11 cruise ship excursions to avoid
You have eight to 10 hours in port, and you might never return to that destination. How do you make sure you don’t blow your chance at an amazing vacation day by choosing the wrong cruise ship shore excursion?
It’s a daunting task for sure, but some close reading and a little bit of thought can steer you away from making bad tour choices. Here are some general tips to follow:
Tip 1: Be honest with yourself about the personalities and abilities of your travel party and what they actually will be happy doing.
Tip 2: Don’t feel obligated to take a ship-sponsored tour. Independent options are often better.
Tip 3: Read the following list of types of cruise ship shore excursions that aren’t worth your time, money and the risk of midtour meltdowns.
Panoramic sightseeing tours
“Panoramic” is cruise speak for “you will view key attractions exclusively from inside a bus.” You might want to see that historic cathedral interior or step outside to enjoy the scenic overlook. However, if you prefer to spend more time on the ground than inside a coach, avoid any tour with “panoramic sightseeing,” “island tour” or “[destination] by coach” in the title.
Most shore excursion descriptions will tell you how much time you’ll spend at each attraction, so look for those clues to ensure you’re actually experiencing the sites you want to see.
Note that you should ignore this advice if you have mobility challenges; these sightseeing tours are a great way to see the top sights without worrying about navigating cobblestone streets or stairs.
Tourist trains and trams
Unless you’re cruising with Thomas the Tank Engine-obsessed toddlers, please maintain your dignity and avoid the tourist trains and trams that chug around cruise destinations. I’m not talking about actual scenic railways; I’m talking about the cutesy painted miniature locomotives pulling open-air carriages through the streets of places like the Royal Dockyard in Bermuda, Belize City and Piraeus, Greece.
Frankly, it’s embarrassing and tags you as a clueless American tourist. Hop-on, hop-off coach tours are much preferred for easy transportation between key tourist attractions.
Related: Avoid these 10 mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions
All-day marathon tours
I’d love to see the Yukon. However, I have no interest in taking a seven-hour tour that combines a trip on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway into British Columbia, a bus ride to the border of the Yukon and then another bus ride down the Klondike Highway back to Skagway. It’s too much sitting.
I have done the marathon tour from Livorno to Florence in Italy, and I can assure you that I fell asleep exhausted on the coach ride back every time.
All-day marathon tours might be the only way to cram everything you want to see into your one day in port. However, the breakneck pace might not be worth the sore feet, missed ship dinner and information overload. Worse, sometimes these long tours involve more driving than sightseeing.
For example, Princess Cruises’ Best of Florence and Pisa excursion includes about 6 and 1/2 hours of actual touring (both independent and guided). However, the tour takes 10 hours. About 3 1/2 hours will be in transit, with more time spent waiting for tardy tourists and walking from bus parking to the actual attractions.
You might be better off focusing your time on one area during your cruise. If you want to see more, return for a land visit at a more relaxed pace another year.
Related: 9 great cruise vacations that combine a cruise and a train trip
Short tours with a long transit
In a similar vein, and with a nod to the Cake song, any tour that spends more time in transit than at the actual tour destination might not be the best use of your time. If you’re going to schlep out somewhere on a day trip, you want it to be worth your while. Otherwise, you might get more value from staying closer to port to sightsee, shop and dine on your own.
Museum tours
Do you take tours of museums when you’re home? No. You simply go to the museum, perhaps pick up an audio guide and wander through on your own. So, why would you take a tour of a museum on a cruise?
Unless you need a tour for transportation, skip the overpriced shore excursion and head to that museum of interest on your own. You can spend as much or as little time in the rooms that interest you, and you can skip around large groups crowding a particular artwork or display. You also don’t have to reduce yourself to meekly following behind a sign-toting guide. You can usually find English-language audio tours if you need more information or can’t read the display signs.
Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises
Beach breaks
Do you want to go to the beach? Hail a cab, and go to the beach. The locals know that cruisers want to go to the beach, and you’ll find shuttles, trams and vans all waiting to take you to the beach and back. You don’t need a tour to get there.
Similarly, if you want to spend the day at a local resort, using its beach, pool and facilities, you can often find cheaper options if you book through the property directly rather than via your ship’s shore excursion desk. Just check to see if transportation is included and factor in the price of a taxi if it’s not.
Related: Best Caribbean cruise shore excursions
Shopping tours
The same mindset applies to shopping tours. If you want to go shopping, all you need to do is walk off the cruise ship. If there aren’t a bevy of souvenir and jewelry shops right at the port, you’ll be able to find plenty in town. It’s rare that a shopping tour is going to take you to special or local secret galleries where you can find amazing art or spectacular buys.
Are you a shopaholic or a connoisseur of a particular product? Your best bet is to do your research in advance, find the shops or galleries you wish to visit and take a taxi or hire a private guide to take you to the merchants you most want to see.
Booze cruises
I’m a huge fan of catamaran sails — getting out on the water to feel the breeze in your hair and watch the scenery go by, maybe getting in some snorkeling or beach time. However, I avoid any shore tour labeled “party cruise” or “open bar” like the plague.
If you’re choosing a tour because you want to snorkel or see the sunset over the water, know that someone on the boat is bound to over-imbibe, become belligerent or end up barfing because they don’t know when to stop with the free rum punch.
Looking for a party? Have at it. Just be careful because those fruity drinks are stronger than they taste; the heat, alcohol and sugar combination makes for a wild time with some consequences. Do you really want to miss out on the next port or ship nightlife because you’re too hungover from your tour to get out of bed?
Related: How to get free or cheap drinks on a cruise
Glass-bottom boat rides
I admit — I went on an amazing semi-submersible ride in Maui, where we actually saw incredible sea life. All the other glass-bottom boat rides and “submarine” tours I’ve done have been murky and unimpressive.
Unless you’re claustrophobic, it can’t hurt to try, but the chances of you having an amazing underwater experience on one of these tours are low. If you cannot snorkel or scuba dive, you might prefer to try your luck with a land-based tour.
Tours involving maltreated animals
You might have a life goal to swim with dolphins or ride on an elephant, but please do not support any organization that does not treat their animals well. If you can’t verify that the animals are getting superb care, avoid shore excursions that have you interacting with captive wild animals.
Instead, choose tours that allow you to see animals in the wild, such as whale-watching tours in Hawaii, bear-viewing excursions in Alaska or hikes or boat rides through the jungle where you can spot birds or monkeys in the trees.
Any tour you're not fit for
Haven’t gotten on a bike in years? Now is not the time to book that cycling tour through Valencia, Spain, or go speeding 25 miles down the Haleakala volcano in Maui. Have mobility issues? A walking tour through a cobblestoned old town is not for you. Afraid of heights? Whatever you do, do not zip line.
The person you wish you were (or the strapping youth you once were) will not be taking the tour — only you in your current level of health and fitness. Avoid any shore excursions you can’t handle, and you will be much happier with your time spent in port rather than at the local hospital.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
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- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- Top ways cruisers waste money
- The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.