So, you’ve booked your luxury cruise and you’re looking forward to all the good things that come with it: first-class cuisine, excellent service and a very comfortable suite. But what about when it comes to exploring the cities your ship visits? Let’s just say that for this cruise, you’ve decided that you’re treating yourself, and that means absolutely no days spent on your feet – you’ve decided that you’ve earned it. Enter the private limo city tour.
The beauty of a private car tour is that you can explore at your own pace and spend more time at the sights you really want to see. It’s all about flexibility and customising that precious time ashore, so if you’ve a particular landmark or two in mind, this is the perfect way to see it. Even better, if some of your must-sees are a few miles apart from each other, it doesn’t matter; just tell your English-speaking driver where to go and you’re away.
Now, I’m not going to pretend that a private car tour is the cheapest shore excursion out there but it really is the best way to sight-see, especially in a city which you feel passionately about. And don’t forget, prices are typically by car, not person and half-day tours are usually available too, meaning that your limo experience may work out as better value than you think.
Still in need of some inspiration? Here’s a look at some of the best destinations you can tour by luxury car.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark’s capital is a Baltics cruise mainstay and one of the oldest cities in Europe, which makes it a great choice for sight-seeing. Don’t miss the spiral-topped Church of Our Saviour, famous look-out Round Tower, Christiansborg Palace and Copenhagen City Hall. Why not tell your driver to take you to the historic Nyhavn harbour area?
Barcelona, Spain
Barca is as famous for its architecture as it is for its beaches, which is one of the reasons why its one of the most popular cities in Europe. If you’re a fan of art and architecture, then a private car tour is a great way to explore all of the sites relevant to one of the city’s most famous sons, Antoni Gaudi. Of course, the Church of the Sacred Family is a must, but don’t miss Guell Palace and Castel Batllo. With your own car, you’ll also have time to visit the beautiful Guell Park, too.
Dubai, UAE
The perfect city to tour by private car. It’s home to the longest road in the whole UAE, which follows the coastline, so it’s a great way to take in the sights, sit back and pretend for the day that you’re one of the city’s wealthy business elite. Of course, you’ll have to see the Burj Kalifa – the world’s tallest building – along with such other architectural eye-catchers as the sail-like Tower of Arabs and the spectacular Emirates Towers.
Hong Kong, China
As a city widely regarded as having the best skyline in the world, Hong Kong obviously has a lot of architecture to experience and in your own car, you’ll be able to see as much of it as you want. Probably Hong Kong’s biggest attraction – in every way – is the towering Victoria Peak, which forms the skyline’s famous backdrop. It’s a tourist must-see and tourists typically queue for a long time to ride the tram to the top to admire the spectacular view of Victoria Harbour below. Not you, however, as you’ll be able to get to the top in leisurely style.
New York, USA
When it comes to iconic sightseeing cities, there’s one which really stands out above all the others. The Big Apple truly is part of popular culture and has been the setting for countless iconic movies and TV shows over the years, so if you’re a cinema buff, it’s the perfect place to tour by car. The Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park … the list goes on and in your own private car, you’ll be able to pick out all your favourites.
By Simon Brotherton
Google