A SELECTION OF OUR HIGHEST-RATED PRIVATE SHORE EXCURSIONS FOR EUROPEAN CRUISE AND RIVERBOAT GUESTS
Private After-Hours Entry to the Sistine Chapel with Vatican Curator
A&K arranges exclusive evening access—no crowds, no noise—guided by a Vatican art historian. Guests stand alone beneath the frescoes, often with permission to linger longer than standard private entries. Where offered: Rome pre/post cruise; select Mediterranean cruise calls.
Falconry & Berber Horsemen Demonstration in the Atlas Foothills
Cruise guests docking in Casablanca or Agadir can be whisked inland for a private falconry exhibition, followed by tea with a local falconer and a traditional Berber equestrian show rarely seen by tourists. Where offered: Morocco cruise calls.
Hands-On Archaeology at an Active Dig with On-Site Researchers
Guests join archaeologists at a restricted excavation—handling tools, assisting with cataloging, and learning the science behind the dig. Where offered: Greece, Turkey, Israel cruise calls.
Private Gondola-Making Workshop & Boatbuilder Tour in Venice
Instead of a gondola ride, A&K takes guests inside a squeri (boatyard) for a hands-on demonstration of gondola construction, wood selection, and the craft’s centuries-old traditions. Where offered: Adriatic cruises; Po River extensions.
Chef for a Day” Market-to-Table Experience with a Michelin-Trained Cook
Guests shop a local market with a chef, then cook a regional menu in a private kitchen—no tourist cooking school, but a genuine culinary apprenticeship. Where offered: France river cruises (Rhône, Seine), Italy cruise calls.
Private Concert in a Baroque Salon with Local Musicians
A&K arranges a chamber performance—string quartet, harpsichord, or opera soloist—in a historic salon normally closed to the public. Where offered: Vienna, Salzburg, Prague river itineraries; Baltic cruises.
Behind-the-Scenes Access to a Working Volcano Observatory
A&K secures entry to a volcanic monitoring station—meeting geologists, viewing instruments, and learning how eruptions are predicted. Where offered: Sicily (Etna), Iceland cruise calls.
“A Day in the Life of a Tuscan Artisan” – Leather, Paper, & Gold Leaf Studios
Rather than a standard Florence tour, guests visit three tiny workshops: a leather craftsman, a marbled-paper maker, and a gold-leaf gilder. Each artisan demonstrates techniques and allows hands-on practice. Where offered: Italy cruise calls; river extensions via Florence.
A FEW ADDITIONAL PRIVATE EXPERIENCES WE CAN MODIFY TO YOUR INTERESTS WITH SOME OF EUROPE’S TOP A&K GUIDES
- Syros, Greece. A private performance at a Greek theater.
- Matera, Italy. A visit to the limestone hills of UNESCO-designated Matera in southern Italy. Includes a guided walk through the ancient cave-dwelling districts.
- Brittany, France. A foodie tour in Brittany. It’s a regional food experience led by local experts.
- Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. A yacht cruise off the coast, coming ashore for a private lunch at a local winery. It combines time on the water with a private wine and food experience ashore.
- Sicily truffle hunt. The excursions include a truffle hunt on a Sicilian farmstead as part of sampling fine regional food and wines. Expect a working-farm visit with tasting.
- Bologna pasta class. A pasta making class in Bologna. It’s a hands-on cooking session, with a meal afterward.
- Corfu, Mount Pantokrator. Hiking to the summit of Corfu’s Mount Pantokrator. This is an active port option, suited to guests who want views and exercise.
- Kotor Bay, Montenegro. Swimming in Kotor Bay’s luminous Blue Cave. It’s a boat-and-swim outing and dependent on weather and sea conditions.
- Vienna waltz lesson (river cruise). A private waltz lesson in Vienna, an A&K exclusive.
- Douro Valley and Bordeaux wines. The coastal cruise features curated tastings of the celebrated wines of Porto, Bordeaux and other renowned regions. It’s a guided visit and tasting at wine estates.
- Bilbao Guggenheim. The itinerary includes browsing the collections of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. It’s a guided art and architecture visit.
- Mont Saint-Michel and Normandy. These are guided historical visits, and the Normandy day is a WWII-themed tour.
- Santiago de Compostela. A visit to Santiago de Compostela, the pilgrimage destination. Includes a guided tour of the cathedral and old town.
- Venice. Begins with a private driver at the port, a transfer to Piazzale Roma and a private water taxi ride to Venice. It’s a half-day walking tour of about four hours with a gondola ride.
- Rome from Civitavecchia. Private operators offer skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican, Colosseum and Pantheon, with one full-day version running about 10 hours.
- Santorini. A roughly 4.5-hour afternoon in which you meet a private guide and driver and head into the countryside to discover picturesque villages, ending with the Oia sunset. A winery stop is a common add-on.
- Barcelona. A typical half-day (about five hours) with a private guide covers Barcelona highlights including the Sagrada Familia. A tapas or Gothic Quarter add-on is common.
- Lisbon and Sintra. Private versions run about five hours in Lisbon alone. A full day with a private driver would add Sintra’s palaces.
- Dubrovnik and Kotor. Typically a private old-town walk, sometimes with a boat outing. Guides can often tailor the day, such as shifting toward wine.
- Istanbul. A carefully chosen private guide for Topkapi, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, with an optional Bosphorus cruise.