Private Excursion Terms and Conditions
These Terms and Conditions apply to private shore excursions arranged directly with Shore Excursion Scotland through an individual enquiry, written quotation or booking confirmation.
By confirming your booking and making payment, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to these Terms and Conditions, together with the itinerary, quotation and any additional conditions agreed in writing. Private excursions are booked exclusively for your party and are not shared with unrelated passengers.
Scheduled small-group shore excursions and Special Excursions are governed by our separate Scheduled & Special Excursion Terms and Conditions.
1. Booking and Payment
Private Excursion Bookings
All private excursions are subject to availability and are arranged directly with Shore Excursion Scotland.
Following your enquiry, we will provide a proposed itinerary and quotation based on your cruise schedule, interests, group size and requirements.
Your booking is confirmed once we have accepted it and received the required deposit or payment.
Pricing and Inclusions
Private excursions are generally priced per vehicle or private group rather than per passenger, unless otherwise stated in your quotation.
Your agreed price is based on the confirmed group size, itinerary, vehicle requirements and included services.
Attraction tickets, guided experiences, meals and other activities are included only where expressly stated in your written quotation or booking confirmation.
Deposits and Balance Payments
A 25% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your private excursion, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
The remaining 75% balance is due 31 days before the scheduled excursion date, unless a different payment deadline has been agreed in writing.
Bookings made within 31 days of departure require full payment at the time of confirmation.
If the remaining balance is not received by the agreed deadline, we reserve the right to cancel the booking following reasonable attempts to contact you. Applicable cancellation charges may apply.
The deposit forms part of the total excursion price and is not charged in addition to it.
All payments are processed in GBP (British Pounds Sterling).
Payment is normally made through a secure electronic invoice issued by Shore Excursion Scotland using Square. Major credit and debit cards are accepted, subject to the available payment options.
Your bank or card provider may apply currency conversion charges or other fees outside our control.
Booking Information
The lead passenger is responsible for providing accurate information, including the cruise ship, port, excursion date, passenger numbers, children's ages and any relevant accessibility requirements.
The lead passenger is also responsible for communicating important booking information and these Terms and Conditions to the other members of their party.
Changes to Group Size
Please notify us as soon as possible if your passenger numbers change.
Additional passengers are subject to vehicle capacity and availability and may result in an amended quotation.
A reduction in passenger numbers does not automatically reduce the agreed private excursion price. Any price adjustment must be confirmed in writing.
2. Cancellations and Refunds
Passenger Cancellations
Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by email to info@shoreexcursionscotland.com.
The following cancellation terms apply to the total agreed excursion price:
More than 14 days before departure: 75% refund of the total excursion price.
Between 7 and 14 days before departure: 50% refund of the total excursion price.
Less than 7 days before departure: No refund.
The 25% non-refundable deposit is included within these cancellation charges and is not deducted a second time.
Where a cancellation charge exceeds the amount already paid, any additional payment will only be sought where the obligation was clearly agreed and is lawful.
Cancellation charges are intended to reflect the advance commitments and costs associated with arranging private transport, driver-guides and other services. They remain subject to applicable consumer law.
Company Cancellations
If Shore Excursion Scotland cancels your private excursion because we cannot provide the agreed service, we will offer an appropriate alternative where possible or a full refund of all payments made, including the deposit.
A cruise ship's failure to dock is treated separately under our Shore Excursion Guarantee in Section 3.
Refund Processing
Shore Excursion Scotland will process all approved refunds as quickly as reasonably possible to avoid unnecessary delays.
Once a refund has been processed, it may take approximately 14–21 days for the funds to appear in your account, depending on your bank, card provider and payment processing arrangements. Actual timescales may vary.
Refunds will normally be issued in GBP to the original payment method.
Exchange-rate differences and charges imposed by banks or card providers are outside our control.
Nothing in this section affects your statutory rights, including any applicable legal deadlines for refunds.
3. Shore Excursion Guarantee – Private Excursions
If Your Cruise Ship Cannot Dock
If your cruise ship is unable to dock at the scheduled port on the agreed excursion date, Shore Excursion Scotland will refund 75% of the total private excursion price.
The remaining 25% is retained to help offset costs and commitments associated with arranging your excursion, including vehicle reservations, driver-guide arrangements, administration and any non-refundable supplier expenses.
Where attraction tickets or other services are included in your private excursion price, the 75% refund applies to the total agreed package price. Included attraction tickets are not refunded separately.
A ship's inability to dock is not treated as a company-initiated cancellation under Section 2.
Return to Your Cruise Ship
Our private shore excursions are planned around your cruise ship's published arrival, all-aboard and departure times.
We aim to return your group to the cruise port at least one hour before your ship's scheduled all-aboard time.
Your driver-guide may adjust the itinerary, shorten individual stops or change the order of visits where necessary to protect your return time.
In the event of an unexpected delay, we will take all reasonable steps to assist with a timely return to the ship.
The return-to-ship commitment does not extend to delays caused by passengers voluntarily leaving the excursion, disregarding reasonable instructions or making independent arrangements outside the agreed itinerary.
4. Cruise Line Itinerary Changes
Cruise lines may change arrival times, departure times, port dates or ports of call, sometimes at short notice.
Please inform us as soon as possible if your cruise itinerary changes.
If the revised arrival and departure times still allow the excursion to operate safely, we will make reasonable efforts to adjust the schedule.
If the port date changes, we will attempt to accommodate the revised date, subject to driver-guide, vehicle and attraction availability.
Where a revised port date cannot be accommodated, the Shore Excursion Guarantee will apply.
Attraction access, including castles, distilleries, museums and other visitor experiences, is controlled by the individual venues.
Where an attraction cannot accommodate a revised schedule, we may offer an alternative or amend the itinerary. Any appropriate adjustment or refund relating to a separately identifiable attraction element will be considered according to the circumstances and applicable law.
We cannot guarantee that all originally planned attractions will remain available following a cruise itinerary change.
5. Late Arrivals, Disembarkation Delays and No-Shows
Private Excursion Departure Times
As your excursion is reserved exclusively for your group, we do not impose a fixed waiting-time limit if you are delayed leaving your cruise ship.
If your group is delayed during disembarkation or tender operations, your driver-guide will wait for you at the agreed meeting point, subject to the cruise ship's schedule and any operational constraints.
However, a delayed start does not automatically extend the overall duration of your excursion.
Impact on Your Itinerary
If your excursion begins later than scheduled, the available time ashore will be reduced accordingly.
Your driver-guide may need to shorten visits, adjust the route, change the order of stops or remove attractions from the itinerary to ensure your group returns to the cruise port on time.
Pre-Booked Attractions and Activities
Some attractions, guided experiences and activities operate at fixed times or require advance reservations.
A delayed excursion departure may result in your group missing a pre-booked admission, guided tour, tasting or other time-specific activity.
Where possible, we will attempt to rearrange the booking with the attraction or supplier. However, alternative admission times cannot be guaranteed.
If an attraction or activity is missed because your group was unable to begin the excursion at the agreed time, any refund will depend on the supplier's cancellation or amendment conditions and your applicable statutory rights.
Communication
If you become aware of a delay, please contact Shore Excursion Scotland or your driver-guide as soon as reasonably possible so that we can adjust your day's arrangements.
No-Shows
If your group does not attend the agreed meeting point and we are unable to establish contact with you, we may eventually treat the booking as a no-show.
No-shows will normally not be entitled to a refund, subject to applicable statutory rights and the circumstances of the booking.
6. Nature of Private Excursions and Customisation
Private excursions are arranged exclusively for your booking party and are designed around your interests, group requirements and available time ashore.
The proposed itinerary will be agreed in advance, with any included services clearly identified in your booking confirmation.
Minor changes may be requested during the excursion, but these are subject to the driver-guide's agreement, available time, road conditions, attraction opening hours and the cruise ship's departure schedule.
Significant changes to the agreed itinerary may require additional time, transport or supplier costs.
Any additional charges must be explained and agreed before the relevant extra services are provided.
The private nature of an excursion does not guarantee unrestricted itinerary changes or access to attractions outside their normal operating arrangements.
7. Transport Providers and Itinerary Adjustments
Private excursions may be delivered using independent, appropriately licensed and insured transport providers and professional driver-guides arranged by Shore Excursion Scotland.
Transport providers are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles, compliance with relevant transport legislation and appropriate vehicle insurance.
Shore Excursion Scotland remains responsible for its own contractual and legal obligations in arranging the excursion.
The driver-guide has authority to make reasonable operational changes where necessary for passenger safety, road conditions or a timely return to the cruise port.
We may adjust the route, stop durations, order of visits or individual attractions due to weather, traffic, road closures, supplier availability or other circumstances affecting the excursion.
Reasonable itinerary adjustments do not automatically entitle passengers to a refund, subject to statutory rights and the extent to which the agreed services have been provided.
In-Vehicle Recording Devices
Vehicles supplied by independent transport providers may be fitted with dash cameras or other recording equipment for safety, security or operational purposes.
Such equipment and recordings are normally managed by the relevant transport provider in accordance with its own privacy obligations.
Further information about personal data is available in our Privacy Policy.
8. Passenger Conduct and Responsibility
Passengers must follow reasonable instructions provided by their driver-guide, particularly those relating to safety, departure times and the cruise ship's return schedule.
Passengers are responsible for their personal belongings during the excursion.
Seatbelts must be worn where required by law.
Smoking and vaping are not permitted inside excursion vehicles.
We reserve the right to refuse or discontinue service where a passenger's conduct is threatening, abusive, seriously disruptive or presents a genuine safety risk.
Any decision to discontinue an excursion will be proportionate to the circumstances. Refund entitlement will depend on the reasons for the decision and applicable law.
Passengers who voluntarily leave the excursion or make independent travel arrangements are responsible for their own onward transport and return to the cruise ship.
9. Children, Accessibility and Mobility Requirements
Children
Unlike our scheduled small-group excursions, private excursions may accommodate families with younger children.
Children must travel using an appropriate child car seat or booster seat where required by UK law.
Please provide the ages and relevant heights of children when making your enquiry so that suitable arrangements can be discussed.
Child seats may be supplied for an additional charge, which will be confirmed before booking.
Accessibility and Mobility
Our standard private excursion vehicles are not wheelchair accessible.
Passengers must be able to safely enter and leave the vehicle without being physically lifted by the driver-guide.
Collapsible wheelchairs and mobility aids may be stored in the vehicle, subject to available luggage space and prior agreement.
Some attractions and historic locations have uneven surfaces, steps, steep gradients or restricted access.
Please advise us of any mobility or accessibility requirements before booking so that we can discuss suitable arrangements, reasonable adjustments and any practical limitations.
The private nature of an excursion does not change vehicle safety requirements or the physical accessibility of individual attractions.
Where a genuine safety concern arises, we will consider reasonable alternatives before refusing participation. Any refund entitlement will depend on the circumstances and applicable law.
Nothing in this section limits rights under applicable equality legislation.
10. Insurance
Shore Excursion Scotland maintains appropriate public liability insurance for its operations.
Independent transport providers and other suppliers are responsible for maintaining appropriate insurance for the services they provide.
Passengers are strongly advised to obtain comprehensive personal travel insurance covering cancellation, medical expenses, travel disruption, personal belongings and missed cruise connections where appropriate.
Passengers should ensure their insurance provides suitable cover for their individual circumstances and activities.
11. Events Beyond Our Reasonable Control
Circumstances beyond our reasonable control may affect the operation of an excursion.
These may include severe weather, road closures, unexpected vehicle breakdowns, illness, industrial action, civil emergencies, government restrictions or unexpected attraction closures.
Where such circumstances arise, we will make reasonable efforts to provide an alternative vehicle, driver-guide, itinerary or other appropriate solution.
Any cancellation or refund entitlement will depend on the circumstances, the services provided and applicable law.
Nothing in this section excludes liability or consumer rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.
12. Entire Agreement
Your private excursion agreement consists of these Terms and Conditions, your accepted quotation, confirmed itinerary, booking confirmation, payment invoice and any additional arrangements expressly agreed in writing.
Where specific conditions have been agreed for your private excursion, those conditions will take precedence over the general provisions of these Terms and Conditions to the extent of any inconsistency.
Any material changes to the booking must be confirmed in writing.
13. Severability
If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.
14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of Scotland.
Disputes arising from private excursion bookings will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts, except where applicable consumer protection laws provide passengers with mandatory rights to bring proceedings elsewhere.
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or restricts statutory rights or protections that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Contact Details
Shore Excursion Scotland
Email: info@shoreexcursionscotland.com
Website: https://www.shoreexcursionscotland.com
Last Updated - October 2026
