Wondering what is a shore excursion? If you are new to cruising all the terminology can be a little confusing. What does it mean, do you have to take one to get off the ship and how do you book them are all questions you might be asking yourself.
One of the best things about cruising is exploring the destinations on your itinerary. However, with limited time in each place, it can feel a little overwhelming trying to figure out what to see and do. Even more so if you are new to cruises.
To help, cruise lines offer a range of shore excursions designed to help you make the most of your time in port.
I’ve done a number of ship run excursions during my cruises and also spent time wandering around a port on my own and with friends.
So, I’ve put together a guide explaining what they are, why you should book one, some things to consider before you choose one and tips on how to get the best out of them.
What are shore excursions?
Shore excursions, meaning tours, trips and activities, that are organised for passengers from cruise ships are a great way to explore the destination the ship has docked in.
Designed to help cruise ship passengers make the most of their time on shore they can be anything from a few hours to a whole day.
They are generally organised by the cruise line (using local operators) and cater for all interests, covering the best sights and activities of the region.
You can also book independent cruise excursions. These are run by local tour operators, giving you a little more flexibility to explore in your own time and way.
However, you do lose the protection of being with the the cruise line so there is the potential for issues such missing you trip due to docking late or even missing the ship if you return late.
What are the different types of shore excursions?
Many different shore excursions are offered by cruise lines.
They cover everything from sightseeing tours, visits to areas of natural beauty, adventure activities and much more.
Most excursions are done in groups made up of fellow passengers however, you can also often also book private tours for just your family, friends and travel companions.
Active or adventure tours
Active or adventure shore excursions are where you take part in an activity.
This could be something like kayaking along the Norwegian Fjords, exploring a city by bike, or hiking a natural landmark or area of outstanding beauty.
Read more | Exploring the Briksdal Glacier, Norway
Sightseeing tours
Probably one of the most popular shore excursions, sightseeing tours show you the highlights of a destination.
You will be taken around to see famous landmarks as well as any popular areas of interest. Barcelona, Rome and New York are good examples of where you will be able to take sightseeing tours.
Time in port is usually fairly limited, usually a day at most, so these excursions are a great way to ensure you see the best a destination has to offer.
Scenic tours
Cruises that dock in destinations known for their scenery, natural attractions, historic ruins or stunning beaches will offer various scenic tours around the area.
These types of excursions include visiting scenic viewpoints, glaciers, waterfalls, mountains and other natural landmarks.
Examples include the Norwegian Fjords, Iceland and Alaska.
Read more | Exploring the scenic viewpoints of Geirangerfjord, Norway
Themed excursions
Depending on your port of call, there may be themed shore excursions available.
These excursions are great if you have a particular interest you are keen to explore further. Excursions include things like wine tasting at local vineyards, cooking classes and even yoga in the Norwegian Fjords with spectacular glacier views.
Private tours or experiences
Many shore excursions offered by cruise lines will involve you being part of a group with other passengers. These can be quite large for popular tours. For example, sometimes multiple coaches head off to an attraction or beauty spot.
If large crowds are not your thing or you prefer a more personalised experience, you may be able to book a private tour just for you and your family or travelling companions.
This will usually cost more than the average excursion, possibly significantly more. The pay off though is that you will have a much more in-depth experience without lots of people you don’t know.
How long do cruise shore excursions last?
The length of shore excursions depends on the trip or activity. Generally speaking, they are three or four hours long. However, some can last almost the whole time you are in port.
For example, while I was in Olden on a Norwegian Fjords cruise, I did one excursion in the morning to the Briksdal Glacier, returned to the dock and then jumped onto a coach for an afternoon excursion to the Loen Skylift.
Both excursions were around half day, allowing enough time to squeeze two excursions in.
However, when I visited Zeebrugge on a Northern European cruise I took a shore excursion to Ypres which was seven hours and took up the whole time we were in port.
So, it very much depends on the activity on offer or the location of the point of interest for the excursion.
What are the advantages of booking a shore excursion?
There are many advantages to booking a shore excursion rather than doing it yourself.
- Excursions take the hassle out of exploring a port. It is all done for you. All you need to do is turn up at your departure time
- You will get taken to all the main sights in a destination
- If you book with the cruise line you are travelling with, the ship will wait for you if you are late back from your excursion
- For solo travellers, they are a good way to meet people. You definitely make friends when you’ve been stuck with people for a few hours
- If you are not a confident traveller, excursions help take some of the anxiety away about finding your own way around
- If you have mobility issues, they make it a little easier to explore the destination.
What are the disadvantages of shore excursions?
On the flip side, there are also a number of disadvantages of taking a shore excursion. These include
- They can be expensive, and it adds up if you wish to do more than one or are travelling with a group
- You can’t be flexible, you have to stick to the itinerary on the excursion
- Popular excursions sell quickly so you may be disappointed if you don’t book early
- Attractions for landmarks you visit may be very busy. Even more so if more than one ship is in port
- You may prefer wandering around a port on your own rather than in a, potentially, large group
- If you are a savvy traveller and happy to do things on your own you may find them a bit restrictive.
How to choose a shore excursion
It can be a hard decision to choose which shore excursions to book. There is often lots to see and do in a destination and many different options available.
Once you have booked your cruise it is worth spending a little bit of time researching what you can do at the ports on your itinerary. Then you can decide what appeals the most to you.
Some things to consider before booking an excursion include
- What do you really want to see or do in port?
- Is there anything you would be disappointed at not seeing or doing while in port?
- How much do you want to spend?
- How early are you prepared to get up (trust me, some excursions require an early start) particularly if you would like to grab some breakfast before disembarking the ship
- Do you want to spend all day on an excursion or would you like some time to do your own thing in port?
Another thing to keep in mind is that if you have a port-intensive itinerary, it can get quite tiring doing lots of excursions back to back.
I booked four excursions over three days on a Norwegian Fjords cruise I did. All the excursions were great and I saw everything I had hoped to. But by the time day four arrived, I was quite pleased to have a bit of a break from rushing around, not to mention a lie-in.
So, you might also want to think about pacing yourself. After all, you are on holiday!
Are shore excursions included in the cruise fare?
If you are cruising with a luxury cruise line, on expedition ships or on a river cruise you may find some basic excursions are included in your fare.
However, more often than not you will have to purchase the excursions you wish to do. Particularly on the majority of the mainline cruise lines.
How to book a cruise shore excursion
Shore excursions can be booked before your cruise departs, usually via your cruise line’s website or app.
Once onboard, you can also book via the shore excursion desk.
The downside of booking in advance is that you will have to pay for the excursion upfront. However, it can be a bit risky waiting until you are onboard as popular excursions sell out quickly.
To avoid disappointment, it is best to book in advance if you can.
If a shore excursion you wish to do is sold out, keep checking. You never know, you may get lucky and get a cancellation.
I had nothing booked when visiting Hellesylt. I popped into the shore excursions desk and managed to get a last-minute cancellation on a tour of the scenic viewpoints of Geirangerfjord. I was very fortunate but it just shows it is worth checking.
How much do shore excursions cost?
The cost of shore excursions varies so it is impossible to give an exact cost.
Many factors come into play, the destination, the activity on offer, the length of the excursion, what transport is involved, whether lunch or refreshments are included or any entrance fees etc.
Depending on the experience, the price range can start fairly low. However, if you start looking at private tours it gets expensive quickly.
I have taken a number of group excursions and prices have ranged from £60-£120 ish.
You may find that excursions offered by local operators are a little cheaper so it is a good idea to shop around.
However, remember that if you take an excursion with anyone other than the cruise line it is your responsibility to get back to the ship on time.
Another thing to keep in mind is, if you do more than one excursion it will quickly add up. Individual excursions may be reasonably priced but if you take three or four during your cruise, it will start to get expensive. Particularly, if you are travelling with family or in a group.
Do you have to do shore excursions on a cruise?
No, you do not have to do any shore excursions while on your cruise.
When cruise ships are in port you can generally come and go as you please. You don’t even have to leave the ship if you don’t want to.
That said, if you do want to leave the ship and explore a destination, there are a few places where it is easier and a lot less hassle to take an excursion rather than do it yourself.
St Petersburg is off cruise itineraries at the moment, for obvious reasons, however, that is one such port where most people take an excursion or tour.
Tips to help you make the most of your shore excursion
- Prioritise excursions in the ports on your itinerary that you really want to visit
- Do your research before booking and make sure you know exactly what you are booking. Sounds a bit daft but it is easy to not realise all that is involved. I booked an excursion to the Loen Skylift while in Norway and didn’t know until on the coach that it was the last stop on the excursion and only the last hour of the trip
- Set a budget for excursions and stick to it
- Make sure you read any requirements for the excursion. Do you need special shoes or clothes etc?
- If you are disembarking at a tender port, allow some extra time to leave the ship
- Take a small bag with only the essentials with you. No one wants to be lugging around a heavy bag all day.
How to save money on shore excursions
- Don’t take a shore excursion. I know, that’s probably not very helpful but you will save money by not doing excursions. You can wander round most ports or get public transport into the centre of cities which will obviously save some money. Look for other ways to see a destination without having to go on an excursion.
- Look into excursions offered by local or independent tour operators. These can be a little cheaper than tours offered by the cruise lines
- Consider chipping in with your travelling companions and booking a private tour. This may work out cheaper per person
- Look out for taxi tours. In some ports, taxi drivers will give you a tour of the main sites for a set fee. For example, when I visited Guernsey there were a number of taxis offering an hour or two-long tours around the island.
- Take some snacks or lunch with you. There should be some items from the ships ‘grab and go’ area or the buffet that you can take for later in the day
- Use a refillable water bottle and fill it up before you leave the ship.
Are shore excursions worth it?
Everyone will have a different reason for deciding to book an excursion or not. So, really only you can decide if a cruise excursion is worth it.
If you do your research beforehand and are clear on what you want to see and how much you are prepared to spend you should be able to weigh up whether a cruise excursion is worth it or not.
The last word
I’ve booked shore excursions a few times now and have generally been happy that I did. They do take some of the hassle out of exploring a port and make it easy to get to some of the out of the way landmarks and attractions.
As a solo traveller, I’ve found them a great option as you are guaranteed a bit of company and it is an opportunity to meet people on your cruise.
If you are a not a confident traveller or a bit nervous about exploring on your own they allow you to still see the parts of a destination you are interested in but with some support.
That said I’ve also enjoyed just wandering around a port under my own steam.
Like most people, I think it really all comes down to the destination, the ease of getting to any places of interest and of course, cost. Something which will be different for all of us.