Cruising is an incredible way to get your feet wet in the travel world. We love to see those great ships dash in and out of ports as they deliver travelers to experience a charcuterie board of travel experiences to try and test.

Cruising, however, can come with its own set of challenges. While the ship is an incredible resort experience, sometimes the ports of call do not come with the experiences that match your interests or specific needs. Sometimes, you are returning to a particular city, and all of the ship’s tours are headed right toward things you’ve already experienced. Sometimes, you simply don’t want to follow another flag! We get it!

Our Cruise Companions program allows you to set the agenda and enjoy your ship’s itinerary with a customized plan that gives you the planning power and support you need to fully enjoy your travel. Here’s how it works: first, choose a problem you’d like to solve.

I do not like the tours offered by my cruise ship.

• I’ve been to this port before and I’ve done all the things that are listed.
• I’ve looked over the options, and nothing interests me.
• I see things I’d like to do but the tours are really long or really short.
• I do not want to go to a city center; I’d prefer to experience an alternative, smaller destination.
• I have a very specific interest that is not on any of the tours (biking in the hills of Tuscany, seeing a football pitch, cooking, a particular museum)
• I will not follow another flag.

My cruise ship does not offer options tailored to my needs.

• I do not see a tour that meets my health needs. (It is too long, requires too much walking, does not provide enough exercise, has no stairs, etc.)
• I want to spend all my time or a short amount of time in port shopping and lunching instead of touring.
• I am traveling with a group of friends, and we just don’t want to go on anything that the cruise ship offers. We just want to do our own thing.
• I’ve never really traveled, and the big tours on the cruise ship make me nervous, so I’d like to book something private.

I want to add additional land days before or after my cruise.

We are true fans of pre-trip and post-trip add-ons! Whether you’re in Paris for three days or a quick 48 hours in Rome, add-ons can enhance any cruise experience and make your travel dollars a better investment.

Next, choose the ports that you will support with our service.

As you look at your itinerary, decide which ports of call need the support you are looking for. Perhaps you find it’s just one big city that you are pulling into; perhaps you need assistance in 3 or 4 of the ports you will visit. Whether it’s one or all of your stops, we’ll meet you with your customized plan in hand and share each glorious European city with you!

What we do.

Connect with us, and we’ll ask you to share exactly what you are looking for. Sometimes, that means you have a list already made; sometimes, that means you’d like us to develop some choices. Either way, we’ll customize a plan for you and connect you with the perfect activities to use your port time to its best advantage.

Once your plan is finalized, we’ll arrange everything and create a single payment to cover all the minor expenses you incur during your chosen ports of call with us. Take a look at some of the samples below to get an idea of what we can provide.

It’s worth the expense!

Our companion fees average about $400+ expenses per day for a group of 4. It all depends on how you’d like to use your time. Aspects that affect pricing include private vs. public transport, immersive experience exclusivity, and dining options. We encourage every traveler to pool together into small groups of 4 to 8 people in order to get the best experience for their dollar.

Sample Port of call day

Itineraries We Support

• European River Cruises within Continental Europe
• Mediterranean Cruise Ports including Venice, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Northern Italy, Southern France, limited ports in Greece, Dubrovnik, and Trier.
• Northern European ports including Le Havre, Gdansk, Copenhagen, Belfast, Amsterdam, Bruges, Oslo, and Dublin
• Additional ports may be available upon request

Sample Pre and Post Trips

While we are happy to help you anywhere in Europe, here are just two popular ports of call. These standard itineraries can give you a great first look or be tailored for the returning traveler.