One of the biggest expenses of a cruise, besides the actual booking, is excursions. Cruise lines offer dozens at ports of call around the world, but they’re often very expensive for a solo traveler, let alone a family.

Instead, I like to explore the ports on my own or with a third-party excursion company. These excursions are typically more affordable and offer comparable experiences, and I always read a lot of reviews before booking.

The biggest perk of booking excursions through a cruise line is that the ship waits for you to get back if you’re running late.

So, if you’re going the third-party route, be sure your excursion will get you back to the ship at least an hour before it’s set to depart so you don’t get left behind.

This story was originally published on February 27, 2024, and most recently updated on January 7, 2026.