The Mediterranean · PRIVATE
Good private boat trips fill up weeks ahead in high season and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each fare covers and how they differ.
Review of Istanbul’s Bosphorus dinner cruise, with yacht views, Turkish shows, a three-course meal, drinks, seating tips, and practical advice.
“It was an amazing experience. we really enjoyed it .all cultural programmes are really good. food is amazing and their service also really impressed which include serving food pick up and drop off. friendly people .”
Compare Murano glass and Burano lace on a five-hour private boat tour from Venice, with local guides, free time, and groups of 22 or fewer.
“Great value for the money, tour is wonderful and the guide Selena was great and funny, what a great tour, i ll recommend it because we learned a lot and had such a great time! Thanks”
Review of a private Kusadasi shore tour to Ephesus, with flexible sightseeing, local guides, optional tickets, lunch, and on-time ship return.
“When we booked this we thought it was a small group tour. It turned out to be just us and another couple in a van with a guide and a driver. The guide was lovely (don’t recall her name), very knowledgeable and considerate. The tour of Ephesus was perfect. After the tour, we went to a Turkish rug factory which had a restaurant attached. We ended up buying a small rug that would be shipped to us in 4-6 weeks from 10/19. On December 3 we received an email saying that the rug would be shipped to the US warehouse in 4-6 weeks. It is now 12/29 and we still…”
Review of Venice’s Murano and Burano tour by private boat, with glassblowing, lace-making, local tips, timing, value, and practical advice.
“Frankie was a wonderful guide. She knew so much about the islands and was so helpful. Your was a nice size. We would love to do it again!”
Review of Venice’s St. Mark’s Basilica, walking, and Grand Canal boat tour, with practical advice on price, timing, guides, crowds, and value.
“My husband did a day trip to Venice and only had a few hours in the city. This was a good way to get an understanding of the history of Venice. The tour was interesting and our guide was lovely and very knowledgeable. Our group size wasn’t big enough to have the gondola ride included however, we were told beforehand and given a refund for that portion of the tour. I feel like if we had been able to go on the gondola ride it would have made the experience feel complete.”
Review of Venice’s private 30-minute gondola cruise, with Grand Canal views, quiet side canals, pricing, meeting tips, and honest advice.
“Beautiful sights and gondola. Water traffic was busier than expected but I know that can’t be controlled”
Review of the Capri and Blue Grotto boat trip from Sorrento, with small groups, swimming stops, island time, costs, and practical tips.
“Amazing 10/10! Luca & Anna were the best they made the trip fun & exciting while catering to us with snacks and drinks ! Highly recommend for a family group or couple! This is our 2nd time doing this trip and we had THE BEST TIME ! Thank you Anna & Luca HIGHLIGHT OF OUR ITALY TRIP!”
Review of Istanbul’s Bosphorus dinner cruise with Turkish food, live dance shows, night views, optional hotel pickup, and practical booking tips.
“The tour was a great way to spend the evening and experience some local culture. The food was outstanding with generous portions and selections. The entertainment was varied and lively. The pickup/drop off at our hotel was a huge bonus considering Istanbul traffic. Sadly, it was winter and got dark early and we couldn’t see anything on shore during daylight, but the lights were beautiful.”
Explore Gozo by quad, swim at Ramla Bay, see Dwejra, and return by powerboat through Comino for a full day of island adventure.
“It was fantastic. Our quad bike guide was Mark who did a wonderful job leading us safely around the island. Our buggy experienced a mechanical problem about 10 min into the tour, thankfully, a replacement was quickly brought to us so we could continue the day. Lunch was included, and a couple other stops including a refreshment break. Also the two boat trips were very good. This was December 2025 and we can say we’d like to do it again. It was fun!!”
Barcelona tour review covering the Gothic Quarter, Gaudí, boat transfer, short helicopter flight, price, timing, and practical booking advice.
“The guide was very good. The whole experience was awesome. Would go again. Next time the 12 minute flight.”
Barcelona by foot, boat, and helicopter in four hours, with Gaudí landmarks, Gothic streets, port views, and a flight video included.
“Han the guide was great with very nice approach. For Sure we will buy it again next time when we will be in Barcelona”
Review of a private Kusadasi shore tour to Ephesus, Mary's House, and Artemis, with custom timing, licensed guides, and guaranteed ship return.
“Beautiful amazing excursion. Our tour guide was very historically knowledgeable of the area and history.”
Review of Malta’s private Comino boat tour, with Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, caves, snorkeling, pricing, timing, and practical tips.
“we had such an amazing experience with Jimmy! He was very knowledgeable and skilled. We felt like we got a private tour of all the beauty Malta has to offer. The best boat tour we’ve ever done. Highly recommend!”
Review of Istanbul’s 3-hour Bosphorus dinner cruise, with Turkish food, Ottoman landmarks, live shows, private tables, and practical booking tips.
“Very good on board service food and drink Entertainment was good”
Sail Barcelona from Port Vell with cava, wine, snacks, skyline views, local stories, and a possible Mediterranean swim.
“We had super fun and really enjoyed this cruise experience. The sail time was around 2 hrs including almost 45 mins to 1hr of an amazing time in waters very far away from the city, giving a nice view of Barcelona! Other time was enjoyable slow sail along the harbor. We could go on the front side when it was safe. They gave us several options in drinks with decent snacks. The crew was very cordial and their service was excellent.”
Pick a coast, a lagoon or a kind of day.
