Worst Cruise Excursions Passengers Regret Booking

Let’s make it clear: shore excursions can make or break a cruise vacation. While many tours deliver amazing experiences and can take you to amazing places, others might leave a bitter taste or even turn into a bad experience.

From the Caribbean to Alaska (and beyond), it’s not uncommon to read reviews of certain excursions that are labeled as overpriced, unsafe, or just plain disappointing.

Below is a list of about 10 shore excursions, drawn from real reviews, that you might want to skip on your next cruise.

Beach Day Excursions

Let’s start with a very common cruise excursion package offered by many cruise lines, and that is often called “beach day”.

These packages often promise a slice of paradise full of fun or relaxation, but often deliver sticker shock and crowds. Many such excursions charge for what you could get for free by taking a taxi to a public beach.

Consider that in the Bahamas and Caribbean, most beaches are public, meaning you don’t need to pay an excursion fee for access. Sure, booking through the ship includes transportation and a promise they won’t leave without you, but it also means you’ll likely arrive with a whole busload.

Travelers often find these beach clubs packed elbow-to-elbow, with rows of chairs crammed so tightly “you barely have enough space to exist, let alone enjoy the sand” (as one St. Lucia visitor lamented).

If you prefer hidden and quieter places, consider arranging your own beach day, and you’ll probably also save a lot of money.

Glass-Bottom Boat Tours

The idea of peering at tropical fish without getting wet sounds great, but the reality is often quite different.

Many cruise passengers report that these tours often feature scratched or foggy glass and sparse marine life. One traveler noted the fish were usually too far below to see clearly, and the boat’s loud motor tended to scare them off.

Most of the time, you’ll probably find yourself looking at vague shapes and wondering if that blur was a fish or just a rock. If you really don’t like snorkeling or diving, a glass-bottom boat can be a low-effort alternative, but remember to keep expectations very low.

Panoramic Excursion

Beware of any excursion billed as a “panoramic” or “overview” tour of a city or island. Industry insiders translate “panoramic” as code for “see everything from inside a bus”.

These tours sometimes involve driving past landmarks without stopping, so your photos are snapped through tinted glass as you just pass by. If you’re the type who likes to actually experience a cathedral or scenic overlook up close, you’ll be quite frustrated.

Once again, some types of excursions are perfect for some passengers, so choose wisely. For example, for travelers with mobility issues, a panoramic bus tour can be a convenient way to sightsee.

Mega-tour Excursion

Sometimes cruise lines bundle multiple activities into one mega-tour, promising to check all the boxes. The catch is you spend more time hustling (or dozing) on a bus than actually enjoying the sights.

Personally, if I read about an eight-hour “See Everything” tour, I’d have a few questions because it could mean a blur of buses, trains, and fatigue, for example, as happens with the train ride and two bus legs on the Alaska/Yukon excursion.

As you probably already know, cruise stops are pretty short, so a tour that has too much in it could actually be negative.

Long Drives for Short Visits (e.g. Mayan Ruins from Cozumel)

Think twice about excursions to reach places that are too far away and would take too long. A classic example is the day trip from Cozumel to mainland Mayan ruins like Tulum.

Yes, Tulum’s pyramids are amazing, but cruise guests often don’t realize this journey entails a ferry ride and hours on a bus each way. One cruiser who took a ship tour to the ruins complained it was 7–8 hours total with “3 hours drive there and a 3 hours drive back with 45 minutes at the ruins”.

So the idea is that unless you’re absolutely dying to see that distant attraction, you might get more enjoyment staying closer to port and actually doing something, rather than warming a bus seat all day.

Shopping Stops Disguised as Tours

Many cruisers’ pet peeve is the “shopping opportunity” wedged into an otherwise decent tour. Some official excursions will herd you into jewelers, souvenir shops, or factories where a “presentation” quickly turns into a pressure sales session.

It’s one of the things I hate the most, and I always complain to the cruise lines when it happens. Last time I was in Istanbul, I felt practically held hostage at a carpet store for one hour.

One review I found funny was from a passenger in Cozumel: “Our worst excursion was in Cozumel. We visited a tequila company and bought $300 worth. Then the cruise line confiscated it and we couldn’t even enjoy it on board”.

So, two things to keep in mind. Take a look at the list of things that are always confiscated when you board a cruise, and beware of tours that prioritize your wallet over your experience.

Overhyped Tourist Traps

Just because an attraction is famous doesn’t mean it’s a must-do for you. Plenty of cruisers step off the ship, pile into an excursion, and end up at an overrated tourist trap.

Case in point: Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica. It’s iconic, yes but also very crowded, with “numerous tour groups climbing up the falls at the same time”. You’ll spend more time holding slippery hands in a human chain than actually enjoying the waterfall.

Similarly, many Caribbean “highlight” tours shuttle you to packed sites where aggressive vendors lie in wait. Whether it’s a famed waterfall, a volcano mud bath, or a once-charming village now overrun with cruise crowds, ask yourself if you’re okay with the inevitable lines, sales pitches, and selfie-stick congestion.

Sometimes the best decision is to skip the herd altogether and seek a more low-key slice of local life. And please be very careful if you visit one of the 10 most dangerous ports where cruise ships dock.

Atlantis Aquaventure in Nassau

I don’t know why but Atlantis Aquaventure in Nassau regularly shows up in discussions of “was it worth it?”.

Well, for many, the Atlantis Resort’s water park in Nassau is a one-and-done. The first thing to consider is that the day pass through your cruise can cost around $200 per person, and often you only get a few hours on site.

One Royal Caribbean guest reported it was “not worth the expensive price tag for the little time you spend there”. By the time you navigate the huge resort and wait in slide lines the day is practically over.

Visitors also mention the extra costs (lockers, food, etc.) and sometimes indifferent staff. Don’t get me wrong, the slides and pools are spectacular, and the Atlantis is basically a waterpark paradise, but if your ship is only in port half a day, maybe it’s not worth it.

Animal Encounters

Many cruise lines offer excursions with animals. They could be tempting (especially for families with kids), but many travelers and experts urge caution or outright avoidance.

One of the main concerns is animal welfare. Dolphins kept in small enclosures for tourist swims, tigers sedated for photos, or donkey rides where the animals are overworked certainly do not represent the best way to treat animals.

If you can’t verify that an animal encounter is truly ethical, it’s better to skip it. There are plenty of ways to see wildlife responsibly, like whale-watching in the wild or visiting a reputable sanctuary.

Also, the “animal experience” excursions often come with an exorbitant photo package as an extra, and they almost feel like a scam. Remember that there are 7 things that you should never buy on a cruise.

Segway City Tours

Segway city tours sound fun, and they can be, but many cruisers report that the novelty wears off fast.

A major downside is cost: segway excursions booked through the cruise line tend to be pricey for a relatively short ride. You’ll also spend a chunk of time at the start just learning how not to faceplant on the thing.

During the tour, it’s hard to truly absorb the sights when you’re busy not running over pedestrians or hitting potholes.

If you’re dying to try a segway, you might rent one independently for less. Otherwise, a good walking tour might give you a richer (and less unstable) experience.