Butchart Gardens from Victoria: ship excursion or on your own?
NCL's own Butchart Gardens excursion is about $16 per person cheaper than independent tours (Carnival $134, NCL $168 vs $184 independent, November 2026). Safety for going on your own: 5/5. Be back at the pier 60 minutes before departure.
What ships sell
- Carnival: 2 excursions that include Butchart Gardens, median $134 per adult, e.g. "Deluxe Butchart Gardens".
- NCL: 5 excursions that include Butchart Gardens, median $168 per adult, e.g. "Butchart Gardens & Victo".
Ship excursions that include Butchart Gardens often bundle other stops or lunch, so compare what each tour includes. 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.
Independent Butchart Gardens tours we compared
- Vancouver: Victoria & Butchart Gardens Day Tour w/ Ferry · $177 · 4.4★ (42 reviews)
- Vancouver: Victoria, Gulf Islands Cruise, & Butchart Gardens · $218 · 4.8★ (1,573 reviews)
- Vancouver: Victoria, Butchart Gardens & Gulf Islands Ferry · $184 · 4.6★ (724 reviews)
- Vancouver: Victoria & Butchart Gardens Christmas Lights Tour · $205
- Victoria, BC: The Butchart Gardens Guided Tour · $107
See all Butchart Gardens tours
Getting back to the ship
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.
- Butchart Gardens is a short ride from the pier, so the return is easy to plan.
Questions
How much is the Butchart Gardens excursion from Victoria on Carnival?
Carnival's Butchart Gardens excursions start at a median of $134 per adult (2 options, $127 to $142).
How much is the Butchart Gardens excursion from Victoria on NCL?
NCL's Butchart Gardens excursions start at a median of $168 per adult (5 options, $138 to $177), converted from €150.
Can you visit Butchart Gardens on your own from the Victoria cruise port?
Yes. Independent tours cost a median of $184 per person (5 tours compared, from $107). It is close to the pier, so even a taxi works if you keep an eye on the time.
Is it cheaper to book Butchart Gardens independently?
Not here: NCL's own excursion is cheaper than the independent median.
All Victoria excursion prices · Carnival in Victoria · NCL in Victoria