Snorkel trips by boat or from shore: ship vs independent, port by port
Carnival charges a median $101 and NCL charges a median $128 per adult for snorkel tour excursions, against $84 per person for independent versions (45 ports, November 2026). Booking independently is cheaper in 94% of the 18 ports with both prices.
Snorkel trips by boat or from shore in 45 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 94% of the 18 ports where we have both prices.
| Port | Carnival | NCL | Independent | Best saving for 4 | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salerno (Amalfi Coast)Europe | – | $266 | $117 | $598 | 5/5 |
| Maui (Kahului)Hawaii | $219 | $276 | $140 | $542 | 5/5 |
| CozumelWestern Caribbean | $82 | $177 | $58 | $476 | 5/5 |
| KonaHawaii | $165 | $227 | $115 | $447 | 4/5 |
| ArubaSouthern Caribbean | $150 | $128 | $69 | $324 | 5/5 |
| NassauBahamas | $150 | $195 | $129 | $265 | 5/5 |
| Puerto VallartaMexican Riviera | $115 | – | $51 | $258 | 5/5 |
| Cabo San LucasMexican Riviera | – | $128 | $64 | $257 | 4/5 |
| CuracaoSouthern Caribbean | $85 | $128 | $80 | $193 | 5/5 |
| RoatanWestern Caribbean | $84 | $113 | $71 | $169 | 5/5 |
| BonaireSouthern Caribbean | $87 | $118 | $84 | $139 | 5/5 |
| Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)Eastern Caribbean | $87 | $133 | $100 | $130 | 5/5 |
| San JuanEastern Caribbean | $89 | – | $59 | $120 | 5/5 |
| DominicaSouthern Caribbean | $110 | $103 | $89 | $84 | 5/5 |
| HuatulcoMexican Riviera | $82 | – | $62 | $82 | 5/5 |
| St. ThomasEastern Caribbean | $101 | $168 | $150 | $70 | 5/5 |
| BermudaBermuda | $100 | $128 | $113 | $59 | 5/5 |
| Harvest CayeWestern Caribbean | – | $118 | $155 | −$147 | 5/5 |
| Costa MayaWestern Caribbean | – | – | $36 | – | 5/5 |
| Ocho RiosWestern Caribbean | – | – | $161 | – | 5/5 |
| Key WestWestern Caribbean | – | – | $55 | – | 5/5 |
| La RomanaEastern Caribbean | – | – | $85 | – | 5/5 |
| AntiguaSouthern Caribbean | – | – | $135 | – | 5/5 |
| MartiniqueSouthern Caribbean | – | – | $73 | – | 5/5 |
| CartagenaCentral and South America | – | – | $82 | – | 5/5 |
| Puerto LimonCentral and South America | – | – | $55 | – | 5/5 |
| PuntarenasCentral and South America | – | – | $89 | – | 5/5 |
| HonoluluHawaii | – | – | $73 | – | 5/5 |
| HiloHawaii | – | – | $188 | – | 5/5 |
| Belize CityWestern Caribbean | $129 | – | – | – | 4/5 |
| Grand CaymanWestern Caribbean | $72 | $128 | – | – | 4/5 |
| ProgresoWestern Caribbean | $103 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| BiminiBahamas | $117 | $183 | – | – | 5/5 |
| St. MaartenEastern Caribbean | $103 | $168 | – | – | 5/5 |
| Grand TurkEastern Caribbean | $99 | $108 | – | – | 5/5 |
| TortolaEastern Caribbean | $115 | $138 | – | – | 5/5 |
| St. CroixEastern Caribbean | $135 | – | – | – | 3/5 |
| St. KittsSouthern Caribbean | $105 | $99 | – | – | 5/5 |
| St. LuciaSouthern Caribbean | $75 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| BarbadosSouthern Caribbean | – | $99 | – | – | 5/5 |
| GrenadaSouthern Caribbean | $100 | $88 | – | – | 5/5 |
| EnsenadaMexican Riviera | $95 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| Catalina IslandMexican Riviera | $100 | – | – | – | 4/5 |
| SitkaAlaska | $170 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| VallettaEurope | – | $296 | – | – | 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 snorkel tour excursion cost on a cruise?
Across the ports we track, the median ship price for this tour type is Carnival $101, NCL $128 per adult. Independent versions have a median of $84 per person.
Is it cheaper to book snorkel tour tours independently?
In 94% of the 18 ports where we have both prices, the independent version is cheaper. The ship was cheaper in Harvest Caye.
Is it safe to book a snorkel tour excursion on your own?
It depends on the port. 44 of 45 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.
Other tour types
Dolphin & marine encounter Submarine / glass-bottom Scuba / helmet dive Whale watching Flightseeing Dog sledding Fishing Party / sunset cruise Catamaran / sail & snorkel Kayak / paddle Zipline ATV / buggy / jeep Ruins / history Food & tasting Beach break / beach club Nature / waterfall / park City / island tour