No. You don't need to book a shore excursion at every stop on your cruise, and at some ports skipping one is the better call.
Booking excursions is part of our job. So is telling clients when to skip them, which saves money and stress. Roam with Rosen is a cruise-only travel advisory with 80+ personal sailings across 15+ cruise lines.
Ship excursion vs. independent tour vs. nothing at all
There are 3 ways to spend a port day:
- Ship-sponsored excursions. You book directly through the cruise line. It costs more, but cruise lines generally hold the ship if their own tour runs late.
- Independent tours. You book through a third party, often for less money. The catch: you're responsible for getting back before all-aboard time. Reputable operators offer a back-to-ship guarantee for traffic or delays. Check which ones do, and read what it covers before you book.
- Doing nothing at all. Walk off the ship, explore on your own schedule, and come back when you're ready. No tour desk, no meeting time, no bus.
| Port strategy | Best used for | Main advantage | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ship-sponsored excursion | Distant landmarks, strict-time itineraries, complex logistics | Cruise line generally holds the ship if the tour runs late | Highest cost, larger group sizes |
| Independent tour | Popular regional sights, niche activities | Lower prices, smaller groups, personalized pace | Must verify the operator's back-to-ship guarantee |
| Explore on your own (DIY) | Walkable downtowns, repeat port visits, relaxed days | Total flexibility, zero extra excursion costs | Self-guided navigation required |
When you need to book something
Some ports require it. If a landmark sits far from where the ship docks with no easy public transit, a tour or a taxi is the only practical way to see it. A few destinations restrict independent operators, so the cruise line's excursion is the only legal way to reach certain sites. During COVID restrictions, cruise lines allowed approved excursions only.
Most ports don't require any of this.
When you don't
I've sailed into Ketchikan, Alaska 3 times. On the third visit, instead of booking another excursion, I decided to slow down and wander.
A port day in Alaska.
I shopped. I watched bears pull salmon straight out of the water, no tour bus involved.
Watching bears fish for salmon.
I found a place called New York Cafe, ordered chili and an Alaskan beer, and spent some time talking with the locals.
An Alaskan beer at New York Cafe.
That night, dinner was family-style at Pink Agave, with the whole group ordering off the menu and sharing everything.
Alaska on a self-guided port day.
Nothing in that day was booked.
How to decide, port by port
Ask a few honest questions about the specific port before deciding:
- Have you been to this port before? A repeat stop is a good candidate for a DIY day, since you already know your way around.
- Is the thing you want to see walkable from the dock? Downtown ports where the ship docks in the city center make independent exploring easy. Ports where the main attraction sits an hour outside town usually call for a tour.
- Does the excursion do something you can't recreate on your own? Experiences like a helicopter flight or a boat trip to a glacier are worth the price. A general city tour of a place with an easy, walkable downtown often isn't.
A glacier in Alaska.
We know which ports reward wandering and which need a booked plan, because we've sailed most of them ourselves. That's the judgment call we make for every client before they ever board.
Common questions
Ready to plan your own ports?
We build the port-by-port plan into every itinerary before you board, so you know which stops are worth booking and which are worth wandering. Fill out the inquiry form to book your free 30-minute consult. More at roamwithrosen.com.
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