Shore Excursion

Shore excursions range from city walking tours and food tastings to snorkeling trips, helicopter flights, and full-day drives to inland sights. Cruise-line excursions are convenient and come with a key assurance: if a ship-sponsored tour runs late, the ship generally waits or helps you rejoin it at the next port. Independent tours are often smaller and more personal, but if one runs late, catching the ship is your responsibility.

Port logistics shape the choice. At tender ports, where the ship anchors offshore and small boats shuttle passengers, getting ashore takes extra time. Popular excursions on large ships sell out early. Some luxury lines, such as Regent Seven Seas, include many excursions in the fare, and expedition voyages build guided landings into the trip.

Plan the must-sees in advance, leave some ports unscheduled, and return well before all-aboard time. In French Polynesia, a lagoon tour with a motu picnic is a classic. See our cruise shore excursions guide.