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If you’ve ever booked a cruise, you know that shore excursions can be stupidly expensive. This becomes even more expensive when you’re booking for a family of four with kids over 13 when you realise that they also have to pay adult prices (yes, I’ve been there, done that, paid – with receipts). Cruise lines tend to charge a premium for guided tours; while they offer convenience and reassurance (as well as the hefty price tag), they also come with big crowds, fixed schedules, and less flexibility.
But here’s the good news: You don’t have to overpay for excursions and worry about getting back to your ship before sail away. I’ll admit it took me quite a few cruises to realise this. But when I discovered that I didn’t have to book a shore excursion through the cruise line it completely changed the way I explored port and saved me so much money.
📌Quick Links: Independent Shore Excursions I use and recommend:
➡️ GetYourGuide
➡️ Viator
➡️ Shore Excursions Group
Why Cruise Line Shore Excursions Are So Expensive
Cruise lines markup shore excursions to cover costs and guarantee a profit. While they do offer peace of mind (such as ensuring the ship waits for you if you’re delayed), they often come with downsides:
The Downsides of Cruise Line Shore Excursions Higher Prices – Cruise excursions can be typically 30-50% more expensive than booking directly with a local provider. Large Group Sizes – Most cruise tours involve big crowds, meaning less personal interaction and longer wait times. Limited Options – You only get the excursions that the cruise company offers, which might not always be the most exciting or unique experiences. Strict Schedules – You have little to no flexibility, as you have to stick to the cruise line’s timetable.
So, what’s the alternative? Booking independently!
🔖See more posts on Port Guides 🔖See more posts on Saving Money on a Cruise
The Best Way to Book Shore Excursions for Less
Instead of paying inflated cruise line prices, you can book directly with local tour operators these are some of the ones I have used and recommend:
For example, Get Your Guide connects you with trusted, highly rated local tour operators, offering everything from cultural walking tours, food tours – such as this one I experienced in Athens – to adventure excursions like snorkelling, zip-lining, or wine tastings. Viator offers much the same experience.
The Shore Excursions Group is the world’s largest and market-leading shore excursion provider. Since 2008 they’ve been offering more than 4,000 high-quality, lower-priced, small-group in over 300 ports worldwide (99% of major cruise line itineraries are covered).
They focus on personalised, authentic experiences. With small group sizes, tours (their average excursion size is only 12 people) and excursions at every port of call they are guaranteed to fit your cruise schedule. They also have a money back guarantee and a return to ship guarantee where they will arrange and pay for accommodation, meals, and transportation to the next port of call – and will also pay an additional $1,000 USD per person for the
Why Use A Local Tour Operator For Shore Excursions?
✅ Lower Prices – You’ll often find the same tours as the cruise line, but for significantly less!
✅ Smaller, Personalized Groups – Many independent tours are more intimate, meaning a better experience.
✅ Flexible Cancellation – Plans change? No worries! Most tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
✅ Verified Reviews – Unlike cruise line excursions, you can read real traveller reviews before booking.
✅ More Unique Excursions – Want to do something different from what’s offered on the ship? There are tons of hidden gems!
Pro Tips for Booking Independent Shore Excursions
When booking any independent shore excursion follow my handy tips to make everything run smoothly and get back to your ship in plenty of time for sail away:
MY TOP TIPS WHEN BOOKING AN INDEPENDENT SHORE EXCURSION ➡️ Check the Tour Duration – Make sure your excursion fits within your port schedule and leaves plenty of buffer time to return. ➡️ Pick a Meeting Point Near the Port – Choose excursions that start close to the cruise terminal to avoid long travel times. ➡️ Look for “Back to Ship” Guarantees – Ask if your independent tour operator guarantees that they’ll get you back on time or cover your expenses if you miss the ship. ➡️ Download Offline Maps – If you won’t have data, download Google Maps offline ahead of your trip for easy navigation back to port.
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