One of the top reasons people book a cruise ship vacation is to explore the destinations it visits, but no one wants to book a tour that leaves you disappointed.
I asked our readers for what shore excursions they booked and instantly regretted, and I was surprised the general consensus wasn't one specific excursion, but a type of tour.
We had over 500 responses to my question in just a few days. What surprised me wasn't just how many people had regrets, but how often they came from the excursions that seemed like the safest choices.
Large sightseeing tours were by far the most commonly mentioned kind of cruise excursion that were filled with regret.
On paper, these tours sounded like a sure thing. But after taking them, the reality was many tours were the type cruisers wish they could do over.
Here is why this type of cruise ship shore excursion was lackluster, and the other tours our readers say they'd never book again.
City tours and long bus tours
The shore excursion most people regretted the most were bus tours, and it wasn't even close to the rest.
An excursion that takes you around a city seems like a safe and easy way to see a destination. In reality, many cruisers said they felt like they spent most of their port day staring out a bus window instead of actually experiencing anything.
- "We sat on a bus for hours and barely got out."
- "It was basically a drive-by tour with a few photo stops."
- "Felt like we saw everything… but experienced nothing."
- "Too much talking, not enough doing."
I've experienced this sort of regret too when I took a bus tour around a fjord in Norway. I wanted my family to see them, but so much of the tour is on the bus, with little outdoor time.
Our readers felt the same way, because a big frustration was how little time people actually had off the bus. Stops were often rushed, with just enough time for a quick photo before moving on.
- "Every stop felt rushed... like ‘take your picture and get back on.'"
- "We had 15 minutes here, 20 minutes there… it wasn’t relaxing at all."
Other issues with a bus tour can be the guide, and how easy it is (or not) to understand them. Or how knowledgeable they are of what you're seeing.
- "The guide talked nonstop, but none of it was memorable."
- "Half the time I couldn’t even hear what they were saying."
Ultimately, the issue with a bus tour is it feels like most of the time is spent in transit, rather than experiencing something.
Our readers lamented that it left them like they wasted port time.
I recommend doing research before your visit to any port and honing in on an activity, place, or major sight. Hop in a taxi, walk there, or book an excursion that only visits that place.
If you want to experience more of a destination rather than feel like you sat on a bus, you could hire a private driver or small group tour. Because these excursions have less people, you can be more nimble and customize the experience.
Overcrowded and underwhelming beaches
The second most-mentioned regret was going to the beach, but this was more about one simple issue: expectation vs reality.
The complaint isn't against all beaches. Rather, a beach that didn't match up to expectations. People booked beach excursions expecting a pristine, relaxing escape, but what they got instead often felt crowded, expensive, and underwhelming.
- "It was packed—chairs right on top of each other."
- "Not worth what we paid at all."
- "I could’ve gone to a public beach for a fraction of the price."
- "Didn’t look anything like the photos."
Crowding was a major theme, especially at popular beach clubs tied to cruise traffic.
Tours that include a beach break will often end up at beaches that cater to cruise ship excursions because they have a large facility.
- "Way too many people for the space."
- "Felt more like a resort pool deck than a beach day."
I've been to a few of these types of beaches, such as one in Jamaica that I would have volunteered to return to the ship within five minutes of arriving had that been an option.
When service and amenities don't live up to the marketing, it feels like you've been bamboozled. It's one thing if you get sunburnt, drink too much, or have an annoying uncle with you. But it's another when it feels like your day never had a chance to be fun.
The good news is beaches are easy to do on your own without an organized tour. You can easily search for the best beaches in any port your ship visits, and find lots of good recommendations.
I would also look for reviews that speak to the location, exclusivity, or service components. Find one that has exactly the vibe you're looking for.
Snorkeling photos look great, but the experience doesn't match the hype
Snorkeling tours was repeated a number of times, and it's primarily because the the idea sounded better than what they experienced.
Snorkeling can be very rewarding, but if it's too crowded or the weather doesn't cooperate, then it's lackluster.
- "The water was murky. You couldn’t see anything."
- "Too many people in the water at once."
- "We were all kicking each other trying to see fish."
Another issue is someone brand new might struggle to get the hang of how to properly snorkel.
- "I didn’t realize how hard snorkeling would be."
- "Spent more time trying to breathe than enjoying it."
Weather conditions are a major factor, and that's not the fault of the tour operator. A good snorkeling excursion relies on group size and instructors that can help everyone, even if they're brand new.
A small-group snorkel tour might be a good idea for minimizing those risks. Also, if you can practice before the tour so breathing through a mask doesn't feel so foreign, that would help a lot.
Swimming with dolphins is expensive and overproduced
Dolphin swims are controversial, and also underwhelming for many readers.
Many cruisers said the experience felt overpriced and underwhelming. Dolphin encounters are usually a group event that involves very little individual time with the animal.
- "It was over so fast."
- "You spend more time waiting than actually with the dolphins."
A common complaint was how structured and limited the interaction felt.
- It felt very staged... like you’re just moving through a line."
- "You get your photo, your quick interaction, and that’s it."
Another issue is the ethical concerns of these tours.
- "It didn’t feel right once I saw the conditions."
- "After doing it, I wouldn’t do it again because of how the dolphins are kept."
I've never liked the idea of a dolphin encounter in a caged environment, so if you want to see marine life, I recommend booking a viewing tour of some kind in the open ocean. You won't get a selfie with them, but it's best for both of you.
Glass-bottom boat tours sound so much more fun than they really are
Just like bus tours, taking a glass-bottom boat ride sounds great in theory, but rarely matches up.
The problem with this kind of a tour is how little you actually see.
- "The water wasn’t clear enough to see anything."
- "We were all squinting trying to spot something."
- "Definitely not what the brochure made it look like."
Like other tours on this list, the boats were crowded. So when you add a small viewing area, that's a recipe for frustration.
For many, it ended up feeling like a passive, underwhelming ride.
There's so much luck involved with a glass-bottom boat ride in terms of the chances your boat passes over something interesting (or something interesting passes under your boat). I'd much rather take my chances snorkeling.
