Meet the team: Who plans the shore excursions on a cruise?

What goes on behind the scenes in planning river cruise excursions? Saga’s destination experience executive Sophie Marsh explains the complexities of planning every tour so that guests have the most memorable and enjoyable experience.

By Sue Bryant

How do you start planning?

I always start with the destination itself, understanding its history, culture and key highlights. From there, I think about our guests – their interests, expectations and what they would enjoy, particularly if it’s their first visit to a destination, as well as having options for those who may have visited before.

For example, if it’s your first time in Amsterdam, the included canal cruise is a great introduction. Then for guests who have visited the city before, we might suggest optional excursions like a visit to Hortus Botanical Gardens or a Dutch Cheese Experience.

I then consider practical elements, such as time in port and potential berthing locations to ensure we make the most of each stop. We work closely with our local agents and suppliers to create all the included and optional experiences, making sure we offer a well-balanced programme.

Saga’s five-night A Taste of the Netherlands cruise is the perfect introduction to the city.

How many tours are offered in each river cruise port?

Every port will have an included excursion which serves as the perfect introduction to a new place. This is typically a walking tour, a panoramic coach tour or a local wine tasting. In addition, there’s a range of reasonably priced optional tours.

What do you look for to make a shore excursion special?

It’s all about authenticity and memorable moments. We focus on using knowledgeable local guides and designing experiences that immerse guests into the local culture. Small, thoughtful touches such as personal stories, visits to family-run businesses or hands-on demonstrations of local traditions can really elevate an excursion.

As an example, in Bratislava we offer a hosted visit to a local home. This is an opportunity to visit a rural home in the Small Carpathians, where nearly every family living among these picturesque vineyards produces their own wine. The host family will talk about everyday life in Slovakia and show you round their home and garden. There’s also a chance to sample their produce, of course. This one is an optional excursion.

In Passau, the Best of Bavaria Experience, another optional excursion, is a short walk to a cosy riverside tavern which plays host to a Bavarian-style celebration. Guests can soak up the warm atmosphere and enjoy a taste of the local cuisine with pretzels and wheat beer. Local performers add to the jolly atmosphere with a lively and entertaining presentation of traditional Bavarian music.

This excursion features on Spirit of the Danube’s Vienna, Budapest and the Scenic Danube cruise.

What are the key components of a great tour?

A great tour is well-balanced. It should be engaging, comfortable and thoughtfully paced. Guests should come away feeling they have truly experienced and learnt something about the destination.

A good guide is key to making an excursion special, especially where there’s a complex story to tell. The guides who accompany our Discover Operation Market Garden in Arnhem are incredibly knowledgeable, for example. We work with local historian Ruud de Bie, who was born here and is an expert in Operation Market Garden and the role of the city in World War Two.

Experience this excursion on our Through the Rhine Gorge to Amsterdam itinerary.

What’s your personal favourite?

I particularly enjoy excursions that give a good overview of a destination – for example a guided walk through an historic town or a visit to local vineyards where you can meet the producers and hear their stories first hand, and of course, taste the wine.

I really enjoy walking around Passau, the “City of Three Rivers”, where the rivers Danube, Inn and Ilz meet. On Moselle itineraries, I love Eltz Castle; it’s a medieval castle nestled in the hills above the river and it has real character and charm. The castle has been owned by the same family for 850 years. What’s special is that it’s been untouched by wars and has a blend of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles.

What are some new excursions for this season?

Slot Zuylen Castle is new for 2026 on selected itineraries as an optional excursion from Utrecht. It’s a charming 13th-century castle, best known as the home of Belle van Zuylen, one of Europe’s original Enlightenment writers. Surrounded by gardens and waterways, the castle offers an intimate glimpse into aristocratic life, intellectual freedom and social change in the Netherlands.

A Delft Pottery Tour is another new excursion, offered on calls in Rotterdam. You’ll visit the Royal Delft Museum, renowned for its iconic Delft Blue pottery and enjoy a tour of the factory where skilled artisans demonstrate the intricate hand-painting process that makes each item a true masterpiece.

In Strasbourg, we’ve introduced Strasbourg’s Historic Wine Cellar, which is a walking tour of the city to an unexpected venue for wine tasting: the cellars of an old hospital. The building has stood here since the 14th century and is an atmospheric place to sample some Alsatian wines.

On our Contrasts of the Rhine and Main cruise, you can combine a tour of charming Aschaffenburg with a visit to the former Benedictine monastery of Seligenstadt. There’s a guided walk through the old town followed by a scenic coach journey to Seligenstadt Monastery, which lies on the river. The abbey visit includes the historic prelature with the abbot’s residence and guest rooms, the former library, the monastery kitchen, the summer dining hall and the cloister. Guests will also see the convent garden, the old pharmacy and the monastery mill.

We are always actively planning new excursion offerings to enhance our programme, so keep an eye out for new options in 2027.

Discover this on our Contrasts of the Rhine and Main cruise.

Which excursions are most popular with Saga guests?

Panoramic tours and guided walking tours are popular, as they offer a great introduction to each destination. Wine tastings are also favourites, giving guests a real flavour of the region.

Christmas markets on the Danube are always a great chance to experience the festive atmosphere at some of the most popular advent markets in Europe, especially those in Vienna and Budapest.

In spring, Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands is always a favourite for its world-famous floral displays, especially the swathes of tulips. And then in July and around Christmas, there’s a chance to see the ever-popular André Rieu and the Johann Strauss orchestra perform live in Maastricht on either the Spirit of the Rhine or Spirit of the Moselle.

Experience this on Saga’s Andre Rieu in Maastricht cruise.

What are your top tips for first time cruisers when it comes to excursions?

We strongly advise pre-booking excursions to secure your first choice. There are enough spaces for everyone to join an included excursion in each port but we do have to take into account logistics. Guides may be limited to certain group sizes that differ from town to town, buses are different sizes and venues have certain capacities. As a result, spaces can be limited when there is more than one included excursion offered.

Also, do read the descriptions and activity levels of the tours and pick the ones that suit your level of activity. There’s no compulsion to join excursions in every port, even if they are included. A cruise is your holiday, so balance it the way you want to!

Finally, if your mobility is restricted, do call us first to discuss your needs prior to booking. That way, we can assess your individual circumstances. Within our included programme we often offer standard walking tours and leisurely walking tours which are easier paced. We also offer coach-based panoramic tours in places like Vienna, Budapest, Rotterdam, Belgrade and Krems. For these, there’s very little walking required.

What might be surprising about the way shore excursions are planned?

How much detail goes into it behind the scenes! This ranges from confirming every element of how each excursion will operate to how they will be advertised and coordinating with multiple local suppliers. For example, we have to factor in coach companies, drivers, guides, museum entry times, comfort break, refreshment stops and sometimes public transport like scenic trains or cable cars. We also have to work with the local port authorities to work with arrival and departure times.

From Saga’s head office, we’re in constant contact with the onboard ships’ teams to support the delivery of each tour and receive – and action – live feedback. A lot of careful planning goes into every day to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible for you, our guests to have an enjoyable holiday onboard our river cruises.

What should you take with you on a river cruise excursion?

Comfortable footwear is a must, as well as weather-appropriate clothing, your Saga water bottle, camera or phone. Note down the cruise director’s number in case you need to contact them while you’re out and about. Most importantly, bring curiosity and an open mind!

Please note that shore excursions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.