Are you going on a cruise and wondering what is the best way to book shore excursions? Is it better to book shore excursions directly from the cruise line or through independent tour operators? Should you book online in advance or wait until you’re on the cruise ship? Below, we will discuss the best way to book cruise shore excursions.
The Problem with Booking Shore Excursions Through the Cruise
One of the biggest disadvantages of booking shore excursions through the cruise is that it is always a lot more expensive than booking independently. In fact, you can often find the exact same tour offered by the cruise at a significantly lower price if you book it through outside independent tour operators. If you’re going on a long cruise and there are many people in your group, the savings can be significant if you book your shore excursions outside.
Why Book Shore Excursion Directly from the Cruise?
So why book shore excursions through the cruise line if it’s more expensive? One major reason is safety. When you book through the cruise line, they guarantee that you won’t be left behind if you’re on a cruise shore excursion. This is important because there have been many instances where people missed their cruise ship because their tour ran late! They ended up spending more money trying to fly to the next cruise port to catch up with the cruise ship! The peace of mind that comes with booking through the cruise line is truly invaluable, making the higher cost worth it.
Why Book Shore Excursions Outside?
The main reason to book shore excursions through independent tour operators is that they are much cheaper. The cost savings can really add up, especially if you are a big family or you are planning to book several shore excursions. But is it worth the risk of being left behind by the cruise ship? Below, we’ll discuss various considerations to help you decide whether to book shore excursions through the cruise line or from outside tour operators.
When Should You Book Shore Excursions Through the Cruise Ship?
You will need to factor in a few things to decide whether to book shore excursions directly through the cruise or through outside tour operators.
Are You in a Remote Place?
If your cruise port is in a remote location and you’re debating whether to book a shore excursion externally or through the cruise ship, I’d recommend booking through the cruise ship, even if it’s more expensive. You wouldn’t want to risk ending up in a challenging situation and getting stuck at the cruise port of a distant foreign town.
For example, there was a recent incident where a group of cruise passengers found themselves stranded on a remote African island, and they had to endure a difficult, harrowing journey to reunite with their cruise ship. The place in Africa was so isolated that they struggled with the language, and the transportation options were limited. It was definitely not an ideal situation to be in.
However, if you’re at a cruise port located in a major city with plenty of flight and transportation choices, then I’d be more inclined to take the chance and book a shore excursion externally. In the worst case scenario, if you were to be stranded, it would be easier to find flights and transportation to reach the next cruise port.
What Time is the Tour?
When deciding whether to book a shore excursion outside or through the cruise line, the tour start and end time is a major consideration. If it’s a morning tour and you’ll be back a few hours before the cruise ship’s all-aboard time, it’s safe to book through an outside operator.
But for an afternoon tour that gets you back close to the all-aboard time, it’s risky to book through a non-cruise tour operator. If the tour runs late, you might miss the ship. In that case, it’s better to play it safe and book through the cruise ship, even if it’s pricier.
Is it a Complicated Tour?
You need to consider the complexity of your tour and the likelihood of something going wrong that could cause you to miss the cruise ship. If your tour involves many steps, such as taking a 45-minute ferry to another island, then taking a bus, and then taking the same 45-minute ferry back, then you may want to play it safe and book shore excursions through the cruise ship.
But, for simple, straightforward tours where you just board a bus at the port for a sightseeing tour, you’ll most likely be fine booking outside with independent tour operators.
Is It Hurricane Season?
If you’re planning a cruise during hurricane season, it’s best to be cautious when booking shore excursions. Cruising during hurricane season carries more risk since your cruise ship can be redirected at the last minute, increasing the likelihood of missing a port.
To play it safe, I recommend booking your shore excursion through the cruise line. This way, if a port is skipped, you can get a refund or find an alternative excursion. If you book with an external tour operator, it may not be refundable if your cruise ship skips the port, and you might end up wasting money if you miss the tour.
Are You Going Far?
When booking cruise shore excursions, it’s important to consider the distance involved. If the tour is just a simple bus ride in town, the risk of missing the ship and returning late is low, so it’s generally okay to book with an independent tour operator.
If your shore excursion involves a longer bus ride (2+ hours), you run a higher risk of being late and missing the ship. In that case, it’s better to play it safe and book the shore excursion through the cruise ship, even if it’s more expensive.
When Should You Book Shore Excursions to Get the Best Price?
When it comes to booking cruise shore excursions, the timing of your booking can make a big difference. Booking your shore excursions online before you board the cruise ship allows you to take advantage of discounts and get the best price. Most cruise lines offer discounts to passengers who book in advance.
For example, Celebrity Cruises provides a 10-15% discount on shore excursions when you book online in advance, while MSC Cruise offers a 10% discount for online bookings made in advance. So, if you’re planning to book shore excursions through the cruise line, it’s definitely worth booking in advance online to get the best price.
Another advantage of booking shore excursions in advance is that you will get your first choice shore excursions. Since many popular shore excursions tend to sell out, early booking will guarantee you a spot.
And since many shore excursions are refundable, you really don’t have much to lose by booking in advance. For example, Celebrity Cruises allows you to cancel 48 hours before the tour.
What’s the Downside of Booking Shore Excursions in Advance?
The only downside of booking shore excursions in advance is that if you have onboard credit, you might not be able to use it to book your shore excursions in advance. On my recent Baltic cruise with Celebrity Cruises, I could only apply $50 of my $150 onboard credit towards pre-booking excursions.
While on my MSC Cruise to the Bahamas, I couldn’t use any onboard credit for shore excursions in advance. Meanwhile, when I went on Princess cruise, I could use all of my onboard credit to book shore excursions in advance. So, it really depends on the cruise line, they have varying policies.
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