Huge shout-out to Private Journeys by Celebrity

[luv2ndhalf]

We just returned from our cruise on the Constellation to Italy, Croatia and Montenegro. On our previous cruises we have always used Tours By Locals or Viator. This time, I was having difficulties getting some things scheduled for tours. I submitted what we were looking for to PJ….

They responded relatively quickly and answered all my questions. Were the tours more expensive then TBL or Viator? Yes…. By a good amount. 

BUT-

Everything went smoothly from beginning to end. We met at our given time in Michaels  Club where we were escorted off the ship and brought to the tour guide-

No stress of wondering if the guide would be where they said they would be, and no worries about getting back to the ship on time. The guides were knowledgeable, engaging, and did everything they could to make sure we had a wonderful day.

Just wanted to share our positive experience for any others who may be looking for other options 🙂

[mahdnc]

21 minutes ago, luv2ndhalf said:

We just returned from our cruise on the Constellation to Italy, Croatia and Montenegro. On our previous cruises we have always used Tours By Locals or Viator. This time, I was having difficulties getting some things scheduled for tours. I submitted what we were looking for to PJ….

They responded relatively quickly and answered all my questions. Were the tours more expensive then TBL or Viator? Yes…. By a good amount. 

BUT-

Everything went smoothly from beginning to end. We met at our given time in Michaels  Club where we were escorted off the ship and brought to the tour guide-

No stress of wondering if the guide would be where they said they would be, and no worries about getting back to the ship on time. The guides were knowledgeable, engaging, and did everything they could to make sure we had a wonderful day.

Just wanted to share our positive experience for any others who may be looking for other options 🙂

 

So next time do you plan on using TBL/Viator or will you be doing PJ?

[jelayne]

Thanks for sharing your experience.  It’s good to hear yours went so smoothly.  We are doing an overnight with 4 others in a place quite a distance from the port arranged by PJ.  

 

[NutsAboutGolf]

Glad you enjoyed it and you're the exactly the type of customer PJ is targeting to, those who would pay more "by a good amount" to get an elevated experience.  We're on team save money so we're fine to walk off the ship unescorted and don't get stressed attempting locate a tour guide.  If one is willing to go to CC's parent site, tripadvisor, and inquire about private drivers, you can often save a boatload of money but they're less of a guide and just get you from the ship to attraction A, to attraction B, to attraction C, etc.  Have them meet you right when the ship arrives and you'll often beat a lot of the outbound traffic and arrive at the first attraction before the crowds

[luv2ndhalf]

11 hours ago, mahdnc said:

 

So next time do you plan on using TBL/Viator or will you be doing PJ?

I think it will depend on the port and what we want to do...I will probably start with TBL, then see what Viator offers. I have had a few glitches with Viator in the past, so I would be more likely to book with PJ.  If cost is not a consideration, then I would use PJ. What I did this trip was see what excursions were offered by both the ship and Viator-Then put together what I wanted to see/do, and sent it to PJ for a quote.

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

12 hours ago, luv2ndhalf said:

We just returned from our cruise on the Constellation to Italy, Croatia and Montenegro. On our previous cruises we have always used Tours By Locals or Viator. This time, I was having difficulties getting some things scheduled for tours. I submitted what we were looking for to PJ….

They responded relatively quickly and answered all my questions. Were the tours more expensive then TBL or Viator? Yes…. By a good amount. 

BUT-

Everything went smoothly from beginning to end. We met at our given time in Michaels  Club where we were escorted off the ship and brought to the tour guide-

No stress of wondering if the guide would be where they said they would be, and no worries about getting back to the ship on time. The guides were knowledgeable, engaging, and did everything they could to make sure we had a wonderful day.

Just wanted to share our positive experience for any others who may be looking for other options 🙂

Agreed.

 

I'm giving PJ a try on a few ports during my forthcoming itinerary next month.

 

I'm in the camp of "I want seamless integration between ship and tour guide," along with seeing my desired and specific sites while avoiding the kitsch and/or crowded areas (as much as possible).

 

The PJ team will propose a template for any given day if you don't have one, then work with you to tweak it.

 

No lines. No waiting for others. Go at your pace. And, worked with them on timing in order to have a proper breakfast in my stateroom every day before the early excursion departures.

 

Celebrity, you're alright in my book! 😀

Edited July 15, 2023 by 4-2-N-8

[chemmo]

23 minutes ago, luv2ndhalf said:

I think it will depend on the port and what we want to do...I will probably start with TBL, then see what Viator offers. I have had a few glitches with Viator in the past, so I would be more likely to book with PJ.  If cost is not a consideration, then I would use PJ. What I did this trip was see what excursions were offered by both the ship and Viator-Then put together what I wanted to see/do, and sent it to PJ for a quote.

That sounds like a great idea. I am cruising next year with my son and his fiancée. Both far more active than me…It would be great to personally design a trip so we can share perhaps a morning’s sight seeing but perhaps me then being left in a nice town square by lunchtime to enjoy a drink, shop and view whilst they do something more energetic and return to collect me later.

 

Is it priced per guest or per vehicle?

[mrgabriel]

Thanks for sharing this. We rarely pay for excursions because they don't necessarily give us what we want but there are certainly times when the extra cost would be worthwhile. We know there will be some places we visit on a cruise ship and we'll never go again. It's good to know there's another option where we could create what we want. 

[luv2ndhalf]

5 minutes ago, 4-2-N-8 said:

Agreed.

 

I'm giving PJ a try on a few ports during my forthcoming itinerary next month.

 

I'm in the camp of "I want seemless integration between ship and tour guide," along with seeing my desired and specific sites while avoiding the kitsch and/or crowded areas (as much as possible).

 

The PJ team will propose a template for any given day if you don't have one, then work with you to tweak it.

 

No lines. No waiting for others. Go at your pace. And, worked with them on timing in order to have a proper breakfast in my stateroom every day before the early excursion departures.

 

Celebrity, you're alright in my book! 😀

That is exactly how we felt...It was seamless. We were able to choose what time we wanted to leave/depart.....The concierge in Michael's Club walked us out (when they had confirmation the driver was there) and passed us off to the tour guide. There were always two people in the car-one to drive, and the other to guide. No stress, no need to get up super early, and no anxiety with wondering if the tour guide would show up.

Have fun on your trip!

[luv2ndhalf]

11 minutes ago, chemmo said:

That sounds like a great idea. I am cruising next year with my son and his fiancée. Both far more active than me…It would be great to personally design a trip so we can share perhaps a morning’s sight seeing but perhaps me then being left in a nice town square by lunchtime to enjoy a drink, shop and view whilst they do something more energetic and return to collect me later.

 

Is it priced per guest or per vehicle?

It is priced per vehicle. Just tell them what you are looking for and they will make it work for you. Reach out to PJ and see what they can put together for you....It couldn't hurt!

[Guest 4-2-N-8]

3 minutes ago, luv2ndhalf said:

That is exactly how we felt...It was seamless. We were able to choose what time we wanted to leave/depart.....The concierge in Michael's Club walked us out (when they had confirmation the driver was there) and passed us off to the tour guide. There were always two people in the car-one to drive, and the other to guide. No stress, no need to get up super early, and no anxiety with wondering if the tour guide would show up.

Have fun on your trip!

Well worth the cost. 

[Lastdance]

We had our own private  driver and guide in St.Petersburg for several days.  Never waited in line; went through back entrances and even had an entire restaurant to ourselves.  It was so worth the cost just the two of us, but a trip we will always remember!  Haven’t used PJ, but certainly would consider it after reading your review.   Thanks for the information.

[chemmo]

48 minutes ago, luv2ndhalf said:

It is priced per vehicle. Just tell them what you are looking for and they will make it work for you. Reach out to PJ and see what they can put together for you....It couldn't hurt!

Thanks for that!

[micruiser2002]

3 hours ago, Lastdance said:

We had our own private  driver and guide in St.Petersburg for several days.  Never waited in line; went through back entrances and even had an entire restaurant to ourselves.  It was so worth the cost just the two of us, but a trip we will always remember!  Haven’t used PJ, but certainly would consider it after reading your review.   Thanks for the information.

We did the same in St. Petersburg and the company we booked with had a guarantee to get you to your next stop if you missed the ship.  But I will bet the private tour booked on your own is going to be a great deal cheaper than PJ.

[Lastdance]

4 minutes ago, micruiser2002 said:

We did the same in St. Petersburg and the company we booked with had a guarantee to get you to your next stop if you missed the ship.  But I will bet the private tour booked on your own is going to be a great deal cheaper than PJ.

I totally agree, as Celebrity needs to make money; their own regular tours are always expensive for what you get...big bus and lots of wait time.

 

We also had that back to the ship/port guarantee.

Edited July 15, 2023 by Lastdance

[vazquezmar2004]

How do we inquire about PrivateJourneys with Celebrity?  Is there an email to contact or do I call them?

thanks 

[sanger727]

I'm not a big fan of viator or tours by locals. We prefer to research local tour companies through tripadvisor and reach out them directly to book tours. Personally, it's never left me feeling stressed about finding our tour guide. But to each their own. 

[luv2ndhalf]

3 hours ago, vazquezmar2004 said:

How do we inquire about PrivateJourneys with Celebrity?  Is there an email to contact or do I call them?

thanks 

If you go to the Celebrity website and type in Private Journey, it will bring you to the page with phone numbers and email...  I believe this is the email -privatejourneys@celebrity.com. After I submitted my requests, it did take a few days to hear back.

[micruiser2002]

3 hours ago, sanger727 said:

I'm not a big fan of viator or tours by locals. We prefer to research local tour companies through tripadvisor and reach out them directly to book tours. Personally, it's never left me feeling stressed about finding our tour guide. But to each their own. 

I agree but for my upcoming Japan tour I found a lot of the providers want us to book via Viator.  I think they might be shorthanded just starting back up.  I also found their prices to be very close to the actual tour provider and no deposit or payment until a few days before the tour. I have also been able to communicate directly with the actual tour operators.  But every other cruise I have always booked privately and directly with outside tour companies.