Selecting and booking shore excursions for your upcoming cruise is simple. Choose a port, read the list of options offered by your carrier, choose an activity you enjoy, then sign up.
In fact, the shore excursion decision-making process becomes more complicated—especially if you want to make the most of your eight hours at a port you may never visit again.
I have done more than 50 cruises and I have made mistakes when booking tours.
I signed up for hiking which is actually a brisk walk and spent more time on the bus when I wanted to get out and explore the sights. I paid too much for travel experiences that I could have done myself for less. I also had great excursions that enhanced my day in port.
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My top tip for booking the best cruise tour for your money? Carefully read the tour description and then read between the lines to discover the truth about the excursion that lies behind all the advertising language.
Don’t know how to do it? Read on as I reveal my best beach tour booking tips.
Book a must-do tour as soon as possible
The most popular excursions and tours with limited participants will sell out — usually before you board the cruise ship. You’ll want to order these online as soon as possible. Even better, many travel routes discount the tours you buy in advance.
Just make sure you read the fine print of the tour cancellation policy and know that in most cases you cannot use the onboard credit to pay for tours booked before departure. onion.
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Related: Ashore cruises: What new cruisers need to know
Book less important tours on board
If you’re unsure about a few tours or want to pay for your excursions with built-in credit, wait until you’ve boarded to book. The excursion desk staff can have more detailed information about the shore excursions you’re considering to help you decide.
Head straight to the tour desk as soon as you board and get ready to wait in line. You can always ask the staff if they recommend making an immediate reservation because the tour is running low or if it could take you a day to decide.
Determine the time to be spent in transit
My personal goal when venturing ashore on a cruise is to spend as little time in transit as possible and more time to explore. On the other hand, those with mobility issues may prefer tours that allow you to take in the sights entirely by bus.
Ashore excursions titled “panoramic,” “easy,” or “highlight” are usually bus-focused tours, where you’ll see most of the sights from your window. me. If the article doesn’t specifically say that you’ll venture inside an attraction or building, assume you’ll only view it from the outside.
When considering day trips from your port of call to a destination outside the city, add up transit times and then subtract them from the length of the tour.
A four-hour tour to a attraction an hour from the port by two hours by bus and two hours at the destination. Determine if that’s an acceptable rate or if you’d make better use of your time closer to the port.
Also, consider whether your child can handle a long bus ride or if you have motion sickness.
Related: 10 cruise ship excursions to avoid
Compare your free time with a guided tour
In the same way, compare the amount of free time you will have to explore on your own during the tour with the amount of time you will spend with a guide. Don’t book a tour if the balance doesn’t suit you.
On a tour in Taormina, I watched half of the group skip the tour and miss the entrance to the ancient Greek theater, respectively, because the guided part of the tour took so long (and the direction was too long). tour guide is not very good).
If you enjoy independent travel and just want a tour so you have transportation and someone to point you in the right direction, book tours titled “alone”.
Evaluate activity level
You won’t be happy if you book a cruise tour only to discover that you are physically unable to fully participate in the excursion – or that the activity is much easier than you imagined. Read the tour description carefully to determine if the activity level is right for you.
Don’t book a walking tour of Europe if you can’t walk the uneven cobblestone streets for an hour or more. Skip the mountain biking tour if you’re not in good health or the kayaking tour if you have back or shoulder pain. Be honest with yourself about your current abilities.
Professional athletes, on the other hand, should assume that most active cruises cater to the lowest common denominator. Bike tours are likely to take place on flat roads and move at a leisurely pace. A hike on a cruise full of retirees can be a 20-minute walk on a boardwalk or paved surface.
If the tour is really demanding, the tour description will make sure it’s clear enough to scare anyone who doesn’t dare.
Related: Avoid these mistakes when booking beach cruises
Compare costs
Before you book that shore excursion, compare the tour price with doing the same activity yourself or with an outside tour operator. Then decide if having a guide or the safety and ease of booking through your cruise route is more important than any price difference.
For example, Princess Cruise runs a $90 Tram, Walk & Tea tour that takes guests aboard the Goldbelt Tram to the top of Mount Roberts, where they can join a naturalist-led walking tour, sample Alaskan-made snacks at Alpine Tea House and then explore on their own.
The independently purchased tram ticket costs $50, meaning you’re paying $40 for snacks and a short guided hike. It’s easy to get to the tram on your own from the cruise terminal, so it may not be worth the extra money to book a tour if you’re content with snacking and walking on your own.
Many cruise lines also offer slightly different versions of the same excursion, such as a beach vacation with all-inclusive and less-than-all-inclusive options. Determine which activities or activities you will actually use before deciding which particular tour will give you the best value for money.
Consider alternatives
Some first-time cruisers believe you have to book a cruise in every port to get the most out of your cruise. It’s not true.
Consider alternatives before you sign up for all the excursions. Can you walk or take a taxi to the beach? Do you want to wander around the city center, sample the local cuisine and browse the shops? Can you rent a car or hire a taxi to see the sights at your own pace? Do you want to explore that fortress or tour the museum on your own?
You may also want to hire a private guide or book a specific activity through a local service provider, especially if the excursion route’s sightseeing options don’t cover exactly what you’re looking for. search.
Related: Ship-sponsored shore excursions versus independent shore excursions: Which should you book?
Rate your entire sightseeing itinerary
Some cruisers are so focused on what to do on each individual day that they never stop to review their entire tour schedule. This is a mistake that can lead to burnout or a disappointing vacation.
Too many tours in a row with early departures or long days in port can tire you out. You don’t want to book three days in a row for all-day excursions. You also don’t want to plan on skipping a port for a quiet day on board after you’ve just spent a day or two at sea.
Take a close look at your schedule and make sure you have a nice mix of low-key and high-octane activities, organized tours, and days to hike or relax. If possible, try not to book any shore excursions until you are satisfied with your entire vacation plan.
bottom line
The key to booking the best shore excursions is knowing what you want from a cruise vacation and making sure your excursion options support those goals.
Don’t compromise and pay for a tour you’re not excited about because there’s usually a better option out there. Make sure you understand what you’re getting with each tour option and that you and your travel companions are both able and excited to fully participate in the sightseeing activities listed.
And never feel pressured to book a tour when a leisurely day around the port — or even sleeping in and enjoying a less crowded ship — is just what you need for the perfect day off.
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