Party boats, party buses & sunset cruises: ship vs independent, port by port
Carnival charges a median $85 and NCL charges a median $133 per adult for party / sunset cruise excursions, against $111 per person for independent versions (19 ports, November 2026). Booking independently is cheaper in 75% of the 8 ports with both prices.
Party boats, party buses & sunset cruises in 19 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 75% of the 8 ports where we have both prices.
| Port | Carnival | NCL | Independent | Best saving for 4 | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maui (Kahului)Hawaii | – | $296 | $127 | $676 | 5/5 |
| Puerto VallartaMexican Riviera | $82 | $217 | $154 | $251 | 5/5 |
| CartagenaCentral and South America | $75 | $89 | $29 | $240 | 5/5 |
| St. ThomasEastern Caribbean | $114 | $168 | $109 | $234 | 5/5 |
| Cabo San LucasMexican Riviera | – | $138 | $97 | $162 | 4/5 |
| ArubaSouthern Caribbean | $115 | $79 | $84 | $124 | 5/5 |
| San JuanEastern Caribbean | – | $128 | $150 | −$87 | 5/5 |
| NassauBahamas | $70 | – | $113 | −$170 | 5/5 |
| RoatanWestern Caribbean | $73 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| Ocho RiosWestern Caribbean | $120 | $196 | – | – | 5/5 |
| ProgresoWestern Caribbean | $62 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| St. MaartenEastern Caribbean | $88 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| Grand TurkEastern Caribbean | $82 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)Eastern Caribbean | $92 | $133 | – | – | 5/5 |
| St. KittsSouthern Caribbean | $65 | $79 | – | – | 5/5 |
| GrenadaSouthern Caribbean | – | $88 | – | – | 5/5 |
| BonaireSouthern Caribbean | $94 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| Icy Strait PointAlaska | – | $177 | – | – | 5/5 |
| BermudaBermuda | $93 | $99 | – | – | 5/5 |
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 party / sunset cruise excursion cost on a cruise?
Across the ports we track, the median ship price for this tour type is Carnival $85, NCL $133 per adult. Independent versions have a median of $111 per person.
Is it cheaper to book party / sunset cruise tours independently?
In 75% of the 8 ports where we have both prices, the independent version is cheaper. The ship was cheaper in San Juan, Nassau.
Is it safe to book a party / sunset cruise excursion on your own?
It depends on the port. 19 of 19 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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