Small-Group Shore Tour, 5 Hours

Small group Montenegro Tour for Cruise Passengers runs through Royal Services. Rated 4.4 across 65 reviews. Runs 5 hours. From $103.

Overview

A driver-guide meets passengers at the fountain opposite the port gate in Kotor, holding a name board, then takes a group of no more than 16 around the bay in an air-conditioned vehicle. The operator promises you will be back at the ship on time.

The route circles the Bay of Kotor with stops in Perast, Porto Montenegro, Trojica and Kotor Old Town, plus a pass by the ancient mosaics at Risan. An optional boat trip out to Our Lady of the Rocks costs 10 Euros per person and is not part of the tour price.

It suits cruise passengers who want a broad look at the coastline without organising transport themselves. English-speaking guides do the commentary, and reviewers repeatedly praise their knowledge of the country's history. It is not wheelchair accessible, and hotel or port pickup is not part of the deal, you walk to the meeting point yourself.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the fountainThe driver-guide waits at the fountain just across the road from the port gate in Kotor, holding a board with your name on it.
2. Kotor departureEntry to the town itself is free.
3. PerastA stop in Perast, with free admission.
4. Our Lady of the RocksThirty minutes at Our Lady of the Rocks, reached by an optional boat ride from Perast costing 10 Euros per person, paid separately. You pass by Risan's ancient mosaics en route.
5. Bay of KotorOne hour taking in the bay itself, with free admission. Reviews mention photo stops and a ferry crossing on this stretch.
6. Porto MontenegroThirty minutes at Porto Montenegro, free admission. Reviewers describe a stop to look at a dock of expensive yachts.
7. TrojicaA ten-minute stop at Trojica, free admission.
8. Kotor Old Town and finishFive minutes allocated to Kotor Old Town before the tour ends back at the meeting fountain.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make the day smoother, especially for passengers arriving by tender boat.

• Tender timing. Several cruise passengers said tender boats to shore caused delays, since the cruise line controls the queue. Confirm your exact start time with the operator in advance, as the listing advises, and message them if tenders run late.
• Group feel. The cap is 16 travellers, and the listing promises an air-conditioned, comfortable vehicle. Vehicle size can vary, and one traveller expected a van and got a sedan, so set expectations accordingly.
• Cash for extras. Bring euros for the optional boat to Our Lady of the Rocks at 10 Euros per person, plus any food and drinks, which are not included.
• Walking required. The meeting point is a short walk from the port gate, and stops involve wandering old lanes and waterfronts on foot. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, though pushchairs are fine and infants can sit on laps.
• Itinerary can shift. Reviews mention route changes due to traffic and late passengers. Stops may be dropped or reordered, so treat the schedule as a framework rather than a fixed plan.
• Guide quality varies. Most reviewers praised their driver-guides as knowledgeable and passionate, with commentary throughout the drive. A couple of less happy travellers felt the guiding was thin, so experiences differ by driver.

Common issues. The main complaints centre on logistics rather than the sights. Cruise tender delays left some passengers starting late or missing stops, and a few reviewers reported last-minute start time changes or vehicle swaps, with one group placed in a compact car instead of a van. One reviewer described a booking that went badly wrong with no guide at the meeting point. The itinerary can also be adjusted for traffic, which one traveller felt reduced the number of stops. The boat to Our Lady of the Rocks costs 10 Euros extra per person, food and drinks are not included, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Which Tour Fits Your Trip