Shore Excursions Built Around Your Group
Forget shared tours with 70 strangers from the cruise line. We build a private experience around what your group actually loves — at every port on your cruise.
Back-to-Ship
Guarantee
Don't Port,
Don't Pay
Ship Pickup
at Every Port
Group Leader
Travels Free (20+)
Your group takes center stage
Most shore excursion companies put your group on a bus with 70 strangers and follow a script. We do the opposite. Every Venture Ashore group tour is built from scratch around what your specific group loves — the sights, the pace, the detours, the experiences that no one else would think to include.
We once took a group of knitters on a private visit to a working sheep farm in the Scottish Highlands, so they could see exactly where the local yarn came from before buying it in the village. That's the kind of tour we build.
A knitting group goes behind the scenes
When a group of textile enthusiasts came to us for their Scotland cruise, we didn't take them to the usual castle. We arranged a private visit to a working sheep farm, a demonstration of traditional fleece preparation, and a guided tour of a local craft mill — finishing with an exclusive first look at the season's new yarns before the shop opened.
Whatever brings your group together, we build the tour around it. Some of the interests we've designed excursions around:
Don't see yours? Tell us — we love a challenge.
Everything your group needs, handled
Every Venture Ashore group excursion includes the same premium service — regardless of group size or destination.
Ship pickup & dropoff
Your group meets your private transport directly at the pier — no coordination, no confusion.
Dedicated local guide
An exclusive expert guide, chosen to match your group's interests. Never shared with other groups.
Back to Ship Guarantee
If our tour runs late, we cover your group's travel costs to the next port. Guaranteed.
Don't Port, Don't Pay
Port skipped by your cruise line? Your group pays nothing. Zero risk, zero hassle.
Fully custom itinerary
Built around your interests, pace, and fitness level. No off-the-shelf routes.
Group leader travels free
One group leader goes free on every tour for groups of 20 or more.
Groups of 20+Dedicated groups specialist
A named contact from first inquiry through post-tour follow-up.
Optional add-ons
Restaurant reservations, scenic photo stops, private tastings, behind-the-scenes access — just ask.
Already part of a group?
See how we put it all together
This is a real itinerary we built for a culinary-focused group on a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise. Every element was chosen for them — not from a catalogue.
Western Mediterranean Family Group
How It Works
From your first message to stepping off the ship, we keep everything simple.
Submit your inquiry
Tell us your cruise, ports, group size, and interests. No commitment required.
Receive your proposal
A fully customised itinerary and quote, delivered within 48 hours.
Refine & confirm
Adjust anything. Confirm with a deposit. Full flexibility up to 7 days before.
Board your tour
Your guide meets you at the ship. We handle everything from here.
Built for cruise groups of every kind
Travel agents & advisors
We work directly with travel advisors to plan, price, and coordinate on behalf of their clients. Full commission support and a dedicated agent contact throughout.
Families & celebration groups
Multi-generational families, anniversaries, milestone birthdays — we design itineraries that work for all ages and mobility levels at every port.
Affinity & interest groups
Alumni associations, clubs, hobby groups, professional societies. If your group has a shared passion, we build the tour around it.
Large groups (100–500+)
Charters and mega-groups coordinated across multiple simultaneous tours at a single port, with dedicated group liaisons and real-time communication.
500+ destinations worldwide
If your ship calls at a port, we likely operate there. Group excursions available across every major cruise region and every cruise line.
Why cruise groups choose Venture Ashore
A private tour that reflects your group — not a template
Most tour operators put your group on a pre-set itinerary that happens to have a private label attached. We start with a blank page. Before we plan a single stop, we ask what your group loves, how fast you like to move, whether there are mobility considerations, and what kind of experience would make this cruise unforgettable for your specific mix of people.
The result is a tour that could only ever have been built for your group. We've arranged sunrise photography sessions at archaeological sites before the crowds arrive, organised private textile workshops in local artisan cooperatives, set up behind-the-scenes distillery tours not listed in any guidebook, and found wildlife experiences that no shared bus would ever detour to reach.
Every experience includes ship pickup directly at the pier and a dedicated local guide chosen to match your group's interests — not assigned at random from a roster.
Pricing that makes private feel attainable
One of the most common surprises for first-time group bookers is how competitive private group pricing can be. Because we build exclusively for your group, costs are distributed across your members only — and you're not subsidising empty seats or a guide splitting attention across 70 passengers.
We don't publish standard pricing because every group inquiry is different. The right quote depends on your group size, destinations, itinerary depth, and any add-ons you want included. What we can tell you is that many groups find a private Venture Ashore tour compares favourably — or better — to booking individual seats on a shared excursion.
Request a free, no-obligation quote. We'll come back with a full proposal within 48 hours.
- Groups of 8 to 500+ accommodated
- Group leader travels free for groups of 20+
- Available in 500+ destinations worldwide
- Proposals within 48 hours, no obligation
- Travel agents receive full commission support
- Optional add-ons: restaurant reservations, photo stops, exclusive access
Trusted by over 1 million cruisers
Rated 4.4 on Trustpilot.
"Venture Ashore handled our 48-person alumni group across four Caribbean ports flawlessly. Every guide was exceptional, every pickup was on time, and we were back at the ship with 60 minutes to spare at every port. Already booked them for next year."
"Our knitting group wanted something special in Scotland — not a castle tour. Venture Ashore found us a working sheep farm and a local mill visit that none of us even knew existed. We talk about that day every time we meet."
"As a travel advisor, I've used many group excursion providers. Venture Ashore is the only one that consistently delivers on both proposal speed and day-of execution. My clients rave, and Venture Ashore makes me look great."
Meet the team behind the tours
Corey has spent more than seven years designing and customizing group travel for every kind of occasion — milestone celebrations, LGBTQ+ gatherings, family get-togethers, and once-in-a-lifetime trips. Deep destination knowledge and a personal touch make Corey the teammate who turns “we want to do something special” into a day clients tell stories about.
Olivia brings more than eight years of group-travel expertise to the Venture Ashore team, with a specialty in family travel and ocean-based excursions across the Caribbean and Asia Pacific. She partners closely with travel advisors to coordinate seamless multi-guest itineraries where every detail has to land.
Triin specializes in group tours across Europe and Asia. Strong on local knowledge and unrelenting on the details, she designs days that make the most of every hour in every port — tailored to the group, smooth from pickup to dropoff.
Everything you need to know
Groups of 8 or more qualify for our private group shore excursion service. We accommodate all sizes, from 8 to 500 and beyond. There is no maximum group size.
Pricing is custom-quoted based on your group size, destinations, and itinerary. Because the tour is built exclusively for your group, many clients find private pricing compares favourably to shared tours — without the compromises. Request a free quote and we'll send a full proposal within 48 hours.
Absolutely — that's the whole point. We've arranged tours for knitters, photographers, foodies, historians, birdwatchers, and many more. Tell us what your group loves and we'll build something around it.
Yes. For groups of 20 or more, one group leader travels free on every tour.
Yes. All Venture Ashore group tours include pickup and dropoff directly at the cruise pier. Your group steps off the ship and straight onto your private transport.
If our tour runs late and your group misses the ship as a direct result, Venture Ashore covers the travel costs to the ship's next port of call. This applies to all tours that include transportation.
Yes. Travel agents are a core part of our business. We provide dedicated advisor support, competitive group rates, and full commission on every booking. Submit group opportunities directly through the Agent Portal.
At least 60 days before sailing for groups under 50, and 90+ days for larger groups or complex multi-port programs. The earlier you reach out, the more we can tailor the experience.
Are you a travel advisor? We offer dedicated agent support, competitive group rates, and full commission on every booking.
Learn about our travel agent programme →Request a free group quote
Tell us about your group and cruise. We'll send a fully tailored proposal within 48 hours — no obligation to book.
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Custom proposal within 48 hours
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No obligation — compare and decide
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Dedicated account manager assigned on inquiry
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All cruise lines and destinations supported
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Groups of 8 to 500+ welcomed
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Group leader travels free for groups of 20+
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Travel agents receive full commission support
Prefer to talk?
🇺🇸 (888) 927-3620 | 🇬🇧 +44 (0) 800 208
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