How to Save Money on Cruise Excursions

Cruises are a fantastic way to see a number of places quickly and affordably. You meet new people, eat, drink, party, and see the world. But the bill can run up quickly on a cruise. And one key way that the tab gets higher is when people head ashore for shore excursions. So how do you see the best of the island/country/destination without breaking the bank? Check out these tips on how to save money on cruise excursions.

Resort Day Passes

If you just want to enjoy a nice day on the drinks with some food, some libations, some sun and some sand, perhaps you can forgo the expensive cruise excursion to the beach and come up with your own option. One such way to do that is via a resort day pass. Some resorts will cater to docking cruise ships, offering day passes that will allow ship passengers to enjoy the facilities, pool, restaurants, and beach lounge chairs. This may end up being much cheaper than a pricey excursion that gives you a beach chair and a ride.

 

Buy the Same Tour…Just Not Through the Ship

Cruise ship excursions are the same excursions you can find on tour websites like Viator and other tour websites. First, scout out all of the tour offerings through the cruise website that you may be interested in and list out the names of the tours and stops. Then head on over to a tour or cruise excursion website and comparison shop. You will see that most of the tours will either be identical or very similar with a smaller price tag. But do note that if your tour is late getting back to the port, you are in trouble. Cruises will typically only hold the ship if their own excursions booked through them are late, so bear that in mind.

 

Find a Local Tour Guide at Port

On the last cruise I went to, we had some success in this. When we were visiting Barbados, we found out the top attractions, including the Mount Gay Rum Distillery and a popular local restaurant, and found a tour guide to take us on the same tour. We saved well over 50% of the price of the tour, had the same rum tasting, and chilled on the same beach as other guests from the cruise. It was perfect. The key is to go with your gut and try to find someone who is trusted and/or appears trustworthy before taking off. We also got recommendations from our server on the boat as to where to go and what to ask for when we reached the port. And don’t forget to have cash to pay.

 

Form a Group for Discounts

This is a great technique for cutting down costs. If you befriend others on the tour or you are traveling with a large group, trying setting up a tour with a tour guide with a huge van. They will often give you a discounted rate since there are a large number of people and they want the business. We happened to be looking for a tour at the same time another couple was in St. Lucia so we paired up. We ended up on an extensive tour of the entire island. And in fact, an official tour from the cruise ship was at the same stops the same time we were; we were pacing each other. Again, try as best you can to make sure that you are with someone trustworthy before taking off.

 

Save on the Spa

Here is one last tip for saving on excursions and on-board activities. If spas are you game, be sure to check into rates on spa services on days that the ship is at port. Cruises often offer discounts on days when people are checking out the stops to entice people to book treatments. This can easily save you 10-20% on your bill.

 

So those are a few tips on how to save money on cruise excursions. How do you save money on your shore activities.

 

For more tips and tricks check out BarrisTourista every Thursday. And to make sure you don’t miss out on any posts by signing up for BarrisTourista and you will get a 5-Page Travel Deals Mini Guide.