Individuals, couples and small groups can now tailor excursions with help of Destination Insiders
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Royal Caribbean International has introduced new Private Journeys to enable guests to create personalised shore excursions in 288 ports across 77 countries.
As part of the new concierge-style planning service, individual guests, couples, families and small groups can work with one of Royal Caribbean’s nine Destination Insiders to plan every detail of their shore experience before they set sail.
Private Journeys could include the ‘Misty Fjords & Crab Feast’ excursion in Ketchikan, Alaska, which allows guests to see they Misty Fjords National Monument from a de Havilland Beaver float plane, land on either an alpine lake or remote fjord and enjoy a fireside meal of Alaskan Amber beer, wine, or champagne paired with smoked salmon and Dungeness crab.
Alternatively, guests can enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour and a gourmet lunch with the owner of Belgium's Michelin-starred restaurant Jardin Bruges, or take a cruise down Dubrovnik’ Riviera in Croatia. Here, they will explore the Old Town of Dubrovnik and the archipelago of 14 islands and islets, including the secluded lagoons and the 15th century ruins on the island of Kolocep.
Meanwhile, those visiting Berlin in Germany can opt for a chauffer-driven ‘Rostock by Vintage Auto’ countryside tour that will take them to the town of Heiligendamm for a snack of Canapés and champagne overlooking the Baltic Sea. Guests can also try their hand at driving themselves, take a guided walk and a sightseeing vessel back to their cruise ship.
“Private Journeys is a natural evolution of Royal Caribbean’s renowned shore excursion program that allows us to offer guests the bespoke travel destination experience of their dreams, even if they don't know exactly what that is yet,” said Roberta Jacoby, managing director of global tour operations at Royal Caribbean. “As travellers continue to seek out more personalised and immersive destination experiences that can be intimately shared with only their family and friends, Private Journeys empowers guests to make that a reality and a seamless element of their Royal Caribbean vacation.”
Private Journeys reservations will require a US$100 deposit applicable to the final cost of the destination experience, although this will be waived for any excursions booked before 31 March 2016.