ITALY TOURS .EU
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Phone: +390916193355
* Calls are answered in English during work hours in Italy
When will you reply to me?
We customize and reply to ALL inquiries in person. We do not use an automated reservation system so we can customize your visit as much as possible.
We work hard to ensure that:
– We organize the tours to match the actual docking times of your cruise ship
– We get the most relevant times for your Skip-The-Line tickets
– We answer any questions you have in advance
– We double check all details and process your reservation so it is accurate and without mistakes
We Guarantee:
– Returning you to the ship in time for departure (or we will take you to the next port at our expense)
– Your peace of mind by giving you all the details in advance (no surprise policy)
– A worry-free shore excursion
The only downside to this?
It takes time..
We kindly ask for your patience as we are currently receiving a HUGE volume of requests for the coming months! While it is absolutely amazing to have so much demand for our tours – we might be slower to reply than at other times of the year. Many many thanks for your kind patience!
How do I pay for the tours?
In regards to the booking process and payments:
On a SHARED tour – we normally need a minimum of 6 people to participate (except for Pompeii where we need 8). Once we have the minimum (and we could already have it when you contact us), we will send you an email with instructions on how to pay.
On a PRIVATE tour (for your party only), we will send you the payment email as soon as you give us the ‘go ahead’.
Our Payment Policy:
There is a full refund in the event that:
(1) You cancel the reservation for whatever reason with at least 48-hour notice
(2) You are unable to arrive due to international transportation cancellations
* Cancellations within 48 hours or non-show members are charged-in-full
** Admission tickets (if relevant) are nonrefundable (determined by each venue)
We accept Visa, Master Card, and Amex only.
Can I pay with USD/CAD/GBP?
Yes!
Please note we use the OFFICIAL exchange rate to charge the amount in US Dollars directly (or CAD/GBP). This is to ensure you do not lose ANY money on exchange rates or fees that would be charged by your financial institution. There is simply no better or easier way to exchange your money. We do not charge extra on rate or fees – we have zero benefit from this and we do it for your convenience and to save you money! If you prefer the charge to be in Euros – please let us know in the comments section so we don’t make the conversion unnecessarily.
The charge will appear as ‘TOP DAY TOURS‘ in your credit card statement. It is done in US Dollars directly via a payment company called Fareharbor in Canada. Please remember what this charge is for!
We strongly recommend calling your credit card company to inform them of an upcoming charge with the above details BEFORE making a payment.
What is the pick-up and return times to the ship?
In regards to tour timings and since we offer the ‘Worry Free Shore Excursion Policy’, we adjust the start time of the tours and the return times to ports in such a way that you will never miss your ship departure. We normally start 35-45 minutes after the official docking time (for example, if the ship docks at 07:00 am we will start around 07:45 am) and we return to port 8 hours after that. However, as we also aim to return to the ship with at least 60 minutes to spare before departure, we will cut the tour time short only if we need to. We can happily confirm that this is not needed in the vast majority of cases since normally the ship will dock for at least 9 hours or more. Once a tour is confirmed, we will decide on the best, customized start time which will ensure good planning for logistics, traffic and other considerations as well as your safe return to the ship 100% in time for departure. We never had a case where guests could not join any of our tours due to timings, since we simply customize each and every shore excursion that we offer to accommodate everyone.
Should I bring my passport with me on the tour?
No!
You don’t want to lose your passport when you’re traveling on a cruise ship! You can bring a driver’s license instead or a photo copy of the passport
I am making multiple bookings – when do I get a discount?
In regards to the 5% discount – you are entitled to receive that when you book 3 tours or more.
In order to receive the discount, please contact us by email after the tours are done if you end up going on 3 or more tours, and we will issue a refund directly to your credit card for 5% for the most expensive tour.
What about guests with Mobility Issues?
For our guests with mobility issues or for those with difficulties to remain standing/walking for the entire duration of the tour, our staff will be happy to offer a suitable place while waiting for others IF needed. If you feel for example that you may hold back the tour, we will offer you the option to wait while others complete the walking tour. We cannot guarantee in advance where and for how long you will have to wait (we do kindly ask for your flexibility), but we can say with certainty that if you are not in a wheel chair, you will see most sites on the itinerary. Your kind consideration for others in this shared and small group tour will be much appreciated. Kindly follow the suggestions by our staff as we always have the best of interest in mind for you and others in the group. Many thanks in advance for your kind cooperation.
We strongly advise against visiting the Vatican during peak season due to limited seating, extensive crowds, and the necessity for continuous standing and walking (2.5 hours).
Dress Code?
In churches/cathedrals, please be prepared to:
– Wear pants knee-high
– No low-cut shirts
– No singlet or clothing with straps for ladies
– Skirt or dresses should not end above the knees
You can bring a shawl to cover your shoulders if you have low-cut clothing. There are no restrictions for shoes.
If you don’t get the minimum, would the tour still run?
In the event that we don’t reach the minimum needed (we offer best rates for small group tours), we will offer you the option to share with as many guests that do sign up – and it may end up costing more if there are less than the minimum (you will have the option to opt-out).
* Please note that if we do not have the minimum number of participants for this tour by 21 days prior to the start of the tour and others do not agree to pay more, then the reservation will automatically be cancelled by our system.
Also, If you decide to go online to try and recruit others to join this tour then for anyone wanting to go, kindly ask them to write us directly so we can send them the full information.
Can you tell me how many people are already signed up?
Yes we can! But we can’t give out names or other details of other guests due to privacy laws.
Who will buy Skip-the-Line tickets?
We will – subject to early booking and availability. There are many logistical constraints to consider when buying the tickets, including the timing, our program for the day, etc. Contact us ASAP about the tickets to avoid disappointment.
Please note – it is NOT possible to mix tickets from other agents/on-line sources, since venues in Italy will not allow this when they check you at the entrance!
Costs for Kids
Prices are provided per seat in the vehicle regardless of the age of the participant. The total amount is in essence divided by how many seats we need for the day – thank you for your understanding.
Do you have any other Discounts?
We offer the best possible rates taking into account the tour setup, quality, size of the groups, and the fact we have an expert guide on most tours.
We offer a unique tour setup compared to other alternatives, because most other tours offer a driver only option. Our tours in most cases include an expert guide, and cost the same or even less!
A tour with an expert and certified guide is a better tour. We are also normally much cheaper than the ship tours which runs with 30-40 other tourists on a bus, and where you will have to endure long walks since only mini-vans such as ours are allowed in city centers in Italy. We don’t have much room for discounts as we run our tours on the basis of low margin.
Our only special offer is provided to those guests that booked 3 or more tours with us. In this case, we offer 5% of the most expensive tour!
What’s the situation in Rome in 2024?
We regret to say this but the situation in Rome is not great… We are witnessing an unprecedented amount of visitors. Tourist sites are extremely overcrowded and on most days they are just becoming unpleasant with long, long lines, even for those with skip-the-line tickets! The Vatican, in particular, is truly overcrowded, and some guests have reported feeling claustrophobic inside. Please be ready for that!
We highly recommend those individuals with mobility issues or anyone unable to stand for 2.5 hours to avoid the Vatican this spring. Its so bad that some Vatican guides have decided to quit their jobs because they couldn’t handle the crowds.
The Colosseum area and the city center are also super crowded with many visitors walking shoulder to shoulder in the main sites. Please be ready for that too…
Can we climb the tower of Pisa?
You may with our private tour OR on the Pisa and Lucca shared tour.
Here is more important information regarding the climb:
Cost is: 24 Euros per person
The venue will not issue a refund (and there are no discounts)
There are 300 spiraling steps to climb with no elevator
No kids below 8 years of age are allowed
Tickets must be bought and paid in Advance
Pisa’s tower isn’t the tallest in Italy, but it does require considerable physical effort. For many, the sense of imbalance that comes from climbing the spiral stairs of a seriously tilting edifice is the most challenging part. The ascent takes about 10 minutes, but it takes another 5 minutes or so to recover from the dizziness. At the uppermost terrace, serious vertigo-sufferers will want to keep away from the low edge, which cantilevers thrillingly over the piazza.
Can we skip the line to the site of Pompeii?
ALL our tours offer skipping the lines to sites.
In Pompeii, our expert guide will skip the line for you after you hand them the entry fee in cash (on the day itself).
Does the ticket to the Vatican include a visit to the Sistine Chapel?
Yes. Our Skip-The Line tickets to the Vatican include a visit to the famous Sistine Chapel.
Will we enter St. Peters Basilica?
Yes!
In the vast majority of tours and if you choose to buy the Skip-The-Line Tickets to the Vatican.
Once inside, there is a short-cut passage to enter the basilica. If it’s open during the day of your visit, the Vatican guide will take you inside.
Will we visit the Colosseum?
It depends on the tour option you select.
Due to the significant surge in visitors to Rome in the post-Covid era, we now advise against including an inside visit to the Colosseum on this tour. Our experience in 2023 indicated that visiting the inside of the Colosseum could result in valuable tour time lost to queues, even with ‘skip-the-line’ tickets.
To ensure the highest quality touring experience possible, we have decided not to include interior visits to the Colosseum during our Shared Rome Shore Excursions.
This adjustment allows us to dedicate more time to providing you with a thorough and enjoyable tour.
If you’re determined to visit the Colosseum despite potential queues, we kindly suggest opting for our private tour option or the ‘Sunday tour’ (the ‘Sunday tour’ can be performed on any day of the week. We name it that way since the Vatican is closed on a Sunday).
Also, There is plenty to see around the Colosseum area which is a wonderful place just to be around and spend time in. Observe and absorb all that this area has to offer (you may need 2 full days to fully explore it!). By spending the time around the Colosseum you will find endless sites/gems around you. From the palatine hill to the Forum to churches, museums, Circo-Massimo, Art galleries, etc. This area is truly an open-air museum like no other place. You won’t even notice how the time flies, and… you might enjoy it more than those guests choosing to go inside the Colosseum.
How do we get the tickets to the Colosseum and Vatican?
I bought the tickets – do I need to print them or can I show them on my phone?
No need to print the tickets. They can be scanned from your phone.
The Accademia visit – how does that work with a group tour if its optional?
Due to the significant surge in visitors to Florence in the post-Covid era, we now advise against including an inside visit to the Accademia Gallery on a shared tour. Our experience in 2023 showed that visiting the Accademia could result in valuable tour time lost to queues, even with ‘skip-the-line’ tickets.
To ensure the highest quality touring experience possible, we have decided not to include interior visits to the Accademia during our Florence and Pisa tour. Rest assured, you won’t miss out on Michelangelo’s famous David, as there is a replica displayed outdoors, free of charge. This adjustment allows us to dedicate more time to providing you with a thorough and enjoyable tour.
If you’re determined to visit the Accademia despite potential queues, we kindly suggest opting for our private tour or the ‘Florence Only’ tour, rather than the combined ‘Florence and Pisa’ excursion.
Will there be any time for shopping or grabbing a bite to eat?
Yes!
Free time for shopping and food will be given and you are free to choose the venue of your choice. We will point at an AREA with a variety of restaurants/shops to accommodate any taste or budget. We highly recommend to avoid slow serving restaurants (unfortunately, many are slow), as there is plenty to see on our tours. One option is a quick visit to a local ‘Pizzeria’ for example.
Will there be time to explore sites or it’s a drive-by only?
Yes!
We get off the vehicle to explore the sites offered on our programs. Even for the ‘panorama’ part of the tour, we stop, get off the van, explore, take photos, etc. This is done for all tours except in extreme cases, if the ship will be docking for a very short time, we always stop for you. In Pisa for example, we stop for 45 minutes on a shared tour and as much as requested on a private tour.
What will happen if the ship does not dock at the port?
You will get a full refund within 7 business days (less the admission tickets which are non-refundable as a policy of the venues in Italy).
Are your vehicles equipped with A/C?
Yes. BUT…
Due to new ‘anti-pollution’ laws introduced we cannot run the A/C when the vehicle is parked. This will affect tours in the summer as we must stop the A/C from working once the vehicle has stopped and it is empty from guests. Once everyone returns, we will put it on again but it will take some time and you will feel the impact especially if we have frequent stops on tour. Your kind understanding will be much appreciated and perhaps we can all take comfort in the fact that we help the environment this way (bring plenty of cold water with you during the hot summer days). It does get very hot!
How do I book? What’s my next step?
When you are ready to book, please email us the following information:
* Name for the sign
* Do you prefer the private or semi-private tour?
* Do you want Skip-The-Line tickets?
* Your mobile/cell-phone number
* Ship name/Docking times
We have children with us – do they need to pay the full price?
Prices are calculated on the basis of cost per vehicle divided by the number of participants, regardless of the age of the guests. We quote the prices per person for convenience only.
When will you send me the confirmation?
If you are booking a SHARED tour – we will email you the confirmation as soon as the minimum number of participants pay for the tour.
If you are booking a PRIVATE tour – normally within 2 days.
For more questions
You can view many questions, answers, and reviews from previous guests on our Cruise Critic thread…
Feel free to participate in this chat to find out more information. Thank you!