What price privacy? Lots of people go on cruises because they like the social atmosphere. New friends and new adventures. Lots of people like the idea of dining in a group. A chance for everyone to taste everybody else’s main course, perhaps.
Not us.
So when Crystal Cruises announced the opportunity for its passengers to arrange private 
shore excursions, four ears perked up. Private means either two people, or four, or six. Naturally, it costs more.
Not that we’re anti-social…well, not completely. We’ve just never been big on groups. Maybe it’s the image of following a leader carrying a little red flag. So we pick our spots.
Crystal and its two ships, the Serenity and the Symphony, sounds like a good spot to pick. Once we get our heads around the fact that Crystal is a luxury cruise line, that even with 2-for-1 offers (Europe) that include “free air” you’re probably looking at between $300 and $1,000 or more per day per person, depending on when and where you go.
That’s all before you book that private shore excursion, of course, which are marked up by at least 25%.
Privacy can be pricy.