NCL St. Thomas excursions: are they worth it?
We compared NCL's own shore excursion prices in St. Thomas with the five most relevant independent tours of the same type on GetYourGuide. Across 6 tour types the ship charges about +57% more, and the ship is cheaper for city / island tour.
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, Hike & Snorkel At" | $197€177 · 1 option | $40$38–$99 · top 3 | $157+393% ship markup | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Party / sunset cruisee.g. "Honeymoon Beach Cycleboa" | $168€150 · 1 option | $109$89–$117 · top 5 | $59+54% ship markup | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Catamaran / sail & snorkele.g. "Ultimate Two Stop Catama" | $182€163 · $108–$227 · 6 options | $129$89–$259 · top 5 | $53+41% ship markup | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Snorkel toure.g. "St. John & Trunk Bay Sno" | $168€150 · $99–$177 · 4 options | $129$119–$159 · top 5 | $39+30% ship markup | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Beach break / beach clube.g. "Let’s Take a Selfie – St" | $118€106 · $79–$237 · 9 options | $96$65–$249 · top 4 | $22+23% ship markup | 3/5 OK with buffer | Compare |
| City / island toure.g. "High Speed Jet Boat Harb" | $79€71 · $49–$99 · 6 options | $79$65–$169 · top 5 | −$00% ship markup | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Dolphin & marine encountere.g. "Dolphin Swim & Coral Wor" | $325€291 · $324–$325 · 2 options | $1831 match | too few matches | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Ziplinee.g. "Tree Limin' Extreme Zipl" | $247€221 · 1 option | no close match | – | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Scuba / helmet divee.g. "Sea Trek Helmet Dive & C" | $207€185 · 1 option | $1021 match | too few matches | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Nature / waterfall / parke.g. "St. John Island Scenic T" | $138€124 · 1 option | $291 match | too few matches | 5/5 Very safe | Compare |
| Ruins / historye.g. "Historic St. Thomas & Bl" | $99€88 · $69–$128 · 3 options | no close match | – | 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
- 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.
- City / island tour: City and island tours vary from short trolley loops to full-day drives, so compare durations too.
- Dolphin & marine encounter: Dolphin programs range from a short encounter to a full swim, and price follows the time in the water. Compare like-for-like programs.
- Scuba / helmet dive: Ship dive excursions are often certified two-tank dives, while independent listings mix try-dives and certified dives.
- 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.
- Ruins / history: Ruins trips differ most in how far they go: a nearby site and a full-day mainland trip both count here.
Is it safe to book independently in St. Thomas?
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.
- Beach break / beach club (3/5): St. John beach days need the Red Hook ferry, so check the ferry schedule against all-aboard..
How far is the pier from the main sights?
| From the pier to | Straight line | Approx. travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Amalie downtown | 1.4 km | ~10 min by road |
| Magens Bay Beach | 3.8 km | ~15 min by road |
| Coki Point / Coral World | 6.3 km | ~20 min by road |
| Red Hook ferry to St. John | 7.5 km | ~20 min by road |
Distances are measured from Havensight (WICO) and Crown Bay. Travel times are estimates for normal traffic, not including ferries or tender queues.
Havensight is a 20-minute walk or short taxi from downtown. Taxis charge per person per destination on posted rates.
Questions
Are NCL excursions in St. Thomas worth it?
On price alone, usually not: comparable independent tours cost $55 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 St. Thomas?
Short tours near the pier are low-risk; St. John beach days need the Red Hook ferry, so check the ferry schedule against all-aboard.
How far is the St. Thomas cruise pier from Charlotte Amalie downtown?
About 1.4 km in a straight line, roughly 10 minutes by road.
Work out your family's saving All cruise lines in St. Thomas · All NCL ports