Palma de Mallorca cruise port: are excursions cheaper than the ship?
Yes, in most cases: ship excursions in Palma de Mallorca cost more than independent tours of the same type. Ship markup: NCL +284% (typical saving $169 per person), prices checked November 2026.
- Pier: ships dock at Palma cruise terminals (Dique del Oeste).
- Nearest sight: Palma Cathedral, about 2.5 km (~10 min by road).
- Be back by: 60 minutes before departure at the pier; all-aboard is usually 30 minutes before departure.
- Cheapest independent option: city / island tour, median $37 per person.
- Watch out: The Caves of Drach are about an hour across the island.
Palma de Mallorca, Spain (Europe). A shuttle bus links the cruise terminals with the cathedral area in about 10 minutes.
All cruise lines side by side
| Tour type | Royal Caribbean | NCL | MSC | Independent | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catamaran / sail & snorkel | – | – | – | $99 | 5/5 |
| Kayak / paddle | – | $365 | – | $52 | 5/5 |
| Food & tasting | – | $187 | – | $70 | 5/5 |
| Beach break / beach club | – | $158 | – | $73 | 5/5 |
| Nature / waterfall / park | – | $173 | – | $79 | 3/5 |
| City / island tour | – | $187 | – | $37 | 5/5 |
Median adult price per tour type. A dash means that line's prices for Palma de Mallorca were not shown publicly when we checked, or there was no close independent match.
Royal Caribbean in Palma de Mallorca NCL in Palma de Mallorca MSC in Palma de Mallorca
Sailing with Royal Caribbean or MSC?
Royal Caribbean and MSC only show excursion prices inside your booked cruise planner, so we cannot list them. Compare your planner's price with the independent column above, and use NCL's Palma de Mallorca prices as a reference for what ships typically charge here. The calculator lets you type in your planner's price.
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.
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
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)
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)
Beach break / beach club: 1 tour from $73
- Mallorca: Tour + Beach Stop · $73 · 4.8★ (1,103 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)
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)
Distance from the pier
| 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.
All-aboard and buffer rules
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.
Tours that need extra margin here
- Nature / waterfall / park: The Caves of Drach are about an hour across the island.
Calculate your latest safe return time
Palma de Mallorca questions
Are Palma de Mallorca excursions cheaper than booking through the cruise ship?
Usually yes. Comparable independent tours cost about $169 less per person than NCL excursions on average (+284% ship markup across 4 tour types).
Is it safe to book an independent excursion in Palma de Mallorca?
Generally yes: ships dock alongside, so be back at the pier at least 60 minutes before departure. The Caves of Drach are about an hour across the island.
How far is the Palma de Mallorca cruise port from Palma Cathedral?
About 2.5 km in a straight line, roughly 10 minutes by road from Palma cruise terminals (Dique del Oeste).
How far is the Palma de Mallorca cruise port from Valldemossa?
About 17.5 km in a straight line, roughly 40 minutes by road from Palma cruise terminals (Dique del Oeste).
How far is the Palma de Mallorca cruise port from Caves of Drach?
About 60.3 km in a straight line, roughly 135 minutes by road from Palma cruise terminals (Dique del Oeste).
What time should I be back on the ship in Palma de Mallorca?
All-aboard is usually 30 minutes before the published departure time on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL and MSC. Build in at least another 30 minutes on top for traffic.
Best Palma de Mallorca excursions, ranked
Tour types in Palma de Mallorca
Catamaran / sail & snorkel Kayak / paddle Food & tasting Beach break / beach club Nature / waterfall / park City / island tour
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