag an open spot on a previously sold-out excursion just 45 minutes before the start time.

Tip Your Tour Guide

Tips and gratuities are common in the tourism industry and that’s no different on a cruise. You’re expected to pay a daily gratuity charge on the ship , you’ll see an extra charge for any drinks you buy onboard or spa packages, and yes, you should also tip your tour guide on the excursion.

At the end of the tour as you’re arriving back at the ship, there will usually be a little “wrap up ” speech from the guide. They will thank you for coming, ask you to review them positively if you enjoyed the day, and also mention that tips are appreciated. In general we like to tip between $10-20, depending on how many people are in our group.

Factor in Price Per Hour

How do you know if you’re getting a good deal on an excursion? One way is to consider the price per hour on the trip. When exploring excursions, you’ll see the price but also the approximate time of the tour. That means you can see how much you’re paying per hour.

It’s not the end-all, be-all of what’s a deal. After all, a one hour jet-boat ride is likely to be more expensive than a three-hour trip to a beach. Still, if you want to get the most value, then figuring out how long of a tour you’ll get compared to what you’ll pay is a good metric. Just be sure you’re factoring in the uniqueness and any other extras (food, drinks, etc.) and don’t just pick solely based on this metric.

Limit to One Port to Save

If money were no object, then having a shore excursion booked for every port would be ideal. But the prices can quickly add up. Consider two people booking a $100 per person excursion in three different ports on the cruise. That’s $600 in tours. For some people, that’s no problem. For others, it’s a bit rich.

Our advice? We always suggest booking at least one excursion on a cruise as they are definite highlights of the trip. But more than that should be at your discretion. Don’t want to spend the money? Then it’s fine to do something else in port. Don’t mind the extra cost? Then by all means book more tours.

Consider Ages and Exertion Levels

Each shore excursion description will mention some things like age suggestions (or sometimes age requirements) and exertion levels.

If you have mobility issues or are traveling with small kids, you want to pay attention to these notices, which sometimes can be harder to find depending on where you look. The last thing you want to do is book an excursion that you’re excited about only to find that it’s something more than you — or someone you’re traveling with — can handle.

If you have any doubt, it’s a good idea to check with the shore excursion desk. They can give you an opinion on how strenuous or age appropriate specific tours will be.

Look For Things You Can’t Do in Other Ports

One of our favorite things about excursions is that they give you the ability to do things you just can’t do back home. While you can swim in cenotes in Mexico, you can’t do that in Missouri. Take advantage.

This includes things that you might do somewhere else on your cruise. For example, if you’re sailing to a cruise line’s private island where you can spend all day on the beach for free, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to book a beach-focused excursion the day before for a charge.

Factor in Transportation, Food, and Drink

All excursions will include your transportation to and from the cruise ship. Some — especially beach-focused trips in the Caribbean — will also include things like food and free drinks during the trip.

When you gauge the value of these tours, you definitely want to factor in these costs to compare the tour versus a day on your own. For instance, if you’re paying $70 for an excursion that includes a trip to the beach with food and drink, it could be that you’re paying only a fraction of that for the actual tour portion given the costs you’d have to pay anyway to eat and get back and forth.

You Can Switch or Refund Tours

If worries about changing your mind are keeping you from snagging a spot on a tour, don’t let that hinder you. Cruise lines are actually fairly lenient on switching or canceling excursions.

If you decide you change your mind on a particular tour, then just cancel it or you can talk to the excursion desk to switch things over to another excursion.

For example, Royal Caribbean says on its website that “ excursions can be modified or canceled up to 48 hours prior to port arrival without penalty.”  There is the same timeline for exchanging one excursion for another.

Carnival says “in the event of a cruise booking cancellation within the cut-off window, a full refund will automatically be posted to the form of payment used to pay for the order.”

Just don’t wait until the last minute to make changes.

More on Shore Excursions:

• Worth It? 15 Shore Excursion Questions & Answers

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

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Pros & cons of a shore excursion

Know your options before deciding on your day-trip activities.

Patti Pietschmann

Los Angeles

CruiseClout score: 95.0

Shore excursions are a highlight of nearly every cruise itinerary today, whether you're romping through a rainforest in Costa Rica , exploring ancient Greek ruins on Delos, flightseeing in Alaska or snorkeling in Tahiti .

How best to enjoy these experiences? You have three options:

• Sign up for a shore excursion arranged by the cruise line
• Sign up for an independent tour
• Head off on your own and do it yourself

Which option should you choose? It depends.

Option A , the shore excursions offered by the cruise lines, are now so popular that many of them sell out with a day or two of your ship's departure. The main attraction here is that it's more convenient than the other options: It may cost more, but all the details are arranged, the tour operator has conducted this excursion many times before and if things run late (say, the vehicle breaks down on the way back to the ship), they'll hold the ship for you. To many, that peace of mind is worth the added cost. 

Option B , the independent tour, is for folks who prefer an organized outing with often a smaller group and who don't mind doing the extra research and the signing up on their own. 

Option C , the do-it-yourself approach, can work, depending on the port, the itinerary and your travel style. Do you like organizing your own shore adventures? Do you like going off to explore on your own? 

Decide on your travel style

Let's run down these options in more detail. Keep in mind you can take a shore excursion in one port and then go off on your own at the next port. 

Cruise line-organized excursions

Advantages : If you go with an excursion organized by the cruise line, you'll be traveling with anywhere from a handful to 40 or more fellow passengers. After you return, you can compare notes on the trip with your fellow shipmates. Another benefit is that you'll know the tour provider is licensed and reputable, while independents can be hit or miss (so it pays to do some research). 

Downsides:  You could face potentially long lines, crowded buses and sometimes excruciatingly long stops at souvenir shops. 

Cost : Port tours vary in price depending on cruise line and can run you anywhere from free — that is, sometimes included in your fare — on cruise lines such as Viking , Crystal and Uniworld to $50 and up a person for a simple snorkel or walking excursion to well over $100 each for such higher-priced options as golf, helicopter rides, seaplane rides and visits to ancient ruins. Some lines even offer overnight excursions to swanky hotels or private limo tours that can run $400 per person and up.

My experience: Traditional shore excursions are worth it if you want to venture to sites far from the cruise dock, have easy access to historic monuments, forts or castles and learn more about a region.

Independent tours 

My colleague Gary Bembridge will be comparing tours from independent operators and cruise line sponsored excursions tomorrow. To join one, you can do some research online and sign up before your departure day, or you can head to the pier after your ship docks and you'll likely see several local guides hawking their tours to last-minute takers.

I've been on indie tours that were fantastic and others that turned out to be duds. For instance, in French Polynesia we often stroll off our ship and into the arms of local tour operators who take us snorkeling, diving and to the beach at half the price charged by the cruise line. Heaven! For more info on this approach, see 3 reasons to consider an independent shore excursion . 

Do-it-yourself trips

If all you want to do is walk around a port  town, shop or hit the beach, don't feel obligated to go on an organized tour. Wing it! It could turn out much cheaper and less time consuming to do your port planning on Cruiseable and go it on your own. For instance,  St. Barts  lends itself to exploring on your own. One of the best beaches, Shell Beach, is just a stroll from the pier, and the port of Gustavia is very maneuverable on foot, making it easy to shop or try out a restaurant or bar.

Different types of shore excursions 

If you decide on taking a cruise line-sponsored shore excursion, be aware that they come in all kinds of flavors. 

Active undertakings vs. less demanding tours: If you're the active sort, you might want to sign up for ziplining , scuba diving, kiteboarding , sled-dogging, flyboarding , flightseeing , cave spelunking, nighttime kayaking in a bioluminescent bay, mingling with penguins in the Falklands, hiking across a glacier or the like. If that's not your thing, there are plenty of less intense options, such as taking a sightseeing tour bus to take in London or taking a guided tour of the Acropolis in Athens  or doing a wine tasting in Bordeaux or visiting an art museum in Amsterdam . Take it at your own speed — remember, it's your vacation.

Differing lengths: Shore excursions come in all lengths, from a 90-minute quickie lunch at a stone mansion to a full-day cultural immersion in a city. My preference is to take one or two shorter excursions and leave enough time to explore a port at my own pace. 

Guided and self-guided varieties:  Some tours come complete with guides leading you through, say, the ruins of Ephesus in Turkey while the guide and tourists wear headsets and transmitters. Others simply drop you off at a location to shop, relax or explore on your own before it's time to return to the ship. 

Some personal experiences

In big cities it makes sense to pop for a tour. I think it's also wiser to take a shore excursion in the developing world or in any foreign port where language and customs present a barrier, for both convenience and safety. For example, in Brunei you would definitely want to take the guided tour to sites such as the biggest mosque in Asia, Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque. You’d probably never find it on your own, much less pronounce the name correctly. And without guidance you may not learn that local custom mandates covering your body from head toe in long pants, long skirt and long sleeves. (More than one cruise passenger has appeared scantily clad at the mosque steps. Fortunately, the locals are used to this and have robes available to drape over visitors).

You should know that local businesses operate most port tours and cruise lines are somewhat at their mercy. This can be a good or bad thing, as in the case of our recent visit to Costa Rica . We were booked on a rainforest trek. Our giddy young female tour operators kept warning us that since it was late in the morning we may not spot any denizens in the area. “We don’t know why they send you on these tours so late,” they moaned, “the animals are only around in the early morning.” Well, one reason it was late was because the ship doesn’t arrive any earlier — which the cruise line should have thought about before adding this tour to the program. Not only didn’t we see any creatures in the woods, we pretty much didn’t see anything but millions of ants. 

Shore excursion comfort also factors vary from ship to ship. Princess Cruises ’ New Waves snorkel and scuba trips can’t be beat. Luxury lines  Crystal Cruises , Silversea , Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas also run a tight ship with handpicked tours that usually run smoothly.  Crystal, Seabourn, Silversea and Regent often provide a free shuttle service to town.

Some final caveats & consumer tips

The best way to decide on a shore excursion is by reading the brochure either online or at the Tour Operator’s desk on board. Keep a lookout for red flags such as: “once there you will have two hours to swim, snorkel, beach comb or just relax.” While that doesn’t sound so bad, we’re talking a 6-hour tour that includes two hours on a catamaran. And while champagne (usually bad bubbly) and drinks may be proffered, do you really want to spend four hours on a boat after being on a ship? Maybe you do if it's whale watching in Cabo. But think about it. The length of the tour is always noted in the brochure; deduct time spent getting there to time available once at your destination to decide if this is right for you.

Shore excursions have gotten longer. On a recent cruise it was difficult to find any less than five hours long. A couple of hours in a catamaran or sailboat may not to be tough duty; the same amount of time in a bus may not be that pleasant.

Shore excursion managers  are eager to please, answer questions and take your reservation. So be sure to discuss the excursion in detail  before you plunk down your dough. Some tours involve strenuous treks in hot, humid climes. Cruise lines are quick to point this out to avoid liability or problems. Be sure to pick tours that you can handle physically.

One final caveat: The bigger the  ship, the faster the shore excursions sell out (especially the best ones), so if you want to take an organized tour, don’t delay, book it soon after you embark or online if the cruise line permits. Also remember that more passengers mean longer waits in lounges to get off the ship and begin your tour.

It’s also a good idea to get your hands on a few good guidebooks to learn about  the ports of calls  you’ll be visiting. Tip : See whether Cruiseable features a travel guide  for your port.

Related articles

3 reasons to consider an independent shore excursion, should i book a shore excursion with the cruise line.

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Patti Pietschmann I'm the LA Travel Diva and spend time cruising with first mate Richard, traveling the world, reviewing fine restaurants, going to plays, movies and events. It's the good life.

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11 cruise ship excursions to avoid

You have eight to 10 hours in port, and you might never return to that destination. How do you make sure you don't blow your chance at an amazing vacation day by choosing the wrong cruise ship shore excursion ?

It's a daunting task for sure, but some close reading and a little bit of thought can steer you away from making bad tour choices. Here are some general tips to follow:

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Tip 1: Be honest with yourself about the personalities and abilities of your travel party and what they actually will be happy doing.

Tip 2: Don't feel obligated to take a ship-sponsored tour. Independent options are often better.

Tip 3: Read the following list of types of cruise ship shore excursions that aren't worth your time, money and the risk of mid-tour meltdowns.

Panoramic sightseeing tours

"Panoramic" is cruise speak for "you will view key attractions exclusively from inside a bus." You might want to see that historic cathedral interior or step outside to enjoy the scenic overlook. However, if you prefer to spend more time on the ground than inside a coach, avoid any tour with "panoramic sightseeing" or "island tour" or "[destination] by coach" in the title.

Most shore excursion descriptions will tell you how much time you'll spend at each attraction, so look for those clues to ensure you're actually experiencing the sites you want to see.

Note that you should ignore this advice if you have mobility challenges; these sightseeing tours are a great way to see the top sights without worrying about navigating cobblestone streets or stairs.

Tourist trains and trams

Unless you're cruising with Thomas the Tank Engine-obsessed toddlers, please maintain your dignity and avoid the tourist trains and trams that chug around cruise destinations. I'm not talking about actual scenic railways; I'm talking about the cutesy painted mini locomotives pulling open-air carriages through the streets of places like the Royal Dockyard in Bermuda, Belize City and Piraeus, Greece.

Frankly, it's embarrassing and tags you as a clueless American tourist. Hop-on, hop-off coach tours are much preferred for easy transportation between key tourist attractions.

Related: Avoid these 10 mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions

All-day marathon tours

I'd love to see the Yukon. However, I have no interest in taking a seven-hour tour that combines a trip on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway into British Columbia, a bus ride to the border of the Yukon and then another bus ride down the Klondike Highway back to Skagway. It's too much sitting.

I have done the marathon tour from Livorno to Florence in Italy, and I can assure you that I fell asleep exhausted on the coach ride back every time.

All-day marathon tours might be the only way to cram everything you want to see into your one day in port. However, the breakneck pace might not be worth the sore feet, missed ship dinner and information overload. Worse, sometimes these long tours involve more driving than sightseeing.

For example, Royal Caribbean 's "Grand Tour of Florence and Pisa" features two hours of independent exploration in Florence and an hour in Pisa. However, the tour takes 10 hours. At least three of those hours will be in transit, with more time spent waiting for tardy tourists and walking from bus parking to the actual attractions.

You might be better off focusing your time on one area during your cruise. If you want to see more, return for a land visit at a more relaxed pace another year.

Related: 5 great cruise vacations that combine a cruise with a train trip

Short tours with a long transit

In a similar vein, and with a nod to the Cake song, any tour that spends more time in transit than at the actual tour destination might not be the best use of your time. If you're going to schlep out somewhere on a daytrip, you want it to be worth your while. Otherwise, you might get more value from staying closer to port to sightsee, shop and dine on your own.

Museum tours

Do you take tours of museums when you're home? No. You simply go to the museum, perhaps pick up an audio guide and wander through on your own. So why would you take a tour of a museum on a cruise?

Unless you need a tour for transportation, skip the overpriced shore excursion and head to that museum of interest on your own. You can spend as much or as little time in the rooms that interest you, and you can skip around large groups crowding a particular artwork or display. You also don't have to reduce yourself to meekly following behind a sign-toting guide. You can usually find English-language audio tours if you need more information or can't read the display signs.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

Beach breaks

Do you want to go to the beach? Hail a cab and go to the beach. The locals know that cruisers want to go to the beach, and you'll find shuttles, trams and vans all waiting to take you to the beach and back. You don't need a tour to get there.

Similarly, if you want to spend the day at a local resort, using its beach, pool and facilities, you can often find cheaper options if you book through the property directly rather than via your ship's shore excursion desk. Just check to see if transportation is included and factor in the price of a taxi if it's not.

Related: Best Caribbean cruise shore excursions

Shopping tours

The same mindset applies to shopping tours. If you want to go shopping, all you need to do is walk off the cruise ship. If there aren't a bevy of souvenir and jewelry shops right at the port, you'll be able to find plenty in town. It's rare that a shopping tour is going to take you to special or local secret galleries where you can find amazing art or spectacular buys.

Are you a shopaholic or a connoisseur of a particular product? Your best bet is to do your research in advance, find the shops or galleries you wish to visit and take a taxi or hire a private guide to take you to the merchants you most want to see.

Booze cruises

I'm a huge fan of catamaran sails — getting out on the water to feel the breeze in your hair and watch the scenery go by, maybe getting in some snorkeling or beach time. However, I avoid any shore tour labeled "party cruise" or "open bar" like the plague.

If you're choosing a tour because you want to snorkel or see the sunset over the water, know that someone on the boat is bound to over-imbibe, become belligerent or end up barfing because they don't know when to stop with the free rum punch.

Looking for a party? Have at it. Just be careful because those fruity drinks are stronger than they taste; the heat, alcohol and sugar combination makes for a crazy time with some consequences. Do you really want to miss the next port or ship nightlife because you're hungover from your tour?

Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise

Glass-bottom boat rides

I admit — I went on an amazing semi-submersible ride in Maui, where we actually saw incredible sea life. All of the other glass-bottom boat rides and "submarine" tours I've done have been murky and unimpressive.

Unless you're claustrophobic, it can't hurt to try, but the chances of you having an amazing underwater experience on one of these tours are low. If you cannot snorkel or scuba dive, you might prefer to try your luck with a land-based tour.

Tours involving maltreated animals

You might have a life goal to swim with dolphins or ride on an elephant, but please do not support any organization that does not treat their animals well. If you can't verify that the animals are getting superb care, avoid shore excursions that have you interacting with captive wild animals.

Instead, choose tours that allow you to see animals in the wild, such as whale-watching tours in Hawaii , bear-viewing excursions in Alaska, or hikes or boat rides through the jungle where you can spot birds or monkeys in the trees.

Any tour you're not fit for

Haven't gotten on a bike in years? Now is not the time to book that cycling tour through Valencia, Spain, or go speeding 25 miles down the Haleakala volcano in Maui. Have mobility issues? A walking tour through a cobblestoned old town is not for you. Afraid of heights? For the love of God, do not zip line.

The person you wish you were (or the strapping youth you once were) will not be taking the tour — only you in your current level of health and fitness. Avoid any shore excursions you can't handle, and you will be much happier with your time spent in port rather than at the local hospital.

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Travel | Which cruise-ship excursions are worth the…

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Travel | Which cruise-ship excursions are worth the money and time?

Precious are the hours cruise passengers get to explore a port between the “go ashore” and “all aboard.” Factoring in the security and operational procedures involved with a call, plus the costly dock fees that may prevent a lengthier stay, guests often are afforded only enough time to go on a single shore excursion. And with all the money, vacation time and coordination it might have required to take this trip of a lifetime, that one tour had better be amazing.

Happily, many are. Sadly, many aren’t. For those reasons, we’ve compiled a list of shore excursions that are exactly as advertised and others that can ruin the only chance you might ever have to visit that particular port.

A few notes before we globetrot: Excluded are shore excursions that are automatically part of a cruise, such as expeditions to Antarctica, Egypt and the Galapagos. Also left off are amazing experiences that have skyrocketed in price, such as the now-$700-per-person “Dogsledding & Helicopter Glacier Flightseeing” in Juneau and Skagway, Alaska. Lastly, tour names, prices, durations and availability can differ among cruise lines.

“Ashdod Shore Excursion: Jerusalem and Bethlehem” (Haifa, Israel) — It’s a Holy Land version of the Griswolds’ visit to the Grand Canyon (a reference to “National Lampoon’s Vacation” for the unaware), but going at a fast clip is necessary if this is your one day to explore two of the world’s most sacred cities. The bulk of the 11 hours or so is spent at the Old City of Jerusalem. You’ll walk the route Jesus took as he carried his cross to Calvary in addition to visiting the Western Wall hallowed by Jews, the Dome of the Rock sanctified by Muslims, and Christianity’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. Highlighting the Bethlehem leg of a very full day is the renowned Church of the Nativity that was built where Jesus is believed to have been born. $200 per person.

“Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip” (Juneau, Alaska) — Two out of the five times that this avid voyager has taken an Alaskan cruise, Glacier Bay was too foggy for passengers to see glaciers in their glory on the one morning devoted to viewing these icy blue walls. Book this shore excursion and you’re guaranteed to see Alaska’s most accessible and popular glacier, Mendenhall, and possibly could be your introduction to white-water rafting. Rapids along the 5-mile adventure can get as high as class-3, and a photographer is always in position to get the money shot. $170 for adults, $130 for children.

“Florence & Pisa On Your Own” (Livorno, Italy) — While booking independently is often the smarter call, a safer bet when it comes to some destinations around the world is to go with the usually more expensive tour blessed by the cruise line. Here’s one of them; you’re paying for peace of mind while seeing such highlights as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Square of the Duomo. The distance from the ship in Livorno to the must-see cities of Florence and Pisa is too great to take chances with the train or other modes of ground transportation hawked by aggressive entrepreneurs who might not get you back to the ship on time. Besides being guaranteed that the captain will wait for you, the ship-shaped tour provides a local escort for the 1 1/2-hour motor coach transfer to Florence and subsequent 1 1/4-hour drive to Pisa where, touristy or not, taking a photo of you holding up the poorly engineered tower is obligatory. $93 for adults, $80 for children.

“Athens & the Acropolis with Airport Transfer” (Piraeus, Greece) — If you’re not staying in the ancient capital of Greece before or after your Mediterranean cruise, then here’s the perfect shore excursion to see the bucket-list Parthenon before heading home. With your luggage safely stored below, an air-conditioned motor coach swings by the site of that landmark, the world-famous Acropolis that stands 230 feet above the city, and other places straight out of the history books. Just make sure your flight is after 3 p.m. $96 for adults, $81 for children.

“All-Inclusive Las Caletas Beach Hideaway” (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) — A catamaran takes guests from the cruise port to a private beach paradise on the south shore of Banderas Bay. During the six-plus hours in Las Caletas, you can partake in cooking lessons, sample seafood paella made before your feasted eyes, have an incredible buffet lunch and imbibe to your heart’s — and liver’s — content at the hosted bars. When the utensils and glassware are put down, there’s stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and animal handling that try to lure you away from a lounger or hammock. Up-charge options range from marine life encounters to flyboarding. The blowing of a conch shell beckons you to the dock, but the 12-mile sail back home is fun, too, thanks to an open bar and show by the energetic crew. $160 for adults, $130 for children.

“D-Day Landing Beaches of Normandy” (Le Havre, France) — A pilgrimage for descendants of World War II veterans, as this writer proudly is, and what should be a duty for all, this 10-hour tour goes to the D-Day landing beaches and the final resting place of nearly 10,000 servicemen who died during the Normandy campaign. Walking between the rows of marble crosses and Stars of David is even more solemn after having just watched a 20-minute film that tells the story of the Normandy Invasion that was launched on June 6, 1944. Between lunch at a local restaurant and returning to the pier, a stop is made at Omaha Beach, the landing where the American military suffered staggering casualties as graphically depicted in the 1998 movie, “Saving Private Ryan.” $230 for adults, $150 for children.

“Dolphin Swim” (Cabo san Lucas, Mexico) — Yes, you can check “swimming with a dolphin” off your bucket list. And, yes, any snapshot of you or your loved one interacting with a Pacific bottlenose will get lots of likes on social media. But even with all that, the experience is pretty much just one big, expensive upsell. The few minutes you get in the water with these glorious creatures are for a photo shoot, and since you’re not allowed to use your own camera, they’ve got you. At last check, a single print costs $25 and a CD of every photo taken of your group, including any strangers, is $249. Adding to the aggravation, they don’t divulge prices until the very end. Admittedly, the dolphin swim gets good reviews on social media, but that’s as dumbfounding as people paying to see Cabo’s famous El Arco up close when decent views of the natural rock formation are free off the cruise ship when entering and leaving the bay. $165 for adults, $155 for children.

“White Pass Scenic Railway Luxury Class” (Skagway, Alaska) — Not riding the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad on your first time in Skagway is like a newbie to San Francisco not taking the cable car. You gotta. The train is usually waiting for you right off the ship, and traveling 40 miles to the 2,865-foot summit and back in a vintage car takes one back to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896-1899. It’s fool’s gold, however, to pay double just to be in a “premier luxury parlor car.” The excursion is already pricey without the all-inclusive beverages, pre-packaged snacks and private guide. $360 per person (luxury car); $180 for adults, $100 for children (regular car).

“Kumiai Native Reserve” (Ensenada, Mexico) — What visitors experience after a siesta-inducing bus ride is the stuff your local shopping center might put on for free on Indigenous Peoples Day — definitely not worth an investment of five hours and a Benjamin per person. Upon arrival at the tiny San Antonio Necua village, a Kumiai elder blesses guests in his native language. The gesture would have more gravitas if, at least on one particular day, the holy man representing a people whose history dates back 10,000 years wasn’t wearing a hoodie and jeans. The small museum forbids photography for no clear reason, and the neckless making activity is more filler than fun. Lunch isn’t served despite the tour being from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The eye-rolling adventure ends with uninspired and unrehearsed dancing by Kumiai children. As shared with the tour desk on the Celebrity Solstice, this has no business being a shore excursion. $100 for adults, $90 for children.

“Magens Bay Beach Getaway” (Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) — One of the most beautiful beaches in the world can get so crowded it’s not even enjoyable. Good luck getting a decent spot on a beach that’s long, but narrow. Most ships offer several tours that include time at Magens, some with built-in shopping and island sightseeing time. If you must see this otherwise gorgeous beach, try to go as cheaply and early as possible. $55 for adults, $35 for children.

“Bafa Lake & Heraklia” (Bodrum, Turkey) — From its beaches and boutiques to backstreets and bistros, Bodrum has plenty to do right off the ship. So, don’t waste valuable port time and money on a meh half-day excursion to Bafa Lake and an ancient site that yields diminishing returns after seeing so many better ruins at this point of your Mediterranean cruise. You’re promised lunch and time for a swim, but based on the day of this travel writer’s visit, the restaurant that often hosts tour groups was as repulsive as an ungodly rotten-egg stench off the neighboring lake. We were praying that the whole-cooked branzini being served next door wasn’t locally caught. Another reason this tour is no Turkish delight is half of the estimated seven hours is spent on the bus. $150 per person.

Good or bad, these dozen shore excursions are just a drop in the navigated ocean of what’s available to cruisers who want to explore more than what’s immediately offshore. A wide array of reviews can be mined from Tripadvisor, Cruise Critic and other user-contributed websites, and hopefully the ones you read are trustworthy. A shore excursion can make or break a dream vacation, after all, and when even the most basic tour can run into the three digits, being more worldly when traveling the world can make a world of difference.

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Cruise Ship Shore Excursions: Are They Worth It?

Cruise line passengers disembark for a shore visit. (AP)

For most people, the first consideration in choosing a cruise is "where is it going?"

There are now more than 500 different ports of call worldwide, and when the ship arrives most cruisers want to see the sights. So, what are the best ways to make the most of your brief visit?

The most convenient options are “shore excursions” sold onboard by the cruise line. Most ships offer several different tours, from free or inexpensive shuttle buses to private vans with drivers ($1,000/day).

Shore excursion tours are not mandatory; you can just wander off the ship and walk around all day on your own for nothing. Or you can hail a cab, rent a car or pre-arrange a private tour guide to meet you on the pier. So what is the good or bad in each of these choices?

Ship-provided Shore Excursions

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Buying a ship-sponsored shore excursion is considered the easy way out by some cruisers, but I see nothing wrong with going “easy” during a cruise. They are convenient; you meet on the ship and are escorted to tour buses where a knowledgeable guide is provided. Most importantly, you are guaranteed the ship will not sail away without you.

Now here are the drawbacks. They are not cheap, and if you have a family of four the “per person” pricing can really add up. Cruise ship tour groups can get pretty big, but having the group broken out with separate guides for each busload makes them manageable. You are usually stuck in the pre-planned program until it’s over, and as an example, if some kind of “factory tour” is on the program it will usually include a long visit to the factory gift shop.

Independent Tour Companies 

There are alternatives to cruise line shore excursions. In many ports you can descend the gangway and find scores of locals offering fun things; zip-lining, swimming with dolphins, a private car and guide. In popular cruise ports these locals are professionals who know how to fill the bill and get you back to the ship on time. Some independent tour companies are phenomenally successful. Red October , in Russia , benefits from a Russian law that allows a local certified tour guide to meet you at your ship with your visa in their hands, saving you several bothersome steps.

Two other independent providers of specialized tours for cruisers throughout the world are shoretrips.com and Port Promotions . You can pre-arrange your shore tours with them long before you leave on your cruise. These companies are ideal if you have a smaller group that wants to do something special.

Or you can map out your own tour in advance. The Internet makes it easy to pre-book train tickets and entrance to museums worldwide. For example, if you are cruising to Livorno and plan to see Pisa, the cruise tour will take you there, but if you want to actually climb the Leaning Tower you’d better buy the entrance ticket online long before you leave. You won’t have time to wait in line to buy the entry ticket if you arrive by tour bus.

Going Without a Tour at All

But in many places you don’t need a tour, just a good guidebook. PBS travel-show host Rick Steves has a brand new guidebook called “ Mediterranean Cruise Ports ” for cruisers in Europe. Steves begins each section at the cruise terminal. In Livorno, the port city for Florence and Pisa, he tells you how to find the local train station and how long it takes to ride to Pisa, Lucca or Florence from the ship. You don’t get a guide, but you see the same sights.

You can always hire a taxi or catch a local bus or train to wherever you want to go. But another way to save a lot of money over shore excursions is to rent a car, especially if you have four or more people. While a shore tour for four people can easily add up to more than $500/day, a one-day car rental is far cheaper. The drawback is negotiating highways with signs in foreign languages; or driving on the left in any place formerly of the British Empire whenever automobiles arrived – including much of the Caribbean.

Minimizing the Risks 

The biggest drawback to going alone is the sole responsibility for returning to the ship on time. Granted, professional guides know you have to be back, but accidents, traffic jams, breakdowns and misunderstandings still happen. When I tour solo, I always bring a local map showing the location of the ship in the cruise terminal. If I start to feel unsure I just flag down a cab to take me back to ship. English is very prevalent as a world language, but having a map has proven invaluable to me many times. I have never missed a ship.

This brings a related rule – never go anyplace not frequented by cabbies. In St. Martin I took a cab to a secluded beach but couldn’t find one to take me back. An American couple with a rental car took pity on me. I learned my lesson. Some people will tell you, “but you can always arrange with the cab driver to pick you up.”

Be careful about that. Two years ago six Carnival cruisers in Antigua had a cabbie demand $100 for the return trip from a beach, more than double his original fee. The outraged passengers demanded he drive them to a police station. He did, and they ended up in a brawl with plainclothes policemen not as sympathetic as they expected. End of story, they were arrested, held for trial and didn’t see Brooklyn again for nearly 30 days.

Finally – Don’t Outsmart Yourself 

The most important aspect of any tour is to respect the timetable you are given. Don’t ask for exceptions to the rules – you are just asking for something to go wrong. Yes, I said a ship-sponsored shore excursion means the ship won’t leave without you – but there are limits. One couple on a Carnival sponsored tour in Nassau decided to go to the casino just when the guide was ready to end the tour. He searched for an hour, calling the ship every five minutes. Finally, he had to take the rest of his group back to the ship, which sailed away without the stragglers. “We were on a ship tour, we thought it wouldn’t leave without us,” were their final words as the ship disappeared over the horizon.

Paul Motter is the co-founder and editor of CruiseMates.com cruise travel guide.

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Shore Excursion Details

Advanced mountain bike, sitka, alaska.

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Ride through some of the most beautiful scenery in southeast Alaska on an electric-enhanced bicycle that will make the trip all the more exhilarating and fulfilling. After a brief orientation on how best to maximize the experience, you will pedal off caravan-style and follow a trail that runs through Sitka and along the coast. Although the Trek bike is able to boost your pedal power and reduce the physical demands, the ride will still be challenging. Even so, it will be well worth the effort. Depending on the route that the guide selects, you will ride somewhere between 16 and 22 miles. The trail will begin in Sitka but before long you will head into more rolling and mountainous terrain, much of it presenting sweeping views of the sea. Tongass National Forest provides a backdrop of stunning natural beauty, ensuring that no matter where you look the sights will be spectacular.

• Ride an electric-enhanced bicycle that will boost your pedal power. • Follow an incredibly scenic trail that is typically between 16 and 22 miles long. • Be awed by the majestic wilderness and surrounding natural beauty.

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• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing. • Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

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5 Things Worth Paying for in Advance on Your Next Cruise

S ome things on cruises are generally not worth booking in advance. For example, unless you want something very specific, spa treatments are usually easy to book once you're on board, and often have discounts and specials that are as good or better than anything you can book ahead of time ( Tip: This is especially true on port days.). Photo packages are another example of something you can usually wait until you're on board to worry about.

On the other hand, some activities and packages on cruise ships can potentially save you money and prevent you from missing out on the things you want to do if you book them in advance.

1. Drink packages

Beverage packages are almost always cheaper if you buy them ahead of time. Now, the question of whether you'll get your money's worth for a drink package is another question for another article. But if you decide to buy one, it's wise to do it before you get on the ship.

Just as one example, Carnival's CHEERS! Package that allows you to get alcoholic beverages (up to 15 per day), as well as bottled water, sodas, and specialty coffees costs $64.95 per day plus an 18% service charge if booked on board. If you buy it on Carnival's website ahead of time, the per-day rate is $59.95. On a seven-night cruise for two people, this can save $70.

2. Shore excursions

Unlike some of the other costs on this list, shore excursions aren't usually cheaper if you book them in advance -- although there are a few exceptions. For example, if you book certain activities at Royal Caribbean's private island Perfect Day at Coco Cay, you can usually get a discount for booking in advance.

The real reason to book shore excursions ahead of time is that the more desirable ones tend to sell out well before the cruise, so it's a good idea to book early. Plus, with shore excursions, you can usually cancel until a few days before the cruise and receive a full refund to your credit card if you change your mind.

3. Travel insurance

I'd strongly suggest buying some sort of travel insurance before you go on a cruise. If you get stranded in port, or if you get sick in a foreign country or on the ship and need to be medically evacuated or go to a hospital, the cost can be enormous.

There are two main choices when it comes to travel insurance. Cruise lines all sell some variation of a "vacation protection plan," and this will cover medical expenses, as well as if you need to cancel your trip at the last minute for a covered reason. There are also private travel insurance policies that can provide better coverage and good value.

The general guideline is that if you're just taking one cruise and only plan to travel occasionally and domestically otherwise, buying the cruise line's protection plan is probably sufficient. But if you're a frequent traveler -- and especially if you plan to take multiple cruises in a year -- an annual travel insurance policy could be the best way to go.

4. Specialty dining packages and reservations

There are tons of free food choices on cruise ships. Between the buffets and food in the main dining room, as well as other venues, it's quite possible to take a cruise and not spend an extra dollar on food.

Having said that, many cruise ships have specialty restaurants, such as steakhouses, sushi joints, and more. These have an extra cost, but may be a little cheaper if you book in advance. But like shore excursions, the biggest reason to book specialty dining reservations in advance is to avoid missing out if they book up.

In addition, some cruise lines offer unlimited dining packages or meal bundles. These can be a great value and are often cheaper (or only available) to buy in advance, and they can sell out in many cases.

5. Internet packages

Some people like to stay connected while at sea, and on many cruise lines, at-sea internet quality has improved dramatically in recent years. For example, Royal Caribbean offers its excellent VOOM Surf and Stream internet package for $30.99 per guest, per day for an upcoming cruise I've booked if I buy it on board. Pricing can vary, but a quick look shows that I can buy it for $22.99 per day for this cruise if I pay in advance.

Another tip is that unless you plan to do lots of work, or plan to be on your phone a lot , you may only need one internet package for two travelers. Only one device can be logged on at a time, but it's usually easy to switch back and forth.

What if prices end up going down ?

With many expenses, it's worth noting that you can typically cancel and rebook at the lower price rather easily. As an example, if you prepay for a drink package and your cruise line runs a Black Friday sale that makes it significantly cheaper, it is usually rather easy to get a refund for the original purchase and rebook at the current price. On the other hand, capacity-limited activities like shore excursions may have their own cancellation policies (although these rarely get cheaper).

Having said that, booking and paying for these five things in advance of your next cruise is generally a good idea to make sure you get the best possible deals and don't miss out on restaurants and shore excursions you want to try.

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