Tips on "selling" small group tours to fellow shipmates?

Having organised many shore tours with onshore operators I organised several small group (maximum 8 passengers) for our July W. Mediterranean cruise. We are 2 months away from sailaway. I feel like I am hitting my head against a brick wall trying to fill the last 2 seats on a few tours in several ports. I can't understand what most of the passengers do when in these ports ...do they go swimming or just stay onboard?

I've never had problems filling tours on any of our other 10 cruises and would appreciate any encouraging tips.

Personally...I would be very hesitant to "buy" a shore tour set up by an individual I know absolutely nothing about for what may very well be the one day in my life I spend in that city/port. So I guess I can see why you are having trouble.

Cruisers that post on Cruise Critic are a very small percentage of actual cruising passengers. A lot of people will book excursions through the cruise line, because they are then guaranteed that the cruise ship won't leave without them, if they arrive back late.

There is no guarantee on private excursions. A lot of passengers will also look into their own private tours. Some have no desire to be part of a group, no matter how small.

I travel solo, and usually book a variety of things. Sometimes, I just get off the ship and wander around on my own. Some of the tours organized by a roll call sometimes appeals to me, sometimes not.

Personally...I would be very hesitant to "buy" a shore tour set up by an individual I know absolutely nothing about for what may very well be the one day in my life I spend in that city/port. So I guess I can see why you are having trouble.

That's a little harsh. I book with reputable companies in the ports e.g. Rome in Limo and do not collect any money. Furthermore, I do not set up the itinerary...the operator does.

That's a little harsh. I book with reputable companies in the ports e.g. Rome in Lino and do not acollect any money but simple aim to fill a van with 8 shipmates.

Furthermore, I do not set up the itinerary...the operator does.

It's not harsh. Lots of people say they do things, or don't get any kickbacks from vendors. There's really no way to verify this. People have a right to chose whatever tour they want. If they don't want to do yours, then you go on yours and let them go on theirs.

That's a little harsh. I book with reputable companies in the ports e.g. Rome in Limo and do not collect any money. Furthermore, I do not set up the itinerary...the operator does.

Sorry you feel that way...you are entitled to your opinion, as am I.

Says you...others may have no way to verify that until they are actually there.

That is not the point...if you don't come through they may have no chance to book what they want at the last minute.

What it boils down to for me is that you can say/type/post whatever you want. I have no way to verify you are who you say you are, are really doing what you say you are doing, are reputable in all your dealing. heck for that matter, I have no way to verify you are really on the cruise until everyone is actually on the ship.

Remember...people probably thought Ted Bundy was a really nice guy and trusted him.

Just sayin...

I think ehfl is a little harsh. We have been on a number of private tours, which were head and shoulders above anything the ship can offer. In Lima we did an all day culinary tour with 8 people. In San Martin we booked our own flight above the Nazca lines. In Puerto Montt, we had a tour with 19 people and got there ahead of the ship tour, fortunately. The ships tour overloaded the facility at the falls which delayed them by 2 hours .

In the Falklands we booked a private tour at half the price of the ship tour.

A few years ago we and two other couples booked an all day tour of Lisbon and the surrounding area. There was no way a tour with 40 people from the ship could have done it.

 

What it boils down to for me is that you can say/type/post whatever you want. I have no way to verify you are who you say you are, are really doing what you say you are doing, are reputable in all your dealing. heck for that matter, I have no way to verify you are really on the cruise until everyone is actually on the ship.

 

I am sorry but that is a really far out opinion. It has been my experience that all of these tour operators have a website that you can go to and verify the excursion.

I trust you already found your roll call, but no takers there?

Try again at the Meet and Greet meeting.

By the way "most passengers" are not on Cruise Critic.

I am sorry but that is a really far out opinion. It has been my experience that all of these tour operators have a website that you can go to and verify the excursion.

May be able to verify the operator exist and that they offer an excursion...but pick any operator in any port and provide me a list of everyone who has an excursion booked with them on a particular day.

Go ahead...I'll wait.

Having organised many shore tours with onshore operators I organised several small group (maximum 8 passengers) for our July W. Mediterranean cruise. We are 2 months away from sailaway. I feel like I am hitting my head against a brick wall trying to fill the last 2 seats on a few tours in several ports. I can't understand what most of the passengers do when in these ports ...do they go swimming or just stay onboard?

 

I've never had problems filling tours on any of our other 10 cruises and would appreciate any encouraging tips.

Sorry, but we've been on some cruises before I joined CC. After joining, I did start the roll call for my next cruise, but more just for the experience of "meeting" some of my future cruisers online. In fact, I don't think there was any planning of shore excursions on the roll call, just the planning of the meet and greets. I did post when I had trouble accessing the shore excursion booking engine on the cruise line website (we got the email that you can start booking them, but apparently that was premature), and others noted the same bad luck. I had called Princess and tried explaining to the CSR my problem (she didn't have a clue as she came up with "keep checking every week":eek:) but I guess someone did grease the wheels and the next day on the roll call someone did say they were able to book their excursions.

My point is that not everyone who joins the roll call for their cruises is looking for help with ports. I'm a pretty good researcher and I make suggestions for my family -- but then I know my hubby and daughter pretty well. Strangers don't. Most of the time we don't book anything but go out into the port on our own. When we do book something, my hubby wants to do it through the cruiseline as we've had better luck with those tours than with ones booked elsewhere. Maybe it's just us. And I haven't found much of a difference in price between the few we've booked through the cruise and booking through the operator directly. Or have found the times listed won't work for someone on a cruise.

But seriously, look at your comment that I've highlighted in red. Maybe what you think would be fun wouldn't be to someone else. We all have different things we like to do on vacation. It could be that those on your roll call came up with things to do they would enjoy better, have had a bad experience joining a group of strangers on a previous cruise, or just prefer going their own way.

My feeling on this - I wouldn't take a private tour with people I don't know. In a small group, personality differences can really be an issue, as can be whether people smoke, have poor hygiene, are complainers, etc. I don't want to be squished between people I don't know or not get a window seat. We book private tours, but make them for our group only. We pay extra to have a van, even if it costs more per person so we ride comfortably, plus we control how much time is spent at each stop. I'm sure many other crusiers have the same reasons for not wanting to join a private tour.

Don't give up hope

some people book closer to sailing & do not have time to research tours

Sometimes we just mention to our table mates once onboard & have filled a couple of spots on the private tours that way

Post in your roll call closer to sailing

Sometimes people do not want to do private tours for a variety of reasons

Enjoy the cruise

Having organised many shore tours with onshore operators I organised several small group (maximum 8 passengers) for our July W. Mediterranean cruise. We are 2 months away from sailaway. I feel like I am hitting my head against a brick wall trying to fill the last 2 seats on a few tours in several ports. I can't understand what most of the passengers do when in these ports ...do they go swimming or just stay onboard?

 

I've never had problems filling tours on any of our other 10 cruises and would appreciate any encouraging tips.

if I've booked a tour and want tour mates to reduce costs[most Med trips work best with a minivan of 7-8 people] then I set up an email address to post on the roll call that is pretty anonymous and invite anyone interested to contact me

I can then respond to them with details of the trip and the correspondence with the tour operator [which has been well reviewed on cruise critic]

most importantly I give information on what type of people we are and our interests and stress there is no pressure to join the tour but more important to make sure we all want the same things -eg importance of mealtimes versus sightseeing and amount walking involved.

with a few emails back and forth by the time we finalise at the meet and greet we have usually got a pen pal relationship going!

OK there have been a couple of misunderstandings but most trips have worked out well because we know what to expect and I would prefer a couple of extra seats on a van rather than fill with people who don't have similar aims

Having organised many shore tours with onshore operators I organised several small group (maximum 8 passengers) for our July W. Mediterranean cruise. We are 2 months away from sailaway. I feel like I am hitting my head against a brick wall trying to fill the last 2 seats on a few tours in several ports. I can't understand what most of the passengers do when in these ports ...do they go swimming or just stay onboard?

 

I've never had problems filling tours on any of our other 10 cruises and would appreciate any encouraging tips.

We think you are being a bit presumptuous when it comes to analyzing your fellow passengers. We have literally spent years cruising and traveling in the Med region and have seldom to ever taken any kind of tour. Personally, the last thing DW and I want to do is get crammed into a van or mini-bus with a group of strangers. The only time we take a tour is when it does something we want that we cannot reasonably do on our own. So what do we do in ports? Well gee, sometimes we walk, sometimes we use local/regional trains, sometimes we rent cars, etc. When in places with great cuisine we might spend 2 or 3 hours enjoying a nice lunch. Oh, and yes, we have been known to go swimming in some ports :).

As to filling your tours, you can certainly post on your CC Roll Call (we assume you have already done this). Otherwise I guess you will just have to hope you meet some others aboard the ship who want to join your group.

Hank

Thanks for your support, ideas and other opinions ...points taken.

Have a nice day :)

We either organized or joined 6 different small group tours during our two weeks in the Med last summer. Rome In Limo is a favorite, partly because each participant makes a commitment on their website (via credit card) that they will show up. (Cash paid to driver at the end of the day).

Helpful hints:

1) Be specific about the tour -- refer to the website if you can, detail the itiniery and payment expectations. Where to pay, in what form, and to whom.

2) Volunteer your objectives for the day: "minimal shopping, less time at Vatican, more time at Coliseum, no restaurant lunch, maximize time at venues". We went on to say that our core group wanted to see ruins and architecture, as opposed to museums and artwork.

3) Volunteer your own mobility (fit, semi-fit, slow walkers, mobility challenged) and whether your group includes kids, so that others can match ability levels to yours.

The more accurately you describe your day's adventure, the more likely like-minded souls will be to connect.

The cruise ships frown on actively selling tours on board...

4) Posting a sign on your door "Group Leaders - XYZ Tour on Tuesday" with our picture and a printout from the website. People recognized us in the casino and at dinner, and we ended up with full vans each day.

We either organized or joined 6 different small group tours during our two weeks in the Med last summer. Rome In Limo is a favorite, partly because each participant makes a commitment on their website (via credit card) that they will show up. (Cash paid to driver at the end of the day).

 

Helpful hints:

1) Be specific about the tour -- refer to the website if you can, detail the itiniery and payment expectations. Where to pay, in what form, and to whom.

 

2) Volunteer your objectives for the day: "minimal shopping, less time at Vatican, more time at Coliseum, no restaurant lunch, maximize time at venues". We went on to say that our core group wanted to see ruins and architecture, as opposed to museums and artwork.

 

3) Volunteer your own mobility (fit, semi-fit, slow walkers, mobility challenged) and whether your group includes kids, so that others can match ability levels to yours.

 

The more accurately you describe your day's adventure, the more likely like-minded souls will be to connect.

 

The cruise ships frown on actively selling tours on board...

4) Posting a sign on your door "Group Leaders - XYZ Tour on Tuesday" with our picture and a printout from the website. People recognized us in the casino and at dinner, and we ended up with full vans each day.

You've been very helpful and supportive...wish there were more like you . Like yourself, I choese RIL because of the self-booking and ease of booking on the website.

As a starter, pay no mind to those who don't understand the advantages of small group private tours in the Med; most probably haven't researched it (but I respectfully suggest that reading a few reviews here on CC might convince some that it's not just the weirdos or intrepid that arrange such tours....)

At any rate, this is not the first post I've read from you about your concern. If I were cynical, I might think you were posting this as a way of increasing visibility for your unclaimed seats. :p

Is it really a big deal if you don't fill the other seats? Generally, when I arrange a private tour, I do so because it's what I want to do and it's something I can't do on my own using public transportation. I decide at the outset that I want to do the tour, and if I can find some folks to join me and defray the cost, even better. But if not, I have been known to do a private tour for just me. Expensive, yes. But I usually have very specific things I want to see and do.

And speaking of public transportation, that might be an option for you too, if you're going to sweat it if you don't fill your tours.

Relax...search some old roll call threads for a similar cruise as yours during the last few months before the sailing. From what I've seen it becomes a feeding frenzy to book excursions.

Remember back in school...some people started their term papers as soon as it was assigned and others started their assignments at the last minute.

I am sorry but that is a really far out opinion. It has been my experience that all of these tour operators have a website that you can go to and verify the excursion.

What you cannot really verify is whether I am actually sailing on your cruise . . . or whether I have reserved 10 seats on Company X's snorkel tour. After all, couldn't I go over to the meet-people-on-your-cruise threads right now and claim that I'm planning on cruising 3-4 times over the next year? And if you pay me for a spot on that snorkel cruise, you don't really have any proof 'til you're on board.

Likewise, if you tell me that you want to go on the tour and I say that you can pay me on the day we all board the ship, I don't have any way to know that you'll decide to pay . . . for all I know, you might decide that you'd rather do a different excursion, and I'd be left with an empty spot, which I'll be forced to pay.

I hate to be cynical, but exchanging money with people you know only from the internet is always a bit dangerous -- and some excursions are pricey.

My suggestion to the OP: You sound like a nice person who's genuinely trying to meet new friends and help people have a good time on excursions. I suggest that you pick the company and the excursion . . . then you reserve your spot . . . and encourage people on your specific cruise thread to sign up with you. But you handle your money and let them handle their own. I think more people will be willing to do business with the company than with an individual.

Sorry if that sounds jaded, but we've all heard too many stories of people being taken advantage of via the internet . . . and even though most people are honest and good, I do choose to err on the side of caution myself.

My feeling on this - I wouldn't take a private tour with people I don't know. In a small group, personality differences can really be an issue, as can be whether people smoke, have poor hygiene, are complainers, etc. I don't want to be squished between people I don't know or not get a window seat. We book private tours, but make them for our group only. We pay extra to have a van, even if it costs more per person so we ride comfortably, plus we control how much time is spent at each stop. I'm sure many other crusiers have the same reasons for not wanting to join a private tour.

I have set up lots of private tours w total strangers and (knock wood) have had no problems so far. I do the following -

1) I make it clear what we are going to see

2) I provide contact e-mails and WEB addresses to the people who are going to do the tour

3) I indicate clearly that everyone on the tour must be mobile and must not smoke

4) I indicate that if the person who is going w me has any questions, they should contact the tour operator

5) I do not handle any one elses' money.

So far it has worked for me and I have met lots of interesting people who have taken my tours.

I only take ship tours if there is absolutely no other alternative since IMHO private tours are cheaper, better, more interesting, more flexible, and you see more stuff. Also, you get to eat at local places instead of tourist trap joints and on a private tour you do not have the "opportunity" of spending time at stores that sell junk and give the tour company kickbacks.

The "you will be stranded" myth is one pushed by the cruise company so that they can scare you and sell more overpriced cattle call tours.

Again - just my opinion.

DON

Relax...search some old roll call threads for a similar cruise as yours during the last few months before the sailing. From what I've seen it becomes a feeding frenzy to book excursions.

 

Remember back in school...some people started their term papers as soon as it was assigned and others started their assignments at the last minute.

Good point. I have noted that once final payments are in people sign up for private tours. Thanks :)

I hate to be cynical, but exchanging money with people you know only from the internet is always a bit dangerous -- and some excursions are pricey.

 

Read again. Most Western Med excursions are pay the trip provider on the day of excursion. Most Baltic providers go a step further - you sign up on the providers network for the "put together" small group you found on the roll call - they keep track who is signing up for which small group tour and make sure it's filled before issuing an invoice price - money exchanged at tour.

Hey - I'm in Hank's camp - DIY when possible. But, for some in some instances roll call excursions are the next best thing.

Yes, you can verify that Company X offers a snorkel tour at 9:00 on May 1st, and it costs X amount.

 

What you cannot really verify is whether I am actually sailing on your cruise . . . or whether I have reserved 10 seats on Company X's snorkel tour. After all, couldn't I go over to the meet-people-on-your-cruise threads right now and claim that I'm planning on cruising 3-4 times over the next year? And if you pay me for a spot on that snorkel cruise, you don't really have any proof 'til you're on board.

 

 

 

Most tour guides will take payment at the time of the tour ..in my experience it is at the conclusion of the tour

If at that point you decide you are not paying then you have the problem with the tour guide & possibly the authorities

Most people that organized tours on the roll call will exchange emails & a meeting place once onboard to discuss further details

Very few guides ask for payment upfront ..there are some that do & the person booking the group may pay a deposit & hope all that signed up for the tour show

I have booked many tours & filled most of them via the Roll calls

Only 1 guide required a deposit which I paid all the others on the tours paid the guide after the tour

YMMV