Shore Excursions Tours & Activities

Table Of Content

• SELECT OPTIONS FOR THIS ITEM.
• Sound like fun? Here’s how to book your group shore excursion:
• Active Excursions vs. Sightseeing Tours:
• Bring the guests — we do the rest.

You can take a sunset pleasure cruise in St. Lucia, visit penguin colonies in Antarctica, go wine tasting in Provence or bike through Copenhagen. The tours can be booked onboard at your ship's excursions desk or online before you depart on your trip. When you set sail on a cruise trip to The Bahamas, sparkling blue waters teeming with tropical marine life, picture-perfect white-sand beaches, intriguing historic landmarks and so much more await. The best way to discover it all while having heaps of fun is to take a Bahamas cruise excursion. Whether you want an active adventure, an informative guided tour or get into nature, these Bahamian tours are sure to be memorable highlights of your cruise.

SELECT OPTIONS FOR THIS ITEM.

After an orientation, paddle over calm waters, taking in tropical birds, fish and plants, and seeing spots only accessible by kayak. An easy hike with a guide who focuses on natural history and geology is also featured, along with lunch in a beachfront picnic spot. Some shore tours -- such as daylong trips from Tunis to the marketplace, museum and ancient Carthage -- pack many activities into one trip. Others focus on one destination or activity, like a trip to the Mayan ruins from Cozumel. It's up to you whether you'd prefer to see many things for short amounts of time or focus on one place in depth.

Sound like fun? Here’s how to book your group shore excursion:

A Carnival cruise offers travelers a unique opportunity to explore different destinations and experience a variety of activities both on board and on land. One of the highlights of any Carnival cruise is the chance to participate in exciting shore excursions. These guided tours and activities allow passengers to immerse themselves in the local culture, explore historic sites, embark on thrilling adventures, and create unforgettable memories. To enhance each port visit (as well as to increase their profits), cruise lines offer organized shore excursions on all ships for additional fees. These land-based trips run the gamut from sightseeing city tours to cultural events and active pursuits.

Active Excursions vs. Sightseeing Tours:

The ports of call featured on the best Bahamas cruises offer their own charms, from Nassau’s swashbuckling pirate heritage to Freeport’s nature-rich national parks. Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay both promise the VIP vibe of a private island, and both offer a huge variety of fun activities. Browse Bahamas shore excursions before you set sail, and consider the following 8 great options.

Bring the guests — we do the rest.

Attend briefings, follow meeting instructions, and communicate with excursion staff to stay organized and keep track of time. Respecting local customs and regulations adds to the positive impact you can have in each destination you visit. By managing your excursions effectively and following these tips, you can have a seamless and enjoyable experience exploring each port of call on your Carnival cruise.

Assuming you don’t zipline your way to work every morning, this excursion is a unique opportunity to soar over the rainforest as you cross eight different platforms while ziplining down St. Peter Mountain. Led by a certified guide, you’ll fly over St. Thomas with the stunning Caribbean in the background. Start by exploring the incredible ports we visit… and the fun things to do, both on the ship and ashore. Explore the colorful underwater world of The Bahamas by taking the Snorkeling at Princess Cays excursion. Take to the water off the coast of Eleuthera on a 42-foot boat, and spend an hour floating over a pristine, shallow reef teeming with tropical fish, corals, sponges and sea fans. Paddle your feet and float as you spot such creatures as lobster, barracuda and sea urchins, and if you’re lucky, sea turtles and stingrays.

Lost Mayan Kingdom: Water Park Access

Activity-based trips might feature a day at the spa or beach, a pleasure cruise on a sailboat, wine or food tasting, a cultural performance or a visit to a museum. Sightseeing excursions are typically bus tours that take passengers to the highlights and shopping areas of the port city or nearby destinations. With few exceptions, you are free to walk off the cruise ship and do your own thing.

Onboard Activities

Take the time to discover the countless excursions available during your cruise to the Caribbean and unlock the true magic waiting for you at every port. The Rainforest Horseback Riding Adventure is an excursion that delights in a slower pace, taking you from San Juan through the Central Mountain Range of the historic and beautiful island by horseback. As your guide points out the flora and fauna along the way — much of it only found on Puerto Rico — you’ll develop a greater appreciation for everything the Island of Enchantment has to offer. The VIP Damajagua Waterfalls Adventure with Lunch excursion in the Dominican Republic is like experiencing the most memorable scenes of your favorite adventure movie, but all within a single thrilling excursion.

Researching Carnival Cruise Excursions

Return to the corral to exchange your saddle for a special pad, then ride right into the ocean for a refreshing and exciting horseback swim. So, if you’re ready to embark on a journey of discovery and adventure, let’s dive into the world of Carnival cruise excursions and find out how to make the most of your time on land. The best price guarantee is applicable to shore excursion matches on the same date as the tour purchased from Carnival. In fact, you don’t have to look any further than the Tree Limin’ Extreme Zipline Tour in St. Thomas to find an excursion that can quickly transform your cruise from great to extraordinary.

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Most ships have a shore excursion team through which you can get detailed information about the available tours and purchase excursions. If you book your shore excursions via our Carnival Online-Check-In, you can be sure to get the best price. If you should find a better price for the same excursion, we will refund 110% of the price difference. Very few things conjure images of excitement and thrills like white water rafting. With the White Water Rafting Class III excursion, a certified guide will lead you down the Reventazón River’s clean, crisp, and powerful waters, going back and forth between surging rapids and tranquil, calm pools.

A half-day tour might only focus on one specific itinerary -- a three-hour kayak trip or a highlights tour of a city -- while leaving you with free time to explore the port on your own before or after. Some cruise lines and even some travel agents offer shore excursion credit as a booking perk. It is essentially a credit of a preset amount (often $50) applied to each day in port for which you book a shore excursion.

Additionally, only guests included in this cruise booking are eligible to participate in the group shore excursion together. On a cruise to The Bahamas, you have countless options for excursions and activities. You might want to do little more than lounge on a sunny beach, or you might want a day packed full of high-adrenaline adventures. Whatever your preference, there are plenty of Bahamian cruise excursions available to make it all possible. Departing Freeport on the VIP Luxury Sail excursion, you’ll cross the sparkling Caribbean Sea, take in views of the beach-lined coast of Grand Bahama and feel the warm sun on your skin as you sail.

With some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable as the backdrop, you’ll hike through lush rainforest, race down water-hewn slides, and swim beneath a hidden waterfall. It’s not often you get to feel like your very own adventure hero, especially in a secluded and beautiful landscape like Amber Cove. 1 To qualify for a group shore excursion, all guests must participate in the same excursion, must depart and return at the same time, and all must be booked under the same Group Booking Number. The perfect occasion for enjoying fun activities during a Carnival cruise… is any occasion you’ve got! If you’ve ever dreamed of riding horseback into the surf, then the Horseback Riding by Land and Sea excursion in Half Moon Cay is for you. Matched with a horse suited to your riding experience, you’ll ride up a winding trail to the highest point on the island, a spot affording unmatched panoramic views across the ocean.

There are 20 different swimming areas, a mile-long lazy river, a kids’ play fort and several high-speed water slides, including one that takes you soaring through a shark habitat (safely inside a clear acrylic tube). You’ll also have access to the resort’s private beaches and its amazing aquariums and marine habitats. Embarking on a Carnival cruise is an exciting adventure that offers you the chance to explore different destinations and create memorable experiences.

Top 8 Bahamas Shore Excursions You Have to Try

To secure your preferred excursions, it’s advisable to book them as early as possible, ideally during the online check-in process or shortly after making your cruise reservation. If you're a first-time cruiser, it can be helpful to have a few hacks to make your shore excursion experience amazing. Guests sailing on a Carnival cruise who book a shore excursion through us can be completely confident they are getting the best price and best value with the introduction of a new shore excursion best price guarantee. The only guarantee of its kind in the cruise industry, the program is now available fleet wide for all Carnival Cruise Lines shore tours on ships sailing from North America.

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The knowledge and efficiency of tour operators vary, and some tour offerings are simply duds. Ship-arranged excursions also tend to have broad appeal, so if you're interests in a given port are more specific or niche, you may want something outside of the cruise line's offerings. Arriving in multiple ports you are unfamiliar with and expecting to find the best things to do would be challenging at best and disastrous at worst. In most cases, shore excursions give you access to something that might otherwise be hard to arrange on your own.

bahamas fun

In shallow water, you’ll hug, kiss, pose for pictures and swim hand-to-flipper with a dolphin, as well as get a dolphin-powered push on a boogey board. The remainder of the time on the island is yours to spend snorkeling, relaxing on the beach, playing at the aqua park and enjoying an included buffet lunch. Some take up all your time in port, while others are just a few hours of an all-day visit. Choose a full-day tour to see the most you can in one trip or for journeys to destinations outside of the port city.

Onboard Activities

You can skip the hassle of arranging your own onshore activities, you'll know the tour provider has been vetted by the cruise line and is licensed and reputable. The ship also won't leave until all of its tour buses have returned -- even the tardy ones. Out of the many southern Caribbean excursions available to you on your cruise, the Sailaway Snorkel & Beach Cruise in Aruba is an exclusive entrance to the most vivid sea life you can imagine. From a luxury catamaran, you’ll dive one of Aruba’s secluded reefs, getting a front row seat for coral and marine life so colorful, they’d put a box of crayons to shame.

However, if you prefer guides or easy transportation, a shore excursion is probably for you. To give you the skills to make the most of your days in port, read on for our advice on what to expect from shore excursions and maximize the fun on your cruise vacation. Researching and booking the right Carnival cruise excursions can greatly enhance your vacation experience.

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Active Excursions vs. Sightseeing Tours:

Let your excursions become the highlight of your trip as you create memories that will last a lifetime. By keeping these tips in mind, you can maximize your excursion experience, make the most of your time on shore, and create lasting memories on your Carnival cruise. By taking the time to research and consider these factors, you can ensure that you choose the right Carnival cruise excursions that align with your interests and expectations. Remember, the goal is to create unforgettable experiences and make the most of your time on shore. There are instances when you might be limited to excursions provided by the ship. These usually are cases where local restrictions simply do not allow cruise passengers to freely wander the streets.

While luxury lines, river cruises, small coastal ships, expedition ships and even some premium cruise lines include some shore excursions in their fares. Other tours on those lines and all excursions offered by mainstream cruise lines must be purchased. It depends on the tipping habits of the country you are in, but in most cases, tipping the bus driver, tour guides, and/or local experts or wait staff on your shore excursions is acceptable and appreciated. There is no need to tip any cruise ship staff who are along for the excursion (which sometimes happens on river cruises). Waiting might be a good idea if you're not inspired by the shore excursions you're seeing on your cruise. Some cruise lines charge penalty fees for canceling shore excursions onboard or within 24 to 48 hours of the port call, so you might want to wait to see how the weather is before booking.

Excursions That Cover Highlights vs. More Immersive Excursions:

It’s a fantastic opportunity that you can only experience through one of our many excursions while on your cruise vacation. As exciting as your time aboard a cruise to the Caribbean promises to be, an entire world of tropical wonders awaits you through the countless Caribbean shore excursions available. If rumbling along rugged back-country roads to remote beaches and crumbling old ruins sounds appealing, opt for the Dune Buggy Heritage Adventure Tour from Princess Cays. Drive a dune buggy away from the island’s tourist areas, getting dusty and muddy as you follow your guide to a secluded beach where you have time to enjoy the sand and sea.

For shore excursions that are not included in your cruise fare, budget a minimum of $50 per adult per excursion. There is no real upper limit as exclusive tours could cost thousands of dollars. The pre-purchase window for certain products and activities closes between one and three days prior to the sail date. If you missed the purchase window, check with us once you're on board — we'll help you find what you’re looking for. The Freeport Kayak and Nature Experience is six hours of serenity amid the natural side of The Bahamas. You’ll explore Lucayan National Park, an unspoiled land of creeks and mangrove forests, ancient trails and shady beaches.

If you've done your research and have decided that you want to do a specific excursion offered on your cruise, think carefully about whether to book in advance or onboard. It's best to book in advance for must-do tours and limited-availability excursions (like almost every excursion on an Alaskan cruise or flightseeing while docked on a cruise to Hawaii). The ship’s excursions get you to the markets, often with some city highlights along the way, then leave you with a few hours of shopping time. You are then free to make your way back to the ship or to a meeting point for the return trip as a group.

Your cruise line will advise you in advance if this might be the case in any of your scheduled ports of call. The fun continues when you reach your port — there’s a huge variety of shore excursions to choose from. The purchase window for certain products and activities closes before to the sail end date. If you missed the purchase window, check with us on board, we'll help you find what you’re looking for. Once on board, managing your excursions effectively ensures a smooth experience.

It’s also wise to take along the information provided by the ship about their agent in each port and the contact information for the local consulate. Most travelers rely on carrying a copy of their passport in ports, leaving the originals locked away safely in their staterooms. There are some cruise lines that hold your passports for you throughout the cruise. For each port of call, Carnival Cruise Line offers fantastic shore excursions for each taste - whether you prefer visiting historic sights, doing sports or enjoying wildlife adventures. If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming with dolphins, book the VIP Dolphin Swim and Beach Day with Lunch excursion from Nassau and make that dream come true. The interactive experience with your favorite marine mammals takes place on Blue Lagoon Island, which you reach via ferry.

The luxury 50-foot sailing yacht is manned by a friendly crew who’ll provide cool drinks and a freshly prepared lunch. There’s also a stop for swimming and snorkeling over a beautiful reef, and you’re welcome to help sail the yacht on the return leg of the voyage. As you embark on your Carnival cruise and participate in its excursions, embrace the opportunities for discovery, adventure, and connection with the world around you.

If you prefer to book your excursions in person rather than online, you can do so at the Shore Excursions desk on board. However, keep in mind that popular excursions may sell out quickly, so it’s still recommended to book in advance if possible. By following these steps and taking advantage of early booking, you can ensure that you secure your desired Carnival cruise excursions and avoid any last-minute disappointments. Each of our ships is a unique experience — check the features and find out which ship is right for you. At Stingray Cove in Half Moon Cay, gentle, mesmerizing stingrays congregate in crystal-clear, shallow waters.

Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned veteran, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the process and make informed decisions. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of researching, booking, and managing Carnival cruise excursions, as well as provide some insider tips to help you make the most of your excursion experience. Not all shore excursions involve busloads of tourists dutifully following flag- or umbrella-waving guides. You will find these types of sightseeing tours, as well as athletic endeavors overseen by dive masters or hike leaders. However, some tours simply bring you to a destination where you're free to explore until it's time to meet the bus to go home. Your cruise director or the daily newsletter will usually inform you if it's necessary to take your passport with you on a shore excursion.

You may also get some good word-of-mouth tips on board the ship that change your mind about what tour you'd like to do. Don't forget to come up with a Plan B, in case your desired tour gets canceled or is sold out. You are free to come and go at will from most cruise ships while they are in ports of call. Shore excursions are simply one means to explore the areas visited by the ship and to participate in available activities off the ship. Enjoy a whole day of fun for all ages at the world-famous Atlantis resort’s 141-acre water park. If you’re taking a cruise to Nassau with your family, the Atlantis Aquaventure Full Day With Lunch is an experience you will ever forget.