Some cruise lines, such as Viking and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, include the cost of basic shore excursions in their cruise fares. If you don't care to do any specialty tours, you might be able to get all your port activities for free.

On standard and "Premium" cruise lines (like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or Celebrity), shore excursions are almost never free and represent a significant additional cost, often ranging from $50 to $300 per person. However, in the Luxury and Ultra-Luxury market, many lines include excursions in their "all-inclusive" fares. For example, Regent Seven Seas and Viking Ocean Cruises are famous for including at least one free shore excursion in every port of call—typically a guided coach tour or a city highlights walk. Other lines like Silversea or Scenic often include nearly all land adventures in their base price. For travelers in 2026, it is important to read the "What's Included" fine print carefully; while a budget cruise may have a lower "sticker price," the cost of booking independent tours or "official" ship excursions at every stop can easily add $1,000+ to the total bill for a couple.