The Shore excursion comapny that has the contract for Cruise passenegers in Victoria is called Intercruises their website is here .. http://www.intercruises.com/
Shore excursions booked onboarad through the cruise lines tend to be far more expensive than if a person were to walk off the ship and hire a taxi etc or take public transport to their desired location.
Passenegers are generally treated like cattle and herded from place to place. If a shore excursion is cancelled at the last moment due to low numbers or a host of other reasons that can crop up the passenegr may not have any other trips to take from teh ship because they fill up fast.
It is far better in my opinion to research each destination before your cruise and decide where you want to go and what you want to see.
Taxi drivers van drivers etc can help people get places faster and also know of other place to see as well.
A chartered bus will go from A to B and thats it.
Bus drivers and Yes Victoria bus drivers and yes ones who work for Wilsons tend to be racist against Asians and it is evidident when Asians are coming off ships in large number.
You will hear lots of grumbling and sad faces if you stand in the areas when the buses are being loaded.
I have personally heard some pretty harsh racist words from bus drivers down there and it is all to do with the fact that Asians tend not to tip.
I heard a Wilson driver last year blurt out loud infront of passenegers boarding his bus " Why am I getting all the Asians" The Shore Excursuion manager who was in teh area reported it to the shore excursion company on shore who then dealt with it via Wilsons but nothing semed to happen becasue Wilsons has a hard time getting enough drivers each year to fill the drivers seats of the buses.
There is a large mark up on tours compared to if you walk off the boat and make your own way to the destisnation and this is true in many places in the world.
Everyone involved in the shore excursions wants your money and they get it when you book from on board.
Edited by History Buff, 07 August 2014 - 05:46 AM.