Why Take Private Shore Excursions? Each week hundreds of thousands of people board cruise ships to enjoy their vacations at sea. There are often great deals to get you on a cruise because the cruise lines plan to make their money through other venues, such as shore excursions.
But a trend has began and many people are not interested in a mass market cruise excursion. After all, you only have a short time in each port so you should see the sites that interest you with a local who can unlock the secrets of their history and culture. One of the many advantages of private shore excursions is thatyou choose the time of your tour. You decide which sights interest you the most. You decide when to stop to rest, shop, eat or explore in further detail, all at your own pace. These are definitely not things you get on a mass market cruise excursion. When you take private shore excursions you have the chance to get to know a local guide who loves their city and culture and wants to share that love with you. If you take a mass market cruise excursion you are likely to be 20 feet behind some tour guide with an annoying umbrella in the air for you to follow.
With large cruise excursion tour groups you are stuck to their schedule, right down to the forced gift shop visit. Sometimes they pass up the most interesting details about a sight because it would be impossible for everyone in a large group to see it. And if you can't hear the guide, or you fall behind because the pace is too fast, you're just out of luck. None of this happens with private shore excursions! Some people find private shore excursions too expensive. If you are a small group, it's maybe a little more expensive than the cruise excursion offered on board, but so much more worth it! If you have a large group, a private shore excursion is always the best value. Why sit on a bus filled with strangers and listen to annoying announcements? You can get the experience of a lifetime because your private shore excursion is personalized just for you and like no one else's.