Taormina from Messina (Taormina): ship excursion or on your own?
Booking Taormina independently from Messina (Taormina) saves about $184 per person compared with NCL's excursion (NCL $276 vs $92 independent, November 2026). Safety for going on your own: 3/5. Be back at the pier 60 minutes before departure.
What ships sell
- NCL: 9 excursions that include Taormina, median $276 per adult, e.g. "Taormina & Mount Etna".
Ship excursions that include Taormina often bundle other stops or lunch, so compare what each tour includes. NCL prices were read from NCL's European website in euros on 2026-11-02 and converted at the ECB reference rate of 1 EUR = 1.1172 USD (2026-10-30). NCL's US site may show slightly different dollar prices.
Independent Taormina tours we compared
- From Messina: The Godfather's land, Taormina Shore Excursion · $107 · 4.0★ (1 reviews)
- From Messina: Taormina and Giardini Naxos Shore Excursion · $107
- From Messina: Taormina and Naxos Beach Shore Excursion · $90 · 5.0★ (1 reviews)
- Messina: Mount Etna and Taormina Shore Excursion · $92
- From Messina Shore Excursion: Godfather's Savoca & Taormina · $90 · 4.4★ (5 reviews)
Getting back to the ship
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.
- Taormina is a long transfer from the Messina (Taormina) cruise port, so traffic or a late ferry eats directly into your buffer.
Questions
How much is the Taormina excursion from Messina (Taormina) on NCL?
NCL's Taormina excursions start at a median of $276 per adult (9 options, $108 to $325), converted from €247.
Can you visit Taormina on your own from the Messina (Taormina) cruise port?
Yes. Independent tours cost a median of $92 per person (5 tours compared, from $90). It is a long transfer, so book a tour that starts at the cruise port and finishes at least 60 minutes before departure.
Is it cheaper to book Taormina independently?
Usually: the gap is about $184 per person, or $735 for a family of four, against NCL's price.
Best Messina (Taormina) excursions · All Messina (Taormina) excursion prices · NCL in Messina (Taormina)