Basics of Booking a Private Tour in the Med?

[OBX Cruisers]

My husband and I will be traveling on Oceania's Regatta from Barcelona to Venice in October 2006. We've been watching the CC boards and it looks like there are many wonderful private tours we'd consider booking. We'd appreciate help with the basics -

. Since there are just two of us, what is the best way to find other cruisers who might want to join us on a tour? It seems we aren't allowed to "advertise" for this on the CC boards. We'd hate to book an expensive tour and then not have anyone to share the cost.

. Are deposits usually required? full payment in advance? Can you use a credit card for the tour?

. Do you sign a contract?

. What happens if the ship itinerary changes and you can't make that port? How do you get in touch with the guide if there are last minute changes?

. Has anyone booked a private tour and not had the guide show up?

 

Thanks everyone!

[laughoutloud]

I think you would get a better response on the "Europe" boards...

[OBX Cruisers]

Thanks - we'll post on the Europe boards as well.

[Andee]

We met a couple on the boards, not by advertising, but just by chatting. On the ship, we met another couple and added them, which reduced the per couple price.

 

We booked a private van/driver for the Amalfi coast. We did not have to pay before the trip. There was no contract. We paid in cash.

 

We knew there was a possibility that the ship wouldn't make the tender port in Amalfi, so we advised the driver of that in advance. We confirmed that we could be docking in Naples via e-mail from the ship.