Do shore excursions need to be purchased in advance on cruises?

Do shore excursions need to be purchased in advance on cruises? - Dark humpback whale with long white fins swimming near modern boat with hoisted sails

I'd like to do some shore excursions on a cruise I'm considering. Do the excursions need to be purchased in advance or should they be purchased once you're on the cruise or what?

Additionally, I was thinking about paying for the cruise via expedia.com. If the excursions need to be purchased in advance, would I still be able to purchase them if I used expedia.com?






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Do shore excursions need to be purchased in advance on cruises? - Poor indigenous cabin with thatched roof on sandy coastline with wavy ocean in cloudy day
Do shore excursions need to be purchased in advance on cruises? - Full body of male tourist standing near table on ship deck floating on rippling waterway in Istanbul
Do shore excursions need to be purchased in advance on cruises? - Cruise boats moored on river in tropical village



Should I book my shore excursions in advance?

It's best to book in advance for limited-availability excursions (like flightseeing in Alaska or Hawaii) and must-do tours.

Is it cheaper to book excursions in advance on a cruise?

No. Most cruise lines either charge the same prices for shore excursions booked online and on board or offer a discount for tours purchased in advance.

Do you have to buy excursions on a cruise?

The good news is that you don't have to book an excursions through the cruise line, nor do you have to book an excursion at all. In fact, you can often save money by finding excursions to do on your own. However, it can be a little intimidating if you aren't familiar.

Can you book your own excursions on a cruise?

Plan a day on your own on a private tour -- though some cruise lines will book you a private guide and driver as part of its shore excursions program, too -- and you'll see the sights you want to see and at your pace, rather than some prearranged plan by the ship-arranged tour guides.



Should I Book Shore Excursion from the Cruise Line? Watch this video BEFORE you decide!




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