Celebrity Cruises Moves to Digital-Only Shore Excursion Tickets
In today’s digital age, it’s still a surprise that cruise lines print tickets for shore excursions, but Celebrity Cruises is changing its procedures.
Guests setting sail to the Bahamas recently on Celebrity Reflection received a letter from the cruise line touting a “subtle but meaningful update.”
In the letter, Celebrity Cruises announced that the ship’s Shore Excursions have transitioned to a fully digital format, so passengers will no longer need printed tickets.
“All your shore excursion details will now be conveniently accessible through the Celebrity Cruises app on your mobile device,” the Shore Excursions Team said, reminding passengers to stay connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi to access the app.
This shift means the Sea Pass card, used for room access and onboard purchases, will now double as the verification needed for excursions.
“There’s no need to worry if you don’t receive a physical ticket. Your Sea Pass card will serve as your key,” said the team.
Instead of a ticket, passengers can scan their Sea Pass at designated meeting points to allow excursion staff to confirm bookings and participation.
Celebrity Cruises, like other cruise lines under Royal Caribbean International’s umbrella, has been gradually digitizing more of its onboard processes.
While the letter did not say if this digital movement is fleetwide, it most likely is the direction the cruising line is taking, following on the heels of Carnival Cruise Line’s May 2025 announcement that it would be forgoing paper shore excursion tickets and move to digital check-ins.
Passengers on that cruise line use their Sail & Sign card and the Carnival HUB app for shore excursions.
Cruising in the Digital Age
The shift to digital shore excursion tickets aboard Celebrity Reflection is just a blip in a larger movement to improve efficiency when sailing.
Embarkation, for example, used to be more tedious, involving printed boarding passes and long lines. Now, it’s becoming more streamlined through mobile apps and digital IDs.
Most cruise lines allow guests to check in ahead of time using their apps, uploading necessary documents, questionnaires, and security photos before even arriving at the terminal.
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On embarkation day, guests simply show a barcode or QR code on their phones for scanning. For cruise lines like MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean, facial recognition is being used at select ports to speed up identity verification.
Once onboard, apps become central to the cruise experience. Guests can unlock stateroom doors, track luggage, and see real-time updates on onboard events and activities.
Dining reservations, show tickets, spa appointments, and even kids club check-ins are also more likely to be handled digitally. In fact, many ships offer interactive maps and push notifications, so passengers know when activities begin or if a venue is reaching capacity.
Digital wallets linked to passenger accounts have also replaced the need to carry cash or credit cards. Room keys or wearable tech like Disney Cruise Line’s DisneyBand or Royal Caribbean’s WOW Band act as a contactless payment tool.
Disembarkation is also getting a digital upgrade. Some cruise lines now assign departure groups via the app, allowing guests to track their place in line and avoid waiting in crowded lounges.
Even custom declarations, once filled out by hand, can now be submitted electronically in advance in many ports.
And for those without smartphones, many ships still provide in-room TV and kiosks displaying much of what is available on the app.
Now if only we could find a way to stay digital but keep adding stamps to our passport books for the coolness factor.
Celebrity Cruises Moves to Digital-Only Shore Excursion Tickets