One of the main reasons people book a cruise vacation is to explore the destinations they visit, but no one wants to book a trip that disappoints you.
I asked our readers which shore excursions they had booked and immediately regretted, and to my surprise, the general consensus was not one specific excursion, but a trip of sorts.
In just a few days, we received over 500 responses to my question. What amazes me is not just how many people regret it, but how many times they choose the trip that seems to be the safest.
Big sightseeing tours are by far the most talked about and regret-filled form of cruise travel.
On paper, these trips sound like a sure thing. But after taking these tours, the reality is that many of them are the type of tours cruisers wish they could do over again.
That’s why shore excursions on this type of cruise ship are lackluster, and our readers say they’ll never book another trip again.
City tours and long distance bus tours
The shore excursion that most people regret the most is the bus tour, and it’s nowhere near the other excursions.
Excursions that take you around the city may seem like a safe and relaxing way to see your destination. In fact, many cruisers say they feel like they spend most of their port day staring out the bus window rather than actually experiencing anything.
- “We sat on the bus for hours before we could barely get off.”
- “It was basically a driving tour with some photo stops in between.”
- “It feels like we’ve seen everything…but experienced nothing.”
- “Too much is said and not enough is done.”
I also experienced this regret when I took a bus tour of the fjords in Norway. I’d like my family to see them, but most of the travel is on the bus, with little outdoor time.
Our readers feel the same way, because a big frustration is how little time people actually get off the bus. The stops are often rushed, leaving just enough time to take a quick photo before moving on.
- “Every stop felt rushed…like ‘Take a picture and get on.'”
- “We were here for 15 minutes, there for 20 minutes…it was not relaxing at all.”
Other issues with bus tours might be the guides, and how easy (or easy) it is to understand them. Or how knowledgeable they are about what you’re seeing.
- “The tour guide kept talking, but there was nothing memorable.”
- “Half the time I can’t even hear what they’re saying.”
Ultimately the problem with bus tours is that it feels like most of the time is spent in traffic rather than experiencing anything.
Our readers lamented that this felt like a waste of their time in port.
I recommend doing your research before visiting any port and carefully researching the activities, locations or major attractions. Take a taxi, walk there, or book an excursion to just visit the site.
If you want to experience more of the destination without feeling like you’re sitting on a bus, you can hire a private driver or travel in a small group. Since these excursions have smaller groups, you have more flexibility to customize your experience.
Overcrowded and bland beach
The second most mentioned regret is going to the beach, but that’s more of a simple question: expectations vs. reality.
The complaint is not specific to all beaches. Instead, it’s a beach that doesn’t live up to expectations. People book beach excursions expecting a pristine, relaxing getaway, but what they get is often crowded, expensive and bland.
- “It was packed with people — chairs stacked on top of each other.”
- “It’s simply not worth the price we paid.”
- “I can go to a public beach for very little money.”
- “It doesn’t look like the photo at all.”
Crowding is a major problem, especially at popular beach clubs associated with cruise ship traffic.
Trips that include beach breaks usually end at beaches that are suitable for cruise ships because of their large facilities.
- “There are too many people in this space.”
- “It felt more like a resort pool deck than a day at the beach.”
I have been to some of these types of beaches e.g. one from jamaica If I could, I would volunteer to return to the ship within five minutes of arrival.
When services and facilities don’t live up to the marketing claims, you feel like you’ve been ripped off. It’s one thing if you get sunburned, drink too much, or have an annoying uncle hanging out with you. But it’s another thing when it feels like your day never has fun.
The good news is that you can easily visit the beach on your own without joining an organized tour. You can easily search for the best beaches in any port your ship calls and find many great recommendations.
I would also look for comments about location, uniqueness, or service components. Find one that perfectly matches the vibe you’re looking for.
The snorkeling photos looked great but the experience didn’t live up to the hype
The snorkeling trip was repeated many times, mostly because the idea sounded better than what they experienced.
Snorkeling can be very rewarding, but if there are too many people or the weather doesn’t cooperate, it can be lackluster.
- “The water is murky. You can’t see anything.”
- “Too many people were in the water at the same time.”
- “We were all kicking each other’s legs trying to see the fish.”
Another problem is that it can be difficult for newbies to get the hang of how to snorkel properly.
- “I didn’t realize how difficult snorkeling was.”
- “Spend more time breathing than enjoying it.”
Weather conditions are a major factor and it’s not the tour operator’s fault. A good snorkeling trip depends on group size and an instructor who can help everyone, even if they are brand new.
Small group snorkeling trips can be a good idea to minimize these risks. Also, if you can practice before touring so that breathing through the mask doesn’t feel so foreign, that would also help a lot.
Swimming with dolphins is expensive and overproduced
Dolphin swimming is controversial and, to many readers, mundane.
Many cruise shippers say the experience feels overpriced and bland. Dolphin encounters are often a group activity, with little alone time with the animals.
- “It’s over so soon.”
- “You spend more time waiting than actually spending time with the dolphins.”
A common complaint is the structured and limited nature of interactions.
- It feels very stagey… like you’re just moving along a line. “
- “You get your photo, your quick interaction, and that’s it.”
Another issue is the ethics of these trips.
- “When I see these situations, it doesn’t feel right.”
- “After doing it once, I won’t do it again because of the way dolphins are raised.”
I’ve never liked the idea of encountering dolphins in a cage, so if you want to see marine life, I recommend booking some kind of viewing tour on the high seas. You won’t take selfies with them, but it’s best for both of you.
A glass-bottom boat trip sounds a lot more fun than it actually is
Like bus tours, taking a glass-bottomed boat sounds great in theory, but rarely lives up to expectations.
The problem with this kind of trip is that you actually see so little.
- “The water isn’t clear enough to see anything.”
- “We were all squinting trying to spot something.”
- “It’s definitely not what the brochure says it is.”
Like other tours on this list, the boat was crowded. So when you add a smaller viewing area, frustration sets in.
For many, this ends up feeling like a passive, mundane journey.
There’s a lot of luck involved in a glass-bottom boat ride, as there’s a chance your boat will pass something interesting (or something interesting will pass under your boat). I’d rather take the risk and go snorkeling.