Virgin Voyages calls their shore excursions "Shore Things," which is either charming or groan-worthy depending on how you feel about puns. Either way, they're a big part of the cruise experience, and the question I get more than almost anything else is: "Which ones are actually worth it?"
Short answer: some are incredible, some are a waste of money, and the trick is knowing the difference. Let me break it down.
First, the Most Important Shore Thing That Isn't a Shore Thing
The Beach Club at Bimini. It's VV's private beach resort on the island of Bimini in the Bahamas, and it's included in your fare on most Caribbean sailings out of Miami. No extra charge. You just walk off the ship and into a beach club with pools, lounge chairs, a DJ, food, and gorgeous turquoise water.
It's one of the best parts of a VV Caribbean sailing, and you don't have to book anything or pay anything extra (besides drinks). If your itinerary includes Bimini, plan to spend the full day at the Beach Club. Get there early to grab good lounge spots, and don't leave until you have to.
🔥 Don't miss: The Beach Club at Bimini. It's the single best "free" experience on any VV Caribbean sailing.
Shore Things Worth Booking
Catamaran and snorkel combos (Caribbean ports). These tend to be the best bang for your buck in the Caribbean. You get a boat ride, snorkeling at a good spot, usually some drinks, and a few hours on the water. The guided snorkeling means you'll actually see the good stuff instead of floating around randomly.
Walking food tours (Mediterranean ports). In cities like Barcelona, Marseille, and other Med stops, the food tours are genuinely great. You get to try local spots you'd never find on your own, learn some food history, and eat your way through a neighborhood. This is one of the few categories where a guided experience is clearly better than DIY.
Sunset sailing in Santorini. Yes, everyone does it. Yes, it's a bit of a cliche. It's still amazing. Sailing around the caldera at sunset with a drink in your hand and the whitewashed cliffs glowing gold is one of those moments that earns every bit of its reputation. Book early because this one sells out fast.
Beach club passes at select ports. Some Caribbean ports offer organized beach club experiences (different from the Bimini Beach Club). In places like Cozumel or St. Croix, these can be worth it because they include food, drinks, and loungers in a curated setting. Read the descriptions carefully though because quality varies.
Active excursions with good reviews. Kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking. If there's an active Shore Thing in a port with good natural scenery, it's usually worth it. You're out in nature, you're doing something physical, and you're seeing the destination from a perspective you wouldn't get otherwise.
Shore Things to Skip (Do It Yourself Instead)
Basic city walking tours. I'm sorry, but if the Shore Thing description is "Walk through the historic center with a guide and learn about the city's history," you can do that yourself with Google Maps and save $60-80 per person. Most of these cities are designed for walking. Get off the ship, open your phone, and explore.
Beach transfers in ports where the beach is walkable. Some Shore Things are literally "we'll take you to a beach." If the beach is a 10-minute cab ride or a 20-minute walk from the port, skip the Shore Thing and get there yourself. Cheaper, faster, and you can leave whenever you want instead of being on a group schedule.
Anything with "shopping" in the description. If a Shore Thing includes "time for shopping at local markets," it's going to take you to tourist shops that have a deal with the excursion company. You'll pay Shore Thing prices to be walked to overpriced souvenir stalls. Hard pass.
💰 Budget tip: The money you save skipping mediocre Shore Things is better spent on a sunset sail in Santorini or a food tour in Barcelona.
"Highlights" tours of major cities. Barcelona highlights. Athens highlights. These are the excursion equivalent of reading the Wikipedia page. You'll spend 4 hours on a bus seeing things through a window. Get off the ship and go see them yourself, at your own pace, with the freedom to linger where you want.
Overcrowded group snorkeling in shallow water. Not all snorkeling excursions are created equal. The good ones (see above) take you to specific spots with a small group. The mediocre ones throw 40 people into waist-deep water near the port and call it snorkeling. Read the descriptions and reviews carefully.
General Shore Things Strategy
💡 Booking tip: The booking window opens 120 days before your sailing (135 days for suite guests). Popular excursions sell out, especially the sunset sails and food tours. Set a calendar reminder.
📌 Good to know: Most Shore Things can be canceled up to 48 hours before without penalty. So if you're on the fence, book it. You can always change your mind later. But you can't book something that's already full.
Don't overschedule port days. This is the biggest mistake I see first-time cruisers make. You do not need an excursion at every port. Some ports are better explored independently. Some days, the best move is to walk off the ship, wander for a few hours, find a local cafe, and call it a perfect day.
📌 Heads up: Make sure your Shore Thing gets you back to the port with plenty of buffer before the ship departs. VV provides return times, but factor in potential delays. Missing the ship because your bus got stuck in traffic is a real thing that happens to real people.
Consider your energy level. By day 4 or 5 of a cruise, you might not want a 6-hour excursion. Balance active days with chill days. Maybe do the big excursion in Santorini but keep it low-key in Mykonos. Or vice versa. Listen to your body.
The Ports Where DIY Wins
Some ports are just better on your own. Here's my quick take:
- Mykonos: Walk the town, find a beach, you don't need a guide. Check the Mediterranean port guide for specifics.
- Barcelona: Way too much to see for a guided bus tour to do it justice. Go explore.
- San Juan: The old city is walkable, beautiful, and full of great food. Wander.
- Key West: It's a small island with a queer-friendly vibe. Walk or rent bikes.
The Ports Where Excursions Add Real Value
- Santorini: The sunset sail is worth it. Getting to the top of the caldera on your own is doable but the organized experiences are smoother.
- Smaller Caribbean islands: Places where there's not much infrastructure near the port, a Shore Thing can get you to the good spots efficiently.
- Active/adventure destinations: If you want to kayak in Croatia or hike in the Azores, the organized excursions handle logistics you don't want to figure out on your own.
The Bottom Line
Don't feel pressured to book a Shore Thing at every port. Some of the best port experiences I've had were completely unplanned. Walking out of the ship, picking a direction, and seeing what happens. That's travel.
But when a Shore Thing is good, it's really good. Invest in the ones that give you access to something you couldn't easily do yourself, and save your money on the ones that are just glorified bus rides.
Need help figuring out which excursions fit your specific itinerary? That's part of what I do. Let's plan it out.
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Brandon
Queer-owned travel advisor obsessed with Virgin Voyages. First Mate certified, FORA partnered, and here to help you plan an incredible cruise.