Overview of Common Shore Excursion Mistakes Cruisers Make
This video from Life Well Cruised walks through ten practical errors that cruise passengers frequently make when booking and taking shore excursions, ranging from overlooked cancellation policies to poor pre-trip research. Whether you're a first-time cruiser or someone who has sailed before, the video shows how even experienced travelers can stumble into regrettable decisions that waste money, create safety risks, or result in disappointing port experiences.
The guide suits anyone planning a cruise who wants their port days to be memorable for the right reasons. If you're booking excursions for the first time, returning to popular destinations, or considering whether to book through your cruise line or a private vendor, this video offers concrete, actionable advice that will help you avoid costly mistakes.
Key Moments
Key Mistakes and Practical Lessons Covered
- Not understanding cancellation policies for cruise-line, small-group, and privately booked excursions—critical because refund terms vary widely and some tours are non-refundable
- Booking the most popular shore excursion without researching current conditions, which can result in overcrowding and disappointing experiences
- Forgetting cash and small bills, leaving you unable to tip guides or drivers or purchase drinks and snacks
- Underestimating physical difficulty and fitness requirements, risking twisted ankles on cobblestone streets or falls on scenic trails
- Waiting too long to book premium excursions, which fill up weeks or months in advance
- Not bringing seasickness medication on boat-based excursions, even if you've felt fine on the cruise ship itself
- Skipping essential items like reef-safe sunscreen, hats, or water bottles based on the excursion's specific needs
- Ignoring or dismissing negative reviews, especially when the same complaint appears across multiple sources
- Avoiding excursion costs altogether, missing bucket-list destinations that cannot be reached on foot from the port
- Being late to meet your group or returning to the ship, resulting in missed excursions or being left behind
What to Know Before Booking Your Shore Excursions
- Cancellation policies vary: Cruise-line excursions are typically refundable up to 24 or 48 hours before departure, but private vendors and curated tours may require cancellation 30 days ahead or offer no refunds at all
- Check what happens if the ship can't dock: Ask your vendor whether you'll receive a refund or credit if weather or itinerary changes prevent the port visit
- Book early for popular destinations: The best excursions sell out in advance; reserve yours as soon as bookings open on your cruise line's website
- Read the full description, not just the fitness icon: Look for mention of cobblestone streets, scenic trails with roots, or extended walking that could exceed your comfort level
- Research alternatives to crowded attractions: Less popular beaches, smaller group tours, or catamaran excursions often deliver better experiences than the most-booked options
- Bring cash in small denominations: Even all-inclusive excursions benefit from having $5–10 in tips for guides and drivers, plus money for additional drinks or purchases
- Pack specific essentials: Reef-safe sunscreen, water bottles, hats, and water shoes appear frequently; check your excursion details for a full list
- Never skip the reviews: Watch videos, read blogs, and join cruise Facebook groups to hear real feedback about the excursion you're considering
- Arrive early and know ship time: Set your phone to ship's time and plan to return at least 30 minutes before the all-aboard time to avoid missing the ship
Frequently Asked Questions About Booking Shore Excursions
Can I cancel a cruise-line shore excursion after I've paid?
Yes, in most cases. Cruise-line excursions are typically refundable if you cancel 24 to 48 hours before the excursion. However, small-group tours, private excursions, and curated experiences often have different policies—some require cancellation 30 days in advance, and portions may be non-refundable. Always check the specific policy when you book.
What should I do if a popular excursion disappoints me?
Research first instead of booking blindly. Read recent reviews, watch videos, and ask in cruise forums about current conditions. The video highlights how overcrowding, poor management, or changed conditions at famous beaches can diminish the experience. Consider booking less-crowded alternatives or a different activity at the same port.
Do I need to bring cash even if I've paid for an all-inclusive excursion?
Yes. Bring small bills for tipping guides and drivers, plus extra cash for water bottles, snacks, or drinks that may not be included. It's also smart to carry one credit card for emergencies.
How do I know if a shore excursion is too physically demanding for me?
Check the fitness-level icon on the cruise line's website, but also read the full description. Look for keywords like "cobblestone streets," "scenic trail," "hiking," or mentions of extended walking. If you're prone to ankle injuries or have limited mobility, ask the vendor directly about terrain and pace before booking.
Should I book through the cruise line or use a private vendor?
Cruise-line excursions offer convenience and the guarantee that the ship will wait for you if you're late. Private excursions, however, typically involve smaller groups, less waiting time, and more flexibility—though they carry higher risk if the vendor is unreliable or the refund policy is unfavorable. If you choose a private vendor, check reviews thoroughly, choose a reputable company, and confirm the cancellation policy and refund terms in writing.
- Bonine (meclizine hydrochloride) seasickness tablets
- Dramamine seasickness medication
Watch more Cruise →Key Terms
- Shore excursion
- An organized tour or activity that cruise passengers book to do during a port stop.
- All-inclusive excursion
- An excursion where most or all meals, drinks, and activities are included in the upfront price.
- Fitness level or activity level
- A rating system indicating how physically demanding an excursion is, shown as an icon on the cruise line's website.
- Cancellation policy
- The set of rules that determine how much money you get back if you cancel an excursion before the scheduled date.
- Tender
- A small boat used to transport passengers from the cruise ship to shore when the ship cannot dock directly at the port.
- All-aboard time
- The deadline by which all passengers must return to the ship before it departs the port.
Sources: Shore excursion · All-inclusive excursion · Fitness level or activity level · Cancellation policy · Tender · All-aboard time — definitions cross-referenced with Wikipedia
Video by Life Well Cruised on YouTube. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe to their channel and show your support for the great video.
Description
Shore excursions are a big part of cruising, but unfortunately there can be some mistakes that cruisers often make (and regret!). Making some of these cruise shore excursion mistakes can result in losing or wasting money, unwelcome injuries, and more.
In this video we go over cruise shore excursion tips as well as things cruise passengers should avoid. Some of these cruise travel mistakes are more common, while others are unusual and notb often talked about.
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ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Ilana! I live in Montreal, Canada with my husband Frank. We can often be found dreaming about and planning future cruises, ideally to hot and sunny destinations! I believe in having fun, being kind and that you are never too old, or too young, to live the life of your dreams!
Please note that I do not sell cruises on Life Well Cruised. This and all other videos are for entertainment purposes only. I share my ownVideo transcript for “10 Shore Excursion Mistakes Cruisers (Almost) Always Regret” Accessibility
A full written transcript of this video, provided for accessibility. Select any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.
planning and going on shore excursions are a big part of a cruise experience but making some of these mistakes can result in wasting money in injuries and overall having a day that you regret hi there I'm Ilana from the website lifewallcruise.com welcome or welcome back to my channel now no matter where
you go on a cruise no matter the itinerary there's a good chance that you are going to be booking at least some excursions and it can happen to the best of us even the most seasoned Cruiser can make some of these mistakes in fact I got caught up in one on a recent Cruise myself but I want you to have the best
day in Port possible so in this video I'm going to be sharing with you 10 short Excursion mistakes that Cruisers almost always regret making now before I get started I did want to mention that if you like this video if you find it helpful informative or enjoyable in any way then please do give this video a big
thumbs up I really do appreciate it and please subscribe to the channel if you haven't done so already let's get started okay let's start off with one that is not often talked about but it is pretty important number one not knowing your cancellation policies and your cancellation dates so when you two book
an Excursion with the cruise line most of the time that Shore Excursion is actually refundable a lot of people don't realize that but when you do book that Shore Excursion through the cruise line you can often cancel up until 48 hours or sometimes 24 hours before that Excursion however if you book one of the
small group tours through the cruise line or one of the private tours or a curated tour the cancellation policy is often different so do check on that it can be as much as 30 days before your cruise or in some cases a portion may even be non-refundable now when it comes to booking with private vendors or even
third-party websites for sure excursions it's a little bit like the wild west meaning that you do not have cancellation policies that are across the board so you just have to do your homework and check what the cancellation policy is and something in particular to watch for is what happens if your cruise
ship is not able to make it to the cruise port if there's an itinerary change for instance or if there is something weather related where the cruise ship cannot make it in what is the cancellation policy and will you get your money back unfortunately we've heard of Cruisers over the last year who
have been very disappointed really regretted certain excursions that they have booked privately because those excursions they came to find out were non-refundable number two booking the most popular Shore Excursion in any cruise port of call it can happen whether you're in the Caribbean whether
you're in the Mediterranean whether you're in Canada New England there are going to be crowds in those popular tourist destinations now I'm not saying to never go to them but they can end up being a disappointment and you can definitely regret it now that happened to me we were on a cruise recently and
we went to Megan's Bay Beach in St Thomas now I had been there before but being honest I didn't really do my research at least recently to see what the experience was like now and unfortunately beyond the crowds there were some other negative things that were happening at Megan's Bay Beach for
instance when it came to lounge chairs they were all lined up row upon row and we were told this is the way management wants it done now if they weren't on their towels they actually had their towels thrown to the side for chairs to be put on and overall it was just really crowded and as much as I loved Megan's
Bay Beach in the past I just found it wasn't the best experience and I would have been better off at one of the less popular maybe a little bit more secluded beaches or on a catamaran Excursion now if you've ever had a poor experience at one of the popular or most recommended tourist attractions in a cruise port of
call please let me know down in the comments below number three not bringing cash and small bills on your Shore Excursion now even if you've paid for the Excursion in advance even if it is pretty all-inclusive you still want to have some cash with you for a couple of reasons the small bills you may want to
tip people on your Excursion it's never required however it is customary to tips sometimes to the driver or the tour guide so have a few dollars handy in case you do want to tip at the end of the Excursion but beyond that you'll also want to have cash with you in case you want to buy any drinks in case you
want to buy any food in case you want to buy any water bottles and a little tip in addition to cash even if you don't think you need it I think it's always a good idea to keep one credit card with you just in case of emergencies number four booking a short Excursion that is more physically challenging than you had
imagined and really that is one of the worst mistakes because it can actually result in an injury now when you do book a short Excursion with a cruise line in particular usually you'll see a little icon and it will show you the activity level or the fitness level now that is something really good to use as a guide
however make sure that you do read through the description of that Excursion as well because there could be some telltale signs that there could be some elements of this Shore Excursion that can be too challenging and can result in injuries for you now some things to watch out for depending on
your own levels of Fitness is is there a lot of walking are there cobblestone streets well they're very beautiful beautiful those can result in twisted ankles so watch out for that is there a Scenic Trail we were on an Excursion a few years ago it was absolutely beautiful we walked up a Scenic Trail
but there were so many roots on that trail and we could see that some people were really having a challenging time number five waiting too long to book your shore excursions now these days many Cruise passengers booked their shore excursions in advance on the cruise Planner on the cruise line
website now in particular if you're going to a destination that is either bucket list or there are just certain things that you want to do do not wait as soon as you book your cruise or as soon as those excursions are available make sure that you book them now while you can still board your cruise and find
some excursions that are still available the best ones are oftentimes booked up in advance not bringing any seasickness medication if you're going on a boat Excursion and in particular if you are somebody who tends to get carsick or seasick even if you haven't been seasick on the cruise ship a smaller boat is
something different now some people get seasick on tenders when they get off the cruise ship other people get seasick if they go on a whale watching Excursion that's actually more common than you'd think other people get seasick on snorkeling excursions now we had a friend who was on a Canada New England
cruise he went out on a fishing Excursion and he said he unfortunately spent most of the Excursion in the bathroom he did not bring any seasickness medication he wasn't seasick on the cruise but on that small boat yes he was seasick so make sure to bring something whether it's some Bonin or
Dramamine or c-bands or a patch for behind the ear now by the way I do have a video All About preventing seasickness on a cruise and I'll leave that at the end of this video in case you do want to see that next not bringing the essentials that you need on your Shore Excursion and this can definitely be
something that people can regret from not bringing reef safe sunscreen if you are on a Shore Excursion in the Caribbean that is often something that you will definitely need not bringing a little bump not bringing water bottles you want to stay hydrated now if you want to know what in particular do you
need for your particular Excursion then usually when you do book your Excursion you'll see in the description it might let you know a few things that you should bring for instance should you bring water shoes do you need a poncho for the rain should you bring a backpack you may see a few of those things listed
there and as well you might see that information on your Shore Excursion ticket now make sure you keep a little list so you don't forget a thing ignoring or not paying attention to the reviews now the reviews are there for a reason so we should definitely pay attention to them and if we do see
negative reviews well of course I think we still have to take that with a bit of a grain of salt however if there is something negative that is being repeated in review after review after review I think we should heed that warning now in addition to reviews you can watch videos read blogs and join
Facebook groups where you can get real feedback about those excursions now one of the worst mistakes Cruisers can make and this is definitely one that people say that they regret is not booking shore excursions because they are expensive now if you are going on a cruise and your intention is just to
relax and the ports aren't really that important to you that is something different however when you're booking a bucket list Cruise or going to a destination that you don't think you'll likely return to you want to book those excursions now there are some ports that are not easy to see on your own that you
cannot just get right off the cruise ship and walk around and find somewhere local to go to and there are some major cities that you'll want to visit that are not close to the cruise port so for example Rome which is a full hour and a half to two hours away from Chevette Vecchia and Florence and Pisa which are
about an hour and a half or so away from Livorno and let's face it the cruise costs a lot of money and this is a travel experience that you really want to do so even if you have to save a little bit more for those excursions it is worth it now I have one more that people don't always talk about but it
definitely can be something that you regret and then I have a bonus not knowing when to skip the cruise line Excursion and maybe consider a private Excursion now even though I'm a proponent of Cruise Line Excursions after all there is convenience and at the same time you do have that guarantee
that the cruise ship will wait for you if your cruise Excursion is late and there is definitely some value in that however along with those Pros there are definitely some cons and there are some times that booking a private Excursion might be the best decision that you can make now when you're on a private
Excursion you're usually going to have a small group which means you can tailor your itinerary a little bit you don't have as much waiting time as you would if you're waiting for 30 to 50 other people and one benefit that we found with a small group is you're always able to hear the guide when you're with 40 or
50 other people it can be very difficult to hear the guide who might be at the front of the group and to hear them clearly if you are wearing a headset now because of any potential risk it is important to make sure that you do your research and you choose a reputable company and that you take a tour that
brings you back to the cruise port with plenty of time to spare and as I mentioned earlier in the video make sure that you know the cancellation and the refund policy and of course always check the reviews now if you've booked private excursions please let me know your experience is both good and bad in the
comments below and the bonus don't be late don't be late to meet your Excursion they'll be waiting for you or actually the Excursion might just leave without you and that will be a waste of money you'll have already paid for that Excursion and don't be late for any of the Meetup times during your Excursion
you'll also have other people waiting for you and of course never ever ever be late getting back on the cruise ship at the end of the day unfortunately we've all seen those videos of the peer Runners and people who have missed the ship and are crying at the dock you do not want that to happen to you so always
make sure that you know your boarding time and keep your phone or your watch on ship's time to avoid any potential issues now I'd love to hear from you if there are any short Excursion mistakes that you've ever seen or made please let me know down in the comments below I will leave that video All About
seasickness prevention right after this one if you did enjoy this video please do give it a big thumbs up I really do appreciate it and please subscribe to the channel if you haven't done so already bye for now and happy cruising
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