shore excursion group review

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Reviews 4.4.

6,208 total

Most relevant

Recommend these excursions!

We went on 4 excursions through the company in our Mexico port stops. Our first was riding Razr vehicles to a waterfall and back. Everything was great, we were super dirty and had a good time. It was very busy! My favorite excursion was horse riding on Stoney island. Loved being on the beach and riding the horses. My husband and sons trip was cancelled-they said they text but we didn’t get any messages or emails. They took them on a different tour which they enjoyed but that was a bit disappointing for them. Our glass bottom boat tour in Cabo was okay. I expected to see more sea life through the glass bottom but it looks way better online than why happened in real life. It was a nice quick excursion to do but wish we’d saw more. Overall everything was great and most importantly we made it back to our ship in plenty of time to get back on board. Thank you!

Date of experience : March 27, 2024

VERY ORGANIZED AND EXCURSIONS LOOK VERY…

VERY ORGANIZED AND EXCURSIONS LOOK VERY GOOD, HOPE THEY ARE!

Date of experience : April 23, 2024

Good Booking Experience

Easy to use, well-organized website... I would like to have an option to print my receipt as soon as I had paid. Looking forward to getting our vouchers. Thanks

Date of experience : April 18, 2024

They are a middleman that will waste your time and not get you anything.

They have an automated email that forces you to block out a planned excursion for 3 days and then email you on the last day to say that they couldn't get you anything. The only other option is to pay an additional fee that's about 30% of the full excursion to get an answer within 24 hours. They are a broker and they are unreliable. Just do your homework and you're better off without them.

Date of experience : April 06, 2024

Reply from Shore Excursions Group

Hello Sebastian, We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have encountered during your recent tour with us. Your feedback is of utmost importance to us, and we highly value your input as we strive to enhance the quality of our tour experiences. We require you to make a reservation at least three days in advance of your ship's departure, not including the cruise departure day, so that we have the ability to ensure that all of the arrangements are confirmed, finalized, and communicated. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Kind Regards Craig

Well organized and stress free

Well organized and stress free. The last thing you want is to be worried about your meeting place and pick up. Never a concern.

Date of experience : March 28, 2024

Great full day in wellington

Guide meant me by the ship. I ended up with having a private tour with this wonderful gentleman. He took me to all the places and activities that had been outlined when booking this tour. We had a fabulous lunch at the fish cafe. I especially appreciated the beauty of the south shore. The tour was well paced and the guide gave me a wealth of information about the history of Wellington and its surroundings. He was such easy company and knew the area like the back of his hand. I totally enjoyed the entire experience and was back at the ship in ample time. Thank you and wishing you a quick recovery with your knee surgery.

Date of experience : March 19, 2024

Memorable excursion to Stingray city and elsewhere!

The guide made the entire trip enjoyable and interesting. He was happy to share interesting tips and suggestions for snorkeling, how to interact with a stingray that he held, and to hold starfish. I was surprised that even had a name for the stingray as he said a stingray will come back to the area to the same person and he could tell by the bumps on the spine on the back. The pilot did a great job of carefully maneuvering the boat around in close quarters with other boats and people. Great trip!

Date of experience : February 14, 2024

Wonderful experience with a great crew!

We had a tender relocation at the last minute and didn’t need to do anything. Everyone at the pier knew the name of the person we were meeting and directed us to where we needed to go. The drive was easy and uneventful. The place where we embarked on the boat was clean and the crew were especially helpful and friendly. All in all it was a beautiful day that went very smoothly!

Date of experience : February 22, 2024

Great sunset, bad communication…

The actual boat trip at Sunset was wonderful--mostly because of the sunset itself. The tour company did a terrible job of communicating with us--we had been told to meet at the tourism office and walked several blocks to get there and then waited and waited. Eventually a rep from the company--Fluid -- showed up and was a bit snippy because we were supposed to meet at the dock near the cruise ship. But we--along with about 15 other folks--had not been notified of that change. Yet she was sure we had been sent an email. Nope!

Date of experience : March 07, 2024

We did several cruises each year

We did several cruises each year. We always buy our excursions with Shore excursions group, because the groups are often smaller and the prices are competitive. What's more, our experience with local tour operators is always pleasant and positive. They are reliable.

Date of experience : March 06, 2024

Shore excursions is a less expensive alternative to buying from the cruise lines. They are the same tours and are fun and safe. We really enjoyed our diving and the place was professional and caring.

You have excursions that the ships rarely offer.

Horseback riding in Punta Arenas was a memorable experience. The pickup at the Port was smooth, the drive to the farm 30 minutes along the shore of the Magellan Straight scenic, and the horses, calm. I regret I don't speak Spanish, but nothing was lost in the journey and the ride went through several types of country; riverbed, forested hills and along the beach. I am an experienced rider, but for my friend, it was a Bucket List item; we both had a blast.

Date of experience : December 30, 2023

Great experience!

Over the last 3 months, I have booked multiple excursions while on the Ultimate World Cruise. So far, all have been just as described! Great experiences and professional guides! Many more to come in the next 6 months!

Date of experience : March 11, 2024

Convenient to book all excursions in one place.

Date of experience : April 21, 2024

Great guided tours

Great guided tours. I have used shore excursions now twice for long cruises and different destinations and most of the tours have been amazing.

Orient beach and Maho beach excursion

The instructions to get to the pickup point from the port was very easy and we had no problem finding the location. They were very organised at the pick up point and we were quickly on the coach, which was waiting. Our coach driver and tour guide was really great. He was very informative and humorous. He was attentive and very interactive with the passengers, trying to get them involved with a questions/answer sessions. He was also very clear with his meeting instructions and kept us watered.

Date of experience : February 09, 2024

A great place to get a good value on…

A great place to get a good value on seeing the countryside, we are sailing and you think places like Rome are at the seaside, but lots of work to get to some of these famous places, Shore Excursions make it easy for us travelers. Prices always beat the cruise ship prices.

We had a blast on this excursion

We had a blast on this excursion. We went with our 6 and 7 year old kids, who were a little scared at first. The staff let them hold on to a floating ring and calmed them down really quickly. By the time we got to the third area, my kids were out snorkeling by themselves. The next time we are down there, we will definitely be booking with them again

Date of experience : March 13, 2024

Great Service- Will use again

We booked two excursions with Shore Excursions Group on our recent cruise around the Caribbean. They were both really well organised and I appreciated the clear meeting point instructions in the documentation. All staff we met were super helpful and the tours represented great value. I would happily use them again.

Shore Excursions Group   Reviews

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Reviews 4.4.

6,208 total

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Mar Adentro Diving in Mahahual

David and the entire crew at Mar Adentro Diving were fantastic. They were friendly, accommodating and very helpful. David walked me through a thorough shallow-water refresher of basic diving skills, followed up by a great refresher boat dive. The small group of divers made the experience even better. I would highly recommend using Mar Adentro Diving for scuba or snorkelling in Mahahual.

Date of experience : 31 January 2024

Loved our beach day and the high…

Loved our beach day and the high quality of service. Our only issue was finding the shuttle at the port. We didn’t know to go to Tucan Tours and searched hard for the correct shuttle. Maybe have a person at port exit holding a sign.

Date of experience : 01 March 2024

Port Arthur Day trip

Our day trip to Port Arthur was excellent. Our driver was also our tour director and he did a fabulous job of keeping the bus on the road as well as keeping us informed of the history and places we passed along the way. His constant jokes were very amusing. We spent the day at Port Arthur where we also had a short boat cruise to sail past Devils Island. On the way back to the port he stopped at various spots for photo shots. I highly recommend this day tour. We have been to Port Arthur on our own by car years before but this was much more relaxing and enjoyable. Another great tour by Shore Excursions Group

Date of experience : 29 January 2024

Kona Coffee Green Turtles & Historical Patrk

We enjoyed the Kona Coffee , Green Turtles & Historical Park immensly. our driver was very knowlegeable. he stopped at a small local restaurant where we had lunch wonderful excursion

Date of experience : 05 February 2024

We did the swimming with pig excursion…

We did the swimming with pig excursion in Nassau and we’re not thrilled. It started off terribly because the location of the meetup place was not clear and the locals DID NOT help but actually steered us in the wrong direction costing us extra money. Once we arrived we were taken on a boat but the flap on one of the compartments flew open and injured one of the guest so we had to turn around and take them back. We finally got to the island and were given food to feed the pigs but not many of them went into the water. I did ask to hold a baby pig which was nice. We then went to snorkel off the boat for a short period and were told we were gonna stop at Atlantis but we never did. Overall it was not worth the money and having been on many excursions the guides were not as friendly as others I’ve been on.

Date of experience : 02 March 2024

They gave us a full refund

Our trip ended up getting canceled because of the weather and they gave us a full refund. Not how we hoped it would turn out but grateful we could trust our money wasn't lost.

Date of experience : 05 March 2024

Reply from Shore Excursions Group

Hello Dan, We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have encountered during your recent tour with us. Your feedback is of utmost importance to us, and we highly value your input as we strive to enhance the quality of our tour experiences. I have processed a refund back to your original method of payment, the refund will reflect within 3-5 Days to that account. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we eagerly anticipate hearing from you. Warm regards, Craig

Great kayaking and snorkeling experience

This was a great kayaking and snorkeling experience in Curacao! This is the second year that we've done this same excursion, because we enjoyed it so much. The kayaking across the bay is fun, and the snorkeling over the sunken tugboat has lots of nice fish.

Date of experience : 30 January 2024

Shark Alley Snorkel

Enjoyed all of the guides and assistants. They had great snorkeling gear and helped you use it. Several assistants in the water with you to help. They also added in a fun stop that wasn't on the planned trip. Only problem was they packed too many people on to the boat. It was hard to gear up or move around. Need a bigger boat.

Date of experience : 28 February 2024

Our guide was great

Our guide was great. He knew a lot about the history of Cabo and took us to several interesting places. Our favorites were the glass blowing factory and the jewelry making store where they showed us how they seed oysters to produce cultured pearls. It was a fun and informative experience.

Date of experience : 21 February 2024

Waterfalls of Damajagua and quick zip excursion

We enjoyed our time at the Waterfalls of Damajagua. We had a blast sliding and jumping into the COLD waters. Our experience was great and the tour guides were fun. The zip line portion could have been a little more exciting but we still had fun. The food was great as well. I would recommend this excursion.

Date of experience : 16 January 2024

I loved that you had all my cruise information available so I did not have toggle back and forth. The descriptions were very thorough. The pricing was good. Very user friendly website.

Date of experience : 21 March 2024

Great tour, Calvin did a good job explaining all about Georgetown, Barbados... visited severy very interesting places. However, the van A/C wasn't working and the van was very hot.

Date of experience : 03 March 2024

Out tour guide was excellent - Kona coffee and sea turtles great tour!

Out tour guide was excellent, very knowledgeable about the areas we toured. Loved having a smaller tour group and van. Also our cruise ports changed orders and it was great to have Shore excursions automatically change the date and send a notice that they were aware of the change and had made it! Great all around service!

Date of experience : 21 January 2024

The Costa Maya excursion was really…

The Costa Maya excursion was really gross. The place they took us to was a dirty beach with gross food. We were jammed in this little space like sardines on old beach chairs. Total waste of money and time and would never ever do it again.

Date of experience : 16 April 2024

Hello Natalie, We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have encountered during your recent tour with us. Your feedback is of utmost importance to us, and we highly value your input as we strive to enhance the quality of our tour experiences. Please feel free to reach out to me directly at [email protected] so that I can personally address this matter for you. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we look forward to hearing from you. Warm regards, Craig

We have used you company twice now and…

We have used you company twice now and on both occasions had an absolute blast!

Date of experience : 11 March 2024

Very easy to book excursion

Date of experience : 21 April 2024

Horrible customer service

While I was able to make it to one excursion I missed the other by two minutes. This happened because the cruise ship had to use the tender system. I was in the first group off the shop behind the cruise excursions. I was told by the lady at the dock that I missed my excursion. She was absolutely no help in getting me to join my excursion or find me another one. I called the number that she pointed to and the gentleman on the other end was no help either and basically told me that I was out of luck on joining another one or getting a refund. Basically, it comes down to bad customer service.

Date of experience : 23 February 2024

Hello Lawrence, We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have encountered during your recent tour with us. Your feedback is of utmost importance to us, and we highly value your input as we strive to enhance the quality of our tour experiences. Please feel free to reach out to me directly at [email protected] so that I can personally address this matter for you. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we look forward to hearing from you. Warm regards, Craig

Off the beaten path

We often like to go "off the beaten path" away from the more touristy areas. This excursion provided exactly that. We found our tour guide and driver very knowledgeable and friendly. The only thing that could have made it better was to see more of the processing at the coffee plantation.

Was merely a very expensive bus ride…

Was merely a very expensive bus ride around Kuala Lumpur. No dialog or information provided by the tour guides whatsoever. Bus was beaten up. Stick with the cruise provided tours (the extra expense is worth it)

Date of experience : 25 February 2024

Hello George We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have encountered during your recent tour with us. Your feedback is of utmost importance to us, and we highly value your input as we strive to enhance the quality of our tour experiences. Please feel free to reach out to me directly at [email protected] so that I can personally address this matter for you. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we look forward to hearing from you. Warm regards, Craig

East End Exploration

We had a great tour on Grand Cayman Island. We did the East End Exploration on February 26, 2024 We arrived on the Celebrity Equinox and we are so glad we booked this trip. A small group that beat the crowds in the big busses. Our guide was great and the eco park was awesome.

Date of experience : 26 February 2024

Home » Is Shore Excursions Group Legit?

Is Shore Excursions Group Legit?

Last updated on September 17th, 2023 at 09:33 pm

When planning a cruise vacation, one of the key aspects to consider is how to make the most of your time at each port of call . Shore excursions provide an opportunity to explore the local culture, visit iconic landmarks, and create unforgettable memories.

However, choosing the right excursion provider is crucial to ensure a seamless experience. In this article, we delve into Shore Excursions Group (SEG), examining their legitimacy, their guarantee to get people back to the ship on time , and the potential savings that can be enjoyed by booking with them.

Table of Contents

  Is Shore Excursions Group Legit?

Without a doubt, Shore Excursions Group is a well-established and reputable company offering a wide range of shore excursions to cruise passengers. With years of experience in the industry, they have built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality tours and exceptional customer service.

Their commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in the positive reviews and testimonials from thousands of satisfied travelers who have chosen their services. They offer 24/7 support for travelers from any place in the world as part of their commitment to excellent service.

SEG offers a range of experiences for travelers, such as cultural, scenic, culinary, water/beach, and active shore excursions. SEG is the largest excursion company in the world, offering more than 3,000 excursions in over 300 ports worldwide.

Check our their FAQ page for more helpful info.

Check out Shore Excursions Group Reviews on Trust Pilot if you’re skeptical. 

Shore Excursion Group Uses Local Experts

Shore Excursions Group works in collaboration with local tour operators at each port of call . They have gotten to know and establish a relationship with the local experts that are on the ground in each of their excursion locations.

This relationship ensures that travelers receive authentic experiences and knowledgeable guides who possess in-depth knowledge of the destination. By partnering with trusted local experts, they offer a variety of carefully curated tours that cater to different interests and preferences.

Shore Excursions Group Offers More Personalized Service

The majority of other companies sell cruises and other forms of travel, so their energies are spread over numerous enterprises. SEG focuses exclusively on shore excursions. They are able to use the expertise they have acquired in this area to offer the highest quality shore excursions delivered by local experts in the most cost-effective way for their customers.

Since they are not a large cruise line that needs to cater to thousands of travelers each day, SEG is able to give you a more personalized experience. And, many of their excursions are not available from cruise lines.

Depending on your preferences, Shore Excursions Group offers tours for large groups of 20 – 50 people, which is similar in size to tours offered by cruise lines. They also offer small group excursions in groups of 2 to 20 people. These excursions offer a more personalized experience.

If you prefer to travel with just your party alone, and to possibly customize your shore tour, there are private tours that SEG can arrange for you too.

You Will Get Back to the Ship on Time, Every Time

One of the major concerns for cruise passengers when booking shore excursions is the fear of missing the ship’s departure. At times, it is the cruise lines themselves that perpetuate this unfounded fear. 

Shore Excursions Group understands the importance of punctuality. It is the backbone on which their business is founded.  SEG has implemented a robust system to ensure passengers return to the ship on time.

Their “On-Time Return Guarantee” also provides peace of mind to travelers. They carefully plan the duration of each tour to allow sufficient time for exploration while considering the ship’s departure schedule.

In the unlikely event that a tour runs late due to unforeseen circumstances, Shore Excursions Group takes full responsibility for arranging and covering the costs of getting passengers back to the ship at the next port of call.

This guarantee reflects their commitment to customer safety and satisfaction. By booking with Shore Excursions Group , travelers can enjoy their excursion worry-free, knowing that their timely return to the ship is a top priority.

To date, Shore Excursions Group has successfully facilitated over 3.8 million excursions worldwide. Specializing exclusively in excursions has enabled SEG to consistently deliver a quality experience to travelers and to keep travelers coming back.

Savings through Shore Excursions Group

In addition to their reliability, Shore Excursions Group offers significant cost savings compared to booking excursions through the cruise line. Cruise lines often charge premium prices for shore excursions, which can strain your budget. Shore Excursions Group, on the other hand, focuses on providing excellent value for money.

By working directly with local tour operators, Shore Excursions Group eliminates unnecessary intermediaries and passes the savings on to the customers. This allows travelers to access high-quality excursions at more affordable prices, without compromising on the experience.

On average, booking with Shore Excursions Group can save travelers up to 40% or more compared to cruise line prices, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious cruisers.

Refund Policy

If you miss a SEG excursion because your ship was late into port, or missed a port of call, you will receive a full refund. If weather or an equipment problem prevents a tour operator from delivering the tour, you will also receive a full refund.

Price Match Guarantee

Moreover, Shore Excursions Group offers a price match guarantee. If a customer finds the same tour offered by another company at a lower price, Shore Excursions Group will match that price and offer an additional discount. This commitment ensures that customers receive the best possible value for their money.

When To Book A Shore Excursion

Some excursions book up well in advance, so it is best to book as far in advance as it is possible. If you decide at a later time, or if you catch a last-minute cruise, three days in advance of your ship’s departure is the latest that you could book an excursion with SEG.. This ensures that SEG has the ability to make all of the necessary arrangements for you in place.

Final Thoughts on Shore Excursions Group

Since 2015, CruisePortAdvisor.com has partnered with Shore Excursions Group to offer shore excursions to our visitors. During that time, we have never had a single complaint about Shore Excursions Group sold through our website. 

Shore Excursions Group has established itself as a legitimate and reliable provider of shore excursions, offering exceptional experiences and outstanding customer service. Their guarantee to get people back to the ship on time reflects their commitment to customer safety and satisfaction.

Moreover, the potential savings of up to 40% or more compared to cruise line prices make Shore Excursions Group an attractive choice for those seeking value for money.

When planning your next cruise vacation, consider Shore Excursions Group as your trusted partner for memorable and affordable shore excursions.

This page contains affiliate links for which we may receive financial compensation when a purchase has been made through one of our affiliate partners.

About Jonathon Hyjek

Jonathon is the tech guy behind CruiseportAdvisor.com. When he's not stuck in front of his computer, Jonathon enjoys travel & cruising (even after being on a cruise ship that caught fire - a story for another day!)

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Shore Excursions Group - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Suggested companies

Venture ashore, getyourguide.

Shore Excursions Group   Reviews

In the Travel agent category

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Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 4.4.

6,208 total

Most relevant

Recommend these excursions!

We went on 4 excursions through the company in our Mexico port stops. Our first was riding Razr vehicles to a waterfall and back. Everything was great, we were super dirty and had a good time. It was very busy! My favorite excursion was horse riding on Stoney island. Loved being on the beach and riding the horses. My husband and sons trip was cancelled-they said they text but we didn’t get any messages or emails. They took them on a different tour which they enjoyed but that was a bit disappointing for them. Our glass bottom boat tour in Cabo was okay. I expected to see more sea life through the glass bottom but it looks way better online than why happened in real life. It was a nice quick excursion to do but wish we’d saw more. Overall everything was great and most importantly we made it back to our ship in plenty of time to get back on board. Thank you!

Date of experience : 27 March 2024

VERY ORGANIZED AND EXCURSIONS LOOK VERY…

VERY ORGANIZED AND EXCURSIONS LOOK VERY GOOD, HOPE THEY ARE!

Date of experience : 23 April 2024

Good Booking Experience

Easy to use, well-organized website... I would like to have an option to print my receipt as soon as I had paid. Looking forward to getting our vouchers. Thanks

Date of experience : 18 April 2024

They are a middleman that will waste your time and not get you anything.

They have an automated email that forces you to block out a planned excursion for 3 days and then email you on the last day to say that they couldn't get you anything. The only other option is to pay an additional fee that's about 30% of the full excursion to get an answer within 24 hours. They are a broker and they are unreliable. Just do your homework and you're better off without them.

Date of experience : 06 April 2024

Reply from Shore Excursions Group

Hello Sebastian, We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have encountered during your recent tour with us. Your feedback is of utmost importance to us, and we highly value your input as we strive to enhance the quality of our tour experiences. We require you to make a reservation at least three days in advance of your ship's departure, not including the cruise departure day, so that we have the ability to ensure that all of the arrangements are confirmed, finalized, and communicated. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Kind Regards Craig

Well organized and stress free

Well organized and stress free. The last thing you want is to be worried about your meeting place and pick up. Never a concern.

Date of experience : 28 March 2024

Great full day in wellington

Guide meant me by the ship. I ended up with having a private tour with this wonderful gentleman. He took me to all the places and activities that had been outlined when booking this tour. We had a fabulous lunch at the fish cafe. I especially appreciated the beauty of the south shore. The tour was well paced and the guide gave me a wealth of information about the history of Wellington and its surroundings. He was such easy company and knew the area like the back of his hand. I totally enjoyed the entire experience and was back at the ship in ample time. Thank you and wishing you a quick recovery with your knee surgery.

Date of experience : 19 March 2024

Memorable excursion to Stingray city and elsewhere!

The guide made the entire trip enjoyable and interesting. He was happy to share interesting tips and suggestions for snorkeling, how to interact with a stingray that he held, and to hold starfish. I was surprised that even had a name for the stingray as he said a stingray will come back to the area to the same person and he could tell by the bumps on the spine on the back. The pilot did a great job of carefully maneuvering the boat around in close quarters with other boats and people. Great trip!

Date of experience : 14 February 2024

Wonderful experience with a great crew!

We had a tender relocation at the last minute and didn’t need to do anything. Everyone at the pier knew the name of the person we were meeting and directed us to where we needed to go. The drive was easy and uneventful. The place where we embarked on the boat was clean and the crew were especially helpful and friendly. All in all it was a beautiful day that went very smoothly!

Date of experience : 22 February 2024

Great sunset, bad communication…

The actual boat trip at Sunset was wonderful--mostly because of the sunset itself. The tour company did a terrible job of communicating with us--we had been told to meet at the tourism office and walked several blocks to get there and then waited and waited. Eventually a rep from the company--Fluid -- showed up and was a bit snippy because we were supposed to meet at the dock near the cruise ship. But we--along with about 15 other folks--had not been notified of that change. Yet she was sure we had been sent an email. Nope!

Date of experience : 07 March 2024

We did several cruises each year

We did several cruises each year. We always buy our excursions with Shore excursions group, because the groups are often smaller and the prices are competitive. What's more, our experience with local tour operators is always pleasant and positive. They are reliable.

Date of experience : 06 March 2024

Shore excursions is a less expensive alternative to buying from the cruise lines. They are the same tours and are fun and safe. We really enjoyed our diving and the place was professional and caring.

You have excursions that the ships rarely offer.

Horseback riding in Punta Arenas was a memorable experience. The pickup at the Port was smooth, the drive to the farm 30 minutes along the shore of the Magellan Straight scenic, and the horses, calm. I regret I don't speak Spanish, but nothing was lost in the journey and the ride went through several types of country; riverbed, forested hills and along the beach. I am an experienced rider, but for my friend, it was a Bucket List item; we both had a blast.

Date of experience : 30 December 2023

Great experience!

Over the last 3 months, I have booked multiple excursions while on the Ultimate World Cruise. So far, all have been just as described! Great experiences and professional guides! Many more to come in the next 6 months!

Date of experience : 11 March 2024

Convenient to book all excursions in one place.

Date of experience : 21 April 2024

Great guided tours

Great guided tours. I have used shore excursions now twice for long cruises and different destinations and most of the tours have been amazing.

Orient beach and Maho beach excursion

The instructions to get to the pickup point from the port was very easy and we had no problem finding the location. They were very organised at the pick up point and we were quickly on the coach, which was waiting. Our coach driver and tour guide was really great. He was very informative and humorous. He was attentive and very interactive with the passengers, trying to get them involved with a questions/answer sessions. He was also very clear with his meeting instructions and kept us watered.

Date of experience : 09 February 2024

A great place to get a good value on…

A great place to get a good value on seeing the countryside, we are sailing and you think places like Rome are at the seaside, but lots of work to get to some of these famous places, Shore Excursions make it easy for us travelers. Prices always beat the cruise ship prices.

We had a blast on this excursion

We had a blast on this excursion. We went with our 6 and 7 year old kids, who were a little scared at first. The staff let them hold on to a floating ring and calmed them down really quickly. By the time we got to the third area, my kids were out snorkeling by themselves. The next time we are down there, we will definitely be booking with them again

Date of experience : 13 March 2024

Great Service- Will use again

We booked two excursions with Shore Excursions Group on our recent cruise around the Caribbean. They were both really well organised and I appreciated the clear meeting point instructions in the documentation. All staff we met were super helpful and the tours represented great value. I would happily use them again.

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Reviews 4.4.

6,208 total

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Recommend these excursions!

We went on 4 excursions through the company in our Mexico port stops. Our first was riding Razr vehicles to a waterfall and back. Everything was great, we were super dirty and had a good time. It was very busy! My favorite excursion was horse riding on Stoney island. Loved being on the beach and riding the horses. My husband and sons trip was cancelled-they said they text but we didn’t get any messages or emails. They took them on a different tour which they enjoyed but that was a bit disappointing for them. Our glass bottom boat tour in Cabo was okay. I expected to see more sea life through the glass bottom but it looks way better online than why happened in real life. It was a nice quick excursion to do but wish we’d saw more. Overall everything was great and most importantly we made it back to our ship in plenty of time to get back on board. Thank you!

Date of experience : 27 March 2024

VERY ORGANIZED AND EXCURSIONS LOOK VERY…

VERY ORGANIZED AND EXCURSIONS LOOK VERY GOOD, HOPE THEY ARE!

Date of experience : 23 April 2024

Good Booking Experience

Easy to use, well-organized website... I would like to have an option to print my receipt as soon as I had paid. Looking forward to getting our vouchers. Thanks

Date of experience : 18 April 2024

They are a middleman that will waste your time and not get you anything.

They have an automated email that forces you to block out a planned excursion for 3 days and then email you on the last day to say that they couldn't get you anything. The only other option is to pay an additional fee that's about 30% of the full excursion to get an answer within 24 hours. They are a broker and they are unreliable. Just do your homework and you're better off without them.

Date of experience : 06 April 2024

Reply from Shore Excursions Group

Hello Sebastian, We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have encountered during your recent tour with us. Your feedback is of utmost importance to us, and we highly value your input as we strive to enhance the quality of our tour experiences. We require you to make a reservation at least three days in advance of your ship's departure, not including the cruise departure day, so that we have the ability to ensure that all of the arrangements are confirmed, finalized, and communicated. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Kind Regards Craig

Well organized and stress free

Well organized and stress free. The last thing you want is to be worried about your meeting place and pick up. Never a concern.

Date of experience : 28 March 2024

Great full day in wellington

Guide meant me by the ship. I ended up with having a private tour with this wonderful gentleman. He took me to all the places and activities that had been outlined when booking this tour. We had a fabulous lunch at the fish cafe. I especially appreciated the beauty of the south shore. The tour was well paced and the guide gave me a wealth of information about the history of Wellington and its surroundings. He was such easy company and knew the area like the back of his hand. I totally enjoyed the entire experience and was back at the ship in ample time. Thank you and wishing you a quick recovery with your knee surgery.

Date of experience : 19 March 2024

Memorable excursion to Stingray city and elsewhere!

The guide made the entire trip enjoyable and interesting. He was happy to share interesting tips and suggestions for snorkeling, how to interact with a stingray that he held, and to hold starfish. I was surprised that even had a name for the stingray as he said a stingray will come back to the area to the same person and he could tell by the bumps on the spine on the back. The pilot did a great job of carefully maneuvering the boat around in close quarters with other boats and people. Great trip!

Date of experience : 14 February 2024

Wonderful experience with a great crew!

We had a tender relocation at the last minute and didn’t need to do anything. Everyone at the pier knew the name of the person we were meeting and directed us to where we needed to go. The drive was easy and uneventful. The place where we embarked on the boat was clean and the crew were especially helpful and friendly. All in all it was a beautiful day that went very smoothly!

Date of experience : 22 February 2024

Great sunset, bad communication…

The actual boat trip at Sunset was wonderful--mostly because of the sunset itself. The tour company did a terrible job of communicating with us--we had been told to meet at the tourism office and walked several blocks to get there and then waited and waited. Eventually a rep from the company--Fluid -- showed up and was a bit snippy because we were supposed to meet at the dock near the cruise ship. But we--along with about 15 other folks--had not been notified of that change. Yet she was sure we had been sent an email. Nope!

Date of experience : 07 March 2024

We did several cruises each year

We did several cruises each year. We always buy our excursions with Shore excursions group, because the groups are often smaller and the prices are competitive. What's more, our experience with local tour operators is always pleasant and positive. They are reliable.

Date of experience : 06 March 2024

Shore excursions is a less expensive alternative to buying from the cruise lines. They are the same tours and are fun and safe. We really enjoyed our diving and the place was professional and caring.

You have excursions that the ships rarely offer.

Horseback riding in Punta Arenas was a memorable experience. The pickup at the Port was smooth, the drive to the farm 30 minutes along the shore of the Magellan Straight scenic, and the horses, calm. I regret I don't speak Spanish, but nothing was lost in the journey and the ride went through several types of country; riverbed, forested hills and along the beach. I am an experienced rider, but for my friend, it was a Bucket List item; we both had a blast.

Date of experience : 30 December 2023

Great experience!

Over the last 3 months, I have booked multiple excursions while on the Ultimate World Cruise. So far, all have been just as described! Great experiences and professional guides! Many more to come in the next 6 months!

Date of experience : 11 March 2024

Convenient to book all excursions in one place.

Date of experience : 21 April 2024

Great guided tours

Great guided tours. I have used shore excursions now twice for long cruises and different destinations and most of the tours have been amazing.

Orient beach and Maho beach excursion

The instructions to get to the pickup point from the port was very easy and we had no problem finding the location. They were very organised at the pick up point and we were quickly on the coach, which was waiting. Our coach driver and tour guide was really great. He was very informative and humorous. He was attentive and very interactive with the passengers, trying to get them involved with a questions/answer sessions. He was also very clear with his meeting instructions and kept us watered.

Date of experience : 09 February 2024

A great place to get a good value on…

A great place to get a good value on seeing the countryside, we are sailing and you think places like Rome are at the seaside, but lots of work to get to some of these famous places, Shore Excursions make it easy for us travelers. Prices always beat the cruise ship prices.

We had a blast on this excursion

We had a blast on this excursion. We went with our 6 and 7 year old kids, who were a little scared at first. The staff let them hold on to a floating ring and calmed them down really quickly. By the time we got to the third area, my kids were out snorkeling by themselves. The next time we are down there, we will definitely be booking with them again

Date of experience : 13 March 2024

Great Service- Will use again

We booked two excursions with Shore Excursions Group on our recent cruise around the Caribbean. They were both really well organised and I appreciated the clear meeting point instructions in the documentation. All staff we met were super helpful and the tours represented great value. I would happily use them again.

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Don’t Use This Company! - Shore Excursions Group

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• Shore Excursions Group

Casa Penaflor The port was skipped and a refund is supposed to come. Difficult to check the refund... read more

All ways love working with SEG and there suppliers - always well organized, professional and... read more

Don’t Use This Company!

Signed up for an e-bike excursion in Cozumel. We did not get the excursion we booked! We signed up for a leisurely 12 mile bike ride on the east side of the island, instead we were taken on the west side through crazy and dangerous Cozumel traffic for a 4-5 mile that included a short snorkel swim, We could not snorkel, as we didn’t have suits on, etc, because that’s not what we signed up for! Tried to tell the tour guide of Beach Bum Bikes that this was not the tour we booked, but either he didn’t care or didn’t understand. The excursion we signed up for was twice as much as the excursion we were mistakenly given. Notified Shore Excursions Group that we should receive a full refund, They would only give us a 50% refund. Do not use this company! Your total satisfaction is far from being guaranteed!

The guide in Rhodes was rude and unprofessional. When my wife asked for clarification the guide said “I already told you once, you need to pay attention to me” The guide was telling people that couldn’t walk fast or were looking at the site that they had to stay up with her. Guide got on her political soapbox and complained about Syria. Don’t use this company.

Shore Excursions Group was recommended by Costco travel who planned our trip to Venice/then cruise to Greek Islands. Signed up for wine tasting/ Oila walking excursion. Horrible! We were met by an annoyed stressed-out guide who had us all try to follow her to get a cable car ( took us about 2 hours in line) to get there. Instead of seating us outside we were inside squashed together with no view then just dropped off in Olia where we didn’t even have time to eat because it was going to take us another 1 1/2 hours to get back down to port. So overpriced for NOTHING!! All of our friends who didn’t have tours enjoyed the day seeing the most beautiful town in the world, Olia & explored & had plenty of time! So disgusted that we didn’t go on any of the other excursions that we signed up for! Seeing Santorini was the main reason that my sister, niece & I booked the tour & our time there was ruined because of The Shore Excursions Group!! Just explore on your own!!

We booked a tour of Old San Juan Puerto Rico through Shore Excursions for our cruise on Royal Caribbean for July 18, 2019. We arrive at the location printed on the ticket to meet the tour guide we’ll in advance of the time we were asked to be there. No one ever showed up. We waited with 2 other families that had booked this same tour for over an hour but NO ONE EVER CAME. We called the hotline number that was printed on the ticket with the direction to call if there were any difficulties with the tour but the number went to an answering machine. Several other tour guides from other companies were in the area and one person actually helped us by calling another number that they had to see if they could find out why the tour guide did not show up because they said that this was uncharacteristic of the company. This person got an answer from the company and told us that our tour had been canceled. This was extre

This was one of the best overall tours we went on in our two weeks cruising the Antilles. The snorkel excursion to the Champagne Reef was extremely enjoyable. Seeing the hot water bubbling up through the cracks in the rocks underwater was not to be missed. The island tour was very informative and swimming into Titu Gorge was great fun. The Trafalgar Falls were very impressive - real waterfalls, not 30 foot dribbles! Big Mama did an excellent job of driving and our guide was very knowledgable.

• Mexican Riviera

Shore Excursions Group - anyone ever use them?

By kdrkmoore , January 7, 2011 in Mexican Riviera

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I am getting all confused :confused: and worried with the number of excursion companies out there. The tours from the ship are too expensive and I would like to try a few but I am trying to find a reputable company to book with.

We will be cruising the Mexican Riviera next month - any suggestions would be great.:D

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As I see it, there are two schools of thought on this.

Ship excursions are quite often more expensive, but (and you knew that the "but" was coming, didn't you?)

• Ship excursions are guaranteed. If the ship is late, or the port is missed, you pay nothing.
• If you decide that you really don't want to make the excursion, the ship is much more forgiving than the locals might be. You probably will not be charged.
• Ship excursions are well managed, in that they will escort you to the excursion, and back.
• If the contractor of an excursion has too many complaints, you can bet that the ship will no longer use them.
• If there should be a break down, or delay, the ship will wait for you.
• Your ship card is charged. That means that no one, but your shipline, gets your credit card number.
• With a ship's excursion, you are normally afforded transportation to, and from, the excursion.
• If the excursion went horribly wrong, your odds of recovering your money from the ship might be better than from the locals.
• Wtih a ship's excursion, you are quite often given "extras" in the form of lunch, or snacks.

The benefits of private excursions:

• you are often not "herded" like cattle.
• you may be less likely to stop at some odd location to "shop" simply because the small shop paid the ship for that opportunity to sell you more junk that you do not need.
• more of your hard earned dollars go directly into the local economy, rather into the ship lines purse.

We typically use the ship's excursions for our first trip, and then after we gain a feel for the area, we venture on our own, or with a local.

We, however, are not often adventurers, and like the comfort of a ship's tour.

All that being said. There are many, very many, great local outfits that offer excursions for a lesser price than the ship. Watch this board, or Travel Advisors. If you see a local that is highly rated, then consider it.

You don't say which ports you are visiting.

IF you look further down this page you will see lots of discussions on tours/activities in each port.

You can put the name of the port into the search facility on this page and find them.

You can also go to the PORT section(not a forum) on this web site. Look at the top of the page to see it.Click on it. Then click on Mexican Riviera and you will find names of all the individual port. If you click on each one you will get info and a list of local tour providers.

We don't usually use the ship's tour unless we cannot find a similar one on our own.

Another thing that we have done is just get off the ship and find a taxi driver (check if you need them to speak English) ask them to "show you the town" and AGREE before you get into the taxi on a price!!!!!

NYcruiserNY

As I see it, there are two schools of thought on this.       Ship excursions are quite often more expensive, but (and you knew that the "but" was coming, didn't you?) Ship excursions are guaranteed. If the ship is late, or the port is missed, you pay nothing. If you decide that you really don't want to make the excursion, the ship is much more forgiving than the locals might be. You probably will not be charged. Ship excursions are well managed, in that they will escort you to the excursion, and back. If the contractor of an excursion has too many complaints, you can bet that the ship will no longer use them. If there should be a break down, or delay, the ship will wait for you. Your ship card is charged. That means that no one, but your shipline, gets your credit card number. With a ship's excursion, you are normally afforded transportation to, and from, the excursion. If the excursion went horribly wrong, your odds of recovering your money from the ship might be better than from the locals. Wtih a ship's excursion, you are quite often given "extras" in the form of lunch, or snacks. The benefits of private excursions: cheaper. you are often not "herded" like cattle. you may be less likely to stop at some odd location to "shop" simply because the small shop paid the ship for that opportunity to sell you more junk that you do not need. more of your hard earned dollars go directly into the local economy, rather into the ship lines purse. We typically use the ship's excursions for our first trip, and then after we gain a feel for the area, we venture on our own, or with a local. We, however, are not often adventurers, and like the comfort of a ship's tour.   All that being said. There are many, very many, great local outfits that offer excursions for a lesser price than the ship. Watch this board, or Travel Advisors. If you see a local that is highly rated, then consider it.

I like the one about the ship will wait for you if you break down LOL..but that's about it...Most of the others do not really apply for certain private guides.

Many do not even ask you for a credit card so being charged should the ship not port is out of the question.

In answer to your question I would go to trip advisor and the specific city you have questions about and do a bit of research. On the main forum page on the left hand column click on Travel Guide and a field will come up on transportation..Or simple type tour guide in the search box and read some past threads and you can get a pretty good idea..Also feel free to ask people on the forum but be prepared for a wide variety of opinions.

lots of info right here at the MR thread on different companies to use!

Correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that the ship may not wait for you if on a ship excursion, but the cruise company would be responsible for your accomodations and getting you to the next port. I'm sure the ship waiting is the logical and easiest option, but they do have the option.

I have been on excursions (both private and ship) that have had transportation issues. I must say I was sweating much less on the ship excursion in Roatan with a smoking bus than on the private tour in Belize with the driver under the hood!!!

Rosefloater

If it our first time to a port or we want to go to an area that is more than 1/2 hour away from the ship, then we will go thru the ship. If we want to go to an area that is not too far away, then we will find a private tour once we are at the port.

If the tour company has an exclusive with the ship for a particular tour (i.e. dolphin swims in some of the ports) that you are interested in, then you can only book thru the ship.

I have found (for some excursions) the ship's prices are not that much more expensive than going thru a private company. You need to compare apples to apples.

Okay, so I'm going to be the guy who encourages you to book off ship.

I have been on five cruises now, and am leaving for my sixth in a little less than three weeks. I have never booked through the ship save for once, and it was the worst experience of all of them.

Some people say that the ship will get rid of bad excursions and will guarantee the trips, but I find that generally not to be the case. I have seen on more than one occasion a ships excursion miss a boat. In reality, the ship rarely leaves when it's scheduled. They always schedule way more time than is needed to get to the next port. I've even seen a harbor master run a group of stranded passengers out to a boat an hour after it cast off. So I would probably worry less about that. These people have been doing this for a really long time in most cases.

They know what is at stake if they don't get you back in time. They know with the age of the internet they would lose their livelihood if they messed up like that. Frankly the closest I've ever been is 30 minutes before setting sail. We went halfway across an island by car and were taking a boat back. They guy kept on futzing around. He stopped at a couple of docks to pick up a small boat and some friends. We kept on worrying about getting back on time and he said not to. All of the sudden six cats come racing around a point behind us. He sees them and steps on it. He told us that those were the ships boats and he just made sure to beat them.

That all being said. There are lots of reliable tour operators in the Mexican Riviera. One of the most prolific is Johann and Sandra. Google them. They have a web page for every port they run tours in. They do a good job at a reasonable price. If you want boat tours in Cabo, I go with Pez Gato. They have anything from whale watching to booze cruises. In Mazatlan, I like Randi's Happy Horses. I first used her a decade ago.... wow tomorrow. She does a good horse back ride at a good price. I'm hopefully getting in with her in a few weeks. Mazatlan Frank is good as well. He has a good organized tour. Vallarta Adventures is a big group out of Puerto Vallarta. I've heard people booking the day of, but it's always a risk. They are american owned if I remember correctly. They all speak good English.

If you want a tour around the city, you can usually find something outside the port. I generally am not afraid of any of this as I have always spoken the language. If you know Spanish, you're in luck. Also, for any Caribbean cruises in the future, French is way useful. When I do that, if I'm in a small group, I get with some people, usually the people at the dinning table with me, and we agree to do something together. Then you can go and negotiate a price for them over the whole day, and not per person. Usually saves everyone about %25.

Trip Adviser will also give you a lot of suggestions.

Have fun. Don't hurt yourself. Local food is usually safe. Don't be afraid, as long as you don't go looking for trouble, it usually won't come looking for you. Also, for the love of all that is Holy. Don't buy anything at Diamonds International or anything like that. They are scam artists. Junk is fine, just remember to negotiate.

• 7 years later...

We booked three different excursions in Europe using this group thru Costco. The 1st excursion to ancient pompeii was very inadequate. We were picked up at the port by 730am with another couple. The other couple were on a different excursion doing Naples and Amalfi. Our driver spoke very little English and we were left at the site to enter Pompeii without a guide and an hour before it even opened. The guide who we eventually found only because her hat had the name of the company. She had to call to verify we were even part of her group. If we had not found her she would not have been looking for us and we would have been left on our own and worried about getting back to the ship in Salerno. At the end of our tour the driver was waiting wanting to leave immediately even though we were making one quick purchase. This was not only scary being left with no contact but the rudest driver I have encountered. The other two excursions were adequate but not any better or cheaper than those the ship was offering. I would not use this group in Europe again.

CruiserBruce

Interesting you managed to find a 7 year old thread to comment on....but....

Your experience jives very well with this very recent thread from the Italy board:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2634964

which, while about Viator, is very relevant. As commonly discussed, these are brokers, not tour providers. They take your booking and money, and contract out to local vendors. Their prices are usually great, but when there comes to be problems, they are hard to resolve, and hard to contact the local vendor.

This is why there is a growing chorus of people here saying we would rather deal directly with recommended local vendors.

• 4 weeks later...

MisterBill99

You're following a 7 year old thread?? And you should know you can just subscribe to it from the "thread tools" link rather than announcing your presence as a way to subscribe.

Since I'm here, I will add to the discussion. We used SEG and they were fine. In general, if you Google the title or one of the key phrases in the tour description you can find the company actually providing the excursion. Usually it will be cheaper to book directly and cut out the middleman, but not always.

• 1 year later...

This company scammed my family in Croatia

The tour we purchased for Split, Croatia was guided tour, however, we were put on the local hop-on hop-off bus tour which costs 1/3 of what we've paid. Yes, we've paid 3 times more and were put on the exact same bus!!! I was scammed by American company 8,000 miles away and it was worst feeling ever and ruined the whole day. I complained and they don't even apologize. Not an honest company and I would not recommend using their service.

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Tips For Booking Private Shore Excursions For Your Next Cruise

W hile lounging by the pool, over-sea sunsets, and worry-free living are all popular reasons to cruise, shore excursions are the real "travel" parts of the trip. At different ports of call, you can experience other cultures, try authentic cuisine, and explore new lands. As a modern Magellan, you leave the familiarity of the ship to greet the unknown.

When planning a cruise, there are basically two approaches to taking shore excursions: cruise-sponsored excursions and private excursions. Booking shore excursions  through the cruise line is the most popular and convenient option. You can typically book an excursion before departure or onboard the ship. As in many things, convenience often equates to popularity. However, for many cruise passengers, this popularity is one of many drawbacks of cruise-sponsored excursions.

Cruise-sponsored shore excursions will vary in their quality, but these experiences are often expensive, involve very large groups, and can be altogether "touristy" in the worst sense. Fortunately, you can choose your own adventure by planning private excursions. And, if you're a pretty seasoned traveler, we'd suggest taking this route with a few tips in mind.

Carefully Research Local Tour Providers

Now that we've adequately criticized cruise-sponsored excursions, we should mention a few pros of this option. For one, you can rest assured you won't be scammed by taking a tour or participating in an activity through a ship-associated excursion. The experience may be overpriced and underwhelming, but safe nonetheless. When taking a private excursion, you'll need to research local tour companies carefully.

Depending on your port of call, you may have two options for booking a private excursion. At popular ports, you can probably reserve an experience through tour companies that specialize in shore excursions. For example, Shore Excursions Group actually functions as an online travel agency that caters to cruise passengers looking for experiences at particular ports. You can even narrow your search to private experiences, small group experiences, or large group experiences.

However, you may find that some experiences by tour companies specializing in shore excursions are similar to cruise-sponsored experiences, featuring large crowds and tourist-driven itineraries. If you really want to demarcate cruise life and onshore life, then you'll need to research local tour companies before arrival. Shop around, carefully read customer reviews, and contact the company directly to see if they can accommodate your hard-and-fast time restraints.

Lastly, you'll usually find plenty of local tour companies selling experiences at popular ports of call. While this is probably the least expensive option — and possibly the most authentic — this route is also the most unpredictable and riskiest.

Manage Your Onshore Time Wisely

The second advantage of taking a cruise-sponsored shore excursion is that the ship will not sail away without you. If something happens while onshore, the cruise ship will not leave passengers behind who booked an experience sponsored by the cruise line. However, a private shore excursion will be outside the preview of the ship, so you'll be solely responsible for boarding the cruise ship on time.

Local tour companies probably won't offer any baked-in policy that guarantees your timely return to the ship, but some of the larger companies who specialize in shore excursions may. If you find you're overly anxious about being marooned, then you may prefer a larger, shore excursion-focused tour company. Otherwise, you'll need to stay mindful and diligent when managing your onshore schedule.

As a final tip, it's important to understand the concept of "cruise ship time." Often, especially in the Caribbean, the ship's time may differ from the port's time. After your awesomely authentic, private shore excursion, you'll need to return according to cruise ship time versus local time. Make sure you're very, very clear about this with a private tour company.

Read this next: 12 Best Sunscreens To Use When Visiting A Tropical Destination

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This captivating sommelier-guided wine tasting tour will take you on a deep exploration of the enchanting Annapolis Valley. You'll be transported to three distinct wineries situated in Falmouth, Port Williams, and Gaspereau Valley, each one with its own unique terroir. Throughout the tour, you'll have the opportunity to experience these terroirs, gaining insights into the factors that make Nova Scotian wines stand out on the global stage.

A highlight of the journey is the food and wine pairing lunch, a delectable experience that perfectly complements the wine tasting. Here, you'll indulge in a culinary adventure that showcases the synergy between locally produced wines and carefully crafted dishes, creating a symphony of flavors that will dazzle your taste buds.

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Past guests have unanimously agreed that this wine tasting tour ranks among the best in Nova Scotia, making it an ideal choice for wine enthusiasts and those seeking a memorable and educational experience. To take your celebration to the next level, consider booking a private wine enthusiast tour to Wolfville.

Whether it's for your work group, a bachelorette party, or any other special event, this tour offers a splendid way to celebrate and create lasting memories. We take care to add an extra layer of exclusivity and personalization, ensuring your celebration is truly exceptional.