14 Cruise Ports Where You Don’t Need a Shore Excursion

Cruise shore excursions can get expensive fast. Depending on the port and the activity, I often see tours priced at $100 or more per person. For my family of four, that adds up.

What’s frustrating is paying for a cruise shore excursion, then realizing once you’re ashore that you could have explored the port on your own. That has happened to me more than once.

I’ve been on over 25 cruises, and these are ports where I would consider skipping the cruise line shore excursion.

Some are easy to explore on foot. At others, I’d take a taxi, ferry, or shuttle, or book an activity independently. I’ll tell you what we did and what I wish I’d known before we went.

Bermuda

You don’t need to book expensive cruise shore excursions in Bermuda. On our recent Norwegian cruise to Bermuda, we docked at the Royal Naval Dockyard and we took a cab to Horseshoe Bay Beach.

You can also take a shuttle to Horseshoe Bay for $7 per person.

Right outside the cruise ship, there are booths and independent operators offering activities, including boat tours and jet ski rides. It felt organized and easy to find tours after getting off the ship.

After spending a few hours at Horseshoe Bay Beach, we took a cab to Hamilton. There were a lot of cabs outside the beach entrance. You could also catch a shuttle back to the cruise ship.

We went shopping in Hamilton and returned to the Royal Naval Dockyard by ferry. The ferry was clean and had indoor and outdoor seating. It was also very inexpensive at $5 per person.

Norwegian cruise also offered a free ferry to St. George’s but we didn’t have time to take it.

Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is a port where I wished I hadn’t paid for a cruise shore excursion.

On our first day, we joined a Celebrity cruise shore excursion that took us to the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town.

Once we were there, I realized we could have taken an Uber into the city and explored on our own.

We ended up leaving the tour instead of riding the tour bus back to the ship.

We wandered the cobblestone streets, stopped for princess cake and coffee, and spent time people-watching. We also stopped by a nearby shopping mall.

Our ship stayed overnight, so we had another day in Stockholm. This time, we skipped the cruise shore excursion and took an Uber to the Swedish History Museum where my son loved all the Viking exhibits.

Stavanger, Norway

In Stavanger, I made the mistake of paying for a cruise shore excursion to see the fjords.

After we arrived, I realized we didn’t have to book a shore excursion through the cruise ship since there were independent boat tours right outside the ship. We could have saved a few hundred dollars for my family of four.

If I were to do it all over again, I’d get off the ship early and join one of the Lysefjord boat tours.

You can also have a great Stavanger day without taking a boat at all. Old Stavanger’s white wooden houses were so close to our dock that I could see them from my balcony.

We had fun walking around the neighborhood on our own.

Visby, Sweden

I made the mistake of booking a cruise shore excursion on Visby. Once we arrived, I realized that what we really wanted to see was the medieval town.

I quickly realized the bus couldn’t take us through its narrow streets since they don’t allow buses inside the walled city.

We wanted to walk in and see the old stone buildings, explore the cobblestone roads, and stop at the shops and cafés.

Instead of staying on the cruise bus tour, we actually asked to be dropped off near the entrance of the walled town and explored on our own.

Afterward, we walked back to the ship. There was also a Celebrity cruise shuttle that could have taken us back.

So if your main goal is Visby’s old town, I would go on foot and skip the cruise shore excursion.

Nassau, Bahamas

In Nassau, you can easily get off the ship and explore downtown on foot. Bay Street’s shops and the Straw Market are close to the cruise port.

If you want a nearby beach, you can walk to Junkanoo Beach. It’s a public beach where you can rent chairs and umbrellas and get food.

For me, I prefer to spend my day at a nearby hotel beach. I like being able to order food and drinks while relaxing on the beach. My kids love being able to swim in the hotel pool.

I always buy a day pass for this ahead of time since they often sell out.

Guernsey, Channel Islands

I visited Guernsey on a Princess cruise. Our ship anchored offshore, and a tender took us into St. Peter Port.

We walked around the harbor area, looked at the shops, and enjoyed the town at our own pace. Castle Cornet is also a short walk from the town center if you want to add a historical stop.

Guernsey is a good port for a day when you want a relaxed day. You can grab lunch, browse for a while, or simply enjoy the harbor views.

Victoria, Canada

Victoria is a nice port for a relaxed day ashore. You can walk from the cruise terminal toward the Inner Harbour if you’re up for it, or take a shuttle or taxi.

When we were there during our Alaska cruise, we wanted an easy day. We walked around, we had fish and chips by the water, spent time around the harbor, and rode one of the little water taxis.

My son still says it was the best fish and chips he’s ever had. He talks about it years later.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is a city I’d explore independently. Depending on where your cruise ship docks, you can walk to La Rambla or take an Uber.

We walked around Port Vell and La Rambla, stopped for food, and visited Maremagnum, the waterfront shopping center. I loved having chipirones while we were there.

You can also take an Uber to see sights like Sagrada Família or Park Guell.

Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg is another city where we enjoyed exploring on our own. You can easily take an Uber to the waterfront, the Elbphilharmonie area, Speicherstadt, City Hall, and Jungfernstieg.

There are shopping areas. We even went to a mall. My son had fun riding a Lime scooter.

We also stopped at Hofbräu for schnitzel and pork knuckle.

I like that Hamburg is a small city that is easy to get around.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is another cruise port where you can explore on your own.

We visited the National Museum of Scotland to see Dolly the sheep, then walked around the historic streets, shops, and cafés at our own pace.

If you’re interested in Harry Potter, you can also look into the Edinburgh places associated with J.K. Rowling and work a few into your walk.

Port Canaveral, Florida

Don’t waste your money booking a cruise shore excursion at Port Canaveral unless you are planning to go to Disney or Universal Studios.

For an easy beach day, take an Uber or get on a shuttle to Cocoa Beach. You can spend your day at the beach.

Stop by Ron Jon Surf Shop, which is just a block away from the beach. It’s a store worth visiting to buy souvenirs.

If you’re cruising with kids, Kennedy Space Center is another fun activity. You can easily take an Uber there and back. Although you need to plan ahead and make sure you give yourself plenty of time back to the ship.

I don’t suggest you do both Cocoa beach and Kennedy Space Center because there isn’t enough time for both.

Tromsø, Norway

You don’t need to book an expensive cruise shore excursion at Tromso. We didn’t book one. Instead, we got around by taking their local taxi. Do know they don’t have Uber there. You need to download their Tromso Taxi app.

We took a taxi to a mall to buy hiking shoes for a fossil hunt tour later in our cruise. Then we took a taxi to the Fjellheisen cable car.

Once you reach the top, there is a coffee shop with amazing views of Tromso. We stopped for snacks, coffee and hot cocoa for the kids. My son also got a chance to walk around and break in his new hiking shoes.

Warnemünde, Germany

Warnemünde is one of the easiest ports on this list to enjoy without a shore excursion. When we got off the ship, we could explore the seaside town on foot.

It’s such a quaint place to spend a cruise day. We walked around, looked in the little shops, and stopped at cafés.

You do need to book a cruise shore excursion if you want to go to Berlin. But if you’d rather have a relaxed day close to the ship, spend the day at Warnemünde. I loved that we could simply get off, wander around town.

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Rotterdam is a good port to explore on your own. From the cruise terminal, you can head along Wilhelminapier and cross the Erasmus Bridge toward the center.

You get waterfront views and a look at the city’s architecture along the way. Once you’re across the bridge, you can stop at a café or do a little shopping.

Cruise Essentials to Buy Before Your Cruise

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Travel Must-Haves

Passport neck wallet – Keeps your passport and travel documents secure and accessible. It also has RFID protection.

Cruise lanyards – A super convenient way to keep your cruise card within easy reach. No more digging through your bag every time you need it! I recommend getting one lanyard per person in your group and choosing different colors so it’s easy to tell them apart.

Anti-theft crossbody bag with anti-pickpocket clip – Genius anti-theft clip and versatile enough for both port days and evenings in the dining room.

Anti-theft crossbody bag with RFID – Padded shoulder straps with RFID lining to safeguard against identity theft.

Insulated water bottles –I don’t like spending money on bottled water, and I always want fresh water in my cabin. I’ll fill my bottle at the buffet or ask my server at dinner, then bring it back so I have water at night. This is my go-to water bottle—I prefer ones without straws since they’re much easier to wash in the cabin sink.

Pashmina – This multi-purpose wrap always earns its spot in my luggage. Use it as an evening wrap, a lightweight plane blanket, or a cover-up when visiting places of worship that require modest dress. I never cruise without one—you’ll be surprised how often it comes in handy.

Cruise Planning Essentials

Day Passes to Resorts– Booking private beach resort access in advance guarantees a comfortable beach experience at the cruise port.

Travel Insurance with CFAR Coverage– CFAR travel insurance gives you flexibility to cancel your cruise for any reason and recover part of your costs if plans change.

Last Minute Cruise Deals– Search for last minute cruise deals.

Cabin Comfort & Organization

Non-surge Cruise power strip– Cabins never have enough outlets (check cruise line rules first).

Magnetic hooks – Super-strong magnetic hooks that attach easily to your cabin walls. They’re perfect for hanging hats, cruise lanyards, goggles, swimsuits, and towels. I personally use the 85+ lb hooks—they’re incredibly sturdy and can even hold backpacks!

Small portable fan – Improves airflow and keeps Inside Cabins from feeling stuffy.

Motion sensor night light – Perfect for Inside Cabins, for when you get up at night to use the bathroom. It also has a magnetic base, so you can easily attach it to your cabin walls.

Toiletries & Laundry

Hanging toiletry bag – Keeps your essentials neat and accessible.

Fabric freshener spray – Fights wrinkles and refreshes clothes between wears.

Travel-size detergent – Handy for washing swimsuits, underwear, and quick-dry clothing in the sink.

TSA-approved travel containers – Easy to pack your lotions, creams, and other liquids without worrying about TSA rules.

Health & Wellness

Anti-seasickness medicine – My go-to meds for anti-seasickness. I take one in the morning on sea days (bring chewables for kids).

Acupressure bands – A natural alternative for seasickness relief. I use this with the anti-seasickness meds.

Packing & Storage

Cruise travel planners– Check out my travel planners, they help you stay organized before and during your trip.

Packing cubes –  I never travel without packing cubes! They make packing and unpacking so easy—you can simply slip the entire cube into the cabin closet or drawer. I like to assign a different color to each person so there’s no mix-up.

Foldable duffel bag –  I always pack a foldable duffel bag in case I bring home too many souvenirs or do some extra shopping. It doubles as an extra carry-on and barely takes up any luggage space. 

Foldable shopping bag – Perfect for shopping at cruise ports, these bags fold up small enough to keep in your purse. I always carry one with me—you never know when you’ll need it! Plus, many countries charge a fee for shopping bags, and I’d much rather use my own than pay extra. 

Foldable backpack – Perfect for cruise port days when you need an extra bag. I love that these backpacks are lightweight and fold down small, so you can toss one in your luggage without taking up much space.

Travel luggage scale – I always keep one in my suitcase so I can weigh my bags before heading to the airport. It’s a simple way to avoid overweight baggage fees.

Apple AirTags – I pop one into each of my bags so I can track my luggage for peace of mind. They’re especially helpful if you have a short layover and worry about your suitcase getting left behind.

Beach Essentials

Towel Clips – A simple must-have for pool and beach days! They keep your towels from slipping off lounge chairs, and I never cruise without brining a few in my luggage.

Waterproof phone pouch – Protect your phone from water and sand while still being able to snap photos. I always bring one when cruising the Caribbean or Mediterranean—it’s a lifesaver for beach and pool days.

Striped beach bag with zipper – You’ll need a beach bag with zipper to keep your things secure. I like this one because it’s stylish, has a water bottle holder, keeps belongings secure and has a lot of pockets.

Kid-Friendly Cruise Essentials

Magnetic toys – Cabin walls are magnetic, making these toys perfect for fun, mess-free entertainment. They keep kids busy when you’re in the cabin, especially since cruise TV options for kids can be limited. It’s always best to bring your own toys.

Collapsible beach buckets and toys –  You’ll definitely want to bring beach toys if you’re going on a Caribbean cruise! This collapsible set includes foldable buckets, shovels, and sandcastle molds, all packed neatly in one bag. They’re easy to fit in your suitcase without taking up much space.