Guests Share Their Worst Cruise Shore Excursion Experiences Ever!

For a lot of people, shore excursions can make or break their cruise. If you’re someone who sees their ship as a means to exploring the world, then you want to make sure you’re getting the most out of each destination you visit.

Whether it’s exploring ancient ruins, snorkelling in crystal-clear waters, or indulging in a cultural experience, these tours can turn a great cruise into an unforgettable adventure. Most of the time.

But every now and then, an excursion doesn’t just miss the mark – it crashes, burns, and leaves passengers questioning their decisions over how they’ve spent their hard-earned money.

From near-disasters to laughably bad planning, these are some of the worst cruise shore excursions people have ever experienced. If you’ve ever had a bad tour, take comfort in knowing you’re not alone.

1. Beach day turns into a crime scene

Progreso served up the ultimate nightmare for this guest’s wife and kids. What was meant to be a relaxing beach day quickly turned into a forensic investigation when the kids started digging in the sand – only to unearth human remains.

Not mine, but my wife and kids went on a cruise without me and did a beach excursion that was under construction in Progreso (which is a wholly made up place btw, even the dolphins avoid the place because it's so sketchy), which ended with the kids digging in the beach sand and finding human remains. Wife's a nurse, she realized it pretty quick and they noped right the f**k out of there.

Imagine expecting seashells and finding skull fragments instead. The guest’s wife was at least able to clock the situation instantly, and they wisely fled before things got even grimmer.

A holiday memory? Absolutely. Just not the kind anyone wants.

2. When “you’ll get your feet wet” actually means “prepare to be swept away”

There’s underselling something, and then there’s this. A gentle hike through the hills? More like an impromptu survival course.

Hip-deep rapids, unexpected horseback rides, and a second river crossing that turned into a near-drowning experience for a non-swimmer…

We booked a hike in the hills through Princess. In the info, it said "you'll get your feet wet." Monumental understatement! They'd had rain. We have to cross a river twice, first time in hip-high, extremely fast moving water. One of the gals nearly got swept downstream. Another gal and I staged a mutiny and they took us across on a horse that just happened to be in the area on another excursion. Second crossing, and I'm no exaggerating this at all, we had to wade across water that was up to my neck. My feet started to float out from under me. You'll wonder why I didn't just swim at that point. I can't swim. To my mind, it was reasonable for me to book an excursion where I'd "get my feet wet" even if I couldn't swim. Obvious mistake.

The sheer audacity of describing this as merely “getting your feet wet” is almost impressive. Almost.

3. Snorkelling, starvation and a stare-down in the outhouse

Image of worst excursion ever - a snorkelling trip

Nothing screams “organised excursion” like a snorkel gear free-for-all, right?

Our worst excursion was a snorkeling trip in Loreto, Mexico. Our group had ~40 people, but there were other groups using the same area. For those of us who didn't have our own snorkeling gear, they dumped some boxes on the ground and everyone got to scramble for equipment. I ended up with flippers and a mask, but no snorkel (probably just as well; I doubt they do any kind of sanitizing between trips). There were no instructions on how to use the equipment.The lunch they served us was pre-packaged sandwiches and bags of chips. There were dozens of bees flying around the picnic area, and one little girl got stung.The worst part was the 'outhouse'. There were 2 'seats' facing each other, with no door in between. The seats were disgusting, and there was no toilet paper. I was forced to wait until we returned to port.

Between the questionable hygiene practices, the underwhelming lunch (bees included, free of charge), and the absolute horror show of a bathroom setup – facing seats with no door – this was less a day of adventure and more a test of human endurance.

Honestly, I’d have held it in until back at the port, too.

4. When your excursion turns into a runaway bus nightmare

We booked an excursion in Roatan (coxen hole dock). Our bus went up a steep winding hill, not far from port. On the left side was cliff and ocean, on the right, houses with kids in the yards. At the top of the hill there was a stop sign and the bus stalled (standard). The driver couldn't get it started and then we start rolling backward down the hill. The driver was trying to steer the bus as it rolled down the hill picking up speed. I thought for sure we were going to hit one of the kids, of go over the cliff.

There’s a fine line between thrilling and absolutely terrifying, and this excursion obliterated it.

My first cruise was in 2003 on Carnival with my the 16 yr daughter. We booked an excursion in Roatan (coxen hole dock), I think it was glass bottom boat but not sure.Our bus went up a steep winding hill, not far from port. On the left side was cliff and ocean, on the right, houses with kids in the yards. At the top of the hill there was a stop sign and the bus stalled (standard). The driver couldn't get it started and then we start rolling backward down the hill. The driver was trying to steer the bus as it rolled down the hill picking up speed. I thought for sure we were going to hit one of the kids, of go over the cliff.We finally stopped by slamming into a garbage truck that was stopped on the road.The girl in the last seat took the worst of it, she was caught between the seat in front of her and her seat.She kept screaming Oh My God, over and over till they got her out. I never heard afterwards how badly she was hurt. Everyone was very shaken up.When everyone was off the bus, the guide said they would send another bus and continue the excursion but we all refused and walked back to port.My DH and I spent the rest of the day in the market near the port and she got her hair braided. When we got back to the ship we went to the excursion desk and asked for a refund. We were told because they offered another bus and we refused that they would not refund.They eventually changed their minds and gave refunds after everyone on the bus complained.

Rolling backwards down a steep hill, narrowly avoiding children and cliffs, and ultimately crashing into a garbage truck? That’s not sightseeing – that’s a near-death experience.

And the real kicker? The tour company thought a simple bus swap would make everything fine. I admire the collective refusal to continue, but the fact that a refund wasn’t immediately offered is almost as appalling as the trip itself.

5. Who doesn’t love an excursion that ends with emergency orthopaedics?

one of the ladies on our excursion ended up diving headfirst into a cenote with a life jacket on

Cenotes are meant to be magical, not medically disastrous.

One ill-advised dive turned this trip into a full-scale rescue operation, complete with multiple shoulder fractures, dislocations, and a rotator cuff tear.

I went on one where one of the ladies on our excursion ended up diving headfirst into a cenote with a life jacket on (apparently this is a no no) - well, the sudden shift in buoyancy as she hit the water resulted in bilateral shoulder joint fractures, dislocations, and rotator cuff tearing. She had to be dragged from the water as she obviously couldn’t swim after that. While she wasn’t a member of our party, it certainly messed up the whole day and the excursion was pretty much toast after that.Coolest part though, we ended up finding out that we lived fairly close to one another, and I am a physical therapist, and helped get her better over the 6-8 months following the cruise.

Needless to say, the excursion was effectively over at that point. On the bright side, at least there was a conveniently placed physical therapist in the group. Nothing says holiday bonding like months of rehab.

6. Beach day? Try human storage unit

Chairs crammed together, zero view of the water, and barely enough space to exist, let alone enjoy the sand in St Lucia

A relaxing day by the sea? Not quite. This was less “beach paradise” and more “Tetris with humans.”

Mine wasn't through Carnival, but NCL. It was to St. Lucia and it was a simple beach day ship excursion. When we got to the beach, rows and rows of lounge chairs were lined up touching one another. They also had umbrellas at every second chair. They only left enough room to walk in front of your chair. The only way to get into the chair was to sit on the bottom and shimmy up...not so pretty in a lot of cases. We were in the third row. We couldn't see the water, only umbrellas and backs of chairs. A little girl who was sitting by us couldn't play in the sand because if she did, people couldn't walk by. It was awful and a wasted day. We took lots of pictures and got our money back. We have never complained in the 20 cruises we've taken, but we felt as if we wasted a whole day and shouldn't have had to pay do do so.

Chairs crammed together, zero view of the water, and barely enough space to exist, let alone enjoy the sand.

The only activity available was an awkward shimmy into the lounge chair, which, let’s be honest, is not the beach aesthetic anyone hopes for.

The real win here? Getting a refund.

7. A Segway tour… and an unexpected front-row seat to chaos

Segway excursion in Nassau , our tour guide was arrested in the middle of the tour followed by a riot then breaking out near the straw market after a vendor punched the police officer arresting her.

Nothing spices up a cruise excursion quite like your tour guide getting arrested mid-tour.

There was the time in Nassau our tour guide was arrested in the middle of the tour followed by a riot then breaking out near the straw market after a vendor punched the police officer arresting her. This was a Carnival ship sponsored Segway excursion.

But why stop there? Throw in a full-blown riot at the straw market, sparked by a vendor punching a police officer, and you’ve got an experience that no one signed up for.

A leisurely Segway ride quickly turned into an action movie, just without the stunt doubles.

8. Another Segway tour disaster – this time, with an inside job twist

a Segway tour on an island. I think it was Jamaica. Partway through the tour they got held up at gun point by what seemed to be a militia. They beat the crap out of the tour guide and tied him up. Made everyone lie down face first on the ground. Stole everything they had on their person. Told them to lie there for an hour and not get up.

If the last story sounded chaotic, this one takes it to a whole new level.

Someone I knew took a Segway tour on an island. I think it was Jamaica. Partway through the tour they got held up at gun point by what seemed to be a militia. They beat the crap out of the tour guide and tied him up. Made everyone lie down face first on the ground. Stole everything they had on their person. Told them to lie there for an hour and not get up. All is fine, they make it back to the shop sans money and many passports unfortunately. Ends up being an inside job by the tour company! That experience traumatized my friend who was probably 30 and all alone on the excursion.

A scenic Segway tour turned full-blown hostage situation, complete with armed men, a beaten and tied-up guide (who was apparently in on it), and a mass robbery.

Passports, cash, dignity – gone.

And the cherry on top? It was all orchestrated by the tour company itself. Imagine signing up for an excursion only to star in your own personal crime thriller. Absolutely horrifying.

9. A semi-submarine tour with fully non-functional windows

The warning signs were there – starting with the suspiciously sketchy transport boat – but the real disappointment came once inside the semi-submersible.

First, the boat that we took to get from the cruise terminal to where the semi sub was looked like something that had a previous life either to transport rafters or to smuggle drugs. But we didn’t care that much since that wasn’t the actual tour, just transportation to get there.once we got inside the semi-submersible, the windows were so scratched and hazed over that you couldn’t see a darn thing. It was like wearing glasses that were completely fogged. A lot of fellow cruisers were angry, complaining and demanding a refund. Still, the semi-sub Crew had the audacity to ask for a tip at the end of the tour.

Turns out, when your main selling point is underwater views, it helps if the windows aren’t completely fogged and scratched to oblivion. There are enough complaints from guests on cruises with an obstructed view cabin – never mind when you get obstructed view tours as well.

Guests paid to see marine life, not vague smudges. The best part? The crew still had the nerve to ask for tips. Bold move.

10. The hop-on, stay-on, get-dumped-back-at-port tour

The hop-on, stay-on, get-dumped-back-at-port tour in Colombia

A hop-on/hop-off bus is supposed to let you explore, not hold you hostage on a high-speed sightseeing blur.

We did a hop-on/off bus tour in Colombia only it was hop-on and no getting off.Like people were pushing the button to be let off and the driver just sat in the high speed lane and said "nope not here".It then dumped us back at the pier.We went to the desk and said we wanted our money back because it was literally just a high speed tour of the town on a double decker bus. They kept trying to argue with us that we should have hit the button to get off. Eventually the people in line waiting to also complain chimed in and just yelled "they didn't stop when ANY of us hit the button".What was supposed to allow us 6 hours to explore was literally a 45 drive.

Passengers dutifully pressed the stop button, only for the driver to channel their inner Formula 1 racer and refuse to pull over.

The grand finale? A straight shot back to the pier, leaving everyone dazed, confused, and absolutely not refunded – at least until a chorus of angry tourists set the record straight.

What should have been six hours of adventure turned into a 45-minute drive-by disappointment.

11. The chain-reaction vomit cruise back to the ship

Nothing says welcome back to your cruise ship like a front-row seat (and feet) in a full-scale puke disaster.

For me it was just after my excursion ended in Cabo on the tender ride back to the ship. My first cruise after a 20 year break in fact.Tender boat is packed and I'm sitting in the second bench from the front. Family consisting of dad and 2 kids around 4-5 are sitting on the bench in front of me facing a very young couple on their honeymoon seemingly. They were cuddled up on the rear-facing bench, laughing and acting totally in love.I'm looking at our ship as we head out of port when I hear a loud spilling noise like someone dropped a full soda or something in front of me. I see the end of a vomit eruption from this poor 5 year old boy. I then look down to see my feet 100% covered in puke.I'm not the squeamish type and so while annoyed I kind of chuckled as the kid's dad started wiping his child down but then I looked in horror at the young couple sitting there covered in vomit, staring bewildered at the kid.The next 10 mins were spent listening to a chain reaction of people vomiting (maybe 5-6 people) as the wind blew the smell and the vomit from the front of the boat to everyone sitting downwind.Sea wasn't even that rough that day...

What started with one unfortunate child turned into a biohazard event as the smell and splatter drifted downwind, triggering a domino effect of seasick passengers.

Special sympathy goes to the honeymooning couple, who likely imagined a far more romantic boat ride than being drenched in a stranger’s child’s lunch.

And the worst part? The sea wasn’t even rough. Just pure, unfiltered chaos.

12. Ephesus: breathtaking ruins, basement rug hostage situation optional

Ephesus is an absolute must-see – ancient marvels, rich history, and jaw-dropping sights.

But apparently, no tour is complete without an unexpected detour into a high-pressure rug-selling dungeon.

Ha, mine is one of my favorite and the "worst". Ephesus in Turkey is absolutely stunning. The Terrace Houses and Library of Celsus are bucket list items people need to see.On the flipside, while the tour of Ephesus was amazing, our guide taking us into a basement for a "rug tour" at the end was a lowlight. Very scamming, very pushy, and our guide went from "everyone's friend" to "why aren't you buying from my 'friends'?"He, and the store, went out of their way to "trap" us into that basement. The rugs were fine, definitely mass produced, and way overpriced. I had to go into full on "aggressive mode" and muscle my way out. Went to customer service on the ship afterwards because it was a paid RCI excursion. Apparently our experience wasn't unique.Still, would do it all again to experience Ephesus.

And to be clear – maybe not every tour, but when researching this article I found a lot of stories about the famous rug stores…

The transformation from friendly guide to pushy salesman’s accomplice was swift, and the “optional” shopping stop quickly felt like a you’re-not-leaving-until-you-buy-something scenario.

Mass-produced, overpriced rugs and a borderline hostage situation? Not quite the historical experience anyone signed up for. At least the ruins made it worth the escape.

13. Sun, sand, and… armed security? Welcome to Roatán

Nothing sets the mood for a relaxing beach day quite like the presence of armed guards. Add in an endless stream of pushy vendors, and suddenly, the idea of unwinding by the water feels more like a test of patience and personal boundaries.

When you need both security detail and sheer willpower to enjoy the beach, it’s probably not the paradise you were hoping for.

14. Mayan ruins or just a really long bus ride?

Spending six hours crammed on a bus for just 45 minutes of actual sightseeing is the definition of a terrible excursion-to-transit ratio.

If you go on the Mayan ruins excursion from Cozumel, you're gonna have a bad time. Tour says it's 7-8 hours. What u find out is its 3 hour drive there and a 3 hour drive back with 45 minutes at the ruins. This excursion shouldn't exist

The ruins may be spectacular, but blinking twice and then immediately boarding the bus back hardly makes the journey worth it.

If the highlight of your tour is the legroom on the ride back, something has gone very wrong.

Final word

For every nightmare excursion, there are countless incredible ones that make cruising so special. But as these stories prove, even official, cruise-sponsored tours can sometimes go spectacularly wrong.

The key? Research, reading reviews, and trusting your gut if something seems off. And if you do end up in an excursion disaster… at least you’ll have a wild story to tell.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

1 thought on “Guests Share Their Worst Cruise Shore Excursion Experiences Ever!”

GregB

13th May 2025 | Reply

I thought our 2hour+ bus journey to Santiago de Compostela for 45 minutes at the site and then a similar bus journey back, was bad. Having read these horror stories, our less than perfect trip sounds a dream!