NCL La Spezia (Cinque Terre) excursions: are they worth it?
Booking independently in La Spezia (Cinque Terre) saves about $28 per person compared with NCL's own excursions (+35% ship markup across 1 tour types, prices checked November 2026). The biggest gap is city / island tour: $28 per person, or $112 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 La Spezia (Cinque Terre) with the five most relevant independent tours of the same type on GetYourGuide. Across 1 tour types the ship charges about +35% more.
Ship price vs independent price by tour type
| Tour type | NCL priceper adult | Independentper person | Savingper person | Safe to go independent? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City / island toure.g. "Highlights Of Pisa" | $108€97 · $99–$168 · 5 options | $80$56–$195 · top 5 | $28+35% ship markup | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Food & tasting | not recorded | $78$40–$99 · top 5 | – | 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.
Independent La Spezia (Cinque Terre) 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.
City / island tour: 5 tours from $56
- From La Spezia: Florence & Pisa Bus Tour with On-Time Return · $84 · 4.7★ (130 reviews)
- From La Spezia: Two-Stop Bus Tour to Pisa & Golfo dei Poeti · $56 · 4.6★ (238 reviews)
- From La Spezia: Cinque Terre Small Group Tour with Limoncino · $80 · 4.5★ (699 reviews)
- La Spezia: Florence Guided Tour with Free Time · $195 · 5.0★ (1 reviews)
- From La Spezia: Train "Golfo dei Poeti" & Bus Tour to Pisa · $73 · 5.0★ (2 reviews)
Food & tasting: 5 tours from $40
- La Spezia: Food and Wine Walking Tour with Tastings · $66 · 4.9★ (10 reviews)
- Eat Like a Local in La Spezia: Authentic Street Food Tour · $78 · 5.0★ (2 reviews)
- La Spezia: Taste Cinque Terre on a Full Meal Food Tour · $95 · 4.6★ (57 reviews)
- La Spezia: Small-Group Street Food Tour · $99 · 4.6★ (4 reviews)
- La Spezia: Ligurian Wine, Olive Oil, and Pesto Tasting · $40 · 4.5★ (3 reviews)
Is it safe to book independently in La Spezia (Cinque Terre)?
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Riomaggiore (Cinque Terre) | 6.9 km | ~20 min by road |
| Portovenere | 5.9 km | ~15 min by road |
| Leaning Tower of Pisa | 62.4 km | ~140 min by road |
Distances are measured from La Spezia cruise terminal. Travel times are estimates for normal traffic, not including ferries or tender queues.
The train to the Cinque Terre villages leaves from La Spezia Centrale, about 15 minutes on foot from the terminal; trains and boats get crowded on ship days.
Questions
Are NCL excursions in La Spezia (Cinque Terre) worth it?
On price alone, usually not: comparable independent tours cost $28 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 La Spezia (Cinque Terre)?
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 La Spezia (Cinque Terre) cruise pier from Riomaggiore (Cinque Terre)?
About 6.9 km in a straight line, roughly 20 minutes by road.
Best La Spezia (Cinque Terre) excursions, ranked
More to compare
City / island tour in other ports Food & tasting in other ports
Other NCL ports nearby: Livorno (Florence and Pisa) Civitavecchia (Rome) Naples Split Salerno (Amalfi Coast) Dubrovnik
Work out your family's saving All cruise lines in La Spezia (Cinque Terre) · All NCL ports