PortTrip analysis of 50+ cruise ports. These six offer the greatest savings versus booking a ship excursion — with exact costs, real transport routes, and honest difficulty ratings.
Last updated: May 2025 · Based on median ship excursion prices collected from 4–6 major cruise lines · Methodology →
PortTrip finding
The average saving across these 6 ports is €93 per person versus the ship excursion.
On a couple's cruise, that's €186 per port — or over €1,000 on a 6-stop itinerary.
Ship excursion
€165
DIY cost
€45
You save
€120 (73%)
Transport route
Direct train from Civitavecchia station, €10 return, 75 min
"The train wins every time. Ship excursions to Rome are among the most overpriced in Mediterranean cruising. Buy a Trenitalia ticket at the station, board, done."
Ship excursion
€145
DIY cost
€40
You save
€105 (72%)
Transport route
Metro Line 1 from Piraeus port, €1.40 each way, 25 min to Athens centre
"The Piraeus metro is the easiest DIY win in Greece. Clean, reliable, €1.40 each way. Ship excursions to Athens cost 36x the metro fare per person."
Ship excursion
€120
DIY cost
€35
You save
€85 (71%)
Transport route
Tram 15E from the cruise terminal (Jardim do Tabaco or Alcântara), €3 each way
"Lisbon's tram network is charming and cheap. The city is hilly — some walking is steep — but transport is excellent and the port is close to the centre."
Ship excursion
€130
DIY cost
€40
You save
€90 (69%)
Transport route
Port Bus from Moll Adossat, €3 each way, 15 min to Las Ramblas
"Excellent DIY city. Only catch: don't try to fit in the Sagrada Família without advance tickets. Everything else is walkable and well-signed."
Ship excursion
€105
DIY cost
€30
You save
€75 (71%)
Transport route
Walk from terminal to Vieux-Port (15 min) or taxi €8–10
"Underrated DIY port. Marseille doesn't get the same press as Barcelona or Nice, but the Vieux-Port is beautiful, Le Panier (old district) is excellent, and the food is outstanding."
Ship excursion
€125
DIY cost
€40
You save
€85 (68%)
Transport route
Walk from Stazione Marittima terminal to city centre (20 min, flat)
"Naples gets a harder DIY score due to safety perception, not genuine danger. The city is walkable once you're past the terminal area. Standard city-smart behaviour required."
PortTrip Recommendation
All six ports have reliable public transport, clear navigation, and a DIY Difficulty Score under 6. The savings are substantial, the routes are straightforward, and PortTrip has verified the transport times and costs as of 2025. The only scenario where the ship excursion wins is if you have mobility constraints or a very short port call (under 5 hours).
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