Planning a cruise is exciting, but figuring out how to spend your time in ports can be overwhelming. Do you stick with the cruise line’s shore excursions, where everything is planned for you, or do you venture out alone for a more flexible and often cheaper experience? It isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, but there are guidelines to help you make the best choice.
Make sure to get off the cruise ship to explore
Cruising is more than just enjoying the ship. While it’s tempting to stay onboard and relax — especially when the ship is docked at a busy port — it’s worth stepping off to see what each destination offers. Whether you book a tour or explore on your own, getting off the ship gives you a taste of local culture, food and history. Even if you’ve been to a port before, there’s always something new to discover.
Cruise lines offer a variety of excursions, from city tours and beach days to adventure activities like zip lining and snorkeling. But that doesn’t mean you have to go with an organized group. Some ports are perfect for independent exploration, especially if they’re walkable or have easy transportation options.
Why book the cruise’s shore excursions
Booking excursions through your cruise line has a few big advantages. You can’t beat the convenience when the cruise line takes care of everything, from transportation to guided experiences.
You don’t have to research different tour operators or worry about logistics — just show up and enjoy. In a tender port, you don’t have to line up to get tickets as you have priority to debark, which saves you time and stress.
Cruise lines vet their tour providers, ensuring they meet safety and quality standards, so you can be relatively certain that you’ll enjoy your day in port. You also have recourse if something goes wrong.
With a cruise line excursion, you have the peace of mind that if your tour runs late, the ship will wait for you. If you book independently and don’t make it back in time, you could be left behind.
This is a big reason to book through the cruise line in ports with less shore time. If you’re in a location where you don’t speak the native language, it may be more comfortable to use the official excursions to know there will be no language barrier.
If you’re new to cruising, you may want to start out booking through the cruise line. There is a lot to adjust to when vacationing on a ship, and trying to figure out how to explore a new destination may be stressful.
Many excursions sell out, so booking early is important. If there’s a must-do activity — like exploring the Secret River in Cozumel or snorkeling the Barrier Reef in Belize — reserving a spot in advance ensures you won’t miss out. Cruise lines also offer cancellation policies, so if plans change, you may be able to get a refund or credit.
When it makes sense to book shore excursions on your own
While booking through the cruise line is convenient, it’s not always necessary. Sometimes, independent tours offer better prices, smaller group sizes or more customized experiences. If you’re comfortable arranging your own transportation and don’t mind keeping track of time, booking on your own can be a great option.
Independent excursions can be especially worthwhile in ports where you want to do something unique that isn’t offered by the cruise line. Maybe you want a small group tour in Santorini or a cooking class in Barcelona. Local operators often provide more personalized experiences, and you can sometimes negotiate prices.
Cruise excursions stick to a strict schedule, which means limited time at each stop. If you’d rather linger at a museum, take your time snorkeling with stingrays or explore at your own pace, an independent tour or self-guided adventure may be the way to go.
Some ports are fun to explore on your own
Not every port requires a guided tour. Some destinations are easy to navigate, making independent exploration a stress-free option. In these places, you can step off the ship and explore historic sites, restaurants and shopping areas without needing transportation.
In Grand Turk and Roatan, there are gorgeous beaches within walking distance from the pier, so there’s no need to book an excursion for a day of fun in the sun. Dubrovnik and Copenhagen in Europe are other examples of major attractions right near the port.
Cities like San Juan in Puerto Rico are also very walkable, and you can explore on your own or use an app like GPSmyCity to create your own excursion at your leisure. Research the ports, and you can save a ton of money to put towards other, more unique experiences.
In some Caribbean destinations, like St. Maarten or Grand Turk, taxis and rental cars make getting to beaches or scenic spots simple without booking an official tour. In larger cities like Athens or Sydney, hop-on-hop-off buses provide an easy way to see major attractions at your own pace.
Research the port before deciding to explore it independently. Consider safety, transportation availability and how much time you have. Some ports, like those in remote areas of Alaska or smaller islands in the South Pacific, may not have reliable transportation, making an organized excursion the better choice.
“I’m all about exploring on my own when it’s a walkable port or a place I’ve researched ahead of time — it makes the experience feel more authentic. But if it’s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure or something farther from the port, like a glacier hike or ruins tour, I’ll book with the cruise line for the added security. For me, it’s about making the most of every stop while keeping the stress low.”
— Bella Bucchiotti, xoxoBella
No matter what you choose, enjoy your port
Choosing between booking shore excursions through your cruise line or exploring on your own depends on the destination, your comfort level and how much planning you want to do. Cruise line excursions offer reliability and convenience, while independent tours provide flexibility and unique experiences. No matter what you choose, getting off the ship and experiencing the destination is what makes cruising truly memorable.
Michelle Price is a food and travel writer at Honest and Truly who almost has an empty nest. She loves to provide both the inspiration and the confidence you need to help get you into the kitchen and on the road to enjoy new flavors and experiences.