NCL Palma de Mallorca excursions: are they worth it?
Booking independently in Palma de Mallorca saves about $169 per person compared with NCL's own excursions (+284% ship markup across 4 tour types, prices checked November 2026). The biggest gap is kayak / paddle: $313 per person, or $1,252 for a family of four. Going independent is reasonable with a buffer here if you are back at the pier 60 minutes before departure.
We compared NCL's own shore excursion prices in Palma de Mallorca with the five most relevant independent tours of the same type on GetYourGuide. Across 4 tour types the ship charges about +284% more.
Ship price vs independent price by tour type
| Tour type | NCL priceper adult | Independentper person | Savingper person | Safe to go independent? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayak / paddlee.g. "Kayak In The Wake Of A N" | $365€327 · 1 option | $52$44–$77 · top 4 | $313+603% ship markup | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| City / island toure.g. "Gourmet Tour - Sophistic" | $187€168 · $59–$197 · 8 options | $37$6–$51 · top 5 | $151+409% ship markup | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Food & tastinge.g. "Gourmet Tour - A Passion" | $187€168 · $118–$197 · 3 options | $70$59–$101 · top 5 | $118+169% ship markup | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Nature / waterfall / parke.g. "Caves Of Hams" | $173€154 · $108–$237 · 4 options | $79$29–$79 · top 5 | $93+117% ship markup | 3/5 OK with buffer | Compare |
| Beach break / beach clube.g. "Breeza Beach Club" | $158€141 · $49–$168 · 3 options | $731 match | too few matches | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Catamaran / sail & snorkel | not recorded | $99$62–$2,232 · 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.
- Nature / waterfall / park: Theme-park and national-park trips vary a lot in what the ticket covers. Check whether transport and entry fees are included on both sides.
- Beach break / beach club: Ship beach breaks usually include the round-trip transfer and often lunch and drinks. Many independent beach-club passes cover entry and a chair only, so add a taxi when you compare.
Independent Palma de Mallorca 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.
Kayak / paddle: 4 tours from $44
- Palma de Mallorca: Guided Morning Kayak Bay Tour · $44 · 4.8★ (14 reviews)
- Mallorca: Sea Caves Kayaking Tour, Snorkeling & Snack · $77 · 4.7★ (714 reviews)
- Mallorca: Kayak Rental · $45 · 4.3★ (113 reviews)
- Mallorca: SUP Yoga and Brunch at Cala Nova · $59 · 5.0★ (2 reviews)
City / island tour: 5 tours from $6
- Palma de Mallorca: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour · $30 · 4.1★ (5,261 reviews)
- Palma de Mallorca: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour · $51 · 4.0★ (348 reviews)
- Palma de Mallorca: Must-See Walking Tour with a Guide · $37 · 4.5★ (251 reviews)
- Palma de Mallorca: Guided Tour with Your Mobile Phone · $6 · 3.3★ (3 reviews)
- Palma de Mallorca: Guided Tour of the Old Town · $44 · 4.9★ (914 reviews)
Food & tasting: 5 tours from $59
- Palma de Mallorca: The Ultimate Food Tour with a Local · $70 · 4.8★ (56 reviews)
- Palma de Mallorca: Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide · $59 · 4.5★ (29 reviews)
- Palma de Mallorca: Foodie Walking Tour of the Old Town · $73 · 4.6★ (674 reviews)
- Palma de Mallorca: 5-Stop Gourmet Tapas & Wine Tour · $67 · 4.6★ (793 reviews)
- Palma de Mallorca: Food Tour with 10+ Local Tapas & Wines · $101 · 5.0★ (9 reviews)
Nature / waterfall / park: 5 tours from $29
- From Palma: Valldemossa & Tramuntana Scenic Hike–Small Group · $79 · 5.0★ (122 reviews)
- Palma: Family or Sports Course Adventure at Forestal Park · $29 · 4.8★ (277 reviews)
- From Palma: Sierra de Tramuntana Hiking with small Picnic · $79 · 5.0★ (93 reviews)
- Serra de Tramuntana: Easy coastal hike with beautiful views · $79 · 4.9★ (16 reviews)
- Mallorca: Caves of Drach Day Trip & Optional Caves of Hams · $62 · 4.3★ (3,057 reviews)
Beach break / beach club: 1 tour from $73
- Mallorca: Tour + Beach Stop · $73 · 4.8★ (1,103 reviews)
Catamaran / sail & snorkel: 5 tours from $62
- Mallorca: Premium Catamaran Day or Sunset Trip with Food, Swimming & VIP Option · $95 · 4.4★ (524 reviews)
- Mallorca: Catamaran Luxury Tour with Meal and DJ · $62 · 4.5★ (3,654 reviews)
- Mallorca: Midday or Sunset Sailing with Snacks and Open Bar · $106 · 4.7★ (974 reviews)
- Mallorca: Sailing Tour all-in with drinks and tapas · $99 · 5.0★ (128 reviews)
- Sail on a 100% eco-friendly catamaran through the waters of Palma de Mallorca · $2,232
Is it safe to book independently in Palma de Mallorca?
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.
- Nature / waterfall / park (3/5): The Caves of Drach are about an hour across the island..
How far is the pier from the main sights?
| From the pier to | Straight line | Approx. travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Palma Cathedral | 2.5 km | ~10 min by road |
| Valldemossa | 17.5 km | ~40 min by road |
| Caves of Drach | 60.3 km | ~135 min by road |
Distances are measured from Palma cruise terminals (Dique del Oeste). Travel times are estimates for normal traffic, not including ferries or tender queues.
A shuttle bus links the cruise terminals with the cathedral area in about 10 minutes.
Questions
Are NCL excursions in Palma de Mallorca worth it?
On price alone, usually not: comparable independent tours cost $169 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 Palma de Mallorca?
Short tours near the pier are low-risk; The Caves of Drach are about an hour across the island.
How far is the Palma de Mallorca cruise pier from Palma Cathedral?
About 2.5 km in a straight line, roughly 10 minutes by road.
Best Palma de Mallorca excursions, ranked
More to compare
Kayak / paddle in other ports City / island tour in other ports Food & tasting in other ports Nature / waterfall / park in other ports Beach break / beach club in other ports Catamaran / sail & snorkel in other ports
Other NCL ports nearby: Barcelona Malaga Livorno (Florence and Pisa) La Spezia (Cinque Terre) Civitavecchia (Rome) Cadiz (Seville)
Work out your family's saving All cruise lines in Palma de Mallorca · All NCL ports