Venture AshoreReviews of ventureashore.com

Very disappointing experience, would not use Venture Ashore again We booked two excursions with Venture Ashore during our cruise and unfortunately came away very disappointed with both. Our first excursion was to Rome. Andrea, our guide, was OK, but he didn’t seem particularly comfortable using the microphone, so the commentary was very hit and miss. The group was also huge, which made keeping everyone together difficult. At the end of the tour, Andrea recommended a restaurant for lunch and around 36 of us went there. This turned out to be a terrible recommendation. We were charged €97 for a meal that should have cost €58. We argued against it and they gave us back €25 cash. We initially thought this might have been a mistake, but at least four other families from our group had exactly the same experience. It felt like a complete rip-off and left a very sour taste at the end of the day. We then booked the Florence and Pisa excursion, which was even more disappointing. The itinerary included a "walk with a local", which we assumed would involve someone with some knowledge of Florence. In reality, it was simply being led around by someone who announced where we were. The person wasn't actually local and wouldn't answer questions about the buildings, history or location because they weren't a tour guide who apparently get paid €100 an hour! She spent rhe entire time. Hatting on her phone. Calling this part of the excursion a tour is very misleading. It added very little and felt like a complete waste of time. The worst part, though, was the timekeeping. We were supposed to be back at our ship, P&O Azura, at 5pm. We didn't arrive back until around 6.10pm, despite the final boarding time being 6pm. This made the journey back incredibly stressful for everyone. The poor time management also meant we couldn't properly relax and enjoy our time in Pisa because everyone was worrying about getting back to the ship. After two disappointing experiences, I wouldn't book with Venture Ashore again. In future, I'd pay the extra and book excursions directly through P&O. They may cost more, but you're collected from and returned directly to the ship, rather than having the additional hassle of getting buses to meeting points, finding the group and standing around queuing in the sun. Overall, both trips felt poorly organised and not good value for money. The late return to the ship was particularly unacceptable and stressful. Very disappointing.

The tour in Barbados was nothing as described. I complained at the time and was issued an immediate refund. The company contacted the tour company while we were on the tour who promptly left us on the beach and didn’t return to take us back to the ship. Despite a “return to ship guarantee” Venture Assure are refusing to pay the 30 dollar taxi fare back to the ship. It certainly would not have been cheaper for them to fly us to the next island, which makes me wonder who regulates them and wether the return to ship guarantee is genuine.

We booked 2 excursions through Venture Ashore 6 months before our cruise. They cancelled both excursions 3 weeks before the cruise with no explanation. They are still selling both excursions for the dates we had booked. We were left scrambling for new excursions just a few weeks before our cruise. I would not recommend Venture Ashore to anyone.

I took a cruise to the west caribbean for my honeymoon this past November. I had booked 3 excursions 1 in belize which had us waiting an hour before we started the bus broke down along the way and the ruins tours was horrible the tour guide spoke more about his grandfather than the Mayans 2. We ziplined in roatan the zipline great the zoo was stupid a few monkeys and two slothes nothing to rave about. But we waited over an hour for the driver to arrive. 3 snorkeling in cozumel with chac choc tours. We arrived at the marina at 1pm. There was no sign or form of directions where to meet the tour. We walked around looking for the meeting point. And found nothing. After an hour we left. I couldn't connect to the emergency number because I had no service or internet. When I got back on the ship I sent an email to venture ashore to let them know what happened with the snorkeling and that I needed a refund. They told me that the company is repertoire is good and they left at 1pm with 50ppl. I explained that we got there on time but had no directions for the meeting area at the marina. Venture ashore refused to refund that one tour and over looks the costumer. I would rather spend a little more money and book with the ship for their excursions at least I know that I will get my tour or my money back.

We Booked a FLorence and Pisa shore excursion from La Spezia where our ship docked. The website is very misleading. We booked a 'transfer and walk with local', rather than 'transport only' and paid extra for this. You would assume it would be a knowlegable guide. Firstly they didn't have our correct booking and said we asked for transport only. It took 20 minutes to confirm we had the 'with a guide and not transport only. When we got to Florence, this 'guide' took us to the main streets and when asked about anything, she said she couldn't tell us as she was not a licensed guide. I could have followed a map to the main attractions ourselvles. We learnt nothing about beautiful Florence. When the coach got to Pisa, they left us in a Coach Park with no directions of how to get to the leaning Tower. The 'guide' was just on her phone all the time. You think you might be saving money from the cruise excursions but this was an utter waste of money as it is not a proper guided tour. Beware!

April 2025 We booked a fabulous cruise to Hawaii earlier this year with a helicopter trip to be a very special treat on Kauai Island with Venture Ashore. We paid £594.54 for our two tickets for a Delux Waterfall Flight of the island. We had been given exact instructions where we had to meet our transportation for the trip once we disembarked our ship. We waited and waited. No one came to collect us. We re-boarded our ship and made many phone calls to resolve this problem. Eventually having got through to someone, we were told we had to make our own way there and that they did not pick passengers up from ships any more. I actually had all the paperwork saying they would pick us up. Our final day on what would have been a fabulous trip was so disappointing. We never managed to see any of the island as all the trips had by this time gone. On return from our holiday, I contacted my credit card company (for which I had paid for the trip) who were very helpful. Nevertheless, Venture Ashore's reply was that we were not entitled to a refund as we were a 'no show'. I sent all the emails through to my credit card company - showing clearly that they said they would pick up. Finally, this matter has been resolved and I have my refund but nothing can put right the disappointment we felt on that last day of our cruise of Hawaii. Read less

Iceland, hour wait in cold/rain for pick up, contact no. not recognised, so emailed. Reply was quick, time had been changed to 1 hour later, ineffective communication for those on ship with no internet, pick up points need Google pin or what3 words, chaotic change over to another coach. 2nd day no show for pick up. Another tour cancelled with inadequate notice. So disappointing. Will not use this company again but go through official cruise ship tours where pick up directly at port.

Couldn't find your rep to collect pre paid tickets. no point of contact other traders didn;t know where you where wandering back and forth for half hour in rain. other local trader gave us free tickets for their bus tours. we will never recommend your company, and it was expensive too as we paid. in advance prior to cruise travel.