Charlottetown cruise port: are excursions cheaper than the ship?
Yes, in most cases: ship excursions in Charlottetown cost more than independent tours of the same type. Ship markup: NCL +122% (typical saving $80 per person), prices checked November 2026.
- Pier: ships dock at Charlottetown cruise pier.
- Nearest sight: Province House, about 222 m (~5 min walk).
- Be back by: 60 minutes before departure at the pier; all-aboard is usually 30 minutes before departure.
- Cheapest independent option: city / island tour, median $57 per person.
Charlottetown, Canada (Canada and New England). The pier is downtown. Green Gables and the north shore beaches are about 40 minutes away.
All cruise lines side by side
| Tour type | Royal Caribbean | NCL | MSC | Independent | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruins / history | – | $69 | – | $29 | 5/5 |
| Food & tasting | – | $158 | – | $74 | 5/5 |
| City / island tour | – | $133 | – | $57 | 5/5 |
Median adult price per tour type. A dash means that line's prices for Charlottetown were not shown publicly when we checked, or there was no close independent match.
Royal Caribbean in Charlottetown NCL in Charlottetown MSC in Charlottetown
Sailing with Royal Caribbean or MSC?
Royal Caribbean and MSC only show excursion prices inside your booked cruise planner, so we cannot list them. Compare your planner's price with the independent column above, and use NCL's Charlottetown prices as a reference for what ships typically charge here. The calculator lets you type in your planner's price.
Independent Charlottetown tours we compared
These are the GetYourGuide tours behind each independent price, in GetYourGuide's own relevance order. Prices are per person "from" prices in USD.
Ruins / history: 1 tour from $29
- Prince Edward Island Historic Small Group Tour · $29 · 4.3★ (165 reviews)
Food & tasting: 2 tours from $70
- Charlottetown: Food Walking Tour with Local Islander Guides · $70 · 4.7★ (22 reviews)
- Charlottetown: Small Group Food Tour With Lobster Roll · $78 · 3.9★ (23 reviews)
City / island tour: 5 tours from $20
- Prince Edward Island Historic Small Group Tour · $29 · 4.3★ (165 reviews)
- Charlottetown: Walking Tour with Local Islander Guide · $20 · 4.8★ (72 reviews)
- Charlottetown: 90 min Harbour/Dinner Cruise with LIVE music! · $57 · 4.5★ (17 reviews)
- Charlottetown: Green Gables Shore Half-Day Tour · $89 · 4.5★ (30 reviews)
- Charlottetown: Sunset Harbor/Dinner Cruise with Live Music · $64 · 4.5★ (6 reviews)
Distance from the pier
| From the pier to | Straight line | Approx. travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Province House | 222 m | ~5 min walk |
| Green Gables Heritage Place | 34.6 km | ~80 min by road |
| Cavendish Beach | 35.8 km | ~80 min by road |
Distances are measured from Charlottetown cruise pier. Travel times are estimates for normal traffic, not including ferries or tender queues.
All-aboard and buffer rules
Ships here dock alongside. All-aboard is normally 30 minutes before departure on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL and MSC (check your daily planner). Plan to be back at the pier at least 60 minutes before the ship sails.
None of the common tour types here involves a long transfer.
Calculate your latest safe return time
Charlottetown questions
Are Charlottetown excursions cheaper than booking through the cruise ship?
Usually yes. Comparable independent tours cost about $80 less per person than NCL excursions on average (+122% ship markup across 2 tour types).
Is it safe to book an independent excursion in Charlottetown?
Generally yes: ships dock alongside, so be back at the pier at least 60 minutes before departure. The popular tours start a short ride from the pier.
How far is the Charlottetown cruise port from Province House?
About 222 m in a straight line, roughly 5 minutes on foot from Charlottetown cruise pier.
How far is the Charlottetown cruise port from Green Gables Heritage Place?
About 34.6 km in a straight line, roughly 80 minutes by road from Charlottetown cruise pier.
How far is the Charlottetown cruise port from Cavendish Beach?
About 35.8 km in a straight line, roughly 80 minutes by road from Charlottetown cruise pier.
What time should I be back on the ship in Charlottetown?
All-aboard is usually 30 minutes before the published departure time on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL and MSC. Build in at least another 30 minutes on top for traffic.
Famous sights from Charlottetown
Green Gables: ship vs independent
Tour types in Charlottetown
Ruins / history Food & tasting City / island tour
More Canada and New England ports: Canada and New England overview
Nearby ports: Halifax Saint John Bar Harbor