How My 18‑Year‑Old Planned Our Shore Excursions (And Why You Can Too)
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Why I Let My 18‑Year‑Old Plan Our Cruise Excursions
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to figure out how to plan cruise excursions, you’re not alone. Most new cruisers don’t know where to start — the cruise line? Google? Facebook groups? A million tabs?
So for our Southern Caribbean sailing, I handed the job to my 18‑year‑old son, Tanner. He had zero experience booking tours, which made him the perfect beginner test case.
If he could plan our entire port lineup using a simple, repeatable process… then anyone can.
Spoiler: he nailed it.
If you’re new to booking outside the cruise line, start here: how I book shore excursions. It’s the exact method I taught Tanner — simple, safe, and beginner‑approved.
🛳️ Step 1: Start With the Easiest Platform — Shore Excursion Group
Before diving into Google chaos, I taught Tanner to start with Shore Excursion Group — my longtime, trustworthy partner for third‑party tours.
He entered:
Cruise line
Ship
Sailing date
And instantly saw every excursion matched to our exact itinerary. No wrong days. No mismatched ports. No confusion.
This is why SEG is the best starting point for shore excursions for beginners. It removes the guesswork and gives you a curated list of options that already fit your schedule.
Tanner browsed each port, read reviews, and saved his favorites. He loved how simple it felt.
Beginner takeaway: If you’re new to booking outside the cruise line, start with SEG. It’s the most user‑friendly way to see what’s available.
🔍 Step 2: Compare Options on GetYourGuide and Viator
Once Tanner narrowed down a few ideas, I showed him how to expand the search to find the best third‑party shore excursions for each port.
He checked:
This helped him compare:
Start times
Duration
Group size
Price
What’s included
Cancellation policies
Sometimes SEG had the perfect tour. Sometimes GYG or Viator offered a smaller group or a better time slot. The combination gave him a full picture of what was available.
Beginner takeaway: If you don’t see the perfect fit on SEG, widen the search. You’re not doing it wrong — you’re doing it smart.
If you want examples of excursions we’ve personally loved, here are a few:
⏱️ Step 3: Match the Tour to Your Ship’s Schedule
This is the part that intimidates most new cruisers, but it’s actually simple once you know what to look for.
I taught Tanner to check:
Port arrival time
All aboard time
Buffer time (we like at least 1 hour)
He quickly learned that a 9:00 AM tour is perfect if the ship docks at 8:00 AM… but not if it docks at 9:00 AM.
He also learned that many third‑party operators adjust their start times based on ship schedules — something beginners often don’t realize.
Beginner takeaway: Timing is everything, but it’s not complicated. Just double‑check the basics.
🎒 Step 4: Choose the Excursion That Fits Your Travel Style
This is where Tanner surprised me.
He didn’t choose the cheapest or the most popular tours. He chose the ones that matched our family’s vibe:
Not too long
Not too rushed
Not too early
Not too intense
Not too expensive
He built a lineup that felt balanced and fun — exactly what a port day should be.
Beginner takeaway: There’s no “right” excursion. There’s only the one that fits your day.
If you want inspiration for building your own port days, browse the Tours & Excursions Hub for ideas by destination.
✔️ Step 5: Book With Confidence
By the end of the process, Tanner had:
Compared three platforms
Checked timing
Read reviews
Matched activities to our preferences
Built a full port‑by‑port plan
And he did it all without stress.
By the end, Tanner had compared platforms, checked timing, read reviews, and built a full port plan — using the same method I outline in How I Book Shore Excursions.
If he can do it, you can too.
⭐ Why This Method Works for Every Cruiser
This simple process works because:
SEG gives you a curated, beginner‑friendly starting point
GYG and Viator expand your options
You stay in control of timing and price
You can tailor your day to your travel style
You avoid the overwhelm of random Google searches
It’s the exact method I’ve used for years — and now Tanner uses it too.
📌 FAQ: Cruise Excursions for Beginners
Is it safe to book shore excursions outside the cruise line?
Yes. Reputable companies like SEG, GYG, and Viator offer guaranteed return‑to‑ship policies, vetted operators, and thousands of reviews.
Are third‑party excursions cheaper?
Often, yes. You’ll usually find smaller groups, better pricing, or more flexible start times.
What happens if my excursion runs late?
Most third‑party operators track ship schedules and guarantee return. Always read the policy before booking.
How early should I book cruise excursions?
For popular ports, book early. For flexible ports, you can wait — but availability varies.
🚀 Ready to Plan Your Own Cruise Excursions?
Start where Tanner started — it’s the easiest way to see what’s available for your exact sailing.
👉 Browse Shore Excursion Group for your ship and itinerary. You’ll be shocked how simple excursion planning feels once everything is laid out for you.
About the Author
Julie is the travel‑obsessed creator behind No Point Left Behind, where she teaches everyday families how to travel more for less using points, miles, and smart cruise strategy. She’s spent nearly 20 years perfecting the art of free flights, easy port days, and stress‑free planning — and her family has taken dozens of cruises, almost all booked on points.
These days, she cruises with her husband Brandon and their sons Tanner and Finn, who are now learning the family system (and occasionally taking over the planning, like in this post). When she’s not onboard a Princess ship or researching the next itinerary, you’ll find her updating her Tours & Excursions Hub, helping beginners feel confident booking shore excursions, or sharing Lazy Girl travel hacks with her community.
Follow along at NoPointLeftBehind.net — where smarter travel starts with one simple system.
