Shore Things is Virgin Voyages’ name for onboard shore excursions — curated experiences at each port bookable through the VV app before and during your voyage. They range from $25 beach activities to $500+ helicopter glacier tours, and they cover everything from rum distillery visits and cultural walking tours to whale watching, kayaking, and private catamaran charters. Understanding how the Shore Things system works — when to book, what to book through VV versus independently, and how to use Sailor Loot to maximize value — is one of the highest-leverage pre-voyage planning tasks available to you.
How Shore Things Booking Works
Shore Things are bookable through the VV app or website starting immediately after your voyage is confirmed — there is no specific booking window like the dining reservation system. However, the most popular excursions at high-demand ports (Stingray City in Grand Cayman, sea turtle snorkeling in Barbados, whale watching in Alaska, Tracy Arm Fjord glacier viewing) sell out weeks or months before sailing. The correct strategy: book Shore Things the same week you book your voyage, not the week before you sail.
- Booking priority: Shore Things inventory is shared across all Sailors on your sailing. There is no fare-tier advantage on Shore Things booking — first to book, first served.
- Cancellation policy: Most Shore Things are cancellable up to 48-72 hours before the excursion with a full refund to your account. Check individual excursion terms.
- The ship-wait guarantee: If you book Shore Things through VV and the excursion runs late, the ship will wait for you. This guarantee does not apply to independently booked excursions. This is the primary reason to book through VV at ports where logistics are complex or timing is tight.
Shore Things vs. Independent Excursions: The Decision Framework
Book through VV Shore Things when: The ship-wait guarantee matters (complex logistics, multiple transport legs, tight timing), the excursion is VV-exclusive or curated specifically for adults-only groups, the port has challenging independent logistics, or you want to use Sailor Loot to cover the cost.
Book independently when: The activity is simple and self-contained (walking to a beach, taking a taxi to a restaurant), the price difference is significant and the risk is low (walking tour in a walkable city), or you have local knowledge and trusted operators from prior visits.
The right answer at each port is different. Grand Cayman’s Stingray City excursion: book through VV, non-negotiably. A walk through old Cartagena: take a taxi and wander. The framework is risk and complexity, not a blanket rule.
Using Sailor Loot on Shore Things
Sailor Loot (onboard credit) can be applied to Shore Things purchases. This makes Shore Things one of the highest-value uses of Sailor Loot — particularly for premium excursions (helicopter tours, private catamarans, whale watching) where the ticket price is $150-$500+ per person. If you book through a First Mate like Joel and Erin and receive $200-$400 in Sailor Loot, strategically applying that credit to your most expensive Shore Things effectively makes them free or heavily discounted.
The Top Shore Things by Category
Wildlife: Stingray City (Grand Cayman), sea turtle snorkeling (Barbados), whale watching (Alaska, Azores), Icy Strait Point ZipRider (Alaska), humpback whale watching (Juneau), Chagres River wildlife (Colón Panama).
Adventure: Dunn’s River Falls (Jamaica), zip lining (Costa Rica, Cabo San Lucas), kayaking (multiple Caribbean and Alaska ports), helicopter glacier landing (Juneau), Volcán Pacaya hike (Guatemala).
Cultural: Rhum agricole distillery (Martinique), Filadelfia Coffee Estate (Guatemala), Embera village (Panama), levada hiking (Madeira), Old Cartagena walking tour, Antigua colonial tour (Guatemala).
Beach and Water: Bimini Beach Club upgrades (included base access, cabana add-ons), Horseshoe Bay (Bermuda), Eagle Beach (Aruba), Playa Blanca (Cartagena), Medano Beach (Cabo), snorkeling (multiple Caribbean ports).
Scenic Cruising: Tracy Arm Fjord (Alaska), Hubbard Glacier viewing (Alaska), Inside Passage (Alaska), glass-bottom boat to El Arco (Cabo San Lucas).
Shore Things Booking Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until your dining window to book Shore Things. Shore Things have no specific booking window. Every day you wait is a day popular excursions get closer to sold out.
- Booking all activities through VV when independence is better. A guided walking tour of Old San Juan through VV costs $45 per person. Walking out of the port and exploring independently costs nothing. The ship-wait guarantee doesn’t matter for a port where you can walk back.
- Ignoring the cancellation terms. Some Shore Things are non-refundable within 5-7 days of sailing. Book confidently but read the terms for expensive excursions.
- Overloading every port day. One well-chosen Shore Thing per port day leaves time for organic discovery. Three scheduled activities per port day turns a vacation into a commute.
The Beach Club at Bimini: A Special Case
The Beach Club at Bimini deserves special mention because it is not a typical port — it is Virgin Voyages’s private beach club on Bimini island, included free for all Sailors on most Miami itineraries. Six bars, two pools, beach access, food, and live music are all covered in your fare. No cover charge, no extra fee. Optional upgrades available via Shore Things: cabana rentals (premium shaded space), water sports packages, and the Bimini RockStar Retreat (an exclusive area with private pool and butler service for suite guests).
Insider Tips from Joel and Erin
- Build your Shore Things plan during your first week after booking, not the week before sailing. This is the single most impactful Shore Things strategy decision. Early booking = full selection.
- Apply Sailor Loot to the most expensive excursions first. A $300 helicopter glacier tour paid with Sailor Loot is free. A $30 beach day paid with Sailor Loot saves $30. The math strongly favors premium excursion coverage.
- Ask your First Mate which excursions sell out fastest on your specific itinerary. Joel and Erin know the VV Shore Things inventory patterns across all itineraries. A 60-second conversation can save you missing the excursion you most want.
Ready to Plan Your Shore Days?
As certified First Mates, Joel and Erin can review your specific itinerary and help you identify which Shore Things to prioritize, which to book independently, and how to apply Sailor Loot for maximum value.
Book your Virgin Voyages cruise at CruisePlanner.pro — and make every port day count
