Just back home from a cruise (Rome to Athens) that stopped in Capri and then in Sicily (Messina). At both ports the cruise ship had shore excursions in the $129 range for 3-4 hour tours. For 4 of us, that would total around $500.

At both places we discovered that there were many taxis lined up at the dock hoping to pick up fares.

Through good negotiation and choosing carefully we were able to pick up a taxi in both places for between EU120 and EU150 for four hours total. Much less expensive than the tours booked through the ship, and we got to go where we wanted to on our own schedule. We were worried that the taxi wouldn't come back to pick us up after our first stop, but in each case we didn't pay anything until the end.

Something to consider.

IME, ANY shore excursion offered by the cruise company can be had for MUCH less money than the the cruise company will charge you.

By booking the cruise-sponsored tour, you are paying extra for two things, in my mind. 1) Convenience and 2) A guarantee that if any delays occur with the tour operator which causes you to be late getting back to the ship, the ship will not depart without you.

Whether these two things are worth the extra cost, that is your call.

LOL I am not a cruise person (maybe in 30-40 years, FSM willing), but it would seem to me that the second reason might be very important to those cruising in foreign countries...