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Is it cheaper to buy shore excursions on the ship?

For the most part, cruise lines do charge more than non-cruise-related tour operators for the same (or similar) outing. If you trust the company and feel confident that you won't miss the ship, it certainly makes sense to pay less by booking an excursion independently that could cost you more onboard.



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Cruise excursions are one area where you enjoy the experiences at a reduced rate.
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Guests can book a Shore Excursion by visiting the Shore Excursion desk onboard during their cruise. Guests may also visit MyRoyal Cruise to purchase excursions before they cruise.

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Yes. It's almost always cheaper to buy the excursions ahead of time. And even if price isn't a factor, the more popular ones are very likely to sell out. Book your excursions as early as you can after booking the cruise.

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Many people suggest $100 per day, and this has generally worked well for me in my cruising experiences, but there are a lot of variables to consider.

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The price of a cruise is the same whether you book onboard or at home, but Royal Caribbean will give you extra onboard credit for booking onboard. It's a bonus on top of other promotions the cruise line has, and is one of the best ways to rack up onboard credit.

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Cargo cruises offer a super cheap way to see the world. They're not as popular or luxurious as regular cruise ships, but they have their charm. A voyage costs between $65 and $125 per day, including lodging and meals.

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Taking Your Passport Should you take your passport with you on shore excursions? No, you shouldn't bring your passport, unless your tour requires it. We recommend bringing your driver's license as a form of ID instead. You don't want to risk losing your passport ashore.

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Shore excursions may be booked online prior to sailing up until the Pre-Sail cut-off time, 11:59pm ET, two days prior to the cruise departure. After the online Pre-Sail, the remaining inventory will be available on the departure day onboard the ship.

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Do I need a passport? We recommend that everyone taking a cruise from the United States have a passport book. Though some “closed-loop” cruises may not require a U.S. passport, we recommend bringing yours in case of an emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port.

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We recommend paying for on shore purchases that are over $10 with a credit card to reduce the amount of cash you need to carry when off-ship and for a good record of your purchase, and use pocket change or local currency for the rest.

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Yes, depending on the length of each applicable shore tour relative to the amount of time the ships stay in port. Make sure that you allow at least 30 minutes between each tour.

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The Verdict: Plan to Board Your Cruise Ship Early However, it's better to err on the side of too early than too late. Remember that it's always better to be a little early and wait a little longer before embarking rather than show up late and miss your trip entirely!

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