How to Save Money on Cruise Excursions
On a river cruise, the best saving is often the tour you have already paid for.
Get Free River Cruise QuotesOcean cruisers often learn the hard way that shore excursions can rival the fare. On a river cruise the picture is different — and so is the way to save.
How to Save Money on Cruise Excursions When Tours Are Included
The first step in learning how to save money on cruise excursions on a river trip is to read what is already in the fare. On many European river lines, a guided walking tour in most ports is included, led by a local guide with a small group and a radio headset. Some lines go further and offer a choice of included tours at each stop — a gentle walk, an active bike ride or a cultural visit. If you take what is included and explore on your own in between, you may not need to buy any extra tours at all.
Use the included tour
It is already paid for, and a local guide gets you oriented in a town you may only see for a few hours.
Explore on foot
River ships usually dock near the old town, so many stops are easy to see independently after the tour.
Pick one splurge
Choose the one optional trip you will remember — a castle, a wine estate — rather than adding tours everywhere.
When Paying Extra Is Worth It
Optional excursions are not a trap; some are the best day of the trip. A full-day outing to a place you cannot reach on foot, a special-interest visit you could not easily arrange yourself, or a tour that avoids a long queue can be well worth the cost. The saving comes from choosing, not from avoiding everything. Before you sail, read the excursion list for every port, mark the one or two that really matter to you, and skip the rest.
- Read the full excursion list for each port before you pay for any of them.
- Check whether a castle or museum is easy to visit on your own from the dock.
- Ask whether optional tours can be added onboard, so you can decide once you see the weather and your energy.
- On a first river cruise, take the included tours — they teach you how each town works.
Doing It Yourself, Sensibly
Independent exploring is easy in most river towns, but plan around the ship. Check the all-aboard time, keep the ship’s contact number with you and remember that river ships do not wait long. For excursions you book outside the line, our sister site Europe Port Excursions covers tours in European ports, and many towns have tourist offices close to the riverbank that sell entry tickets and walking maps.
A word of balance: an included tour you skip is not refunded, so the cheapest plan is usually to join the included walk in the morning and spend the afternoon on your own. That gives you the guide’s context and your own pace for the price you have already paid.
Excursion Questions
Are shore excursions included on river cruises?
On many European river lines, one guided tour in most ports is part of the fare, and some lines offer a choice of included tours. Optional excursions — full-day trips, special-interest outings or castle and wine visits — usually cost extra. Some value-focused lines sell tour packages separately, so check each line’s terms.
Can I explore on my own instead?
Yes. River ships usually dock close to the old town, so many stops are easy to see independently. You will not get money back for an included tour you skip, but you will not pay extra either.
Want a Line With More Included Tours?
Tell us how you like to explore. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will match you with lines whose included excursions suit your style and send free quotes.
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