Private tour operator carte blanche?

[OldBoot]

How directive are you when booking private shore excursions? This is my first time using non-ship excursions. I am really expecting to leave the itinerary in the hands of the tour operator instead of being directive with what I want to see. Thoughts or advice?

 

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[euro cruiser]

You can be as directive or as passive as you wish. The larger/more popular firms often discussed in this forum offer standard packages. You can simply go with that, or you can ask to customize it, or you can create your own from whole cloth.

[CruiserBruce]

If that is the way you want to go, it will work fine, as they will give you the "standard" tour. If there are specific sites you want to visit, or not visit, you should so specify.

[cruisemom42]

I tend to have a very specific list of what I want to see -- but that's because of my heavy interest in Roman history and remains.

 

While you can certainly leave decisions about what to see up to your guide or driver, do be aware that unless you specify otherwise, you may get taken to a "shopping opportunity" (e.g., ceramic factory, cameo factory, wood box factory, etc.) where your guide gets a kickback. If you have no interest in stops like these, it's really best to let them know in advance, otherwise it will waste time that could be spent seeing other things.

[fabnfortysomething]

agree with cruisemom if you are not interested in shopping ,long lunches etc you may find yourself herded in that direction and then an awkward situation where you either go along with it and resent the waste of time or have to confront the guide

 

best to clarify upfront exactly what you want out of the tour