Carnival Cruise Line adds charge for once-free service
A new fee has caught some cruise passengers by surprise.
Cruise vacations can come with a lot of added fees from drinks and specialty dining to WiFi, shore excursions and more.
When it comes to shore excursions—tours and activities in ports of call—passengers are typically informed in advance of their cruise about the add-on fees for these optional ways to explore a cruise destination. Passengers are presented with the opportunity to book shore excursions prior to a cruise or add them once on board the ship.
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Passengers who don’t book shore excursions through their cruise line can still get off the ship in ports of call and explore the destinations on their own, if they prefer. Some cruise ports are easier to explore without a shore excursion than others, however.
La Paz, Mexico, which is often included on Mexican Riviera cruise itineraries, is one cruise destination that’s not easy to explore just by walking off the ship. The city’s Pichilingue cruise port is about a 30-minute drive from La Paz’s downtown area and independent transportation options are limited.
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Carnival Cruise Line provides shuttle service in La Paz
Because of the cruise port’s distance from downtown, Carnival Cruise Line offers a shuttle service in La Paz to make it easier for passengers on its Mexican Riviera cruises visiting the destination to explore the city and its popular Coromuel Beach area without booking a shore excursion.
Although this helpful shuttle service was previously provided free of charge for passengers, that has changed in 2025 as the cruise line encourages passengers to consider booking one of its shore excursions to enhance their experience in La Paz.
Passengers on recent Carnival Panorama sailings have been surprised to learn after boarding the ship that the service now comes with a cost.
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Carnival’s La Paz shuttle service now costs $10 round trip for most passengers, according to a letter delivered to Carnival Panorama passengers upon boarding that was shared with Cruise Hive. Kids ages 6-12 can ride the shuttle for a lower rate of $8 and kids age five and younger can ride for free.
Passengers can book their shuttle tickets through the Carnival HUB app or by visiting the Carnival Adventures desk on board the ship.
Other options for cruise passengers visiting La Paz
Private taxis and rideshare services are also an option for passengers looking for alternate transportation in La Paz, but availability may be limited. Passengers have noted in online message boards that a taxi service from the cruise port typically costs $30 to $40 one way.
Carnival’s sister cruise lines Princess Cruises and Holland America Line also sail to La Paz on some Mexican Riviera cruises so it’s possible that a fee will now apply for La Paz shuttle services on those sailings as well.
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For those interested in booking a shore excursion in La Paz, Carnival offers guided bus tours of the historical and cultural highlights of the Baja California Sur capital city. A cantina crawl and beach excursions are also available.
For more active ways to explore the destination, passengers can consider options like kayak or snorkeling tours, or a coastal bike adventure that pedals along the city’s famous Malecón de La Paz waterfront promenade. Seeing sea lions in their natural habitat is another highlight of cruises to La Paz.
Passengers who don’t want to pay a transportation fee or book a shore excursion in La Paz are always welcome to stay aboard their cruise ship while it's in port to enjoy the pool and the ship’s other amenities with less people around.
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