NCL Charlottetown excursions: are they worth it?
Booking independently in Charlottetown saves about $80 per person compared with NCL's own excursions (+122% ship markup across 2 tour types, prices checked November 2026). The biggest gap is food & tasting: $84 per person, or $335 for a family of four. Going independent is low-risk here if you are back at the pier 60 minutes before departure.
We compared NCL's own shore excursion prices in Charlottetown with the five most relevant independent tours of the same type on GetYourGuide. Across 2 tour types the ship charges about +122% more.
Ship price vs independent price by tour type
| Tour type | NCL priceper adult | Independentper person | Savingper person | Safe to go independent? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food & tastinge.g. "Taste The Town - Walking" | $158€141 · $118–$197 · 2 options | $74$70–$78 · top 2 | $84+113% ship markup · small sample | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| City / island toure.g. "Charlottetown Essentials" | $133€119 · $49–$236 · 14 options | $57$20–$89 · top 5 | $76+134% ship markup | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Ruins / historye.g. "History By Horse-Drawn T" | $69€62 · 1 option | $291 match | too few matches | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
Ship price is the median "starting at" adult price of NCL's excursions of that type, recorded 2026-11-02. Independent price is the median per-person price of the top GetYourGuide results of the same type (checked 2026-11-02). Family of 4 multiplies the per-person gap by four; child prices are often lower on both sides. How we compare.
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.
What to check when comparing
- City / island tour: City and island tours vary from short trolley loops to full-day drives, so compare durations too.
- Ruins / history: Ruins trips differ most in how far they go: a nearby site and a full-day mainland trip both count here.
Independent Charlottetown tours we compared
These are the GetYourGuide tours behind each independent price, in GetYourGuide's own relevance order. Prices are per person "from" prices in USD.
Food & tasting: 2 tours from $70
- Charlottetown: Food Walking Tour with Local Islander Guides · $70 · 4.7★ (22 reviews)
- Charlottetown: Small Group Food Tour With Lobster Roll · $78 · 3.9★ (23 reviews)
City / island tour: 5 tours from $20
- Prince Edward Island Historic Small Group Tour · $29 · 4.3★ (165 reviews)
- Charlottetown: Walking Tour with Local Islander Guide · $20 · 4.8★ (72 reviews)
- Charlottetown: 90 min Harbour/Dinner Cruise with LIVE music! · $57 · 4.5★ (17 reviews)
- Charlottetown: Green Gables Shore Half-Day Tour · $89 · 4.5★ (30 reviews)
- Charlottetown: Sunset Harbor/Dinner Cruise with Live Music · $64 · 4.5★ (6 reviews)
Ruins / history: 1 tour from $29
- Prince Edward Island Historic Small Group Tour · $29 · 4.3★ (165 reviews)
Is it safe to book independently in Charlottetown?
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.
Every tour type here scores 5/5: transfers are short and there is no tender queue. Still book a tour that finishes at least an hour before all-aboard.
How far is the pier from the main sights?
| From the pier to | Straight line | Approx. travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Province House | 222 m | ~5 min walk |
| Green Gables Heritage Place | 34.6 km | ~80 min by road |
| Cavendish Beach | 35.8 km | ~80 min by road |
Distances are measured from Charlottetown cruise pier. Travel times are estimates for normal traffic, not including ferries or tender queues.
The pier is downtown. Green Gables and the north shore beaches are about 40 minutes away.
Questions
Are NCL excursions in Charlottetown worth it?
On price alone, usually not: comparable independent tours cost $80 less per person on average. The ship's main advantage is the guarantee that it will wait for its own tours if they run late.
Is it safe to book an independent excursion in Charlottetown?
Most popular tours start within a short ride of the pier, so the risk is low if you finish an hour before all-aboard.
How far is the Charlottetown cruise pier from Province House?
About 222 m in a straight line, roughly 5 minutes on foot.
Famous sights from Charlottetown
Green Gables: ship vs independent
More to compare
Food & tasting in other ports City / island tour in other ports Ruins / history in other ports
Other NCL ports nearby: Halifax Saint John Bar Harbor
Work out your family's saving All cruise lines in Charlottetown · All NCL ports