Booking excursions for your Royal Caribbean cruise can be a stressful experience. How do you know you’re getting the best deal? How do you actually book them? When’s the best time to book? Can I cancel? But don’t worry, we’re going to tackle all those pain-points in this blog post today so you can plan and book your Royal Caribbean cruise excursions with peace of mind.
Book your Royal Caribbean Cruise Excursions early for the best selection:
Royal Caribbean usually opens shore excursion bookings 6 to 12 months in advance. Popular tours often sell out quickly, especially in sought-after destinations the Med and Alaska. Booking early not only secures your spot but also allows you to take advantage of promotional pricing or bundles for early birds. And, you can always cancel if you change your mind.
I always start looking at excursions as soon as I’ve booked the cruise – it helps me plan my budget and get a feel for what’s on offer and what really excites me.
How do you book your Royal Caribbean cruise excursions?
There’s three ways you can book your Royal Caribbean cruise excursions. The first way is through the Royal Caribbean app. I personally prefer to do it this way as I like to bookmark the ones I fancy, and then come back to them.
The second way is through the Royal Caribbean app. Which, is fine. But personally, I only download the apps for when I’m onboard, so this isn’t my favourite way.
Lastly, you could book Royal Caribbean cruise excursions onboard your cruise! But this is usually the most expensive way, and you may run the risk of them selling out.
Should you always book directly with Royal Caribbean?
While Royal Caribbean cruise excursions offer convenience and assurance, independent operators may provide similar experiences at a lower cost. However, you should always ensure they are reputable and consider the risks, such as the ship not waiting if you’re delayed.
This always give me a little bit anxiety, so I don’t really risk it unless it’s a short 2-4 hour tour with an overnight in port as part of the itinerary.
Other cruising excursion operators:
Not to repeat myself, but if you book your excursion with somebody other than the cruise line and that excursion is delayed or stuck in traffic – the ship will not wait for you.
Do I always need an excursion?
No! You can just get off the ship and explore on your own, there’s no pressure at all to book an excursion. Most of the time I love to just hop off the ship and head into the closest town centre.
Any excursion alternatives?
Sure! Depending on what port you’re visiting, you could always have a look at Hop On Hop Off busses! They usually provide audio guides about the city/town you’re in, and some of them even do attraction bundles! I did the Hop On Hop Off bus in Palma, Corfu, and Abu Dhabi!
If you’re cruising the Med with Royal Caribbean, don’t forget to look into their Stay Awhile programme. I’ve wrote a whole blog post about it, but it’s a cruise addon for your last day where you can stay on the ship for longer! Perfect if you have a late flight. Royal Caribbean consider it an excursion, so you’ll find it in the excursions part of the app!
