Plan Ahead with Confidence: Shore Excursions Now Available with a Deposit
Booking a shore excursion shouldn’t mean paying everything upfront—especially when you’re planning a cruise months or even years in advance. At Shore Excursion Scotland, we work almost exclusively with cruise passengers, so we understand how far ahead many travellers plan their vacations.
That’s why we’re pleased to introduce a deposit payment option on our shore excursions. It’s a simple update designed to give you greater flexibility, help you budget more comfortably, and book your time ashore in Scotland with confidence.
Whether you’re joining one of our small-group shore excursions or arranging a private tour from a Scottish cruise port, this option allows you to secure your place early—without the pressure of paying the full cost straight away.
Why We’ve Introduced Deposits
Once flights, hotels, insurance, and onboard packages are factored in, the overall cost of a cruise can quickly add up—particularly for future sailings.
By offering a deposit option, we’re giving cruise passengers more control over how they plan and budget for their trip. It allows you to secure the shore excursions you really want while spreading the cost in a way that feels manageable.
This approach lets you:
Secure your place early on a small-group or private shore excursion
Spread the cost of your vacation over time
Plan ahead with confidence, knowing your excursion is locked in
Shore excursions are often one of the highlights of any cruise, yet they’re usually booked months after the cruise itself. This update reflects how cruise passengers actually plan and helps you balance your overall travel budget without compromise.
How the Deposit Option Works (and What Happens If Plans Change)
When booking your shore excursion with Shore Excursion Scotland, you now have two clear options at checkout:
Pay the full excursion cost at the time of booking
Secure your booking with a 25% non-refundable deposit
When is the deposit option available?
The deposit option is available for bookings made more than 45 days before the excursion date. For bookings made within 45 days of the excursion, full payment is required at the time of booking and the deposit option is automatically disabled by our booking system. This keeps things clear for guests and allows us to manage availability fairly across our small-group and private tours.
What happens after you pay a deposit?
If you choose the deposit option:
The deposit is 25% of the full excursion cost
The remaining 75% balance is automatically collected 45 days before the excursion date
Your card details are securely stored by the booking system for this purpose
If the remaining balance cannot be successfully collected by the 45-day deadline, the booking will be cancelled and the deposit retained. The deposit itself is non-refundable, unless Shore Excursion Scotland cancels the excursion.
If plans change
We aim to be clear and transparent, particularly for guests booking independently of the cruise line. If you cancel your booking, refunds are always calculated against the full excursion cost, in line with our existing cancellation policy:
More than 14 days before your excursion: 75% refund
14–7 days before your excursion: 50% refund
Within 7 days of the excursion: no refund
If Shore Excursion Scotland cancels your excursion for any reason, you’ll receive a 100% refund, including any deposit paid.
How Deposits Work with the Shore Excursion Guarantee
Our deposit structure works seamlessly with the Shore Excursion Guarantee, which is designed specifically for cruise passengers booking independently of the cruise line.
If your ship is unable to dock, you’ll receive a 75% refund of the full excursion cost, offering reassurance when booking in advance. This aligns naturally with the deposit structure and limits your financial exposure.
Every excursion is carefully planned to return to port at least one hour before your ship’s scheduled departure, so you can enjoy your day ashore knowing your return to the ship is always the priority.
Paying Your Way: Credit Cards & Travel Rewards
We also want to reassure guests that we’ve always accepted major credit cards—and that hasn’t changed.
You can continue to pay using Visa, Mastercard, or American Express (AMEX), whether you choose to pay a deposit or pay in full. All payments are processed securely in GBP.
Many cruise passengers use credit cards as part of their wider travel planning, particularly those who like to build up points or rewards along the way. These are often used towards flights to and from the cruise departure port, pre- or post-cruise hotel stays, onboard spending or cabin upgrades, and airport lounge access.
By combining deposit payments with credit card acceptance, you can spread the cost of your shore excursion while continuing to earn those travel rewards. It’s a practical, traveller-friendly way to make your overall cruise planning work a little harder for you.
How to Book Your Shore Excursion
Bookings can be made easily via the individual excursion pages or through the Book Now section of the Shore Excursion Scotland website. All payments are processed securely in GBP, with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express (AMEX) accepted.
Book Early, Pay Later — and Explore Scotland with Confidence
Planning a future cruise? Secure your place on one of our carefully curated Scotland shore excursions with a 25% deposit. Browse our upcoming excursions, book early, and pay later—backed by our Shore Excursion Guarantee and designed around how cruise passengers really plan.
Explore Scotland with confidence, knowing your shore excursion is secured and your planning is under control.
