How We Book Shore Excursions on a Cruise
One of the questions we get asked more than almost anything else is how we book shore excursions — and whether it’s better to book with the cruise line or go independent.
The honest answer? There isn’t one “right” way. The best option depends on the port, how long you’re there, how confident you feel getting around, and how close you’re willing to cut it getting back to the ship.
Over the years, we’ve booked shore excursions in every possible way: cruise line tours, independent operators, and completely DIY port days. Each option has its pros and cons, and we often use different approaches on the same cruise.
In this guide, we break shore excursions down into three main categories and explain when each one makes sense:
Cruise line (ship-sponsored) shore excursions
Independent (third-party) cruise excursions
Using marketplaces like Viator to find local operators
Planning your own day in port
Quick Guide: Which Option Is Best for You?
If you just want the short version:
Cruise line excursions are best if you want zero stress, have limited time, or are visiting a more unpredictable port
Independent cruise excursions usually offer the best balance of value and peace of mind
Using Viator and Klook is useful when other options are limited or you want local tour
DIY port days work best in cities with good transport and if you’re confident managing your own timing
Ben in Türkiye on a Cruise Line Shore Excursions
Cruise Line Shore Excursions
Booking shore excursions directly with the cruise line is the easiest and safest option, especially if you’re new to cruising or don’t want to worry about logistics on the day. It’s also usually the first place we look when researching a port, as it gives us a good overview of what’s available to do during the time we’re there.
Pros
Transport usually starts right at the ship or from a clearly marked meeting point inside the port
If the tour runs late, the ship will wait for you
Any issues can be handled directly through the cruise line
Onboard credit can often be used toward cruise line excursions
Cons
Cruise line excursions are almost always more expensive than third-party options
Group sizes can be large, and it can start to feel like being herded around
Schedules are usually quite rigid, with limited flexibility or free time
When We Book Cruise Line Shore Excursions
We usually choose cruise-run excursions when time in port is limited and/or when tendering is involved. A good example is in Thailand, where we wanted to visit the Phi Phi Islands but only had around eight hours in port and had to tender ashore. There was no way we’d feel comfortable trying to make that journey independently and still get back in time.
Watch our experience visiting the Phi Phi islands on a Cruise Shore Excursion:
We also lean towards cruise line excursions when the main attraction is a long distance from the port. Visiting Rome from Civitavecchia on a short port day is a classic example, where traffic delays could easily turn into a stressful race back to the ship.
Finally, we’ll often stick with cruise-run tours in ports where we don’t feel comfortable exploring independently. In places where safety, infrastructure, or transport is less predictable, the peace of mind of being on a ship-organised excursion can outweigh the higher cost.
Independent (Third Party) Cruise Excursions
Independent cruise excursions are a popular alternative if you want smaller groups and better value.
Operators like Shore Excursions Group offer some of the same tours as the ship — but typically with fewer people and at a lower cost than ship-run tours.
We’ve used Shore Excursions Group many times over the years, including on recent cruises in the Caribbean and Europe. This is often our go-to when we want something guided and well organised without the crowds.
Watch our tour with Shore Excursions Group in India:
Pros
Unlike platforms such as Viator, these tours are planned specifically around cruise ship arrival and departure times
Easy to book — you enter your cruise details and see all available excursions, with the option to book multiple ports in one go
Group sizes are usually much smaller than cruise line excursions
Often significantly cheaper than booking through the ship
24/7 traveller support and a money-back guarantee
Cons
These are not ship-sponsored excursions, so the ship will not wait if you’re late
To offset this, Shore Excursions Group offers a Guaranteed Return to Ship policy if delays occur
You won’t meet on the ship — meeting points are usually just outside the port but they provide very clear instructions, including exactly where to meet, what the guide will be wearing, what sign they’ll be holding, a local phone number, and access to a 24/7 emergency hotline
When We Book Independent (Third-Party) Cruise Excursions
This is our go-to option for most ports. We usually book them when we want something guided and well organised, but without the crowds, rigid schedules, and higher prices that often come with ship-run tours. They work especially well on full port days, in places where timings are predictable, and when we still want the reassurance of a cruise-aware operator like Shore Excursions Group.
For us, this option often hits the sweet spot between value, comfort, and peace of mind — which is why it’s the one we use most often.
Click here to visit Shore Excursions Group
Using Viator to Find Excursion Operators
Viator works best as a marketplace rather than a cruise-focused excursion provider. It gives access to a wide range of local tours and activities, which can be useful when options are limited or you’re looking for something more flexible or private.
Pros
Very large selection of tours and activities in most ports
Tours tend to be locals and give you a better insight into the ports.
Lots of reviews, photos, and descriptions to help you judge quality
Often flexible cancellation policies
You can find small group tours and private tours which are much more flexible than cruise ship excursions.
Cons
Tours are not always designed around cruise ship schedules, so timings may not align with port hours
No ship-wait guarantee if something runs late
You need to check the guide is reputable and do your own research
You’re responsible for checking meeting points, transport, and return timing
Support can be hit or miss if something goes wrong. For example, in India we had a tour booked for our scheduled arrival time, but the operator moved it an hour earlier. The ship hadn’t arrived yet, we missed the tour, and Viator support was not particularly helpful in resolving the situation
We tend to use Viator when excursions are not prodded by Shore Excursions Group. Viator s also useful when we are on land-based vacations.
Planning Your Own Day in Port
Planning your own day in port can be a great option if you’re confident getting around independently and want maximum flexibility.
We often plan our own shore days in ports with good transport links and plenty of attractions, particularly city ports. When exploring cities, we usually use Klook to find things to do. It works especially well in places like Japan, South Korea, parts of Europe, and major cities in the USA, where you can book attractions, theme parks, and even transport in advance.
Pros
Complete flexibility to plan the day exactly how you want
Often much cheaper than cruise ship excursions
Ideal for repeat ports, ports close to the city or town, or destinations with excellent public transport
Cons
You are fully responsible for your timing and getting back to the ship
Requires more planning in advance
Its sometimes difficult to see exactly where you ship will be docked in advance
You miss out on a guide’s local insight into the destination
Not all attractions or transport options align neatly with cruise schedules
When We Plan Our Own Day in Port
We usually plan our own shore days in ports where transport is reliable, distances are short, and we feel confident navigating independently. Big cities, familiar destinations, and ports we’ve visited before are ideal candidates.
That said, we’re always conservative with timing. We leave plenty of buffer, double-check where the ship is docking, and avoid anything that cuts it too fine. Planning your own day can be brilliant — but only if you’re realistic about time and logistics.
Watch our Rome port visit and see how quickly time disappears on a short port day:
Things to Know Before You Book a Shore Excursion
Timing, All-Aboard, and Playing It Safe
One thing that matters more than almost anything else is understanding all-aboard time, not just arrival time. The ship will leave at all-aboard — not when your tour thinks you’ll be back.
No matter how we book, we always aim to be back well before all-aboard. Cutting it fine is rarely worth the stress, and one delay can unravel an otherwise great day.
Refunds, Cancellations, and Flexibility
Refund and cancellation policies vary depending on how you book:
Cruise line excursions are usually the easiest to cancel or change
Independent cruise-friendly operators often have clear and fair policies
Viator policies vary by operator
DIY bookings depend entirely on the attraction or transport provider
We always check cancellation terms before booking anything that relies on tight timing.
Accessibility and Pace Considerations
If mobility, pace, or comfort are important, this should factor heavily into how you book. Cruise line and private tours tend to offer clearer expectations around walking distances, transport, and timing, whereas DIY days require more research.
Safety in Port.
We also always consider how safe a destination is before deciding how to book a shore day.
That doesn’t mean we avoid places unnecessarily, but we do look at local advice, infrastructure, and how comfortable we feel exploring independently. In some ports, that might mean sticking with a ship-run or cruise-friendly excursion rather than doing our own thing, especially if transport, or safety feels less predictable.
For us, safety is just another factor — alongside timing and distance — that helps decide whether a DIY day makes sense or whether a guided excursion is the better option.
If we don’t feel comfortable in any port, we will stay onboard the ship!
What We Generally Avoid
Booking independent tours with very tight itineraries
Assuming all ports are walkable or easy to navigate
Booking long journeys independently on short port days
Turning up in port without a plan
Final Thought
There’s no single best way to book shore excursions — and that flexibility is a good thing.
We mix and match depending on the port, the itinerary, and how the day looks on paper. If you’re ever unsure, our port guides and shore-day vlogs show exactly what we did in each destination and whether we’d do it the same way again.
That’s usually the best place to start.
Looking for Port-Specific Advice?
Every port is different, which is why we’ve created individual port guides for many of the destinations we visit. In each guide, we show what we did, how we got around, and whether we’d book a cruise excursion, an independent tour, or plan the day ourselves.
These guides are especially useful if you’re unsure about distance from the port, transport options, safety, or how realistic a DIY day really is.
