Travel Advisors Cruise Over to Book Independent Shore Excursions

As cruise ports grow ever-more congested and travelers seek alternatives to coach tours, it’s little wonder that third-party shore excursion companies featuring small groups and curated experiences are finding favor with passengers. Unless they offer all-inclusive pricing, cruise lines usually don’t pay commissions on excursions, but the independent companies do.

While some passengers may be concerned with issues such as getting back to the ship on time, this appears not to be a problem with reputable shore excursion companies. Of course, vetting companies on their safeguards and contingency plans is always a good idea.

At the same time, perhaps as a result of increased competition, many cruise lines are upping their game on shore excursions by offering small-group and customized options that are a far cry from the dreaded coach tour.

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Any suggestions for the coverage you would like to see are welcome. Feel free to contact me at mbl@skift.com.

— Maria Lenhart, Travel Advisor Editor

Featured Stories

Shore Excursions Not Run by Cruise Lines Are a Hit With Passengers and Travel Advisors Alike: Independent shore excursions are proliferating, enabling passengers to avoid the crowds and travel advisors to earn commissions. With competition more intense, some cruise lines are attempting to improve their excursion offerings as a result.

Travel Agencies Still Make 7 Times More in Commissions Than Fees: Travel advisors need to further diversify their revenue beyond commissions. That’s for sure.

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Skift Global Forum Videos

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Skift Travel Advisor Editor Maria Lenhart [mbl@skift.com] curates the Skift Travel Advisor Innovation Report. Skift emails the newsletter every Tuesday. Have a story idea? Or a juicy news tip? Want to share a memo? Send her an email.

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