Venture AshoreReviews of ventureashore.com

Excursions in Iceland. Went on two excursions in Iceland booked via Venture Ashore. The one called The Golden Circle on 4 th Aug 2023 from Rekjavic was really badly lead, compared to the Volcano, Lagoons tour from Grundarfirdur, the next day. The whole experience was bad. We were not met as promised, with a guide wearing a high vis jacket, just outside a store that no longer exists. The bus arrived late, past the deadline for meeting up. Everyone was panicking and there were nearly 50 of us .There was no apology and the guide was not really knowledgeable or interested in the job of relating to the excursion in any way. She was also too busy nattering with the driver about personal things and only responded to passengers in the first few seats. She didnot come out with us on the tour stops and so we had to poach other tourguides for information. At the lunch time excursion, she also went for lunch, claiming that she had not had any breakfast. A very poor and expensive "misguided" excursion. This was in complete contrast to the following day, run by a more organised and interested guide who enjoyed her job. The excursion itself is well worth doing but not with this particular guide. It seems that Venture Ashore have forgotten to vet or review this package or its quality once subcontracted out. Poor show. The one from Grundafjordur was excellent and led by a guide who was a family member of the excursion company and therefore, very keen to please and knowledgeable, with good skills and enthusiasm. Excursions are pretty expensive to be wasted like this. You would be better off trying your luck once at thebport with any of the local guides who tend to turn up on time, especially if you are a larger group. Minibus type guides were on offer. Other point to watch is time slots, in case of bad weather. Can you get back in time for the cruise departure......a worry! Date of experience: 04 and 05 August 2023

If you're lucky enough to be on an excursion where only one cruise liner is involved, then you may be ok, but if they are picking up from multiple ships then be prepared to have a long wait, lack of communication and your excursions cut short. The excursions we had in Rome was basically a taxi driver who barely spoke and dropped us off "near" various sights and said be back in 30 mins. To make matters worse we spent over an hour of the excursion dropping other people off at hotels in the back streets of Rome. This most definitely wasn't a guided tour of the sights of Rome which we paid for. Oh, and don't get me started on our Florence and Pisa trip which never even happened! My adviwoukd be to book your excursions direcwith the cruise company. They are more expensive but far better organised and reliable.