Submarine & glass-bottom boat: ship vs independent, port by port
Carnival charges a median $87 and NCL charges a median $108 per adult for submarine / glass-bottom excursions, against $71 per person for independent versions (16 ports, November 2026). Booking independently is cheaper in 83% of the 6 ports with both prices.
Submarine & glass-bottom boat in 16 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 83% of the 6 ports where we have both prices.
| Port | Carnival | NCL | Independent | Best saving for 4 | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HonoluluHawaii | – | $296 | $64 | $928 | 5/5 |
| Cabo San LucasMexican Riviera | $99 | – | $21 | $311 | 4/5 |
| CozumelWestern Caribbean | $134 | $143 | $66 | $309 | 5/5 |
| RoatanWestern Caribbean | $81 | $104 | $79 | $98 | 5/5 |
| BermudaBermuda | $93 | $108 | $91 | $71 | 5/5 |
| CuracaoSouthern Caribbean | $57 | – | $77 | −$80 | 5/5 |
| Costa MayaWestern Caribbean | $77 | $89 | – | – | 5/5 |
| Grand CaymanWestern Caribbean | $70 | $99 | – | – | 4/5 |
| Key WestWestern Caribbean | $87 | $99 | – | – | 5/5 |
| Harvest CayeWestern Caribbean | – | $108 | – | – | 5/5 |
| Grand TurkEastern Caribbean | $82 | – | – | – | 5/5 |
| BarbadosSouthern Caribbean | $130 | $158 | – | – | 5/5 |
| ArubaSouthern Caribbean | $105 | $148 | – | – | 5/5 |
| BonaireSouthern Caribbean | $65 | $69 | – | – | 5/5 |
| Maui (Kahului)Hawaii | – | $276 | – | – | 5/5 |
| KonaHawaii | $152 | $197 | – | – | 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 submarine / glass-bottom excursion cost on a cruise?
Across the ports we track, the median ship price for this tour type is Carnival $87, NCL $108 per adult. Independent versions have a median of $71 per person.
Is it cheaper to book submarine / glass-bottom tours independently?
In 83% of the 6 ports where we have both prices, the independent version is cheaper. The ship was cheaper in Curacao.
Is it safe to book a submarine / glass-bottom excursion on your own?
It depends on the port. 16 of 16 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
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