Royal Caribbean Debuts Private Journeys

It’s basically shore excursions a la carte at Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, whose new “Private Journeys” option is giving cruisers the power to create their own personalized shore excursions, tailored to fit their individual budget, interests, and experience. 

Beyond the close to 3,000 shore excursions Royal Caribbean already offers, customers now will be able to opt for their own personalized journey.  
 
The Private Journeys program assigns a “Destination Insider” to help cruisers choose from a list of activities, programs, and adventures for individuals and groups. 

For example, on an Alaskan sailing, a cruiser will be able to choose a trip to the Misty Fjords National Monument on a de Havilland Beaver float plane, and follow it up with a fireside meal of smoked salmon and Dungeness crab paired with Alaskan Amber beer. 

Guests on eastern European sailings can take a yacht in the Dubrovnik Riviera in Croatia exploring islands and islets lined up around the Riviera, and enjoy swims in secluded lagoons.      

And, car enthusiasts on German sailings can have a personal driver take them on a one-on-one tour of the Germany countryside, with stops for guided walks through narrow streets in Berlin and snacks of canapes and champagne while overlooking the Baltic Sea.  

Royal Caribbean managing director of global tour operations Roberta Jacoby called the new option a “natural evolution,” a result of the travel industry moving toward “more personalized and immersive destination experiences that can be intimately shared with only their family and friends.” 
 
Private Journeys bookings are available in 288 ports of call in 77 countries. They require a $100 deposit, applicable to the final cost. To celebrate the launch of the new program, however, Royal is waiving the deposit fee through March 31.