Should I book shore excursions?

Your cruise will likely stop at several ports. When it does, you are free to do what you like. You can go for a walk around town, hire a taxi, or go on an organized trip, also known as a shore excursion.

Shore excursions can either be independent, meaning that you find a provider on your own and book the trip on your own, or organized through the cruise lines.

Most people, especially first time cruisers, book their shore excursions through the cruise line. There are three major reasons for this:

  1. Convenience - The cruise lines have done the legwork for you. You book online beforehand, or from your cabin, and know for sure you'll get the tour you want
  2. Confidence - If your independent bus tour breaks down and you are stuck by the side of the road, the ship will leave without you (after all, they don't know where you are). If you are on a cruise line tour and something happens, they will hold the ship
  3. Safety - An independent may be great, but it can be hard to tell. Cruise lines do business with their tour operators all the time, and they know who to work with. The lines can't officially say their tours are safer because that would potentially constitute both slander and an implied warranty. However, overall they really are safer. Of the three most tragic accidents of the past few years (bus tour in Chile, two float plane accidents in Alaska) all three were run by independent agents.

That said, independent tours are cheaper.

Hopping in a taxi to the beach costs a lot less than an organized tour. And even if you do want an organized tour, buying one from a guy at the pier or online beforehand can cost 2/3 or less than booking through the cruise line.

If you are thinking about booking a tour through an independent provider, consider these guidelines:



Book independently if... Book through the cruise line if...
  • The provider is well-known and easy to research (relatively easy in major 1st world ports like St. Thomas and Puerto Rico)
  • There's little to no equipment risk (walking tours are good, but avoid cut-rate 4x4s!)
  • You are in a place where you feel comfortable arranging things yourself (eg, in Seattle it's easy to get a taxi to the Space Needle and buy a ticket for yourself)
  • Your research leaves you less than 100% sure of the independents' quality
  • You are in a place where you're uncomfortable making alternate arrangements if something goes wrong (eg, your bus breaks down and you need to get a taxi in a foreign language)
  • All-day or late tours, where a delay could cause you to miss the ship
‹ How much is internet / email?upAdvice for independent tours ›

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