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A shore excursion can turn a cruise port stop into a planned sightseeing trip, beach day, cultural experience, food tour, or outdoor adventure. Royal Caribbean International offers excursions that can be booked before sailing through My Royal Cruise and onboard through the Shore Excursion desk.
Booking before your cruise is useful if you have a specific tour in mind because popular excursions can have limited availability. Royal Caribbean says pre-cruise booking provides the greatest selection and availability.
This guide explains how to book a Royal Caribbean shore excursion, what information you need, how to choose an excursion, what happens after booking, and how cancellation works.
A shore excursion is an organized activity or tour offered for guests visiting a cruise port. Depending on your itinerary, options can include sightseeing, snorkeling, hiking, culinary experiences, cultural tours, water activities, and other destination-based experiences.
Royal Caribbean also offers Royal Signature Excursions℠ in selected ports and on selected ships. These experiences can be identified through the Royal Signature Excursions filter in My Royal Cruise.
Excursions vary by sailing, so the available tours for one itinerary may not be available on another.
You can book a shore excursion before your cruise through My Royal Cruise after:
Once these requirements are met, available excursions can be viewed and purchased through your cruise planning account.
You can also book excursions once you are onboard by visiting the Shore Excursion desk.
Royal Caribbean recommends booking pre-cruise when possible because excursions can have limited availability. Its FAQ specifically identifies pre-cruise booking through My Royal Cruise as the best time to reserve a shore excursion for the greatest selection and availability.
This can be particularly useful for:
The online booking process is straightforward.
First, you need an active Royal Caribbean cruise reservation. You will also need your cruise reservation number and at least one payment must have been made before available excursions can be purchased online.
Go to Royal Caribbean's website and access your cruise through My Royal Cruise/Cruise Planner.
Royal Caribbean describes Cruise Planner as the online area used for pre-cruise purchases, including shore excursions, dining, beverage packages, internet, spa services, and other cruise extras.
Look for the shore excursion section associated with your itinerary.
Available activities can be searched according to your cruise's ports and other itinerary details. Royal Caribbean's shore excursion information allows guests to explore experiences by destination and activity.
Select the port where you want to take an excursion.
Review the activities available for that specific destination. The number and type of excursions depend on the itinerary and sailing.
Before purchasing, review the excursion description rather than choosing based only on the title.
Pay attention to:
Royal Caribbean notes that some excursions may require waivers and that accessibility requirements should be discussed with its Accessibility Shore Excursion team.
Make sure the excursion fits your port-day schedule.
Royal Caribbean states that shore excursion times are based on the ship's time. The meeting location and time are provided on the excursion ticket.
If you want to book multiple excursions on the same day, carefully check their start and finish times and allow sufficient time between activities.
After selecting the excursion, follow the online checkout process to purchase it.
Keep your booking information available after completing the purchase.
For excursions purchased before the cruise, Royal Caribbean says excursion tickets are delivered to your stateroom on boarding day. For excursions booked onboard, tickets may be provided when you purchase them or delivered to your stateroom later that day.
Yes. If you did not book an excursion before sailing, you can visit the Shore Excursion desk once onboard.
The Royal Caribbean app can also be used for shore excursion purchases onboard, according to the company's FAQ.
However, waiting until you board can mean fewer choices if an excursion has already reached capacity.
The choices depend on the port and sailing. Royal Caribbean describes a wide range of experiences, including adventure, sightseeing, cultural activities, culinary tours, water activities, and private experiences.
These are useful for travelers who want to see major attractions or learn about the destination.
They may include:
Adventure-oriented activities can include experiences such as snorkeling, hiking, biking, parasailing, or off-road tours.
Always check the activity requirements before booking.
Depending on the port, you may find options involving:
Read the individual excursion description to determine exactly what equipment, transportation, meals, or other services are included.
Some excursions focus on local food, traditions, history, and culture.
Royal Caribbean's current shore excursion offerings include culinary and cultural experiences in different destinations.
Private Journey experiences are designed for guests seeking a more personalized experience. Availability varies by itinerary.
Choosing an excursion should start with your interests and practical requirements.
Check whether the excursion involves:
An activity that looks attractive online may not be suitable if its physical requirements do not match your needs.
Compare the tour's duration with the ship's scheduled time in port.
Avoid assuming that a short-looking activity will take only a small part of your port day. Transportation and meeting requirements can affect the overall schedule.
Check whether the price includes:
Royal Caribbean states that entrance fees to museums and sites are included in the excursion price unless otherwise stated. The individual tour description should be checked for specific inclusions.
If you have accessibility requirements, review the excursion details and contact Royal Caribbean's Accessibility Shore Excursion team when necessary.
Do not assume that every tour has the same transportation or accessibility arrangements.
Royal Caribbean states that when you book a shore excursion through the cruise line, it guarantees that the ship will wait if the excursion is delayed. The company says it will make arrangements if an excursion is significantly delayed and the ship cannot wait.
This is one reason some travelers may prefer cruise-line-organized excursions over independently arranged activities, although the specific excursion terms should always be reviewed.
Yes. Royal Caribbean says guests can book more than one shore excursion per port. However, you need to make sure there is enough time between excursions.
Before booking two activities, compare:
A schedule that looks possible on paper may become stressful if there is very little time between tours.
Royal Caribbean says excursions can generally be modified or cancelled up to 48 hours before port arrival without penalty. However, different rules apply to certain specialized tours. Excursions involving flights, trains, special events, overnight stays, hotel stays, and Private Journeys must generally be cancelled 30 days before sailing to avoid cancellation penalties. Other restrictions may apply.
For pre-cruise purchases, cancellations can be handled through My Royal Cruise. Royal Caribbean also provides pre-cruise planning assistance for guests with a reservation and payment.
Once onboard, guests can cancel through the Shore Excursion desk or Guest Relations.
Always check the cancellation conditions attached to the particular excursion before purchasing.
Excursions can be cancelled or changed for operational, weather, or other reasons. Royal Caribbean's shore excursion information states that the company may cancel an excursion because of inclement weather or other reasons.
If a shore excursion is cancelled because the ship misses a port, Royal Caribbean says a refund will be provided.
The specific terms associated with the excursion should be reviewed because cancellation circumstances can differ.
Royal Caribbean recommends bringing your:
You should also review the individual excursion description for additional items you may need.
Depending on the activity, you may also need suitable clothing, comfortable footwear, swimwear, sunscreen, or other personal items.
Not necessarily.
Royal Caribbean states that not all shore excursions include a guide. The tour description should indicate whether a guide is included.
This is an important detail to check if having a local guide is one of your priorities.
It depends on the excursion.
Royal Caribbean notes that guests may have opportunities to purchase souvenirs, food, and drinks during some excursions. The tour description can provide information about what is included and where the excursion stops.
If you plan to make purchases during the day, check the destination's payment practices and the excursion information before leaving the ship.
Royal Caribbean says shore excursions are offered in every port of call, as well as in disembarkation ports. However, the specific choices available depend on the sailing.
The most reliable way to see the excursions available for your trip is to check your itinerary in My Royal Cruise.
Language availability can vary by excursion.
For example, Royal Caribbean states that its current Royal Signature Excursions are offered only in English.
If language is important to you, check the individual excursion description before booking.
A few simple checks can make the booking process easier.
Royal Caribbean recommends pre-cruise booking because availability can be limited.
Do not rely only on the excursion title or photographs. Check duration, activity level, inclusions, requirements, and meeting instructions.
If booking multiple excursions, allow a practical gap between them rather than scheduling them back-to-back.
Cancellation deadlines can differ for specialized experiences, so review the terms before payment.
Your excursion ticket contains important information such as the meeting point.
Some activities may be affected by weather. Make sure you understand the conditions and physical requirements before committing to the tour.
| Feature | Before the Cruise | Onboard |
|---|---|---|
| Booking method | My Royal Cruise/Cruise Planner | Shore Excursion desk or Royal Caribbean app |
| Availability | Can access excursions before sailing | Depends on remaining availability |
| Planning | Easier to organize in advance | Useful for making decisions during the cruise |
| Popular tours | Can be reserved before they sell out | May have limited remaining spaces |
| Tickets | Delivered to stateroom on boarding day | May be given at booking or delivered later |
| Cancellation | Through My Royal Cruise or other approved channels | Shore Excursion desk or Guest Relations |
Royal Caribbean confirms both pre-cruise and onboard booking options.
You can book before your cruise through My Royal Cruise after making at least one payment and receiving your reservation number. You can also book onboard through the Shore Excursion desk.
Yes. Royal Caribbean allows guests to book available excursions onboard through the Shore Excursion desk, and its FAQ also references booking through the Royal Caribbean app.
Royal Caribbean recommends booking pre-cruise because this provides the greatest selection and availability.
Generally, excursions can be modified or cancelled up to 48 hours before port arrival without penalty, but certain excursions have different deadlines and restrictions.
Yes. Royal Caribbean says you can book more than one excursion in a port, provided there is enough time between them.
Royal Caribbean states that if a cruise-line-booked excursion is delayed, the ship will wait for the guests.
Royal Caribbean recommends bringing your SeaPass card, photo identification, and shore excursion ticket. Check your individual excursion description for additional requirements.
Yes. Pre-cruise excursion tickets are delivered to your stateroom on boarding day. Onboard bookings may receive tickets at purchase or later that day.
No. Royal Caribbean states that not every excursion includes a tour guide. Check the specific tour description before booking.
The company may cancel excursions for weather or other reasons. If an excursion is cancelled because the ship misses a port, Royal Caribbean says guests receive a refund.
Yes. Once you have a qualifying cruise reservation, you can use My Royal Cruise and select the Royal Signature Excursions filter to find available tours.
Check My Royal Cruise for the excursions available for your specific itinerary. Royal Caribbean also provides shore excursion information and itinerary-specific excursion materials.
Booking a Royal Caribbean shore excursion can be done either before your cruise through My Royal Cruise or onboard through the Shore Excursion desk. To book online, you need a reserved cruise, a reservation number, and at least one payment toward the cruise.
For popular activities, checking availability early is practical because Royal Caribbean states that pre-cruise booking provides the greatest selection. Before purchasing, review the excursion's duration, activity level, inclusions, meeting instructions, accessibility information, and cancellation conditions.
The key is to choose an excursion that fits both your interests and your port-day schedule, then keep your ticket and meeting information accessible throughout the cruise.
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