Canadian Tammy Secco didn’t like cruising.
“The idea of being on a ship with thousands of people and not being able to get off was something I wanted to avoid,” she said.
That was no different when travel magazine publisher Cecco boarded a surprise cruise booked by her husband to renew vows in front of family and friends.
“When I got on… I thought, ‘Oh my God, what are you doing here?'” she said. “I’m not the type to like being herded.”
She said she envisioned “a little hut without windows.”Still she said that some cruise ships Spacious suites with floor-to-ceiling windows. Plus, the floor with fewer cabins gives it a feeling of a “boutique” travel experience, she said.
Travel expert Tammy Checco named the Celebrity Edge cruise ship a cruise ship with spacious suites and stunning window views.
Eva Marie Uscategui | Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
According to Cecco, he began to “relax” and enjoy the cruise ship trip.
“Cruising has really evolved,” she said. “Now there is something for everyone.”
Strategy on the coast
Cecco has also found a way to enjoy a “private and personalized” experience on land. she said.
On her last two cruise trips, she booked private tours instead of cruise tours. One in Russia and Scandinavia, the other her in Southern Europe.
Tammy Cecco, her family and guide Josep in front of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. “It’s hard to get deep into the city when you’re on a big bus,” she said.
Courtesy of Tammy Secco
Cecco, who often travels with her family of five and her mother-in-law, says private tours suit everyone’s needs and interests.
“There were six of us and we wanted a private tour because kids are often not interested in such a big and long tour,” she said. “When you book an excursion with a cruise company or an organized tour, you are usually going with other people and you have to follow their itinerary.”
More and more people are returning to cruising in 2023, but even more are looking for a more private experience.
Luciano Brolski
President and co-owner of ToursByLocals
Cecco said he booked private tours on previous cruises and on “almost every stop” in Rome.
“I wanted to do the Colosseum and the Vatican one day, but each could be a full-day tour,” she said. I asked if he could do it, and he was able to combine the two very well.”
More Private Shore Excursions
Cecco booked our guide ToursByLocalsis a Canada-based travel agency that operates in 188 countries, according to its website.
According to the company, private shore tours will account for nearly a third of all tours booked in 2023, up from 12% of bookings in 2022.
“More people are returning to cruising in 2023, but even more people want a private experience when they return to the ocean,” said company president and co-owner Luciano Brolski. .
He said he hopes people will be able to use private transportation, interact with local guides, and arrive at the scene “before the tourist buses arrive.” winery and evenFamily run dog sledding ranch,” He said.
Giuseppe D’Angelo (middle) is pictured with travelers in front of the Victor Emanuel II National Monument in Rome.
Courtesy of Giuseppe D’Angelo
According to Bullorsky, most private travel bookings are concentrated in Europe, especially along the Mediterranean. But Alaska and Puerto Rico are also popular, he said.
Top bookings include Turkey’s ‘Best of Ephesus’, Santorini and Athens Full Day Tour, Bermuda Island Tour, Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia with a guide with a Ph.D. in Canadian history.
Run by Giuseppe D’Angelo Popular Tours in Romebut he takes travelers to explore other parts of Italy’s Campania region, including Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, and 11 of Italy’s 53 UNESCO sites.
“I can create itineraries and routes that include unique places and attractions. In that case, we will arrange to visit in the best order to see each place when it is less crowded.”
He said many customers are asking for recommendations for restaurants with “the best food and no tourists.”
In addition, ToursByLocals CEO and co-founder Paul Melhus said the company will either ensure that travelers return to the ship on time, or the company will pay for a night’s hotel and transportation to the ship’s next destination. I said I would pay for the transportation.
private tour cost
Cruisers can expect to pay about $100 per person for cruise-sponsored excursions, according to the financial website. money we have.
Cecco paid about $600 for each day of privately organized tours. This included entrance fees and private transportation for six of him.
About what they did, she said, private tours “definitely” saved not only time but also money because they traveled between locations more quickly. He said he had an elusive “authentic” experience.
In Sicily, she said, she ate at a bakery hidden away in a small village. In Santorini, she took pictures without the crowds of tourists in the background.
As to whether a private shore excursion would make her more likely to cruise in the future, “definitely,” she said.
