Port call · PRIVATE SHORE EXCURSIONS

15 Private Shore Excursions Worth Booking Worldwide

644 tours  ·  from $10 a head

A private day costs more and buys the two things a port call is short of: time and flexibility. These 15 compare drivers, guides and itineraries by price per head, and say which ones put the return time in writing.

FOR CRUISERS: Skip The Lines PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR &On Time Return - What happens after Ephesus
Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions with a Guaranteed Return, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

FOR CRUISERS: Skip The Lines PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR &On Time Return

1.FOR CRUISERS: Skip The Lines PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR &On Time Return

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8,527 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $39Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kusadasi cruise port, then travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle to Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Temple of Artemis. Guides such as Fatih, Dicle, Banu, Ulas, and Zeynep have tailored visits for different walking abilities and interests. Terrace Houses, shopping, and craft stops can be added or declined.

“She took time to explain all that was seen and had the answers to all my questions. I very much enjoyed being with her.”

Check availability →Read our full review

PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR FOR CRUISERS: On-time Return and Skip-Line - Walking the marble streets of Ancient Ephesus
Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions with a Guaranteed Return, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR FOR CRUISERS: On-time Return and Skip-Line

2.PRIVATE EPHESUS TOUR FOR CRUISERS: On-time Return and Skip-Line

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,807 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $29

Meet your licensed local guide at Kusadasi Cruise Port, then ride by private air-conditioned minivan to Ephesus, Mary’s House, and the Temple of Artemis. Guides such as Fatima, Nilay, Mehmet, and Ismail are available according to assignment. Add the Terrace Houses or a Turkish lunch if you wish. The schedule follows your ship’s departure time.

“We had a great day with Fatima. She was very knowledgeable and shared her passion for the history of the area. The ruins of Ephesus are truly amazing. We enjoyed a farm to table lunch and experienced the locals weaving rugs and toured an olive oil and pottery collective. I told her ahead of time we were not interested in purchasing a rug and they respected our wishes. They showed us several rugs but did not put the hard sell on us.”

Check availability →Read our full review

PRIVATE TOUR FOR CRUISERS: Mary's House (Meryemana) and Ephesus - Mary’s House, a short visit with serious meaning
Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

PRIVATE TOUR FOR CRUISERS: Mary’s House (Meryemana) and Ephesus

3.PRIVATE TOUR FOR CRUISERS: Mary’s House (Meryemana) and Ephesus

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,349 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $29

Meet your licensed guide at Kusadasi Cruise Port for a private 4 to 6-hour tour of Mary’s House, Ephesus, and the Temple of Artemis. Guides such as Fatima, Josh, Ozzy, and Filiz tailor the pace to your group. Air-conditioned transport, port pickup, and an on-time return are included. Entry tickets depend on the option you choose.

“Such a great tour! Fatima was a wonderful tour guide! Very intelligent and articulate. She had a wealth of information to share.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Civitavecchia Port: Private or Shared Guided Tour of Rome - Vatican City and St. Peter’s Square
Civitavecchia Shore Excursions, Guided, Italy Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Civitavecchia, Private Shore Excursions in Italy, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Civitavecchia Port: Private or Shared Guided Tour of Rome

4.Private or Shared Guided Tour of Rome

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 826 reviews · from $134

Meet your Italian driver beside your cruise ship and explore Rome by air-conditioned minivan. You’ll stop at Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Venezia, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and the Colosseum. Drivers such as Paolo, Marcello, Max, and Francesco keep the day moving while audio commentary fills in the history.

“Excellent from start to finish. Paolo our driver was first class, helpful, attentive, and took us within steps of each sight....brilliant. Special memories for us all. Can't praise highly enough.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Skip-the-Line Istanbul: Private Tour from Cruise Ship & Hotel - Blue Mosque: a graceful first look at Ottoman Istanbul
Istanbul Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Skip the Line, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

Skip-the-Line Istanbul: Private Tour from Cruise Ship & Hotel

5.Skip-the-Line Istanbul: Private Tour from Cruise Ship & Hotel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 536 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $280

You’ll tour Istanbul’s Old City with a private English-speaking guide such as Ozlem, Ayse, Hazal, or Isha. Expect hotel or Galataport pickup, an air-conditioned Mercedes van, major sights, guided walks, and flexible time at the Grand Bazaar. Entrance fees and lunch cost extra, and mosque queues cannot be skipped.

“We met up with our incredible tour guide Ayshe right at the door (top of escalator) in the port. Very easy to cover alot of ground by hopping in a private shuttle van both to and from old town where all of the sites were located. Ayshe was extremely professional, knowledgeable, a native of Istanbul, highly educated and delightful. We couldn’t ask for anything more from our tour. We were able to discuss the options with Ayshe and customize according to our wants which included a stop at a local coffee shop for a snack and Turkish coffee/tea. Despite the size of the city market Ayshe knew exactly where to…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Ephesus Small Group - Semi Private Shore Excursion - Meeting your guide at Kusadasi Port
Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Small Group Shore Excursions, Small Group Shore Excursions in Turkey, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

Ephesus Small Group – Semi Private Shore Excursion

6.Ephesus Small Group – Semi Private Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 406 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $27

Visit Ephesus, Meryemana, the Temple of Artemis, and nearby Christian sites from Kusadasi Port with a licensed guide and private Mercedes Sprinter. Guides such as Ahmet, Tas, Taylan, and Nagi are praised for clear English, flexible timing, and strong knowledge of the ruins. Lunch and a carpet demonstration are included, but entrance fees are extra.

“Absolutely incredible experience, far exceeded our expectations! We had a private tour of 5 ppl with Asli. She was knowledgeable, kind, helpful and friendly. Saw all the major sites we wanted to see and had a fantastic day of memories! Great tour!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Best of Private Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion from Cruise Port - The War Remnants Museum requires a steady stomach
Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Vietnam, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vietnam Shore Excursions

Best of Private Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion from Cruise Port

7.Best of Private Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion from Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 364 reviews · from $115

Spend 8 to 12 hours touring Ho Chi Minh City with a private guide and driver. You can visit the War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace, Cholon, Ben Thanh Market, temples, and colonial landmarks, then pause for Vietnamese lunch and coffee. Guides such as Kain, Liam, Sarah, Shane, and Qui are praised for flexible planning and clear English.

“We had a great tour with Shane around Ho Chi Minh City. He picked us up in a nice van right at the cruise port in Phu My. It was great because we were able to make the extra stops we wanted, but we also got to see all the famous spots in the city. The Pho lunch was yummy, and the coffee was delicious. Thank you, Shane!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Naples Shore Excursion: Private Tour to Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi - Praiano and Conca dei Marini: brief coastal glimpses
Italy Shore Excursions, Naples Shore Excursions, Pompeii & Amalfi Coast Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Italy, Private Shore Excursions in Naples, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Naples Shore Excursion: Private Tour to Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi

8.Private Tour to Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 352 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $328

From Naples cruise port, your private driver takes you along the Amalfi Coast for about eight hours. Choose an English-speaking guide or explore with a driver who speaks limited English. Stop in Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Praiano, and Conca dei Marini, with time for photos, lunch, shopping, and port return.

“This tour was amazing. Our wonderful driver was Pippo. He was very charismatic and we enjoyed all of his very Italian mannerisms (Mamma Mia). He even sang to us in Italian during our ride which was such a treat. He stopped for us in such breathtaking spots to take pictures. He also gave us a great recommendation for a delicious lunch. . The Amalfi Coast is a must see if your ship stops in Naples. Yes its a bit far but, with all the beautiful scenery and quick stops you won't even notice.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Vietnam, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Vietnam Shore Excursions, Vung Tau Shore Excursions

Private Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion from Phu My Port

9.Private Ho Chi Minh City Shore Excursion from Phu My Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 333 reviews · from $119

Travel from Phu My Port to Ho Chi Minh City in a private air-conditioned minivan with a personal guide. Visit the War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace, French colonial landmarks, Chinatown, markets, and a secret weapons cellar, with Vietnamese coffee and lunch included. Guides such as Emmie, Bruno, Liam, and Kain have been praised for clear English and flexible planning.

“My husband and I couldn’t thank Mr Huu Thu(Manager) enough for this memorable tour.From Day 1 when I made my inquiry to end of tour Mr Huu Thu remains consistent with his prompt response to my email. He helped us secured EVISA when we are having difficulty with online application. He messaged me a week before the tour for update. Another message a day before to give the name and contact # of our tour guide. He not only provided us with a knowledgeable tour guide ( Bao) who speaks good english but also ensures that we had a safe vehicle for the day. Mr Long. ( our driver) safeguards…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cozumel Shore Excursion: 5-Hour Sightseeing Tour with Private Driver - Learning how Maya chocolate was made
City Highlights Shore Excursions, Mexico Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Mexico, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cozumel Shore Excursion: 5-Hour Sightseeing Tour with Private Driver

10.5-Hour Sightseeing Tour with Private Driver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 325 reviews · 5 hours (approx.)

Explore Cozumel by private air-conditioned minivan with a driver such as Gerry, Sergio, or Luis. Visit a chocolate factory, taste tequila, tour San Gervasio, stop at El Mirador, and finish at Playa Palancar. You can adjust the pace, but ruin admission, beach costs, food, and drinks are extra.

“The perfect experience with a very personable and knowledgeable guide/driver. Thank you so much, Gerry”

Check availability →Read our full review

Luxury Private Full-Day Rome Tour from Civitavecchia Port - Meeting your driver at Civitavecchia Port
Full-Day, Italy Shore Excursions, Luxury & VIP Shore Excursions, Luxury Shore Excursions in Italy, Luxury Shore Excursions in Rome, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Italy, Private Shore Excursions in Rome, Rome Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Luxury Private Full-Day Rome Tour from Civitavecchia Port

11.Luxury Private Full-Day Rome Tour from Civitavecchia Port

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 317 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $408

Spend about eight hours touring Rome from Civitavecchia in a private vehicle with an English-speaking driver such as Emanuele, Marco, or Andrea. You will see the Vatican, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, and Roman Forum from outside, with time to customize stops. Attraction tickets and meals cost extra.

“We got off our cruise ship and Emmanuel was there at 7:45 when we got off the cruise ship and all 4 of us hit the ground running. He had a nice big van so me and my husbands and my grown children were comfortable! Emmanuel was excellent and knows where he is going and extremely knowledgable! He knows all the secret panoramic picture sites that are incredible. We had pouring rain the entire day, but he made it fun and had great suggestions. We discovered you can’t see the Colluseum and the Vatican on tours in one day and make it back to the ship.. Just a tip. We…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Private & Mini Group 7-8 Hours Guided Istanbul Tour / Cruise Port - The Blue Mosque and its strict dress rules
Guided, Istanbul Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

Private & Mini Group 7-8 Hours Guided Istanbul Tour / Cruise Port

12.Private & Mini Group 7-8 Hours Guided Istanbul Tour / Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 278 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $99

Spend 7 to 8 hours with a private English-speaking guide, air-conditioned minivan, and flexible sightseeing from Galataport. Visit Istanbul’s major historic sites, use skip-the-line tickets arranged by your guide, and adjust the pace for your group. Guides such as Ezgi, Tayfun, Buse, and Onur have led this tour.

“Excellent tour. Nicely paced. Information was relevant, well thought through and balanced. Tukran had a great sense of humour and made the tour a real pleasure. We would certainly recommend her to friends. This private tour was a highlight of our 2-week cruise trip around the Med.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3-Hour Private Ephesus, Terrace Houses, Cruiser Only - A quick look at Kusadasi’s historic sights
3-Hour Experiences, Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Tour Reviews, Turkey Shore Excursions

3-Hour Private Ephesus, Terrace Houses, Cruiser Only

13.3-Hour Private Ephesus, Terrace Houses, Cruiser Only

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 274 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $30

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kusadasi Cruise Port for a private visit to Ephesus, the Terrace Houses, and the Temple of Artemis. Guides such as Bilal, Umut, Taylan, and Utku have earned praise for clear explanations and flexible pacing. Expect a private van, countryside lunch, possible craft stops, and careful timing back to your ship.

“Our tour guide Oscar (I hope I spelled correctly) made the trip memorable. He was knowledgeable and patient as we asked many questions. This was a good day. :-)”

Check availability →Read our full review

Istanbul Shore Excursion : Best Seller Private Istanbul Tour - Topkapi Palace and the machinery of Ottoman power
Istanbul Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

Istanbul Shore Excursion : Best Seller Private Istanbul Tour

14.Best Seller Private Istanbul Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 258 reviews · 7 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $100

Spend about seven hours with a private English-speaking guide such as Sercan, Ayşe, Nazli, or Ramazan, exploring Istanbul’s Old City from Galataport. The day covers Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Sultanahmet Square, the Grand Bazaar, and Turkish handicraft shops. Expect substantial walking, public transport unless you choose the van option, and help getting back to your ship on time.

“Awesome Day. Ramazan did an incredible job with our tour. It was nice to have a small group. We got to see what we wanted. Ramazan was very good about getting us through the lines quickly. He had a wealth of information to with us in a short period of time. The restaurant he recommended for lunch was delicious. Would highly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Kusadasi: Private Ephesus Tour for Cruise Passengers - Meeting your guide at Kusadasi Cruise Pier
Ephesus Shore Excursions, Kusadasi Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions in Kusadasi, Private Shore Excursions in Turkey, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turkey Shore Excursions

From Kusadasi: Private Ephesus Tour for Cruise Passengers

15.Private Ephesus Tour for Cruise Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 252 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $30

Meet guides such as Gül, Guray, or Vedat at Kusadasi Port for a private, air-conditioned tour of the House of Mary, Ephesus, and the Temple of Artemis. You get a flexible pace, local Turkish lunch options, and time to return to your ship comfortably. Entrance fees and lunch cost extra.

“We appreciated our guide’s flexibility when my husband grew tired of walking- very informative, plus we got to see how silk is made, how turkish carpets are woven and got to blow glass!”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Private Shore Excursions

★ 4.5Shore excursion from Livorno to Siena and San Gimignano by private minivan7 reviews
★ 5.0Florence and San Gimignano Private Tour from Livorno6 reviews
★ 5.0Cinque Terre and Pisa Private Tour from Livorno20 reviews
★ 5.0Private San Gimignano Wine Tour from Livorno Port3 reviews
★ 4.5Private Chianti and SuperTuscan Tour 2 wineries with Light Lunch from LivornoFrom $4905 reviews
★ 4.5Private tour to Florence and Pisa from Livorno portFrom $5716 reviews
★ 5.0San Gimignano and Volterra Private Shore Excursion from LivornoFrom $4554 reviews
★ 5.0Private tour from Livorno port to San Gimignano & VolterraFrom $5552 reviews
★ 5.0Private tour from Livorno port to Chianti Wine RegionFrom $5915 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tour to Pisa and Lucca from Livorno cruise portFrom $5422 reviews
★ 4.0Florence Private Tour from Livorno Port 8 hoursFrom $9444 reviews
★ 4.0Private EASY Cinque Terre Accessible Tour from LivornoFrom $5907 reviews
★ 5.0PRIVATE EXCURSION: Florence & Chianti with Wine Tasting Experience from LivornoFrom $2485 reviews
★ 5.0Private EASY Cinque Terre & Pisa Accessible Tour from LivornoFrom $55842 reviews
★ 5.0Private Full-Day Shore ExcursionFrom $90813 reviews

Keep browsing

Small Group Shore ExcursionsLuxury & VIP Shore ExcursionsShore Excursions with Port PickupShore Excursions with a Guaranteed ReturnCity Highlights Shore Excursions
Scroll to Top

Plan the call

Pick a berth, a ruin or a market.

Ruins and cities

EphesusAncient RuinsCity HighlightsCastlesPompeii

Coast and water

Beach and SwimBoat DaysNature DaysWildlifeTuk-Tuks

Food and drink

Food and MarketsWine TastingsLunch IncludedWalking DaysFlorence and Pisa

How you go

Private DaysSmall GroupsLuxury and VIPPier PickupGuaranteed Return