Now is a great time to take advantage of Black Friday sales to save money on shore excursions.

While Royal Caribbean has already discounted shore excursions as part of its Black Friday sale, I've found extra savings on the my go-to beach day idea.

When I'm on a Caribbean cruise and want a beach day, I usually book a day pass to a resort instead of taking a taxi or booking a traditional shore excursion that takes me to the beach.

There are a few sites that you can buy day passes to popular resorts around the Caribbean, and ResortPass.com just announced a new Black Friday discount.

When you book with the ResortPass app (free to download) and use the promo code EARLYBFAPP, you'll save $50 off the purchase of at least $200 or more.

It's not clear when the code expires exactly, but it's available now.

The added discount knocks out the service fee and saves a little bit on top of the overall cost.

Why I love resort day passes

The reason why I prefer getting a day pass is because it offers more amenities than you'll typically find at a traditional beach excursion, and that's so helpful for families.

Websites like ResortForADay.com or ResortPass.com make it simple to enter the island and date that you'll be visiting, and find a list of options.

Some resorts offer all-inclusive, while others are merely access to the facilities and you can optionally pay for food and drink.

Each resort has a per-person cost, and it means you could use their beach, pool, and even other facilities.

I've found in the popular cruise ports many different choices of places to go.  Nassau, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, and other ports have a few places to consider.

It's easy and simple way to book, and in a few clicks you will have a confirmation of the date and resort.

I like that ResortPass offers more than just a day pass. In some cases there are hotel rooms or cabanas you can rent for the day.

On a recent visit to St. Maarten, we booked a cabana at the Morgan Resort.  It includes admission for up to 8 people, and their pool is fantastic.

When we visited St. Kitts, there was a Marriott that included a hotel room.  This meant we could shower, change, and nap in the room. Plus, the air conditioning was a nice break when it got too hot.

The variety of choices is a lovely bonus for those that want more than just access to the beach or pool.

One thing to keep in mind is transportation is not included, so you'll need to arrange that on your own. 

I just walk to the taxi stand in the port and grab a taxi.  On the way back, the resort is able to hail a taxi for you.

Costs for a day pass

Depending which island you visit and how much you want included, the prices for a day pass vary.  However, I find the prices quite reasonable.

A day pass at The Morgan Resort in St. Maarten costs $60 per person, while the cabana is $480. If you're in Nassau, Bahamas, a day pass to Margaritaville Resort costs $132 for adults and $66 for kids, and it includes access to their waterpark too.

Prices depend on a lot of factors, and you could easily find a cheap pass at a no-frills resort for as little as $25.

ResortPass has a fairly flexible cancellation policy. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, bookings for day passes can be canceled up until 11:59 p.m. the night before your reservation, while cabanas, daybeds, and day rooms can be canceled until 10 a.m. the day before your reservation. You can opt for either a refund to your credit card or a ResortPass credit. 

Being able to cancel at the last minute is really helpful if bad weather is forecasted. Remember, Royal Caribbean requires at least 48 hours notice for a refund on a shore excursion.

ResortPass is a good deal for cruisers that want flexibility

I think the ideal ResortPass customer is someone that values having more in their beach day than just the beach.

You get to enjoy resort-level amenities without being a customer, and having the choice of pool and beach, along with chairs, shade, wifi and food or beverage options is a great add-on.

Families will love the choice of beach or pool, and not having to search for food is a godsend. Convenience is the name of the game with a resort day pass.

Of course, going to a public beach is almost certainly going to be cheaper, but you're on your own to figure out everything else beyond the beach. 

Royal Caribbean shore excursions make a beach break a bit simpler to book, but I find I get more value from a day pass, even if I have to coordinate transportation on my own.

Before booking, you'll want to weigh the resort amenities you get for the price and determine if it's the right cost for you.

The ResortPass site (and app) is easy to use, prices are reasonable, and their cancellation policy is fantastic.

A cruise ship vacation isn't complete without a memorable shore excursion, but how do you find the best ones?

There are so many choices what to do in the port your ship visits. While Royal Caribbean's shore excursions offer ideas, there are plenty of other options if you look to book something through a third party.

Whether you’re looking for an activity not offered by Royal Caribbean, hoping to find a better price, or want to see the widest range of tours available, it’s helpful to know where to look.

Certainly there are a few good reasons to book a tour with Royal Caribbean directly, because the cruise line vets the operator to ensure they are safe, responsible, and deliver on the promise of what's promised. 

However, booking a tour on your own could save you money, provide smaller tour sizes, and greatly expand the choices you have. The benefits of booking a tour not through the cruise line often outweigh the drawbacks, especially when you are able to read reviews from those who booked the tour in the past and know that you are booking with an experienced tour company.

I wanted to provide you a few easy places to start looking to find a shore excursion that you can do on your own without having to dig too deep down a rabbit hole of searches.

Day passes from a resort

If you’re looking for a relaxing beach day with all the amenities of a resort, look no further than Resortforaday.com.

Resort for a Day is a service that sells day passes at resorts and hotels for cruise passengers. You can book resorts across the Caribbean, Europe, Florida and more.

The exact amenities and inclusions of a day pass through Resort for a Day vary, as offerings are subject to the resort’s policies. Some resort day passes include all-inclusive food and drinks whereas others give a food and beverage credit. Likewise, some resorts are kid-friendly and include access to a waterpark or kids club whereas others are adults-only.

A day pass at the Westin Cozumel, for example, includes unlimited food and beverages, beach and pool access, a kids club for children aged 4-12, outdoor showers, wifi, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle-boarding.

Margaritaville Beach Resort & Waterpark in Nassau, on the other hand, is not all-inclusive. Food and drinks must be purchased individually, but pool, beach, and waterpark access are available to day pass guests.

It’s important to choose a day pass wisely to ensure the resort’s offerings and ambience fit within your travel style. If you want a relaxing, quieter day in port, an adults-only resort may be the best fit. If you’re traveling with kids, though, a resort offering a waterpark or kid-friendly activities would be a better choice.

Most resorts allow access to day pass guests from around 9 or 10am until 5pm.

Guided tours around the world

Tripadvisor is an excellent research option due to its lists of things to do in cruise ports around the world. To search for tours and activities in your port of call, go to Tripadvisor’s front page and click the “Things to Do” button.

Input the name of your cruise port and you’ll be taken to a page with a wide range of tours available. One of the best benefits of Tripadvisor is the amount of reviews available on the website. Reading reviews from those who have booked the tour in the past is helpful, as it allows you to learn more about the excursion’s benefits and drawbacks.

Not only does Tripadvisor list tours you can book directly through their website, but it also lists the essential things to do and eat at each location. These lists can be helpful for passengers planning a DIY excursion. Knowing the best beaches, restaurants, and attractions in your port of call can make exploring on your own a whole lot easier.

Viator, like Tripadvisor, allows you to book tours from independent tour operators, and has a wide range of tour categories available. From Arts & Culture to Classes & Workshops and Food & Drink, you’re sure to find a tour that fits your interests on Viator.

Shore Excursions Group

While similar to Tripadvisor and Viator, Shore Excursions Group focuses solely on shore excursions for cruise ship passengers. Tours are offered all around the world, from the Caribbean to the Arabian Gulf and Asia.

Shore Excursions Group makes it easy to pick a tour that fits within your cruise ship’s itinerary, as tours are filtered by your cruise ship’s specific departure date and ports of call. There’s no need to check your calendar or worry about accidentally booking the wrong day, as Shore Excursions Group has all Royal Caribbean itineraries listed on their website.

Shore Excursions Group features several different types of tours: small group tours, private tours, scenic tours, cultural tours, active tours, and city tours. Each type of tour comes with its own style, whether traveling to Alaska’s glaciers on a scenic tour or cycling through small towns in Europe on an active tour.

Recommendations from other cruisers

Online message boards are a great way to find more information about your cruise ship, and they can also be a useful research tool when deciding what to do in port. 

Hearing from those cruisers who have been to your destination before is valuable, as they are able to offer their recommendations on what to do (and what not to do) in a particular port.

The Royal Caribbean Blog message boards, for example, have a shore excursions board where you can ask questions to fellow cruisers and learn more about what each port of call offers. If you’re wondering if a certain tour is worth it or you're trying to choose between two separate tours, odds are someone on the message boards has first-hand experience with your port of call and can help you make a decision.

Google (“port name + tour”)

Sometimes the easiest way to find a shore excursion on your own is through a simple Google search.

If you’re looking for something to do in St. Maarten, for example, search “St. Maarten tour” on Google. You can customize this further if you wish, searching “St. Maarten tour kid friendly” if you’re traveling with kids or “St. Maarten tour catamaran” if you want to sail around the island.

Google will list the most top-rated websites where you can book shore excursions and read reviews from those who have done the tour previously. It’s hard to go wrong with a Google search when researching shore excursions, and it is a good starting point for those researching activities in their ports of call.

Can a free tour really compete with a shore excursion offered by the cruise line?

My 7-night Anthem of the Seas cruise would take me to the Spanish town of La Coruna, and I was looking at ideas for what tours to book.

Usually I book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean or simply explore on my own. Before I could pick one of these options, one of our readers, Leeor, emailed me with an alternative.

"I thought you might want to try a free walking tour for Bilbao and Coruna," he wrote in his email after hearing about my cruise plans.

"Those tours are with local guides who love their city, are tip based, and are a great way to make the most out of a short visit. They usually last about two hours and my wife and I always do one when we first get to a new European destination."

I have to admit, I was skeptical because I worried how good a completely free shore excursion could really be. However, it sounded like the perfect introduction to a port I've never been to before. Plus, it was only 1 or 2 hours, so it was a very low barrier to entry.

I went ahead and booked my tours through GuroWalk, which lists a few different tours in each of the cities. Sure enough, they're free and all you have to do is book it in advance via the website or app.

The "catch" to these tours being free is you're encouraged to tip at the end based on the quality of the tour.

I booked a walking tour in Bilbao and La Coruna, although the Bilbao tour got cancelled a couple days before my reservation because the guide was sick. I ended up exploring Bilboa on my own and had a great time.

Once the tour is confirmed, you get an email with where to meet and who to look for. Transportation is on your own, but this tour advertised as being good for cruise ship guests and it was a very short walk from where Anthem of the Seas docked to the the statue of María Pita meeting spot.

The confirmation email also has a link to Google Maps to be able to easily get walking directions to where to meet. Because I bought an eSim for this cruise, I was able to easily use my phone around Europe without costly roaming charges.

Sure enough, about 10 minutes before the tour began, the guide was waiting where he said he'd be with an orange umbrella.

Our guide, Cesar, greeted me and said we'd wait for the others. He indicated he expected about 9 of us in total, although only 5 would end up showing.

Cesar lives in a suburb of La Coruna, and he does these tours on a volunteer basis. I asked him how many people usually show up for them, and he said it varies considerably, but the groups are much larger at the peak of summer in June and July.

Joining me on the tour was a solo French tourist and a three people from England on a motor bike tour of Europe.

Cesar had a speaker with him, but did not need it given how small the group was. He started by explaining the significance of the plaza we were meeting at, and why there's a giant statue of María Pita. She's the heroine of the city who helped defeat an English attack in the 16th century.

Cesar carefully explained the details of each site we would visit, pointing out the historical significance, architectural intricacies, and other facts about the area.

Although he apologized for his English, I thought he was very easy to understand and extremely knowledgeable. In fact, I was blown away how much he knew. Being a free tour, I was expecting someone who was a walking Google Map at best, but he knew lots of details and clearly was well-versed in the information.

I was also leery of a glorified sales pitch, but once again, he had no angle or anything he was pushing.

We took a very leisurely pace through the old city of La Coruna, and made at least 9 stops that I could count.

We visited historic churches, military buildings of significance, scenic overlooks, and famous spots.

The tour took 2 hours, although he volunteered to keep going longer. I would have taken him up on the offer, but it was 12:30pm and I was getting very hungry for lunch. To his credit, he provided a Google Map link with all of his favorite restaurants in the area.

At the end of the tour, I tipped him €20, although I observed others were tipping about €10 per person.

I was very impressed by this tour offering, and I think Leeor is definitely right these are great introductions to any European city to get a sense of the place before you venture off on your own.

If you're someone who wants to get a walking tour of a city, GuruWalk seems like a really good choice. 

During our tour, we passed other tours that were significantly larger groups and clearly from the cruise ship. I can't speak to what they may have included beyond the walking tour, but I felt good about my choice in tours.

As an example, the "Historic Old Town Stroll" shore excursion offered by Royal Caribbean costs $50.99 per adult ($30.99 per child) and its description sounds exactly like what we saw on our free tour.

The downsides to the GuruWalk tours are there's no telling how big your group will be, nor who your guide will actually be. And there may only be one or two tours offered that fit for a cruise ship visitor.

Moreover, these are quick walking tours. If you're looking to see more than a few square blocks, a paid cruise ship shore excursion might be a superior choice.

But if you're looking to get a look at what makes the city you're visiting interesting and then go off on your own after, these might be a good option for a city port visit.

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The places your cruise ship visits are among the top reasons people choose a cruise vacation, but there are mistakes and red flags to avoid when in port.

Each port of call has a variety of tours and activities you can do. You could book a tour through Royal Caribbean or something on your own. In either case, you want to carefully vet any excursion before you book it.

As a frequent cruiser, I've gone on all sorts of shore excursions in ports around the world, including the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe. Most of my shore excursions have been great, but a few turned out to be duds.

It's a good idea to check what's included with the cost of your tour, safety protocols, what time it begins and ends, as well as what you'll actually do during the tour.

Here are the red flags I look for in any shore excursion before I book that could take away from your enjoyment.

Long transit times for a short visit

A shore excursion that involves many hours in transit to leave you with a short amount of time at the actual destination might be worth rethinking.

It's not uncommon to find a shore excursion that takes you to a bucket list worthy spot, such as visiting a major city, exploring Mayan ruins, or viewing natural wonders.

The problem with some of these tours can be you'll spend more time on a bus travelling to and from the site than actually at the place.

Common examples include Chichén Itzá, visits to Paris, or a transfer to Walt Disney World.

Sometimes cruise ships dock in ports significantly far from these places. While it is possible to go and see these areas, it involves a long bus ride.

If this is your only opportunity to ever visit, then perhaps a marathon bus ride is worth it.  Otherwise, save it for a land visit.

Read more: 8 cruise ship shore excursions our readers tried and instantly regretted

No refunds if your ship can't dock

Before you book any shore excursion, read the rules on cancelling.

In my opinion, any tour operator should refund all of your money (including the deposit) if your ship is unable to dock. Whether it's because of poor weather that day or an itinerary change, the refund policy should cover that scenario.

Most shore excursions don't include a refund if the weather is poor, but if you are physically unable to make it to the tour because your ship isn't in port, then they should refund your money.

If you book a tour with Royal Caribbean, this is standard practice.  However, some third party shore excursions you can book on your own may not offer it.

Read more: What to do if Royal Caribbean's shore excursions are sold out

Panoramic sightseeing tours

It might sound like a great tour, but panoramic sightseeing tours may leave you disappointed with time at the places you'll see behind a window.

Bus tours are great if you like a more casual view, or perhaps you have mobility issues. Moreover, never underestimate how wonderful air conditioning is in the summer months.

However, if your goal is to walk around and explore historical sights or beautiful natural wonders, I'd recommend avoiding a tour that advertises how much you can see from the bus you'll be on.

When I've done these sorts of tours, I usually end up frustrated that I didn't have enough time to see the places.  

"Let me give you a tour of the island"

An island tour from someone with a flimsy sign is not who you want to book a tour on the spot with.

When you walk out of the port area, there's usually a group of taxi drivers who want you to pay them to take you on a tour of the place you're visiting. While I doubt there are safety concerns with them, I would not recommend booking a tour with them because of how open-ended that can be.

Without knowing anything about the tour operator, their knowledge of the area, or total costs, I think there are too many variables.

If you want a driver for the day and/or a private tour of the port you're visiting, I'd recommend doing some research ahead of time and booking that in advance.  That way you can do your research online and read reviews and get recommendations for whom to work with.

Read more: Quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own

Museum tours

Museums are a great idea for an activity in port, but you don't need to book an organized tour.

It's easy enough to get to most museums by taking a cab, and then once in the museum, exploring on your own.  

Not only will a museum shore excursion cost you more, but you'll be moving at the pace of the group and without the option to spend more time at the exhibits that interest you.

If you're worried about being able to understand the tour in your native language, there could be audio tours available from the museum or even utilize Google Translate app to be able to instantly translate signs.

Beach breaks

Just like museum tours, you don't need an organized tour to go to the beach.

Sometimes a shore excursion includes a visit to the beach in addition to the primary activity, but if you just want to spend the day at the beach, I'd question the value of an organized tour.

One issue with a beach shore excursion are crowds. If your tour is going to this beach, other shore excursions probably are too, and that's the recipe for a crowded beach day.  Sometimes crowded beaches are unavoidable, but in the Caribbean where beautiful beaches are a dime a dozen, I wouldn't do it.

The other issue with a beach break excursion is it's probably cheaper to book it on your own. 

Do your research and look up taxi rates along with the fees for accessing the beach, resort, or park.

How can you safely explore ports on a solo cruise?

Whether you enjoy traveling alone or have a travel buddy back out at the last minute, solo cruises are a great way to enjoy a peaceful vacation on your own terms.

However, it's normal to feel concerned about your safety.

Traveling to a new place always poses new challenges and requires research to make sure you stay safe while exploring the port. 

Especially if you're a young woman like myself, you may be wondering how to safely exit the cruise ship and tour ports without getting robbed or worse.

While on my second solo cruise, I decided to try group shore excursions.

This month, I traveled to Spain and Italy on a 7-night Oasis of the Seas sailing,

With the chance to see historic cities like Barcelona, Florence, Rome, and Naples, I wanted to ensure that I could explore safely and see all the Mediterranean ports had to offer.

I purchased three Royal Caribbean shore excursions: one in Florence, one in Rome, and the third in Naples, visiting Pompeii.

After taking three different group shore excursions on my own, I discovered they were a great way to enhance my cruise and safely see the world.

1. I didn't have to exit the ship alone

One benefit of purchasing shore excursions through Royal Caribbean was that the tour groups met directly on the ship.

Instead of exiting alone, I just had to walk down a few decks to the Royal Theater.

This was a huge benefit, especially in Mediterranean countries like Spain and Italy, which are infamous for pickpockets.

No matter where we walked, I was traveling in a larger group who could look out for each other.

Read more: Where to keep Seapass Card, phone, and cash when on a shore excursion?

2. Tour guides ensured I made it to and from my destination

Solo trips can be dangerous because there's no one else to look out for you.

If I'd explored ports on my own, there would be no one who knew where I was going or what time I planned on being back.

In contrast, shore excursions through Royal Caribbean provide tour guides, whose job is to make sure you get to your destination and back to the ship safely.

One of my guides took her responsibility so seriously that she called herself our "mother" for the trip.

Each guide would take note of every person's name and room number, ensuring that they could easily check if anyone was missing.

Not only that, they also provided emergency numbers to the tour guide and the company. 

If I'd gotten lost or in trouble, I had someone to call.

Even when tours gave us free time to explore, we were assigned a meeting place and time, so they would have noticed if I didn't return.

These measures served to ease my anxiety and free my mind to enjoy the historic cities.

3. I could strike up conversations and make friends with my tour group

Group tours also provided the opportunity to meet people and make friends, rather than exploring every city alone.

Whether we were taking the bus to Rome or walking around Pompeii, I found that there was always someone I could talk to or relate to.

This made it less lonely to travel by myself, especially because many of the other cruisers were also from the U.S.

Even while solo traveling in a foreign country, a group tour allowed me to find people who spoke my native tongue.

Safety in numbers applied here. The more people I met and talked to, the more could recognize and look out for me.

And vice versa applies: when I saw cruisers I recognized from my tour, I gave them directions and passed on information from our tour guide.

4. Background information was provided about each location

When you're traveling alone, there's only so much information you can teach yourself.

And while I checked out books and read articles about the destinations I planned to visit, you don't know what you don't know.

As a solo traveler, you don't want to be that person standing in the middle of the street Googling where to go, so my tour guides became an invaluable resource.

Each of my guides hailed from the region we were visiting and took the time to tell us about the history and culture.

They taught us words like "thank you" and "good morning," handed out maps of the cities, and pointed out important landmarks.

In Florence, we received some free time to explore on our own. Before we left, our guide even pointed out the restaurants she recommended we visit.

Getting background information from a knowledgeable local was one of the best ways I enhanced my cruise.

5. Some tours provided water and bathroom access

Another benefit of purchasing shore excursions is that it often becomes an all-in-one price.

When you pay for one, you receive transportation, a tour, and sometimes food, water, and bathroom access.

While my Mediterranean cruise took us to exciting destinations, the cruise ports were often pretty far from the most famous cities. For example, it took us three hours to travel from the cruise port, La Spezia, to Florence, Italy. 

Read more: Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid

Having transportation already taken care of really eased my mind.

Additionally, the tour guides ensured we made bathroom stops and told us where to get food or water.

One culture shock I experienced in Europe is that you have to pay to access public restrooms.

However, our tour guides ensured we wouldn't have to. To prevent us from paying, they took us to rest stops or gave us tickets that would exempt us.

This saved me money and lessened the number of places I would have to find and go to alone.

6. The ship waits to depart if we get delayed

Royal Caribbean shore excursions are also great for solo cruisers because the ship is contracted to wait for you if the tour is delayed.

When we were traveling to Florence, our tour was delayed by an hour because of an accident on the road. We didn't get back to the ship until 7:00 P.M.!

I felt better knowing that the crew would have to wait for us before they sailed to our next port.

As a solo traveler, getting left behind in a foreign country by yourself sounds like my worst nightmare!

Staying with a group for my tours ensured that I wouldn't be left alone, and the ship would wait for us if anything happened.

Cruise ships offer exciting shore excursions to unique areas, but how can you make sure they’re safe?

Royal Caribbean cruises have the appeal of taking you to multiple exciting ports of call, from the gorgeous landscapes of Alaska to the ancient ruins of Greece. 

But when you’re traveling to a new and foreign location, safety is always a top priority.

Ensuring that you have a safe, enjoyable experience during your shore excursions takes some careful preparation.

While most shore excursions come with safety in mind and experience tour guides, being smart and proactive is the best way to stay safe.

Especially if you have special concerns (like pregnancy or a disability), are traveling alone, or haven’t been on a cruise before, some extra research and preparation will help you stay protected throughout your cruise.

Here are our top tips for safely taking a cruise ship shore excursion at any port of call.

1. Book through the cruise line

One of the simplest ways to tour a port of call is by purchasing a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean.

Although more expensive, shore excursions sold through Royal Caribbean have been carefully reviewed.

The tour groups and guides have been vetted.

Not only that, but the cruise ship will also wait for your excursion if it runs late.

You’ll be perfectly safe from being left behind in a foreign place!

Read more: 8 cruise ship shore excursions our readers tried and instantly regretted

2. Research extensively beforehand

Before you even purchase your preferred shore excursions, take your time to research each aspect of the experience.

Investigate each port of call you’ll be visiting. Even if you have multiple stops in the same country, don’t assume that they’re all the same.

Research will tell you about the safety level, available activities, the landscape, weather, and other important information.

You’ll also need the specific details for your shore excursion: the price, duration, activity level, and dress code.

Knowing all this beforehand helps prepare you for a safe and fun experience.

Read more: Is Royal Caribbean still going to Labadee, Haiti?

3. Don’t be afraid to speak up

I was on a cruise that stopped at Cozumel, Mexico, and was walking through the busy tourist port, when an older man approached me and offered me an already-opened bottle of beer.

When I politely refused, he started to insist that I drink, saying it didn’t matter if I was underage.

I firmly said no, and kept quickly walking.

Can you imagine what might have happened if I had gotten nervous, hadn’t said no, or even agreed to drink the beer?

Being firm, smart, and unafraid to speak up when something seems wrong is a key way to protect yourself.

Of course, you want to be aware of cultural differences, and be careful that you don’t degrade any local customs.

Read more: Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid

But your safety is what’s important here, so speak up if something feels wrong! 

Trust your intuition, and don’t let anyone make a sucker out of you.

4. Listen to your tour guide

Your shore excursion’s tour guides will be the best source of knowledge about your port of call.

They are extremely trained and experienced in doing exactly what you need: keeping you safe while giving you a fun experience!

Listen to their safety briefings, which will involve important information about safety, meeting points, and any potential hazards.

Take note of any guidelines they give you.

When you’re in any unfamiliar or remote area, listening to experts is the best way to keep yourself safe.

If you do experience any problems or feel unsafe at any time, let your guide know that you need help.

5. How to keep your money safe on excursions

You're probably going to need cash during your shore excursion, whether to pay the tour, tip someone, or purchase souvenirs.  So how do you keep that safe, especially when you're on a beach or snorkeling trip?

As a tourist, try to keep a low profile, and don't wear jewelry or hold large amounts of cash. 

Your best bet is to treat valuables, such as cash, like you would normally at home.  Keep it in a wallet, and ensure it's out of sight in either your pants, purse, or backpack.

If you prefer, there are various types of waterproof wallets you can purchase. A simple dry pack that can fit your cash, identification, SeaPass card, and a credit card is all you need (Note, this link is an affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to use).

No matter where you store your cash, keep it out of sight. Put valuables in a bag, and then cover it up so a passerby cannot see it easily. 

If you're somewhere where pickpocketing is a concern, you can carry valuables in a hidden pocket worn under your clothing.

6. Stay with your tour group

For additional safety, try to stay with your group. 

Traveling with a larger group—one of whom is an experienced tour guide—ensures that no one can single you out or take advantage of you.

While some tours do have opportunities for you to explore along, try not to wander too far.

There’s safety in numbers. 

Not only that, but a Royal Caribbean shore excursion will consist of other people on the same cruise ship, and who likely speak the same language as you. They’re a great source of help if you run into any problems.

Even when in a big group, make sure you also stay vigilant of your surroundings!

7. Respect local laws and customs

This is where doing research ahead of time really comes in handy.

To keep yourself safe, you need to understand the context of where you are traveling.

What is considered polite and respectful? What should you wear? Who should you speak to—and who should you not?

Familiarizing yourself with the local traditions and laws ensures that you don’t accidentally do anything considered disrespectful or offensive.

You are a visitor to this country, so make sure that you educate yourself and respect all cultural differences.

Read more: 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own

8. Get an Internet connection

While this isn’t required—and it’s certainly trickier when you’re in a new country—having Internet access can really ease your mind when it comes to personal safety.

You have an easy way to do immediate research. You’ll have access to Google Translate, local maps, and a way to call or text anyone if you’re in an emergency.

There are a few ways you can get an Internet connection when you’re off the cruise ship in a foreign country.

You can try to find a restaurant or cafe that has free WiFi. Many areas understand that tourists may need Internet access, and they’ll be happy to provide it to you if you purchase something.

You could also buy a SIM card to get local data. These are sold everywhere, such as in airports or near currency exchanges.

If you need an e-SIM, there are several ways to buy them online. I like to use the app Airlo, which allows you to buy an e-SIM for any country and choose a specific timeline for it to be activated.

If you're looking at your shore excursion choices and not finding anything that excites you, it might be time to try a day pass to a resort instead.

In any port your cruise ship visits, you'll find lots of different tours. Bus tours, hiking, beach breaks, and historical sights are very common.  So common, that after a couple of visits you may find yourself at a loss of what to do.

I certainly felt that way in some ports of call, especially some Caribbean islands that are well-known for their beaches. I found taking a beach break tour or a taxi to a beach nice, but lacking often in more of the services I like in my day.

Read more: Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid

Cruising with my kids, it's nice to have shade, food and beverage choices, and sometimes a pool too. I'll admit that while there are stunning beaches to visit, I prefer the pool more than the ocean. But my wife tends to like the ocean.

Out of a need to find a compromise, I discovered that resort day passes were a great choice for so many Caribbean islands.

Years ago, a day pass involved calling the resort directly to inquire if they offered such an option.  It was difficult to know which options existed.

Luckily, the process has gotten a lot easier.  There are a few sites out there that sell resort day passes, specifically for cruise ship passengers.

A day pass to a resort gives you access to their grounds and many facilities. Think of it like being a hotel guest without the room.

There are two day pass websites I frequently check and book through: ResortForADay.com (contains affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to use) and ResortPass.com.

No matter which site you choose, the process is pretty much the same. Browse available resorts on the island your ship will be visiting, and book a pass for each person in your party.

Some passes are quite cheap, and others much more expensive. It comes down to how popular the resort is, which amenities it includes, and if it's all-inclusive or not.

Transportation from the cruise ship to the resort and back is never included, so you'll need to arrange that on your own.  I almost always just take a taxi at the port.

One consideration before booking is if it includes food and drinks.  Many are all-inclusive, but not all.  By having all your food and drink included, you get a single price for the day, although it's going to cost more.

For the all-inclusive resorts, there could be a restaurant to go into to dine, or it could be waiter service at the pool. Keep in mind that some resort restaurants have a dress code related to bathing suits, so it might be a good idea to pack a change of clothes.

Some resorts have a stipend, where part of your admission cost will be used towards the food served there. The downside to this strategy is I've found most resorts price their food quite high, so that stipend goes quickly.

In some cases, there are resorts that offer simply a day pass and no food or drink with it. You can usually pay as you go with the food there.  This has a lower up-front cost, but depending on how much you consume, you might end up paying a lot before the day is over.

With ResortForADay, you'll pay a deposit at the time of booking and then have to pay the remainder of the balance once you get to the resort.  

With your pass, you'll get access to chairs and umbrellas that the resort offers. Depending on the resort, the amount of chairs will vary. Some have a lot, some few.  Shade is also a consideration, as it varies considerably from one to another.

Read more: Guide to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean shore excursion

Just like any shore excursion, there are a few things to bring along:

• Confirmation of your reservation
• Identification for the adults
• Money
• Towels
• Accessories for your day (sunglasses, sunscreen, etc)

When you arrive to the resort, you'll need to have proof of your booking with you.  I recommend having a print out to make it simpler. Plus, the agent at the resort will likely need to take it to reference, and phones return to a lock screen often.

All resorts check your identification, and some hold onto it as a sort of collateral while you're visiting.

Once checked-in, you will be free to roam the grounds and use the resort. Almost all provide a bracelet to wear during your stay.

Being that this is a hotel, there will not only be other cruise ship passengers visiting, but also resort guests. In short, the chair hog situation could be present depending on the day.

I've found depending on the resort, weather, and my mood, I love having access to both the beach and pool.

Quite often we go between the two, and then having the convenience of food and drink service makes booking a day pass worth it every time for me and my family.

I love the flexibility it provides, especially with timings. Unlike a group tour, we can arrive and depart when we're ready. This means if my kids are done early, we can hop in a taxi and go back.   Or if things are going really well, we can stay a bit longer.

Not all resorts are the same, so it's important to do your research into what you're getting with a visit.  I recommend skipping the publicity photos the resort provides and doing an internet search for the resort name to get first-hand reviews, as well as photos of the facilities.

You should also be crystal clear on what is and what is not included. Look for verbiage on the individual resort listing to understand what you'll be getting, and what you need to bring or pay extra for.

Just like any excursion you do on your own apart from the cruise line, manage your time to avoid being late. The cruise ship will not wait for you if you're late, so take note of how long it took to get from the cruise terminal to the resort and pad extra time to return.

Ultimately, I find a resort day pass is the perfect family shore excursion for a Caribbean visit, especially if I've visited the island a few times.

I value the amenities you get with a resort pass, and greatly prefer to be able to enjoy the time at the resort on my family's schedule instead of a group visit. It's probably not the cheapest shore excursion you'll find, but I find good value in what I get.

The next time you're considering tours and nothing jumps out at you, perhaps a resort pass might be the best choice.

It's one thing to make a mistake, but quite another when you realize early on that you've goofed.

Shore excursions are a major part o the cruise experience, and some cost as much as hundreds of dollars each.  No one wants to spend their time and money on a substandard tour, but unfortunately, there are a few duds out there.

It seems like most tours ends up being quite satisfactory, but occasionally there is an excursion that is disappointing from start to finish.

Sometimes the problem could be bad luck and factors you couldn't anticipate, like a new tour guide trying to learn to ropes or bad weather. Other times, you might think you would enjoy a certain kind of tour but then realize you don't. 

Whatever the reason, sometimes tours don't measure up to expectations and Royal Caribbean Blog readers have encountered these as well.

I picked out eight cruise ship shore excursions our readers took and reconsidered their decision making almost immediately.

Ensenada

Having been to Ensenada, Mexico a few times, smokeybandit found the tour choices less than appealing.

"I enjoyed my tequila tasting, and if I spoke Spanish it could be a fun town to drink in, but that port is a PVSA port and nothing else."

What he is referring to with "PVSA port" is the fact cruise lines use Ensenada as a way to satisfy the Passenger Vessel Service Act (PVSA) of 1886. It requires foreign flagged cruise ships to call on a foreign port if sailing a closed-loop cruise form the United States.

This means, cruise ships cannot sail from Los Angeles and only visit California ports.  It must make a stop outside the country, and Ensenada, Mexico is the closest port of call that is in close proximity to Southern California.

The justification for both the PVSA is to protect the U.S. Merchant Marine (the licensed (officers) and documented (trades) personnel on the ships) and to protect U.S. shipyards that both build and repair the ships.

Bus tours

By far, the overarching theme we got from our readers was that bus tours in so many different places was a major regret.

ChessE4 wrote about a bus tour in Corsica, "The guide talked way too much at each stop, and about the time we returned to the city center the local market was closed for the day.  Had we gone on our own, we would have seen most of the same sights and enjoyed the market."

BeachGal tried an open-air, double-decker bus around St. Maarten, "Tour started about 40 min. late, and we were all standing in the sun waiting and wondering what was going on. The guide at the front of the bus narrated the tour, but only the folks on the top level could hear her.  It took a couple of stops before they got it fixed."

"Maho Beach was the only interesting stop on the tour, and we didn't get to stay there long.  Ugh, never again!"

Mturk did the Sorrento & Amalfi Coast by Motor Launch tour found it to be too much in a short window of time, "tried to pack too much into the day for sites that were too geographically dispersed to be properly enjoyed. We ended up spending most of the day on the bus instead of enjoying any of the locations we went to."

Bus tours are attractive because they're usually priced low and offer an easy way to see an area. This is very attractive to someone who is unfamiliar with the port and might be hesitant to go on their own.

The reality is a bus tour may leave you feeling constricted and not enough time to properly enjoy any one stop. Moreover, you may spend more time at a stop that you do not care for, but the tour must go to anyway.

One alternative is to forgo an organized tour and explore on your own, especially when your ship is visiting a city or town. If your ship docks near downtown, you can walk on your own or even use public transportation to easily get around.

Another option is to book a smaller group tour or private tour. Royal Caribbean sometimes offers small group tours, or you can book through a third party provider.

Horseback riding tours

I always thought horseback riding on a beach would be fun, but tonyfsu21 painted a different picture.

"As you can imagine, the guide in position number one in line is the only one who gets through the water without excessive amounts of horse excrement all over their legs. Really kind of gross and I highly advise you avoid at all costs."

Peggy's Cove

Two different readers wish they hadn't booked a tour to one of the premier spots in Nova Scotia, Peggy's Cove.

Peggy's Cove is a famous lighthouse that is quintessentially encompasses what someone imagines an Atlantic lighthouse to look like. It's perched along a narrow inlet and on wave-washed boulders facing the Atlantic.

RCIfan1912 thought it was amazing, but he wouldn't do it again, "It was a super long bus ride and holy cow was it crowded. We were very late getting back to the ship."

letscruise agreed, and thought the issue was lack of enough time because the tour was coupled with other stops, "we could have definitely shortened time spent at the Titanic cemetery to be able to spend more than the 30 minutes we were allotted at Peggy's Cove."

Just like bus tours, you could see about booking a private tour to get you to a particular tourist attraction.

No matter if you book a group tour or a private tour, try to get there early to beat the crowds that come as the day progresses.

Snorkeling in Cabo San Lucas

Snorkeling is a very popular cruise ship excursion, but DDaley thinks there's no point to doing this in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

"We’ve done these twice and while it’s fun on the boat, there’s just not that much to see when you’re actually snorkeling. We’ve snorkeled just about everywhere, and there is certainly no need to do it on the Pacific coast ."

Save the snorkeling for another port and prioritize time spent at a beach or whale watching when the season is right.

Read more: Top 10 things to do in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on a cruise

ATV tour in Cozumel

I've done a few ATV tours and enjoyed them, but it sounds like Keanoknick might have found a dud.

They booked a ATV tour that would take them through a jungle during a stop in Cozumel, "The so called jungle we rode through felt like I was riding in my back yard in Texas, nothing jungle about it. "

One tip for previewing any tour is to look for reviews, especially videos. Doing a YouTube search for the tour you're taking is a good place to start, as well as looking through reviews in our shore excursion forum.

Read more: Guide to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean shore excursion

Cave tubing in Belize

Va4fam wrote simply, "what could go wrong with a hike through the jungle and a gentle tube ride in giant bat-filled caves?"

I would think cave tubing would be a lot of fun, especially since it's a well-known activity in that area of the Caribbean.

"Let's start with the bus.  We took several small buses to connect with the large bus that would take us to our destination.   About 15 minutes into the trip, we heard a loud bang and smelled something burning.  

"We asked the guides if everything was ok, they said it was just the brakes burning.   As we went further from Belize City, the bus shook and rattled before the driver finally pulled to the side.   Yep, definitely a tire blow out. "

"Sat on the road with no air conditioning for over an hour before the little buses retrieved us and took us to the excursion."

"The first family stepped off the bus and into a colony of fire ants and needed to be evacuated back to the port." 

Unfortunately, a lot of the issues on this tour were bad luck and there's not much you can do about that. It's always a good mantra to be as flexible as possible on a cruise.

Read more: 23 Do's and Don'ts for your Royal Caribbean cruise in 2023

Going to Hell

As soon as I saw readers posting about a Hell in Grand Cayman, I knew exactly why they regretted it.

Hell is the name a tourist trap in Grand Cayman that is noteworthy for its name, which serves as an excuse to make the joke that you went to hell on your cruise.

LCWind wrote, "Overhyped, dated, creepy.  The stops the tour makes are to shops to entice you to buy. Not worth."

Research any tour or place you want to visit and get past the marketing hype to determine how much fun these places actually are in reality.

It may seem like a good idea, but you're better off not double booking shore excursions no matter how good it seems.

Cruise ships stop in ports of call around the world, and it's tempting to try to "see it all" while you're there for the day.

For many people, this might be the only time they get to visit these places.  Regardless of if you return again, people like the idea of enjoying the kind of humble brag activities they can share with friends and families.

On days when your ship is docked most of the day, it may seem like a good idea to book two shore excursions on the same day, but in practice, it ends up being more problematic than you might think.

You have less time than you think

The reason why booking two tours on the same day is a bad idea is the issue of time management.

First, you'd need to line up two shore excursions back to back that provide enough time to conclude one without being late for the second one.

Quite often, tours run a bit long.  Or the tour lacks an indication of time required to transport you to and from the meeting point.

The last thing you'd want to do is miss out on your second tour because you couldn't get to the meeting point for that excursion on time.

Basically, it's more difficult than you think to have a good idea of when exactly a tour will end so you can be ready for the second tour.

Port times can be misleading

Also, the times your ship is listed to dock isn't necessarily the time you're in port.

Cruise lines will list the time they expect to dock and the time they expect to depart, but those aren't the times you can actually get off the ship.

It takes a bit for the ship to physically dock, tie up, and then get clearance from the local authorities.  Clearance can sometimes take a while if the port authority deems it necessary to conduct a more thorough investigation.

At the end of the day, the sail away time is the time the ship will leave the port.  This means you need to be back onboard at least a half hour earlier.

Of course, the all-aboard time is the absolute last minute to get back, so you'll need to realistically get back sooner than that time.  

All of this adds up to less time in port than it might otherwise appear.

Shore excursions are tiring

Even if you get the timing perfect, the second reason to avoid booking two excursions on the same day is the energy required.

When you research shore excursions at home from the comfort of your couch, desk, or bed, you have all the energy in the world and feel up for just about anything.

But after a couple of hours in the hot and humid Caribbean sun, or enduring rain in your face in Alaska, your energy levels are going to be totally different.

Exploring the islands and cities your ship visit takes a toll on your body, even basic sightseeing tours.  Buses are uncomfortable, and you probably had to wake up early to prepare for that morning excursion.

Working in two hours in one day may leave you exhausted.

You can still do more than one thing

Don't confuse this advice of avoiding two tours to mean you can't do something else in port before or after your shore excursion.

Walking around on your own or just taking a taxi to a nearby beach is a much better way to still enjoy what your port of call has to offer, while adding far more flexibility.

If your first tour took a while and you're now hard pressed for time, you could take a quick stroll and then head back to the ship with plenty of time to spare.

But if your first tour is over and you have plenty of time, you can still enjoy a DIY excursion and head to a beach or city center for more exploration.

In fact, many tours I've been on will offer guests a different drop off point at the end of the excursion that isn't the cruise ship.

By booking only one tour, you have much more flexibility to "roll with the punches" depending on how you're feeling and how the time is working out.

Another option is to come back again

If the port you're set to visit has really impressive things to do and you want to do more than one thing there, the easiest solution is to book another cruise.

People that cruise a lot will tell you they'll repeat itineraries often because they want to go back to a particular port of call.

Granted, the cost of another cruise isn't insignificant, but planning another vacation isn't a bad idea at all either!

Stick to one tour, but be open to additional exploring

My best advice is book just one shore excursion per day and leave the option open to do something on your own when it ends.

While you certainly could book two tours in the same day when your ship is in port for 10 or more hours, the logistics (and associated stress) of getting back and then to the next tour just isn't worth it.

I think you'll find plenty to do on your own if you want to continue enjoying the port without having to secure a second excursion.

Are shore excursions required? Do I need to bring my passport into port? What should I wear on an excursion? We’re answering 15 of your dumb cruise ship shore excursion questions today.

In addition to enjoying time onboard your cruise ship, you’ll have the opportunity to visit ports around the world, such as in the Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, and beyond. Every cruise port has something exciting to offer, whether snorkeling, city sightseeing, wildlife viewing, or visiting a waterpark.

Many cruisers book shore excursions in each cruise port to help provide the best experience in just a few hours, but learning the ins and outs of shore excursions can seem overwhelming. From choosing between excursions to preparing for your day ashore, there’s a lot to remember when planning a fun cruise ship port day.

Just like when we answered your “dumb” cruise questions about dining and cabins, we want to point out that these questions, of course, are not inherently dumb. Rather, they are questions we hear over and over again at Royal Caribbean Blog, and we want to answer them all in one place.

Here are your really dumb cruise ship shore excursion questions answered.

Do I need to book a shore excursion?

You are under no obligation to book a shore excursion while on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Booking shore excursions is completely optional, although it’s a popular choice for many cruisers.

Shore excursions allow you to discover a destination through a guided experience, whether you want to see a port’s top attractions, participate in a thrilling experience like kayaking or zip lining, or spend the day at the beach.

The advantage of a shore excursion is that there is little planning involved on your end. You won’t need to worry about handling transportation logistics or researching what to do. Instead, you just show up at the tour’s designated meeting point and local guides will handle the rest.

Not booking a shore excursion does not exclude you from getting off your cruise ship in port, however, and many passengers prefer the flexibility of exploring on their own. Without a shore excursion, you can still visit a port’s top sights, but there’s just a little more planning involved.

Related: 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion

Do I need to bring my passport on a shore excursion?

A great debate among cruisers is whether or not you should bring your passport on a shore excursion. Some cruisers swear by bringing their passports into port. Others leave it in their cabin’s safe, knowing that if they were, for some reason, to miss the ship, crew members could retrieve their passport from their cabin.

To be on the safe side, we recommend bringing your passport on a shore excursion. Although the chances of missing your cruise ship are slim, it’s always better to be prepared for an unexpected scenario. You never know if an emergency will happen that might require you to spend extra time in port, thus missing your ship’s departure.

Related: What happens if you miss your cruise ship?

We recommend keeping your passport protected while on a shore excursion. Placing it into a waterproof bag, as an example, helps keep it dry and protected when at the beach or on a rainy day.

Do I get a refund if I miss my shore excursion?

Whether or not you get a refund for missing your shore excursion depends on a few factors.

If you booked a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean and your excursion gets canceled due to a schedule change, weather, or if your ship cannot dock in port, you will receive a refund.

If you booked an excursion through an outside provider and you miss the excursion, refunds are at the discretion of the tour provider. Most reputable tour companies will offer a similar refund policy as the cruise line in the case of an unexpected cancellation, but it’s best to check each tour’s policies before booking.

If you miss a shore excursion due to sleeping in or missing the meeting time, it’s unlikely you will be refunded for the excursion.

Can I cancel a shore excursion?

For most shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean, guests can modify or cancel an excursion up to 48 hours prior to port arrival with no penalty. This allows guests ample flexibility in booking shore excursions; if they change their mind about a particular excursion once onboard, they can cancel it without incurring any extra charge.

Certain tours, though, must be canceled 30 days prior to sailing. Tours that involve flights, trains, overnight stays, hotels, special events, and Royal Caribbean Private Journeys should be canceled a month or more in advance of the sailing.

If booking through an independent tour operator instead of Royal Caribbean, you should review the tour’s cancellation policies before booking as they can vary from provider to provider.

The price of my shore excursion went down! Can I get a refund?

Royal Caribbean shore excursions, like all other add-ons in the Cruise Planner website, can vary in price from day to day. An excursion may be offered for $100 on one day and spike to over $150 the next. On some occasions, the price may decrease (sometimes significantly).

If booking a Royal Caribbean excursion, we recommend checking the Cruise Planner website frequently to monitor any price drops. If the price of an excursion you booked dropped, you can cancel and rebook the excursion with no penalty via the website.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner site

If you notice the price of a tour drop through an independent tour operator, it’s at the discretion of the tour company whether or not you can rebook the tour at the lower cost.

Should I bring my wallet on a shore excursion?

Even though you don’t need your wallet while onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise, you should bring it on a shore excursion.

Your SeaPass card works on your cruise ship to make purchases, but it will not work in port. Therefore, remember to pack your wallet in your day bag. Bring a credit card, an ID, and some cash to ensure you’re prepared for the day.

Of course, you should bring your SeaPass card, too, as you’ll need to scan it to get on and off the ship on a port day.

Which currency should I bring on a shore excursion?

In addition to bringing your credit card on a shore excursion, you should also bring some cash. Cash can be used to purchase souvenirs or eat at restaurants that do not accept card payments, as well as tipping your shore excursion driver and guides after the tour.

The type of currency to bring depends on your port of call. Most Caribbean cruise ports will accept USD in tourist areas, although you can use local currency if you have any on hand.

Related: How much cash should you bring on a cruise?

Most countries (but not all) on a European cruise use the Euro. If you’re traveling to several countries that use the Euro, it’s a good idea to withdraw a small amount of currency from an ATM before the cruise.

When planning for which currency to bring into port, check the guidelines for each specific country. Some countries may accept card payments virtually everywhere, such as the United Kingdom, whereas others are best traveled with cash.

We do not recommend exchanging currency before a cruise. It’s easy to withdraw money from an ATM once in your embarkation city or cruise port, avoiding the hassle of exchanging currency ahead of time.

What should I bring on a shore excursion?

We advise wearing a daypack on a shore excursion to carry any belongings and essentials you’ll need throughout the tour.

What to bring depends on your ship’s destination along with tour type. Regardless of the tour and destination, you should pack your shore excursion ticket, a wallet, passport (or other ID), phone, camera, and your SeaPass card.

Related: 40 essential things to bring on a cruise

If your port is in a warm climate, remember to pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, bathing suit (if visiting the beach), flip flops or sandals, beach towels, and a beach bag. We recommend a water-resistant or waterproof bag in case of rain.

If traveling to a colder climate, such as Alaska, you’ll want to pack layers along with rain gear. Bringing a fleece and rain jacket ensures you stay warm and dry, and you’ll also want to ensure your shoes are water resistant.

As far as accessories, bring a pair of binoculars to better view Alaska’s scenery along with a camera and beanie. You might even want to bring a pair of sunglasses—even though you're in Alaska, a sunny day can still lead to sunburn.

Related: Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for your sailing

What should I wear on a shore excursion?

Shore excursions vary widely, from beach days to mountain hikes, and it’s important to dress appropriately for an excursion to ensure you’re comfortable during the day.

You can wear a bathing suit on a shore excursion, but remember to also wear something over the bathing suit, such as a cover up or shorts and a t-shirt. As far as footwear, wearing flip flops or sandals is usually your best bet. If the excursion combines a beach day with a more active activity, however, you should pack a pair of sneakers in your bag as well.

For a cold weather excursion, check the weather forecast before disembarking the ship. Weather can change drastically throughout the day in destinations like Norway and Alaska, so it’s important to be prepared for any and all weather scenarios.

Related: Best travel clothes for women on shore excursions

We advise wearing a base layer, such as a t-shirt or long sleeve shirt, followed by a warm layer like a sweatshirt or sweater. On top of these two layers, wear a waterproof jacket if rain is on the forecast.

Some tours may require you to wear a certain type of outfit or footwear. Hiking tours, for example, will usually require closed toed shoes whereas excursions visiting cathedrals may require you to dress more conservatively. Read through the details of your shore excursion before leaving the ship for more information on what to wear.

Where do I meet for a shore excursion?

Each port operates excursions slightly differently with regards to where you will meet your tour group.

Many excursions will meet on the pier as soon as you disembark your ship. For these tours, a crew member or tour guide will hold up a sign with your excursion’s name and number. Look for the correct sign upon disembarking and wait with the tour group until every passenger has arrived for the excursion.

Some ports, such as Costa Maya, have a designated shore excursion meeting area once you enter the port from the pier. These meeting areas are typically shaded, providing more comfort as you wait for other passengers to arrive.

Related: Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port

Other Royal Caribbean excursions will require you to meet inside the ship before disembarking, most commonly in the theater. This is common for excursions that require more travel time, such as those visiting mainland Mexico from Cozumel.

Information on where to meet will be found on your shore excursion ticket, which is delivered to your cabin on embarkation day if you booked the tour before your cruise. If you book an excursion while onboard, your shore excursion ticket will be delivered to your cabin during the sailing.

What happens if I lose my SeaPass card on a shore excursion?

Lost your SeaPass card on a shore excursion? If so, there’s no need to worry—you’ll still be allowed back on the ship.

When disembarking the ship in a port of call, you’ll scan your SeaPass card. This allows Royal Caribbean to keep track of which guests are on and off the ship. When coming back to the ship after an excursion, you must scan your SeaPass card.

If you lose your SeaPass card while in port, let the port authorities know once entering the port area. Ship security will verify your identity and let you back onboard, where you can make a visit to Guest Services for a replacement SeaPass card.

Obviously, it’s best not to lose your SeaPass card while in port. Keeping it safe in a daypack is advised. If you put it in a pocket, remember to take it out before swimming in the ocean or participating in active activities.

How do I book a Royal Caribbean shore excursion, and how much do they cost?

To book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean, log on to your Royal Caribbean account on the cruise line’s website. If it’s your first time logging in, create an account and link your cruise reservation number to the account.

Once logged in, click on the “Plan My Cruise” button under the listed sailing. This button brings you to the Cruise Planner website, which is where you can book cruise add-ons like drink packages, specialty dining, spa treatments, and shore excursions.

Click on the shore excursions tab to see the listed excursions for your cruise itinerary. You can organize excursions by port, activity level, interest, and duration. If you find an excursion that looks interesting, add it to your cart.

Once in the cart, you can purchase the excursion with a credit card or, if you have any, with onboard credit.

The cost of a shore excursion can vary greatly, with some excursions priced at only $25 and others over $1000! There is no set price for a shore excursion—the price ultimately depends on the type of tour, destination, and tour length.

Related: How to save money on cruise excursions

Most basic tours, such as a beach resort day or city tour, cost around $100, with some priced significantly more and less. Excursions in Alaska tend to be higher than those in the Caribbean, especially if they involve helicopter rides and glacier landings. Those in Europe tend to be higher as well, as many excursions in the Mediterranean are full day tours of cities like Rome and Paris.

Can I book a shore excursion for other people?

You can book shore excursions for any passengers in your cabin along with any other passengers with whom you have a linked reservation.

Once you are on the booking page for an excursion in the Cruise Planner, it will prompt you to select the number of guests for the booking. The names of those in your cabin will appear on the list, so you can add all passengers in the cabin to the reservation.

If you want to add a guest who is not staying in your cabin to the excursion reservation, click “Add Guest” on the booking page. This will redirect you to a page where you can link your reservation with another guest.

To do so, you’ll type the guests’ surname(s) along with their date of birth and reservation number. Once your reservations are linked, you can book any pre-cruise add-ons for that guest.

What happens if I miss my cruise ship?

One of the worst things that can happen on a shore excursion is missing your cruise ship. No one wants to be those passengers sprinting back to their ship as the gangway goes up, causing them to miss the ship’s departure and become stranded in a foreign port!

If you miss your cruise ship while on a Royal Caribbean shore excursion, Royal Caribbean will cover the cost and handle the logistics of getting your group back to the next port. Missing your ship is not very common when traveling on a Royal Caribbean excursion, as the ship will wait for you as long as possible.

If you miss your ship while on an independent tour or when traveling with no tour, you must cover the cost of getting to the next port. In these cases, crew members will enter your cabin to try to locate your passport, which they will hand to the port authorities.

Related: Do you need a passport for a cruise?

Once you reach the port, the port authorities will hand you your passport and can assist you with figuring out the next steps. If you do not have a passport and are in a foreign country, you will need to visit the nearest embassy or consulate in order to receive a new passport.

Is it better to book an excursion through the ship or independently?

If you want to book a tour instead of exploring on your own in port, you have two options: booking through the ship or through an outside tour provider.

Booking through Royal Caribbean is not necessary, although it comes with several advantages. When booking through Royal Caribbean, you can feel confident that the tours are properly vetted and that you won’t be left behind in case your tour runs late.

Related: Is it better to book excursions through the cruise ship?

Plus, booking excursions through Royal Caribbean is more convenient. Finding tours and things to do on your own requires more time and research, whereas Royal Caribbean lists all their excursions on the website. You also have the opportunity to speak with the shore excursions staff once onboard, and they can be a valuable resource when choosing between and planning for excursions.

Nonetheless, booking independently gives more options along with (usually) lower prices. You can also book small group tours as opposed to the larger groups you may find on a Royal Caribbean excursion.

Related: 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own

You can find reviews for most tours and tour companies online as well, leaving you confident that any tour provider you book is properly vetted. Websites such as Resortforaday, Viator, Shore Excursions Group, and Tripadvisor are all recommended options to find a tour on your own.