10 Ways to Save €500+ on Cruise Excursions
Without Missing Out in Port
JUNE 17TH, 2025
🚢 Introduction: How Cruise Lines Overcharge You on Shore Excursions
Shore excursions are where cruise lines make some of their highest profit margins—often 50–70% above actual local prices.
A 3-hour city tour offered onboard for €120 might only cost €30 if booked locally.
A “best of Santorini” group tour can cost €200+ per person, even though the same itinerary costs half elsewhere.
Multiply that by a family of four visiting 5–7 ports, and you’re easily over €1,000 in avoidable costs.
This guide breaks down 10 actionable, research-backed, and field-tested ways to save at least €500 per person—without sacrificing experience, convenience, or peace of mind.
Every strategy here has been used successfully by independent cruisers in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska, and beyond.
Discover how PortTrip provides time-saving recommendations for maximizing your shore Activities.
✅ 1. Skip Cruise Line Tours — Plan Your Own Shore Excursions
Savings: €60–€180 per port
Cruise-organized tours are often 2–4x the local price. DIY excursions give you the same experiences—at a fraction of the cost.
🎯 Real Example:
Cruise tour in Naples to Pompeii: €110+ pp
DIY version: €3 train + €18 Pompeii entry + €10 guide = €31 total
Savings: ~€79 per person
🛠 How to DIY Safely:
Check port-to-city transport (train, bus, or taxi)
Pre-book attraction tickets online (many offer skip-the-line access)
Use PortTrip to find pre-built, time-optimized day plans with offline navigation
💡 Bonus: You set your own pace, skip shopping stops, and enjoy real flexibility.
🎟️ 2. Use Local City Passes to Bundle Attractions
Savings: €30–€80 per port
City passes often include:
Museums
Historic sites
Public transport
Discounts at shops or ferry lines
They’re especially valuable in museum-rich or compact cities like Rome, Dubrovnik, Barcelona, or Athens.
💡 Examples:
Dubrovnik Pass: €35 → City Walls (€35), Rector’s Palace (€15), Maritime Museum, and more
Barcelona Card: Includes 25+ museums + metro access
Athens Combo Ticket: €30 for 7 archaeological sites including Acropolis (vs €66+ individually)
📲 PortTrip tells you when a pass actually saves you money based on your actual plan and hours in port.
Discover how PortTrip assists in scheduling activities, managing dining reservations, and ensuring you don't miss out on any of the ship's exclusive offerings.
👨👩👧👦 3. Buy Family/Group Tickets When Possible
Savings: €10–€40 per port
Many attractions offer:
Free entry for kids under 6–7
Reduced youth pricing
Discounted family bundles
But cruise excursions rarely pass that savings to you.
Example:
Dubrovnik Walls:
Adults = €35 | Kids 7–18 = €15 | Under 7 = Free
Buying a €35 cruise pass for each child? Overpaying.
✅ Buy adult Dubrovnik Passes, then pay for kids à la carte.
🧠 Tip: Always check official attraction websites. Even UNESCO sites often have family discounts hidden on local pages.
🚍 4. Use Public Transport Instead of Cruise Transfers
Savings: €30–€90 per port
Cruise transfer buses often cost €15–€30 round-trip—even when local public transit costs under €3.
Real Cases:
Marseille to Old Town: Public bus = €2 | Cruise shuttle = €15+
Athens Piraeus Port to Acropolis: Metro = €1.20
Livorno Port to Florence: Train = €9 vs cruise bus €80+
📲 PortTrip lists bus and metro numbers, stops, and even walking times, so you don’t get lost.
🛡️ Bonus Tip: Local transit is generally safe, especially during daylight hours. Always carry the port name and address in case you need a cab back.
🌐 5. Book Independent Excursions from Trusted Platforms
Savings: €40–€100 per tour
Cruise excursions use local operators—then mark up their prices. You can book the same experiences via:
GetYourGuide
Viator
Shore Excursions Group
WithLocals (great for private guides)
Look for:
⭐ High ratings (4.6+)
🛟 “Return-to-ship guarantee”
❌ Free cancellation up to 24 hours
Example:
Santorini Catamaran Tour: Cruise: €189 | GYG: €99 | Same itinerary
📲 PortTrip links to the best-rated 3rd-party options under each port’s recommended activities.
📅 6. Time Your Entry Tickets Wisely
Savings: €10–€25 per site
Combo tickets are only worth it if you plan to visit multiple attractions. Otherwise, buying individual tickets may be smarter.
Good Value:
Athens Acropolis Combo = €30 for 7 sites
Rome Vatican + Colosseum = Great if bundled at a discount
Bad Value:
Paris Museum Pass if you only want 1–2 stops
Dubrovnik Pass if skipping City Walls
📊 PortTrip helps compare real entry costs vs bundled passes based on your actual itinerary.
🧭 7. Avoid "Shopping Stops" Masquerading as Excursions
Savings: €20–€60 per person
Some cruise excursions include “cultural” stops at:
Leather factories
Carpet weavers
Diamond outlets
Gemstone galleries
These are often commission-based sales pitches, not true experiences.
✅ Instead:
Read the itinerary closely: if 45+ minutes is spent at “a local artisan demonstration,” be skeptical
Use PortTrip to filter out fluff and focus on actual sightseeing, nature, or cultural immersion
🧠 8. Prioritize 2–3 Key Experiences per Port
Savings: €25–€70 per port
Trying to pack in 7 stops leads to rushed tours and costly all-in-one bundles.
Instead, identify your top 2–3 goals:
🧱 Historic landmark
🍴 Food or market visit
🌿 Nature walk or beach stop
Then build a short, satisfying plan around that.
📲 PortTrip creates efficient, time-based itineraries customized to your port time and interests—so you see more with less stress.
👥 9. Share Private Tours With Other Cruisers
Savings: €40–€120 per person
Private tours are often a flat rate—ideal for splitting.
€300 for 6 people = €50 pp
Compare that to cruise coach tour = €99–€149 pp
How to find others:
Join CruiseCritic roll calls
Ask in Facebook cruise groups
Team up with cabin neighbors
📲 PortTrip allows you to export your plan to share with others, making coordination easier.
📲 10. Use the PortTrip App to Plan Smarter & Travel Cheaper
Savings: €50–€100+ per cruise
Even with all the knowledge above, it takes time to plan each port. PortTrip cuts your prep time in half—and helps you avoid expensive mistakes.
What You Get with PortTrip:
🧭 Personalized day plans based on how many hours you’re ashore
🚍 Detailed port-to-city directions (including public transport!)
🕒 Attraction opening hours + estimated visit durations
🧾 Whether to buy a pass or pay à la carte
📶 Offline mode for all guides—no roaming needed
💡 Curated activities with local context, hidden gems, and food stops
🚢 Trusted by independent cruisers worldwide to save time, money, and battery life.
👉 Download PortTrip Now on the App Store and start saving before your next cruise.
💶 Summary Table: Potential Savings Per Strategy
StrategyEstimated SavingsDIY Instead of Cruise Tours€60–€180 per portUse Local City Passes€30–€80Family/Group Pricing€10–€40Public Transit€30–€90Independent Excursions€40–€100Smart Ticket Timing€10–€25Skip Shopping Stops€20–€60Simplify Itinerary€25–€70Split Private Tours€40–€120Use PortTrip€50–€100+
👉 Total Potential Savings: €500+ per person on a 7–10 day cruise
🧭 Final Call: Take Back Control of Your Port Days
You don’t need to sacrifice convenience to save money—you just need the right tools, knowledge, and plan.
PortTrip gives you:
Freedom from overpriced cruise tours
Confidence in every port
Offline access to everything that matters
A better way to experience the world—on your terms
🎯 Your next port day can be smarter, cheaper, and more meaningful.
