Ranked by the gap between ship excursion prices and what independent travellers actually pay.
PortTrip Quick Answer
Direct Answer
Santorini, Naples, and Rome are the three Mediterranean cruise ports with the biggest gap between ship excursion prices and local alternatives. The average independent traveller saves €130–177 per person per day in these ports.
Key Numbers
€177
Santorini avg save
per person
€156
Naples avg save
per person
€167
Rome avg save
per person
1,950%
Worst markup
Naples train
Risk Level
Easy to save — public transport availableMost Common Mistake
Booking ship excursions at Santorini, Naples, or Rome. All three are easily accessible by local public transport at under 10% of the ship tour price.
Bottom Line
Skipping ship excursions at just these three ports saves the average couple €660–1,000 per cruise.
Which cruise port do tourists waste the most money in?
Based on PortTrip's pricing analysis, Santorini has the highest average overpayment per passenger at €177 per person per day. Naples is second at €156. Both have significant gaps between ship excursion prices and what independent travellers pay for identical experiences.
How much do cruise tourists overpay on average?
PortTrip research estimates the average Mediterranean cruise passenger overpays €85–143 per port day when using ship excursions instead of independent alternatives. Across a 7-port Mediterranean cruise, this totals €595–1,000 per person.
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