Food, rum, tequila & tasting tours: ship vs independent, port by port
Carnival charges a median $98 and NCL charges a median $167 per adult for food & tasting excursions, against $96 per person for independent versions (71 ports, November 2026). Booking independently is cheaper in 87% of the 45 ports with both prices.
Food, rum, tequila & tasting tours in 71 cruise ports, with the cruise line's own price next to the median of the top independent tours of the same type. Booking independently was cheaper in 87% of the 45 ports where we have both prices.
| Port | Carnival | NCL | Independent | Best saving for 4 | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civitavecchia (Rome)Europe | $240 | $492 | $100 | $1,566 | 5/5 |
| VallettaEurope | – | $365 | $61 | $1,214 | 5/5 |
| Porto (Leixões)Europe | – | $247 | $79 | $668 | 5/5 |
| Zeebrugge (Bruges)Europe | – | $207 | $45 | $650 | 5/5 |
| MalagaEurope | – | $255 | $95 | $642 | 5/5 |
| CartagenaCentral and South America | $111 | $197 | $58 | $558 | 5/5 |
| IstanbulEurope | – | $237 | $99 | $550 | 5/5 |
| Maui (Kahului)Hawaii | $123 | $281 | $144 | $549 | 5/5 |
| KetchikanAlaska | $287 | $296 | $161 | $540 | 5/5 |
| HalifaxCanada and New England | – | $217 | $84 | $531 | 5/5 |
| Livorno (Florence and Pisa)Europe | – | $187 | $55 | $531 | 5/5 |
| NaplesEurope | – | $167 | $47 | $479 | 5/5 |
| KotorEurope | – | $325 | $206 | $476 | 4/5 |
| Palma de MallorcaEurope | – | $187 | $70 | $471 | 5/5 |
| AntiguaSouthern Caribbean | – | $247 | $135 | $448 | 5/5 |
| Piraeus (Athens)Europe | – | $168 | $56 | $445 | 5/5 |
| MykonosEurope | – | $227 | $134 | $371 | 5/5 |
| MazatlanMexican Riviera | – | $177 | $85 | $370 | 5/5 |
| BarbadosSouthern Caribbean | $90 | $187 | $95 | $369 | 5/5 |
| Saint JohnCanada and New England | – | $118 | $28 | $361 | 5/5 |
| Messina (Taormina)Europe | – | $187 | $99 | $352 | 5/5 |
| CharlottetownCanada and New England | – | $158 | $74 | $335 | 5/5 |
| HiloHawaii | – | $256 | $179 | $308 | 5/5 |
| CuracaoSouthern Caribbean | $90 | $197 | $128 | $277 | 5/5 |
| RoatanWestern Caribbean | $94 | $128 | $59 | $277 | 5/5 |
| Puerto LimonCentral and South America | $110 | – | $57 | $213 | 5/5 |
| Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)Eastern Caribbean | $87 | $128 | $75 | $213 | 5/5 |
| Cabo San LucasMexican Riviera | $85 | $138 | $90 | $192 | 4/5 |
| FalmouthWestern Caribbean | – | $128 | $82 | $185 | 5/5 |
| SantoriniEurope | $130 | $158 | $112 | $185 | 4/5 |
| NassauBahamas | $100 | $130 | $92 | $154 | 5/5 |
| St. KittsSouthern Caribbean | – | $133 | $97 | $144 | 5/5 |
| SplitEurope | – | $128 | $93 | $142 | 5/5 |
| Ocho RiosWestern Caribbean | $90 | $128 | $98 | $121 | 5/5 |
| HuatulcoMexican Riviera | $80 | – | $51 | $118 | 5/5 |
| Puerto VallartaMexican Riviera | $55 | $79 | $59 | $79 | 5/5 |
| Salerno (Amalfi Coast)Europe | – | $148 | $134 | $56 | 5/5 |
| CozumelWestern Caribbean | $100 | $113 | $104 | $40 | 5/5 |
| CorfuEurope | – | $128 | $123 | $22 | 5/5 |
| DubrovnikEurope | – | $128 | $138 | −$37 | 5/5 |
| EnsenadaMexican Riviera | $85 | $64 | $106 | −$85 | 3/5 |
| Harvest CayeWestern Caribbean | – | $118 | $142 | −$95 | 5/5 |
| BermudaBermuda | $98 | $99 | $134 | −$142 | 5/5 |
| Montego BayWestern Caribbean | $75 | $113 | $159 | −$182 | 3/5 |
| San JuanEastern Caribbean | $93 | $99 | $169 | −$282 | 5/5 |
| Key WestWestern Caribbean | – | – | $98 | – | 5/5 |
| TortolaEastern Caribbean | – | – | $110 | – | 5/5 |
| MartiniqueSouthern Caribbean | – | – | $88 | – | 5/5 |
| HonoluluHawaii | – | – | $125 | – | 5/5 |
| BarcelonaEurope | – | – | $79 | – | 5/5 |
| ReykjavikEurope | – | – | $146 | – | 5/5 |
| Cadiz (Seville)Europe | – | – | $99 | – | 5/5 |
| La Spezia (Cinque Terre)Europe | – | – | $78 | – | 5/5 |
| TallinnEurope | – | – | $95 | – | 5/5 |
| Costa MayaWestern Caribbean | – | $177 | – | – | 5/5 |
| Belize CityWestern Caribbean | $105 | $167 | – | – | 4/5 |
| Grand CaymanWestern Caribbean | $78 | $118 | – | – | 4/5 |
| ProgresoWestern Caribbean | $78 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| St. MaartenEastern Caribbean | $135 | $217 | – | – | 5/5 |
| Grand TurkEastern Caribbean | $80 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| St. LuciaSouthern Caribbean | – | $69 | – | – | 5/5 |
| DominicaSouthern Caribbean | $100 | $147 | – | – | 5/5 |
| GrenadaSouthern Caribbean | $65 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| ArubaSouthern Caribbean | $63 | $246 | – | – | 5/5 |
| BonaireSouthern Caribbean | $50 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| PuntarenasCentral and South America | $100 | $128 | – | – | 5/5 |
| JuneauAlaska | $173 | $187 | – | – | 5/5 |
| SkagwayAlaska | $172 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| Icy Strait PointAlaska | $155 | $168 | – | – | 5/5 |
| VictoriaAlaska | $120 | $133 | – | – | 5/5 |
| KonaHawaii | $220 | $207 | – | – | 4/5 |
Ship prices: median adult "starting at" price of that line's excursions of this type (NCL converted from euros). Independent: median per-person price of the top GetYourGuide matches. Methodology.
Questions
How much does a food & tasting excursion cost on a cruise?
Across the ports we track, the median ship price for this tour type is Carnival $98, NCL $167 per adult. Independent versions have a median of $96 per person.
Is it cheaper to book food & tasting tours independently?
In 87% of the 45 ports where we have both prices, the independent version is cheaper. The ship was cheaper in Dubrovnik, Ensenada, Harvest Caye, Bermuda, Montego Bay.
Is it safe to book a food & tasting excursion on your own?
It depends on the port. 69 of 71 ports score 4 or 5 out of 5 for this tour type; tender ports and long transfers score lower. Always finish at least an hour before all-aboard.
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