Port call · GUIDED

Where to Go Ashore: 15 Guided Shore Excursions Worldwide

93 tours  ·  from $15 a head

The 15 best guided shore excursions you can book for a port call, with what each costs, how long it runs and how far it goes from the berth. Number one is top for a reason; start there.

For cruise passengers: Guided ATV Tour of Dutch & French St. Maarten - The French Nature Reserve and Jesus Walk
Guided, Quad Bikes, Shore Excursions, St Maarten Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

For cruise passengers: Guided ATV Tour of Dutch & French St. Maarten

1.For cruise passengers: Guided ATV Tour of Dutch & French St. Maarten

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,552 reviews Our pick

Spend 3.5 to 4 hours exploring both sides of St. Maarten by ATV with guides such as Anthony, Prez, Boss P, and Sasha. Expect mostly paved main roads, short off-road sections, photo stops, beach time, and a visit to the French Nature Reserve. ATVs, helmets, fuel, and instruction are included. Cruise-port shuttle service costs $10 per person roundtrip.

“Good, fun way to see the entire island - both Sint Maarten (Dutch) and Saint Martin (French). Anthony, our guide, did a very nice job.”

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Civitavecchia Port: Private or Shared Guided Tour of Rome - Vatican City and St. Peter’s Square
Civitavecchia Shore Excursions, Guided, Italy Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Civitavecchia, Private Shore Excursions in Italy, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Civitavecchia Port: Private or Shared Guided Tour of Rome

2.Private or Shared Guided Tour of Rome

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 826 reviews · from $134

Meet your Italian driver beside your cruise ship and explore Rome by air-conditioned minivan. You’ll stop at Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Venezia, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and the Colosseum. Drivers such as Paolo, Marcello, Max, and Francesco keep the day moving while audio commentary fills in the history.

“Excellent from start to finish. Paolo our driver was first class, helpful, attentive, and took us within steps of each sight....brilliant. Special memories for us all. Can't praise highly enough.”

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Flam: The Wonders of Flam Guided Half-Day Shore Excursion - Meeting your guide near the cruise ship
Guided, Half-Day, Norway Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Flam: The Wonders of Flam Guided Half-Day Shore Excursion

3.The Wonders of Flam Guided Half-Day Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 668 reviews · 5 hours · from $140

Spend five hours touring Flåm’s fjords and mountain roads by air-conditioned vehicle. With an English- or German-speaking guide such as Alexa, Salome, or Lawrence, you’ll visit Stegastein Viewpoint, Borgund Stave Church, Lærdalsøyri, the Snowy Road, and the 24.5-kilometer Lærdal Tunnel. Port pickup and drop-off are included.

“wow, what an incredible experience we had! right from the get go, the communication with Sam was fabulous, whatsapp text to say they had been held in traffic and would be delayed ten mins to the Google maps location checker to show pick up point (for those concerned that WhatsApp fir tourists may not be that reliable, Sam explained she checked for the blue ticks and sms sent for those who didnt get this)! our guide, Sam, joined by driver Simon provided a truely superb day, filled with amazing sights. their local knowledge was fantastic and we feel like we gained so much from this. we had booked this tour…”

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Juneau Shore Excursion: Helicopter Tour and Guided Icefield Walk - The return flight over Juneau Icefield
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Juneau Shore Excursion: Helicopter Tour and Guided Icefield Walk

4.Helicopter Tour and Guided Icefield Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 536 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $440

Fly from Juneau to Herbert Glacier with Coastal Helicopters, then step onto the ice for a guided walk, glacier water, and wide mountain views. Your pilot handles the commentary and route, with pilots such as Cameron, Cody, Keith, Max, and Markus praised for their calm, friendly approach. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours, weather permitting.

“Everything about the trip was exceptional. Our pilot Cameron was extremely knowledgeable about the entire area in the town and on the glacier. It was about 65° in town and surprisingly mild on top of the glacier, we only needed a light jacket. I would highly recommend this tour to everyone.”

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Fuerteventura: Corralejo Sand Dunes Guided Shore Excursion - White sand and turquoise water after 1:30 PM
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Fuerteventura: Corralejo Sand Dunes Guided Shore Excursion

5.Fuerteventura: Corralejo Sand Dunes Guided Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 335 reviews · 5 hours · from $23

From Puerto del Rosario, ride an air-conditioned bus with a German-speaking guide to Corralejo. You’ll have time for cafés and shops, then visit the white dunes and clear coves. Guide Anke has been praised for lively stories about Fuerteventura, though the tour suits you best if you want a shared outing rather than a fully private beach day.

“Anke ware eine Super Reiseführerin. Hat viles über Land und Leute erzählt. Es wurde auch immer darauf geachtet, dass alle wieder im Bus waren.”

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Private & Mini Group 7-8 Hours Guided Istanbul Tour / Cruise Port - The Blue Mosque and its strict dress rules
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Private & Mini Group 7-8 Hours Guided Istanbul Tour / Cruise Port

6.Private & Mini Group 7-8 Hours Guided Istanbul Tour / Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 278 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $99

Spend 7 to 8 hours with a private English-speaking guide, air-conditioned minivan, and flexible sightseeing from Galataport. Visit Istanbul’s major historic sites, use skip-the-line tickets arranged by your guide, and adjust the pace for your group. Guides such as Ezgi, Tayfun, Buse, and Onur have led this tour.

“Excellent tour. Nicely paced. Information was relevant, well thought through and balanced. Tukran had a great sense of humour and made the tour a real pleasure. We would certainly recommend her to friends. This private tour was a highlight of our 2-week cruise trip around the Med.”

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From Civitavecchia Port: Rome in a Day Guided Day Tour - St. Peter’s Square gives you Rome’s grand opening
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From Civitavecchia Port: Rome in a Day Guided Day Tour

7.Rome in a Day Guided Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 214 reviews · 8 hours · from $82

Travel by modern bus from Civitavecchia to Rome with a live guide in English, Spanish, or German. You will see St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona from outside, with guided walking and free time for a short lunch.

“bit of confusion at start as our names weren't on their sheet. sorted quickly though”

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Shore Excursion Guided Sea Kayaking through Akaroa Marine Reserve - Guides who make the difference
Canoes & Kayaks, Guided, New Zealand Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shore Excursion Guided Sea Kayaking through Akaroa Marine Reserve

8.Shore Excursion Guided Sea Kayaking through Akaroa Marine Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 160 reviews · from $83

Paddle a tandem sea kayak through Akaroa’s sheltered volcanic harbor with guides such as Jake, Joey, John, James, Allie, and Seamus. Expect about three hours on the water, basic instruction, spray skirts, jackets, and stories about local geology and wildlife. Sightings are possible, not promised, and some departures remain within the harbor rather than reaching the marine reserve.

“This was a great tour. Allie was very kind and worked with us even when the ship’s tenders were late. John was our tour guide and was very patient and informative. Good for beginners and experienced kayakers. Had a wonderful time!!”

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From Mykonos Cruise Port: Delos Guided Tour - Getting from Mykonos port to the Delos boat
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From Mykonos Cruise Port: Delos Guided Tour

9.Delos Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 158 reviews · 5 hours · from $99

Spend five hours traveling from Mykonos to Delos by sea bus and ferry, then walk the ancient city with a live guide. You’ll see the House of Dionysus, Theater, market, Temple of Apollo, and more, with about an hour to explore independently. English tours run daily at 10 AM and 5 PM.

“The tour was great, however there needed to be more detail on the transportation. We had to figure out and wait in line to get our free port ride to the old port and then was not instructed to look for the ticket box (that we found on our own). Clearer instructions would have been appreciated. The tour was nice and it was amazing and overwhelming to see the archaeological site (and to know that only 40% of it has been excavated!). The museum was closed and will be for about another year and that would have better enhanced our experience.”

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Civitavecchia: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket with Audio Guide - What you see around the old port
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Civitavecchia: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket with Audio Guide

10.Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 153 reviews · from $15Best value

Start at Civitavecchia’s cruise terminal and ride the Green Line panoramic bus through the old port, shopping streets, seafront, and Terme Taurine. You can hop off at 12 stops, then continue when the next bus arrives about every 40 minutes. An audio guide is offered in 16 languages, with English-speaking help on board.

“Alessia was very responsive and corrected a problem that occurred. If you want to see the Terme Taurine ruins, you must get off at the 11:00 stop, and then back on at the 12:00. It closes at 12:30. Christina on the bus spoke English and was very kind. Not too many exciting stops, but a nice ride around to see the town.”

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Auckland Shore Excursion: Half-Day Guided City Tour - Queen Street and the central city
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Auckland Shore Excursion: Half-Day Guided City Tour

11.Auckland Shore Excursion: Half-Day Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 148 reviews · from $65

This three-hour Auckland shore excursion uses a comfortable mini-coach for a compact tour of the city and North Shore. You’ll walk Narrow Neck Beach, see Rangitoto, climb Mount Victoria, and pass Queen Street, Ponsonby, Auckland Domain, Parnell, and Westhaven Marina. Guides such as Jason, Murray, Wayne, and Kelly have led past departures.

“Wayne was both my travel guide and driver. He shared a wealth of information and a lot of "dad" style jokes. His sense of humor made the time fly on the tour. I appreciated that he gave us a laminated tour sheet with most of the stops we made.”

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4hr Fun Guide Tour For Cruisers or Hotels Guests with Divers Show - La Quebrada and Acapulco’s famous cliff divers
Guided, Mexico Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Show, Tour Reviews, Tours

4hr Fun Guide Tour For Cruisers or Hotels Guests with Divers Show

12.4hr Fun Guide Tour For Cruisers or Hotels Guests with Divers Show

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 144 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $60

Spend four hours exploring Acapulco by air-conditioned minivan with guides such as Rudy, Malu, Mario, or Jesus. Visit the Chapel of Peace, La Quebrada’s famous cliff divers, Acapulco Bay, Las Brisas, and Diego Rivera’s mosaic mural. Hotel and cruise pickup, admission fees, and drop-off are included.

“Los guías Rudy y Santiago fueron extraordinarios! Superaron por completo nuestras expectativas. Acapulco es un hermoso lugar y con ellos aun más!”

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From Olden: Briksdal Glacier Guided Hiking Shore Excursion - Meeting the bus at Olden cruise pier
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From Olden: Briksdal Glacier Guided Hiking Shore Excursion

13.From Olden: Briksdal Glacier Guided Hiking Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 123 reviews · 4 hours · from $146

Take a comfortable bus from Olden’s cruise pier through the Olden Valley, then walk 45 to 60 minutes toward Briksdal Glacier, an arm of the Jostedal Glacier. You’ll pass waterfalls, streams, peaks, and alpine scenery before reaching a viewpoint above Olden Lake. English-speaking guides such as Sam, Anna, and Elisabet have led recent departures.

“Our guide, Sam, was fantastic - very informative and full of helpful tips. He seemed to have a scientific background, as he provided geographically-related info, along with specific area insights. Stunning sights of glaciers, waterfalls, rivers, and lakes. This is what we traveled to Norway to see! 10 out of 10!”

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Rhodes, Lindos and Medieval City Guided Tour from Cruise Port - Leaving the port and crossing Rhodes
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Rhodes, Lindos and Medieval City Guided Tour from Cruise Port

14.Rhodes, Lindos and Medieval City Guided Tour from Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 112 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $83

Spend about seven hours exploring Rhodes with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport. Visit Lindos, choose the optional €20 Acropolis climb, see traditional pottery and local products in Kalathos, then walk through the medieval Old Town. Port pickup and a ship-safe return make this a practical cruise excursion.

“Our guide was wonderful. Made sure it was comfortable and we were cared for. It was a great tour giving options along the way, shade I the heat, great history and fun!”

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Wellington Guided eBike Tour-Cruise Shore Excursion - Riding the Wellington Waterfront
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Wellington Guided eBike Tour-Cruise Shore Excursion

15.Wellington Guided eBike Tour-Cruise Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 103 reviews · from $121

Set out with Switched on Bikes from the Wellington waterfront for a 3 to 4 hour guided e-bike ride. Practice first, then follow the coast past Oriental Bay, Te Papa, and Miramar Peninsula before using the motor assist up Maupuia Hill. Guides such as Jack, Tara, Dillon, and Carly add local stories, while a café stop includes tea, coffee, or ice cream.

“Jack and Sylvia were exceptional!! Great guides. Going along the water front was beautiful! They stopped frequently to explain the sites!! Would highly recommend this tour!!”

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New in Guided

★ 4.5Private Walking Tour of Livorno with GuideFrom $4810 reviews
★ 5.0Private 10-hour Shore Excursion to Paris from Le Havre (official guide in Paris)From $1,24610 reviews
★ 5.0Mont St Michel Shore Excursion from Le Havre Guided Tour & LunchFrom $8512 reviews
★ 5.0Lalibela Full Day Guided Tours With Hotel & Airport PickupFrom $2458 reviews
★ 5.0Shore Excursion from Civitavecchia: Walking Tour & Food Tour in Rome with GuideFrom $14412 reviews
★ 4.5Tuscany Full-Day Guided Trip w/Wine TastingFrom $3304 reviews
★ 5.0From Civitavecchia port with Vatican Museums & Tour GuideFrom $1,07110 reviews
★ 5.0Private Guided Ephesus Excursion From Cruise PortFrom $852 reviews
★ 5.0Private Ephesus Shore Excursion With Private Vehicle and Tour Guide3 reviews
★ 5.0Ephesus Shore Excursion Private Guided Tour6 reviews
★ 5.0Ephesus Shore Excursion from Kusadasi Port with GuideFrom $9018 reviews
★ 5.0Private Guided Customized ExcursionFrom $9010 reviews
★ 4.5Private Guided Ephesus Tour From Kusadasi Cruise PortFrom $754 reviews
★ 5.0Kochi Offbeat Shore Excursion-4 Hour Old Kochi Heritage Tour with Private GuideFrom $686 reviews
★ 4.5Cochin Private guided Tuk Tuk tours with pick up from cruise shipsFrom $9910 reviews

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Private Shore ExcursionsCity Highlights Shore ExcursionsEphesus Shore ExcursionsFlorence & Pisa Shore ExcursionsBeach & Swim Shore ExcursionsShore Excursions with Port Pickup
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Plan the call

Pick a berth, a ruin or a market.

Ruins and cities

EphesusAncient RuinsCity HighlightsCastlesPompeii

Coast and water

Beach and SwimBoat DaysNature DaysWildlifeTuk-Tuks

Food and drink

Food and MarketsWine TastingsLunch IncludedWalking DaysFlorence and Pisa

How you go

Private DaysSmall GroupsLuxury and VIPPier PickupGuaranteed Return