Cruise shore excursions: What you need to know

Taking a tour around the ports your cruise ship visits is an integral part of the cruise experience. Here's how to tackle finding and booking an amazing shore excursion.
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[@rp7302to]

I will be a first time cruiser and I think I will book with Royal just to be safe

[@taradunspaugh4300]

I think when in Italy, it's safer to book a tour through RC since the cities are so far inland. I'd be too nervous about getting back on time!

[@beachymamaadventures]

I always watch (several) port stop KZbin videos to see what’s available to determine what I want to do on an island or port stop.

[@BrianAlt]

That's a good idea. More often I've chosen a tour that I *THINK* I want to do and then look up a video about it.

[@beachymamaadventures]

@@BrianAlt what I keep discovering is that there are options I haven’t even heard of before!

[@kevinodonnell5205]

Did my first cruise on NS which was a great trip. Did a good tour from the ship

[@randyo6019]

Great advice as always! Very thorough and informative. I’ve book the water park Arawak in labadee for my kids and a private cabana for cococay July. I usually go on TripAdvisor a lot to see what others are doing. Thx again

[@SkyBlu868]

I find your videos are really helpful and well done. Also, you have such a great voice for this. Great job!

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

Thank you so much!

[@bigmikes1603]

Safety First!! Do some research on the port and the area you will be visiting. There is often a bus/taxi/etc ride well away from the port. Know where you're going and what to expect when you get there.

[@bigboy0625]

Always so helpful and ful of great information thanks 👍

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

Thank you!

[@jonnham]

Thank you. I’ve never actually been on a cruise but I have some friends that are starting to convince me. Just doing a lot of research. Great videos.

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nancys.1184]

Perfect timing!

[@Hazerdismop]

Going to Alaska in June. Found a tour that we liked with cruise ship but the tour left at 8am, much earlier than we’d like to up. I found the same tour with the provider but starting at 11am. We are in port until 9pm so I have no fear for getting back in time. Same price as ship but better time!

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

Awesome!

[@dianamoore5107]

We have a cruise coming up in August to New England/Canada. Sadly, the excursion we paid for in Halifax/Peggy's Cove got cancelled. RC was awesome though, full refund and an additional credit. Now, we are going to research the what-to-dos in that port.

[@simonbayford9681]

We use a cruise tour if ship is docked along way from city etc eg Bangkok is a 2 hour drive from port. However in Caribbean we have never booked a cruise tour as local cabs/ tours are plentiful when you get off and much cheaper. They usually know what time ship departs as well. Often we have arranged for them to return and pick us up from a beach as payment is made when we return to the ship so no issues with being stranded.

[@maryg.7790]

Great advice!

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

Thanks!

[@mortpes]

Do not buy a shore excursion if you use a cane or walker or wheelchair. Instead hire a personnel guide for select ports.

[@paulagarfinkel7102]

We booked through Viator in Curacao for a Sunset Cruise. They advertise the cruise is wheelchair accessible and I noted on our reservation that I will be bringing along a motorized power chair. We had excellent results from this company in St Maarten, including a driver who knew how to break down the chair and assemble it when we stopped at photo ops and scheduled stop.

[@mortpes]

@@paulagarfinkel7102 Thanks for the update. I have just been awarded a electric scooter. The scooter opens the door to many adventures some simple.

[@carlotsuka6342]

We have viewed Vloggers’ private, non- Royal Caribbean tours off the ship and have booked the same tour and was very satisfied with the tour. Like Matt said, we were not surprised, and also were able to stop at a fire station to buy some shirts. (This was a private tour, rather than a group tour) Just needed to ask if we could take a short detour.

[@ModernMyths]

Honestly, next time I go to the Grand Caymen. I would love to take a tour of the National Trust. It's a wildlife sanctuary of animals on the Island. Including the beautiful Blue Iguanas as well as other beautiful animals on the island. But they don't have ship tours for it. Then again, it's on the other side of the island.

[@sharyncreswell5138]

Get your Guide is another search engine that is great for activities.

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@dchenkin02]

My first cruise was a group cruise booked through a friend. He had been to Bermuda before so knew a great beach accessible by taxi van; otherwise he was basically useless as towards helping find excursions. Definitely will be doing research on ports and using a travel agent the next time I go on a cruise. Quick question, do travel agents work with reputable third parties? Would definitely consult with a good travel agent before booking an excursion.

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

Travel agents can usually make a recommendation. They likely can't book it for you, but they can certainly point you in the right direction.

[@amvpv6774]

Can you get into full detail of the excursions ? The ones you’ve done ? For example I want to do the snorkeling with 1 hour open bar - it doesn’t say if alcohol if complimentary for an hour lol

[@mr.cryptovet]

Can your kids be on the ship in an aquanauts program while adults go on an excursion? Sorry if that question seems gloomy but better to know than not. Thank you in advance.

[@hoeswaaayz]

Question are the excursions on royal cheaper before hand or cheaper when you get there ?

[@jenniferharmon5779]

I have a first time cruiser question-if I'm planning an excursion from an outside vendor, what times do I use to book? Such as the itinerary says our ship docks at 9am, does that mean I can't plan for anything before 11am? And if it says leaving port at 9pm, should I plan to be back 1 hr, 2 hrs before that?

[@paullambert7110]

My question is when the ship goes to port how do u know where to go to do your excursion.. ?? Please help

[@naranchauhan3249]

Nice video. Thanks. Please inform if somebody wants to wander on the port can they do that and come back to ship early.

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

Yup!

[@krisensman4528]

Hey , love the vids! Im about to head out to a cruise soon for navigator . Do you know if they accept CVS covid testing results?

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

Yes they do

[@KeLonely]

If the ship gets to the destination at 8 am & the excursion is scheduled at 8:15am, it’s that enough time to make it? (Booked through Royal Caribbean)

[@latoyal12]

Great info Matt! Got a quick question. How far in advance do they list tickets for Perfect Cay? We cruise next April and I see all the other cruise excursions listed. Just wondering if that is usually the last thing added or do we just pay when we get there. I’m sure I missed a video of you talking about this but I probably missed it. Thanks and love all the info!!:-)

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

There's no exact time. Check back ~6 months before your sail date

[@paullambert7110]

I just booked and I saw one all the way up to 2024 Nov.

[@staytuned9980]

Royal caribbean has a whole independent website where you can easily search every excursion that may be offered for a given itinerary. This is very helpful when it comes to AGE LIMITS. Please make note of age limits; for example - kids must be at least 10 to ride as a passenger on a wave jet.

[@titlepending1302]

No they don’t lol … you basically have to book to see every possible excursion glad k dodge a bullet with them

[@sanitatumsanctum4972]

What’s the website? I don’t see excursions on their regular website and customer service said you can’t see them until you book.

[@thisbritslife]

Can you provide any tips on timings for shore excursions if book them privately? For some ports, I want to explore on my own or book a private tour as the RC options aren’t great but not sure on things like; what time can I realistically get off the ship at each port ie if arrive in port at 8am can I get off the ship at 8am or would it be more like 9/9.30am? and also I keep hearing about local time versus ship time, and that everything I book privately has to be on ship time. I’m a first time cruiser so any info welcome.

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

You might ask the tour operator. Many of them deal with cruise ships all the time and have a good idea. In terms of getting back, I always plan to be back 2 hours before all aboard time

[@thisbritslife]

@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog This is really helpful, thank you :)

[@tonymassara4018]

Maybe it’s just our family’s luck, but we have had terrible experiences with bike rentals. Chains fall off, tires go flat, etc. and then you’re stuck or wasting a lot of time fixing an unknown bike mikes from the rental place.

[@CRSPARKERS]

How to get refund if my cruise price decreases ??

[@kevinlougachi6696]

Going on a Greek island cruise. I found the well Caribbean shore excursions lacking since they don’t provide an itinerary and are not clear on whether the shore excursion includes tickets to major attractions. Calling royal Caribbean was frustrating since there customer service people do not know anything about the shore excursions and just read back the description from the website. Seems like an area where a lot of work still needs to be done.

[@titlepending1302]

Thought I was the only one thanks for sharing

[@razchai7543]

Can I still have my lunch on the ship on shore excursion?

[@philkupczyk3877]

Matt, in a previous video I watched you mentioned two other websites you have used to book excursions but I can’t find that video. Can you let us know what they are again?

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

Was it resortforaday.com and resortpass.com?

[@AlbertoHamade]

Is there a way to book an excursion from Port Canaveral to the Kennedy Space Center that is not the official excursion from Royal Carribean? It has been sold out since we booked the cruise, and I am not sure if there are third party excursions from the port.

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

Yes, just book your own admission and get a taxi when you walk off the ship

[@AlbertoHamade]

@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog I forgot to mention, we actually have 4 kids under 5, so we need some sort of bus because we won't have car seats.

[@dominiquecavalluzzi5169]

I know you said Falmouth is your least fav port…. Is there anything really worth the money and time to do there (is it a place you can walk around the port on our own?) or should we use it as a relaxing day on ship?

[@evelynmckenzie5269]

You can enjoy a day in the Falmouth port or go out the security gate, cross the street and come to a traditional native market if you are daring. Use it as a day to stretch your legs off the ship for a short while.

[@arlenemaxwellcopeland1644]

We were highly entertained standing outside the gates and in front of the court house while waiting for friends to give us a "tour". There was music playing, locals mingling and enjoying the music, a rooster had his way with a hen, to everyone's amusement. The area was well-policed with friendly and helpful officers. There were 4 of us waiting. Let that speak for the safety issue and walking around. As far as what to do, besides enjoying the old architecture and charm of the port area, there is a wonderful restaurant called Rock Wharf a very short distance from the port. You can sit outside under the trees and breeze, keeping your ship within view, swim in the restaurant's pool, and if you're there at night, I think they have those things that glow in the water at night bioluminescent???? The food at the restaurant is fresh, delicious. And best of all, you don't have to take my word. You can look up Rock Wharf and see photos, even see a youtube of a foodie having a day there.

[@jacquelyns9709]

All your suggestions are good. However, you left out a major source of information. Written guidebooks! They exist for regions, individual countries and sometimes for cities. Cruise guidebooks do exist. But read them all. No one guidebook covers everything you can do, see, and buy. Borrow from your Public Library. Older editions are fine for preliminary research. Use the Internet for current prices, hours, new & closed venues, etc. Rick Steves has 2 cruise guidebooks for Europe. He concentrates on independent port exploration but does recommend commercial operations for some ports.

[@edwinchw]

can you go on shore/port and walk on your own without booking any tour?

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

Yes

[@darleneadams3137]

Have been trying to book an excursion for whale watching in Sitka in August, Royal's options are already sold out! Any suggestions.

[@paulagarfinkel7102]

We are in the same situation in Curaçao. We’ve used Viator on previous cruises and recommend them for any of the Caribbean ports. In fact, we are using them for a sunset cruise in Curacao next month when RC was sold out. You will love the whale watching - we did that itinerary in august 2019 and while expensive, all excursions were well worth it.

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

I’d look at a private excursion

[@darleneadams3137]

@@paulagarfinkel7102 thank you for the info.

[@isitsummeryet4338]

I don’t think I’d believe trip advisor reviews again… I’ve come across obvious paid 5 star reviews from people with no other reviews under their belt. Just use caution when booking a tour in a non US territory.

[@catiabel2001]

Royal Caribbean should better display the excursions available on each ship to make choosing easier. There is almost no information about the excursions. Then we end up not hiring.

[@showboyz919]

Can unvaccinated kids be booked on non royal caribbean excursion or can they even get off the ship for that matter

[@RoyalCaribbeanBlog]

No restrictions un vaccinated kids on shore excursions anymore

[@showboyz919]

@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog thank you very much 😊

[@mccurdytravis]

Disappointed to see swimming with dolphins was glorified on this video. Horrible practice, wish people would never book them so that they could live in the wild. Great video otherwise.