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Excursion Reserving

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Do I have to go on a shore excursion? What else can I do?

You are not obligated to book an excursion with Royal Caribbean International in order to leave the ship. Public transportation is available at most ports. We suggest you visit your local library, bookstore or a pertinent website to determine where you would like to go.While onboard the ship, all guests will be advised as to when they should be back on board the ship prior to sailing. Generally, the ship’s all on board time is scheduled approximately 30 minutes prior to sailing; this time should be verified once on board and will be posted near the ship’s gangway. Kindly note that the ship will not wait for any guest faring on their own, as it is the guest’s responsibility to be onboard before the ship’s scheduled departure time.


Please be aware that we cannot offer any alternatives from Royal Caribbean International’s established excursion program. All Royal Caribbean International excursion programs are coordinated with reputable tour operators and include a comprehensive overview of the most popular sites of interest. Royal Caribbean International will not be liable for any loss, injury or damage to any person or property arising from guests choosing to tour the port on their own. Our excursions are an exciting, reliable way to enjoy the sights and activities our ports have to offer. If you choose to tour the port on your own, please use the same safety precautions you would in any urban or tourist area. We cannot validate or account for conditions that may not be suitable or safe for our guests.


Please keep in mind that some ports have visa requirements and restrictions that may prevent you for venturing off on your own.


Do I have to reserve my excursion with Royal Caribbean?


You are not obligated to reserve an excursion with Royal Caribbean International in order to leave the ship. Please be aware that we cannot offer any alternatives from Royal Caribbean International’s established excursion program. All Royal Caribbean International excursion programs are coordinated with reputable tour operators and include a comprehensive overview of the most popular sites of interest.


Royal Caribbean International will not be liable for any loss, injury or damage to any person or property arising from guests choosing to tour the port on their own. We cannot validate or account for conditions that may not be suitable or safe for our guests.


Please keep in mind that some ports have visa requirements and restrictions that may prevent you for venturing off on your own.


Please Note: Refunds for independent excursions will not be provided in the event of cancelled/missed ports.


Will I receive priority disembarkation if I reserve an independent excursion?


Excursions reserved independently from Royal Caribbean International will not receive preferred disembarkation. Guests with reservations on Royal Caribbean International excursions will be allowed off first and all designated guests thereafter. We cannot guarantee that guests with independent arrangements will disembark early. Please be guided accordingly.


Please Note: Refunds for independent excursions will not be provided in the event of cancelled/missed ports.


How do I search for excursions specific to my cruise itinerary?


Once you secure your individual reservation booking ID, you’re then able to choose your excursions for each of your ports of call. To pre-book an excursion or simply review the exact tours available during your specific sailing please follows these simple steps.


From the Royal Caribbean web site homepage, scroll to the right using the top 4th blue bottom of the screen under “Before You Board” and click on the “Shore Excursions” button, which will allow you access to the BROWSE or PURCHASE screen. Scroll down to “Shop For or Modify Excursions Now”. Use of the “Shop For or Modify Excursions Now” option will advise all details, including the tour departure time(s), as well as allow you to access your shopping cart for your specific sailing only.


Please make sure that the correct information [Last name, individual booking ID # [no extra spaces], and ship and sail date] is entered. System will not respond if invalid information is submitted. The system will access your cruise itinerary when you click “Submit”.


Please note that at this point you can also purchase Shore Excursions once you’ve reserved a cruise, received your cruise reservation number, and have made at least one payment toward your cruise, up to 4 days prior to cruise sail date.


When and how can I purchase Shore Excursions?


You can purchase Shore Excursions once you’ve reserved a cruise, received your cruise reservation number, and have made at least one payment toward your cruise. To shop for excursions, go to the Before You Board dropdown menu from the royalcaribbean.com homepage and select Shore Excursions. Click on the Shop For or Modify Excursions Now button and proceed accordingly. All available tours will be provided for your applicable sail date. If we are unable to provide you with available Shore Excursions at the time that you enter the purchase section of the site, you will be advised to come back to the website at a later date.

Can I reserve a Shore Excursions for guests traveling under a different reservation number from mine?


Yes, you can. You will need their reservation number to proceed with reserving their excursions. You can select to add guests from another reservation number when you log in or when you select an excursion.


After reading the description, you can find the available times on the next screen when you click on “Reserve Now”. The system will now bring up all guest name(s) within the booking. Under the “Select Guest” column, click/check each box corresponding to name of individual(s) who will be participating on the shore excursion. Click “Add to Cart”. Click “Continue” At this time you can also include guest from other cabins if you have their booking reservation number available.


What if all the Shore Excursions I'm interested in are already sold out?


Unfortunately, it does happen that some of the more popular Shore Excursions sell out. However, other guests also cancel their excursions from time to time. Therefore, check the website often. We recommend that you purchase all Shore Excursions as early as possible after reserving your cruise. A limited amount of space is reserved for sale onboard the ship.

How much time should I allow between excursions in a day?


It varies, based mainly on location. It is generally recommended that you allow at least an hour to get from one excursion to the next. When reserving excursions online on our website, the system will leave a 45-minute interval between the return of one excursion and departure of another excursion to account for unexpected delays. You will not be able to reserve excursions that fall within 45 minutes of each other as it is considered an overlap by our system.

How do I reserve golf tee times?


Golf excursions may be reserved online or onboard your cruise. It is important to note that golf courses and prices are subject to change. For tournaments, only certain dates will be available for prereserving online.

Are there different activity levels for Shore Excursions?


To assist guests in choosing their Shore Excursions, all tours have been graded according to the level of activity they entail. Please refer to the symbol(s), which is located at the bottom of each excursions title and appear within each excursion description. The symbol(s) represents Mild/Moderate/Strenuous.

How can I find out if a tour is too strenuous and more than I can handle?


To assist guests in choosing their Shore Excursions, all tours have been graded according to the level of activity they entail. Please refer to the symbol(s), which is located at the bottom of each tour title and appear within each tour description. The symbol(s) represents Mild/Moderate/Strenuous.

How can I obtain Shore Excursions accessibility information?


For guests with special needs, please send us your questions, desired excursions, along with your scheduled ship and sail date to [email protected]. Please allow 48 to 72 business hours for review and response.

What is the refund/cancellation policy in the event of inclement weather or unexpected circumstances?


Please see our Terms and Conditions page for detailed information regarding cancellation and refunds.


Please Note: Refunds for independent excursions will not be provided in the event of cancelled/missed ports.


What if I need to make changes to my Shore Excursions after the cut-off date?


In order to make any changes to your Shore Excursions after the cut-off date, you will need to visit the Shore Excursions/Explorations! desk once onboard the ship. In order to make any type of changes to your Shore Excursions after the cut-off date, you will need to consult with your Tour Director at the start of your Alaska Cruisetour. Available times offered for excursions of interest will be advised once onboard. Reservation forms will be available in your stateroom, at the Shore Excursions/Explorations! desk or during your Alaska Cruisetour. Some of our ships offer an interactive TV system, which allows you to reserve your excursions from the convenience of your stateroom.

Are there any special prices for children or seniors?


Unfortunately, we do not offer discounts. Where applicable, children’s Shore Excursions prices pertain to children 12 years of age and under. A parent or guardian must accompany guests under 18 years of age. We must adhere to any age restriction imposed by the tour operator, which is usually referenced within the excursion description.


Depending on the specific excursion, infants within a range on/or about ages 0 to 3 years old (unless tour specifies differently) must sit on parent’s lap (i.e. ‘lap babies’ – not occupying a seat) are free on Shore Excursions. Tour tickets are not issued but once onboard the ship, the Shore Excursions staff must be advised of the infant’s participation accordingly.


Shore Excursions pricing is directly linked into the reservation information. The Customer Service Department, (800) 529-6918, should be immediately advised of any guest age error existing within the reservation to ensure correct tour pricing.


How can I confirm my excursion reservation?


If you provided an e-mail address, you will receive a confirmation e-mail for your excursions. If you did not provide an e-mail address or you did not receive a confirmation e-mail, you may return to this site at any time to confirm your Shore Excursions reservation.


You may reconfirm at any time by accessing the Royal Caribbean website. Please use the “Shop For or Modify Excursions Now” option and make sure that the correct information [Last name, individual booking ID # [no extra spaces], ship and sail date] is entered. System will not respond if invalid information is submitted. Review the “Calendar” button and/or click “Order History” tab. You should be able to view all your “PAID” confirmed Shore Excursions on this page and request an email for a copy of your tours.


Can I reserve Shore Excursions through my Travel Professional?


Yes, your travel professional is equipped with the same information that you will find here and can help you decide which Shore Excursions are right for you.

Can tours be purchased by phone?


No, excursions cannot be booked over the phone.

Can I choose the language in which the excursion will be conducted?


All tours and excursions are typically conducted in English. For a pre-determined shore excursion to be provided in another language (i.e. Spanish, French, German and/or Italian), the required minimum of 25 guests must be met. Please contact the Shore Excursion office directly onboard the ship for further details. Please note that if we are unable to obtain a tour guide in your preferred language, your excursion will be conducted in English.

What if I can't access my reservation?


If you are encountering difficulties accessing your reservation, please contact a Customer Service agent for assistance at (800) 398-9819. Please note that this number can only assist with technical difficulties and cannot assist you in booking your tours over the phone

Why do I have to choose a Preferred Language?


By choosing a preferred language you are indicating that you would prefer your Shore Excursions to be conducted in that language. To make your experience a more pleasant and enjoyable one, Royal Caribbean International will try to obtain the necessary excursion guides to meet your language preference need. Please note that if we are unable to obtain a tour guide in your preferred language, your excursion will be conducted in English.

What if I don't have a Cruise Reservation Number?


You can always browse our Shore Excursions as a way to help you decide which of our exciting destinations you’d like to visit. However, in order to have a Cruise Reservation Number, you must first have reserved a cruise. If you have done so and still have not received a Cruise Reservation Number, please contact your Travel Agent or the person that assisted you with making your cruise reservation.

I did not receive an e-mail confirmation when I reserved my Shore Excursions. How can I confirm that Royal Caribbean processed my reservation?


If you did not receive an e-mail confirmation, you may return to this site at any time to confirm your Shore Excursions reservation.


You can access the reservation information by visiting the “Shop For or Modify Excursions Now” option, your Calendar or viewing your Order History. Then you can e-mail, fax &/or print your Calendar or Order History details as confirmation of your Shore Excursions reservation.


I am in the Shop For Or Modify Excursions Now section of the site. Why don't I see some of the Shore Excursions that I saw while I was browsing?


While browsing, you will be able to see all the Shore Excursions that are offered in that port of call. However, some excursions may not be available on the dates of your specific sailing. In order to view the excursions that apply to your sailing date, you will need to choose the Shop For Or Modify Excursions Now option and enter the appropriate information.

Can I purchase a Shore Excursion for the day I get off the ship?


Yes, in many ports of call Shore Excursions have been designed for guests with late flights. Please verify your flight time prior to reserving this type of excursion online.

Can I pay for Shore Excursions with more than one credit card?


Yes, you can pay with multiple credit cards. When you reach the billing section, simply select the option to pay with multiple credit cards and enter the required information.

Is there an Infant Price?


A Shore Excursions may reflect an infant at the price of zero. Depending on the specific excursion, infants within a range on/or about ages 0 to 3 years old (unless tour specifies differently) must sit on a parent’s lap. ‘Lap babies’ (not occupying seat) are free on Shore Excursions. Excursion tickets will indicate no charge within the confirmation summary. Once onboard the ship the shore excursion staff must be advised of the infant’s participation accordingly.

Why didn't I receive the requested fax confirmation of Shore Excursions purchased?


A guest requesting a faxed confirmation should please make sure that the correct and complete information is entered. We cannot process your request if invalid/incomplete information is submitted.



  • US/Canada guests should include area code & fax number.

  • International guests should include 011 then country code, city code and fax number.


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Your computer’s javascript must be enabled in order to provide functionality on our website. Your browser settings may require upgrading when you encounter difficulties accessing certain secure site pages. Please reference the Technical information available in the Technical information category of Frequently Asked Questions.


Groups: How can I book a group shore excursion request?


Group shore excursion requests may be submitted for groups of 40 guests or more to the email address: [email protected] or faxed to 305-579-0193.


For more information download our Group Shore Excursion pdf.


Groups: How does Royal Caribbean handle a group shore excursion request?


Once the group shore excursion request is submitted, we will contact our tour operator for the possibilities of customizing a shore excursion (private buses, private vessel, etc). Please note that the price of the shore excursion is subject to change from the published price.

Groups: Does Royal Caribbean offer discounts, complimentary tickets or commission on group shore excursion requests?


No, we do not.

Groups: How do I book group golf tee times?


Golf tournaments arrangement can be made for 40 guests or more to the email address: [email protected] or faxed to 305-579-0193. It is important to note that availability depends on the golf courses and prices are subject to change.

How do I remove another guest's reservation added to my reservation?


Once you have requested to add a guest from another reservation, they cannot be removed.

How do I cancel or change my Shore Excursions?


To cancel or change a Shore Excursions, select Shore Excursions from Before You Board menu, click Shop For Or Modify Excursions Now and log in. Then select the excursion you would like to cancel or change from the calendar or your order history.


You can check on the status of your Shore Excursions at any time. From the “Before You Board” section, select “Shore Excursions”. Use the “Shop for or modify shore excursions” button.


If you’ve made your reservation on this website, you can log in to your My Cruises account, click on your reservation and then click on the Cruise Planner tab. From there, you can select to view your calendar or select a specific item to reserve/purchase.


Shore Excursions are subject to cancellations or modification, depending on the number of guests participating. In the event of such changes we will try to give notice before the commencement of the excursion, if possible. Certain excursions have a minimum reservation requirement, or must be limited to a maximum number of participants, as prescribed by the local operator. Not all excursions described on our website may be available on all ships or during a particular sailing.


What are the Terms & Conditions for your Shore Excursions?


Please see our Terms and Conditions page for detailed information regarding cancellation and refunds.

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