SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - November 15, 2010) - Viator.com, the leading resource for researching and booking more than 5,500 trip activities and experiences at the best prices, has expanded its offering and services for shore excursions in 40 destinations and announced the introduction of "Worry-free Shore Excursions"** in many of the most popular port cities to accommodate the time windows of cruise passengers.
Viator Shore Excursions can be found on the site's new "Cruise Port Pages" which highlight specific port and destination information including local area maps and suggestions on the best things to do with only one day in town. Backed by a low-price guarantee, Viator shore excursions are an attractive alternative to the often pricey tours provided by the cruise line as all Viator tours are pre-screened for quality and service and maintain size limits to avoid overcrowding. While Viator has worked hard to ensure each Worry Free Shore Excursion will enable passengers to return to the ship on time, in those rare circumstances where passengers miss their departure, the traveler will be transferred to the ship's next port-of-call, courtesy of Viator.
"With 14 million travelers expected to cruise this year alone, it makes sense to cater to cruise passengers to offer alternatives to the ship sponsored shore excursion," said Barrie Seidenberg, CEO and president of Viator. "With Viator Shore Excursions travelers can create personalized and unique itineraries that can save them up to 60 percent and get them away from the crowds to have experiences that no one else on the ship may have."
A sample of the port cities and activities available for cruise passengers: (All Viator operators maintain the same licensing and insurance coverage required by the cruise lines.)
- 90-Minute Fjords National Monument Seaplane Tour
- Chilkoot Hike and Float Tour
- Rose Island Day Cruise from Nassau
- St. Thomas -- Hassel Island Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Tour
- Private Tour: Luxor West Bank, Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple
- Private Tour: Luxor East Bank, Karnak and Luxor Temples
- Istanbul Shore Excursion: Bosphorus Cruise and Istanbul Egyptian Bazaar
- Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul in One Day Sightseeing Tour
- Civitavecchia Shore Excursion: Rome in One Day Private Tour
- Naples Shore Excursion Private Tour: Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello Day Trip from Naples
- Cozumel ATV Jungle and Snorkel Combo
- Los Cabos Horseback Riding Adventure
A sample of an actual Viator traveler review reveals cost savings and quality of service:
- Civitavecchia Shore Excursion: Rome in One Day Private Tour
"The weather was horrible, but our guide Graham was wonderful. He was so knowledgeable and being from Calif. certanily no language problems. We got to see more than we had expected to and were back to the ship with time to spare and half of the cost of ship tour." Reviewed by Raymond R, USA March 2010
For more inspiration as well as the latest news on special promotions, deals, contests and suggestions, cruise passengers and all travelers can visit the Viator Travel Blog (http://travelblog.viator.com) as well as Twitter (http://twitter.com/ViatorTravel) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ViatorTours).
Note: *The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) estimated that more than 14 million people would take a cruise in 2010. **Worry-free Shore Excursion: Viator will ensure customers' timely return to the port. In the rare event the ship has departed, Viator will arrange for transportation to the ship's next scheduled port-of-call. See Viator's terms and conditions for full details.
About Viator
Viator is the world's leading online resource for travel experiences, providing access to more than 5,500 tours, attractions and activities in 450-plus destinations in 75 countries. Viator -- the Latin word for traveler -- offers travelers a one-stop shop to plan, research and book trip activities with helpful resources like more than 200,000 traveler reviews and photos, star ratings, suggested itineraries and the Viator Travel Blog. Viator's in-house travel experts have picked respected and trusted local operators to ensure a quality experience, value and service, all backed by Viator's low-price guarantee. Founded in 1995, Viator sells its products directly to consumers at www.viator.com and through its global network of more than 1,000 affiliates that include major hotel and airline companies, online travel agencies, city-specific sites and more. Through its collection of company operated and affiliated sites, including seven European-language sites, Viator welcomes more than 2.5 million visitors per month. Viator is headquartered in San Francisco with regional offices in Sydney, London and Las Vegas.
