Read this before booking a cruise shore excursion

A highlight of my first cruise took place on land.
During a stop in Plymouth, England, on a Holland America Line sailing, I walked to the Plymouth Gin Distillery. The hourlong outing included an overview of its history as the oldest working distillery in England, a behind-the-scenes look at how the spirit is made and ended with gin and tonics at the upstairs bar beneath a hull-shaped timber roof constructed in the 1400s.
Best of all, it didn’t cost me much: distillery tours start at less than $20.
Onshore activities can enhance the cruise experience, whether they’re shore excursions booked through the cruise line or organized separately. And while they can be pricey, they don’t necessarily have to be. Here’s how to get the most for your money:
Cruise shore excursions take many forms. Those can range from hiking to snorkeling and pasta-making classes, varying by destination.
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Excursions may also include lunch depending on the duration of the activity, according to Maurice Smith, a luxury travel adviser and founder of the travel agency Eugene Toriko.
“Then, of course, you’ll have your food-specific experiences, like a walking food tour or a wine tasting or anything like that, and of course, you’re going to have your meal included as well,” he added.
Shore excursions typically cost extra on mainstream lines, while luxury lines bundle them with the cruise fare. Smith said the latter usually includes at least two to three choices for passengers to choose from.
The prices vary, too. 
“For example, a beach excursion, where they transport you to a beach and give you a chair and umbrella, could be $59,” said Susan Guthrie, a travel agent and owner of Cruisin’ with Susan and More, affiliated with Travel with Sparkle. A helicopter excursion to a glacier in Alaska, on the other hand, could be $400.
Smith said cruise lines may have offers that give guests credit toward excursions.
Reserving a shore excursion through a cruise line offers convenience, keeping your bookings in one place. The ship usually delivers tickets for the excursion to your stateroom.
The most affordable of those options are likely to be sightseeing tours by bus, according to Guthrie. Those typically include some highlights of a given port and possibly a short stop to buy souvenirs.
But booking a tour on your own could cut down on the cruise’s overall cost. Guthrie said excursions booked through a cruise line can be as much as double the price. ​​An activity that costs $65 per person directly through the vendor, for example, could be listed at $130 by the line.
“Now, for a family of, say, four, that’s a huge difference,” she said.
Conventional wisdom has long held that booking excursions through the line will best safeguard guests against a late return since the ships have a record of where they are, and operators ensure they return before the all-aboard time. But Guthrie said it’s increasingly common for other providers to offer similar guarantees to passengers booking independently and will help get them to the next port – at no additional cost – if they miss the ship.
Just to be safe, she recommended leaving a buffer of between 1 ½ to two hours. And be sure to change your watch or phone’s clock to ship time, which may be different than a destination’s local time.
Travelers may be able to find a more intimate experience with a private guide, rather than the group tours that are common on excursions booked through a line, Smith added.
However, depending on the tour, the outside offerings might be less comprehensive. Guests could have to arrange their own transportation, for instance.
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Travelers can browse a range of options on sites like Viator or ResortPass, which Guthrie said can be more diverse than what the cruise line offers. She recommended studying Cruise Critic forums and Tripadvisor reviews to help vet selections.
Travel agents can also help clients find activities and determine trustworthy vendors, Smith noted.
Regardless of how you book, there is one extra cost guests should factor in: gratuities. It’s a good idea to have some cash on hand so you can tip your guide.
“It depends on your tour … how many hours you’re with them,” Guthrie said. “You know, you tip accordingly.”
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].