Hong Kong Shore Excursions - Book Your Private Tour Now
The Best Private Shore Excursions for Cruise Ship Passengers
Me Jamie, your host, I am English and I have lived in Hong Kong for 53 years - I know the place.
I have personally completed 2,330+ Private Tours and Experiences (over 6,000+ guests) since April 2011 and I am considered one of the finest Private Tour Guides in Asia.
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Hong Kong Shore Excursions - Book Your Private Tour Now
The Best Private Shore Excursions for Cruise Ship Passengers
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I took this image in March 2025, this cruise ship was docked at the Ocean Terminal in Kowloon
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Maximise your limited amount of on shore time in Hong Kong
Pick Up and Drop Off at the Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong
“Shore excursions are activities cruisers can delve into while their cruise ship is in port. Imagine snorkeling through coral reefs, exploring ancient Roman ruins, hiking on glaciers and shopping at local outdoor markets - all are prime examples of shore excursions. All of these fun tours are as much a part of the cruise experience as onboard amenities of your ship.
Cruise ship excursions are not a requirement and, with a few exceptions, you are free to walk off the ship and do your own thing. But if you prefer exploring with knowledgeable guides or hassle-free transportation, a cruise ship excursion is probably for you. To make the most of your days in port, take a look at our advice on what to expect from shore excursions and how to maximize the fun on your cruise vacation.
There are many benefits of booking a shore excursion through your cruise ship. You can save the time and trouble of researching and arranging your own onshore activities, you'll know the tour provider has been vetted by the cruise line and is licensed and reputable. The ship also won't leave until all of its tour buses have returned -- even if there are unforeseeable delays. You might also meet like-minded shipmates whose company you'll enjoy back on the ship.
But ship tours are not always the way to go. The knowledge and efficiency of tour operators vary, and some tour offerings aren't the most engaging. You'll also pay a premium for letting the cruise line arrange your day. Ship-arranged cruise excursions also tend to have broad appeal, so if your interests in a given port are more specific or niche, you may want something outside of the cruise line's standard offerings.”
This blurb courtesy of Cruise Critic and it sums up rather nicely the dilemma of choosing a Ship-Sponsored Shore Excursion vs. Private Independent Excursion and based on my own experiences, it is no contest when it comes to Hong Kong, you need to choose a Private Independent Shore Excursion.
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One of my favourite images that I have taken, the greatest panoramic city view in the world from the Lugard Road Lookout (or Jamie’s spot as I have been there 6,000+ times) at Victoria Peak in Hong Kong
How can you NOT come to Hong Kong and miss out on the best panoramic city view in the world, this one spot makes it all worthwhile! Please note that a lot of tour companies in Hong Kong will NOT take you to this place which is called the Lugard Road Lookout, they will take you to the Peak Tower Sky Terrace 428 Viewing Platform, The Peak Galleria Roof or the Lions Pavilion Lookout which do NOT have a 180 degree panoramic city view and in fact only show about half the view.
Please note that I do NOT know of any ship sponsored shore excursion that takes cruise ship groups to the Lugard Road Lookout, only Private guides such as myself go there.
Please note that the Hong Kong Government does NOT provide Free City Tours of Hong Kong for transit passengers or cruise ship passengers, as far as I know you can do free city tours in Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo and Taipei in Asia but NOT Hong Kong. I imagine that you will have to cover personal expenses and book well in advance and I am pretty sure there are lots of rules and regulations that come with a Government Sponsored Free Tour! and a phrase I always refer to is “you get what you pay for” please bear this in mind.
This is my Hong Kong | Hong Kong Shore Excursions with Jamie
Shore Excursion | Overview
Jamie, your local friend in Hong Kong
Make the most of your Cruise Ship Shore Excursion when you visit Hong Kong on your amazing cruise ship, I am a real expert in organising Shore Excursions for couples, families and small groups with pick up at the at either the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal or the Ocean Terminal in Hong Kong… by small groups I mean 6 people or less, I do NOT do large group tours.
I know the easy option for you is to book a shore excursion with the Cruise Company or a specialist Shore Excursion Company with tours available in 100+ ports or perhaps book a ride on the Big Bus Company Bus but if you want to really learn about what makes Hong Kong tick then book a Private Shore Excursion with Jamie.
Please note I do NOT do car tours | shore excursions in a private car
Shore Excursion | Meeting Point and returning to the Cruise Ship Terminal
Hong Kong has 2 large cruise ship terminals
The Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
The Ocean Terminal
When you book the shore excursion be sure to let me know the name of the cruise ship so I can double check where it will dock in Hong Kong.
In general the Ocean Terminal which is in a fabulous central location takes the smaller cruise ships (500 - 2,000 passengers) whilst the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal takes the mega ships of 5,000+ passengers.
The Kai Tak Cruise Terminal is NOT in a central location and even after 12 years transport is still a major issue.
It makes no difference to me which cruise terminal your ship docks at, it is what it is!
So we are clear - I pick you up at the Cruise Terminal and I drop you off at the Cruise Terminal at the conclusion of the Shore Excursion.
Shore Excursion | Tour Length
Generally most shore excursions are touted as a half day (4 hours) or full day (8 hours) tour, I would say that the best tour length would be a 6 hour or 8 hour tour - this to me is a better bet for a Shore Excursion but I have no issue doing 4 or 5 hour tours - The choice is yours.
Shore Excursion | Food, Snack and Rest stops
This is your call, we can rest at anytime, we can stop for snacks and drinks at anytime and if you want a full blown lunch or dinner then that is also fine, please note I have eaten in well over 1,300 Chinese Restaurants but do NOT do food tours, I generally steer away from cheap dodgy Chinese Restaurants, I have some favourite places of course but to be honest most people would prefer to see sights rather than stop for a meal. As I said, it is your call.
Shore Excursion | I am over 60 are there any physical limitations?
I know from personal experience that Cruise Ship Passengers tend to be a little older and I absolutely take this into account, i am over 60 myself and I have always worked on the basis of quality over quantity, I do not rush around trying to cram in as much as possible, my tours are actually quite engaging, it is my job to make sure you have the best possible experience and learn about this fabulous city.
Please note and as mentioned below I do not do car tours.
We rest and chat as and when the situation dictates
Shore Excursion | Small Group Sizes
I prefer to limit my shore excursions to 6 people maximum
On one of Jamie’s shore excursions you are not on a bus with 15 | 30 | 50 other passengers wearing stickers and following a barely understandable guide with poor English holding a flag working to a prepared script - even the lame jokes are scripted.(I am not kidding) oh and speaking through a microphone!
I have done well over 100 shore excursions since 2011 and generally the group size was 2 - 4 people, in my long experience, the more people in the group the slower the tour goes, please bear this in mind.
This is a private tour with no stops at jewellery shops under the pretence of watching jewellery being made (a cultural experience?) and such, we use public transport and walk and you will get a full immersion into what Hong Kong is all about from a Hong Kong resident of 53 years and with me no subject is off the table so to speak!
My private shore excursions are perfect for those who are in Hong Kong on a cruise ship for 1 - 2 days... oh and I will make sure you do not miss your ship!
Shore Excursion | Should I worry about missing my ship?
No., absolutely not and I have never had a guest miss their sailing time or a flight out of Hong Kong.
The cruise companies would like you to believe that independent tours such as the ones I offer carry this risk, I am always very well aware of your ship’s departure time, and my tours are designed to get you back to the Cruise Terminal with plenty of time to spare.
This is really something you have no need to worry about.
Shore Excursion | Cost Effectiveness, Tour Quality and Value for Money
Cruise Lines often charge a huge premium for their shore excursions and passengers may find better deals and more value for money with independent companies such as myself.
I have researched extensively over the years the shore excursion market in Hong Kong and pretty much all the cruise lines offer the same sort of tours with 15 - 50 people crammed onto a coach and the tour operator they use is generally the one that offers the lowest price to the Cruise Company, I have done some of these tours so I know, the quality is simply not there and I always feel so sorry for people on these tours, you would be much better off buddying up with other couples to reduce the per person cost of the tour, more on that later.
In my experience the TOUR QUALITY offered by these coach tour companies are very poor, it is the guide that makes the tour and we have many guides in Hong Kong that have no business doing tours, I am English, I have lived in Hong Kong for 53 years and I pioneered the Private Tour Industry in Hong Kong in late 2010 and yes, being English generally means we have no communication problems
… and yes, a lot of guides who lead shore excursions provided by the Cruise Ship do not speak very good English, they are flummoxed if they have to deviate from their script and many of them are simply too young, from my personal experience in the business, the best guides are over 35 and get way better with age oh and in many cases have done over 1,000 tours, that experience really shows
I have completed well over 2,330 tours and bear in mind I did not do a single tour for 3 years from 2020 - 2023 as Hong Kong was closed to tourists.
Shore Excursion | A premium quality Personalized Shore Excursion to give you memories that will last a lifetime.
My tours are private tours and every time I do a tour I have no fixed plan or itinerary, I like to spend 5 - 10 minutes discussing with you, what YOU would like to see within the allotted time frame of the tour… however, in general my guests leave it to me, I have a lot of experience and have lived in Hong Kong for 53 years, on a Cruise Ship sponsored shore excursion you have to follow the tour itinerary with no chance of customising the tour, I can quite honestly say I have NEVER, ever done the same itinerary twice and I have done over 2,330 private tours of Hong Kong.
Shore Excursion | Small Group Sizes and buddying up with other couples to reduce the per person tour cost.
As mentioned, in general for shore excursions I have 2 - 4 guests but have done tours with as many as 8 guests, it is simply a fact that the bigger the group the slower the tour, please do bear this in mind and my preference is for 6 people or less.
I have a lot of experience doing shore excursions where 2 or 3 unrelated couples will band together to share the cost of the tour, I have no problem with this, many times couples make firm friends with other couples on a cruise and that works for me as well but as mentioned, I do not really like going over 6 people (or 3 couples) as the tour just seems to slow to a crawl and sometimes people disagree with what they want to do!
Shore Excursion | I am getting off the ship and need to go to Hong Kong International Airport at the end of the tour
I have done this many times including twice very recently, our first port of call after I pick you up is to get your luggage to a luggage storage facility at Hong Kong Station, home to the Airport Express train that goes from the Central Business District to Hong Kong International Airport.
At the end of the tour I will reunite you with your luggage and get you onto the Airport Express Train, it stops in the departure hall of the Airport! I am also happy to accompany you to the Airport and get you checked in, your call as they say.
Shore Excursion | Expert Local Private Tour Guide
When you book a Shore Excursion with Jamie you get me Jamie, I do NOT employ any other guides. If I am not available or you wish to do your shore excursion in a private car then I will introduce you to my friends, we are all part of a tight knit group of the BEST private tour companies in Hong Kong with shared aims and a passion for providing the very best experiences.
Jamie, 53 years and counting living in Hong Kong
I am a Yorkshireman and English, we should have no communication problems!
My insider tip
Please note that in general if you book a tour on Viator or Tripadvisor you generally have NO control over what guide will lead your Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Tour and this is the most important component of the tour. I urge you to check the actual company website and book via their website and do not forget to read Tripadvisor reviews as well.
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Yes, I do take last minute bookings subject to my availability, it is always advisable to check my booking calendar on my J3 Book Now page, simply click on the menu link above or simply send me a message using my message form or an email for a prompt response.
© Jamie Lloyd | J3 Consultants Hong Kong | J3 Private Tours Hong Kong |
| 2010 - 2025 All rights reserved. |
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