Written By: Nellie Vance, Marketing Coordinator – ShoreTrips
With the 2018 Gold Travvy Award for World’s Best Shore Excursions under their belts, Julie and Barry Karp are looking forward to what the rest of this year holds for ShoreTrips. They’ve been continually adding trips and ports to their excursion offerings while maintaining their quality and personalized touch.
The Karps and ShoreTrips have spent the last 20 years traveling the world to find the best shore excursions, day activities, and city sightseeing tours. Only ~20% of the guides and activity providers they test make the grade. They examine the vendor’s equipment, hold their insurance, and build a relationship. By knowing the operators, understanding the port of call and knowing the tour, they can confidently offer the activities.
Their high standards help them create outstanding trips, and along with their website’s helpful tools and the way they market, they continually garner support from clients and partners. That makes it easy for them to keep winning. ShoreTrips has won the title of World’s Best Shore Excursions for the past three years in a row!
“When you have the support of those using your products as well as from those delivering it, it is hard to fail,” the Karps said. Since 2002 they’ve placed the well-being of their agents, their clients, guides, and providers above their drive for profits. This purposeful care they put into the relationships with their partners and clients is something that sets ShoreTrips apart from other companies.
ShoreTrips is also the only excursion provider that guarantees commissions when travel agents’ clients reserve through them. The Karps understand how important that agent/client relationship is, and understand the tough work travel professionals have to put in for their clients…they were once travel agents themselves! That means they know what agents want in a vendor – a company that provides a variety of great experiences that are price competitively and delivered to clients as described, on time, and with care. ShoreTrips strives to make sure their products are better than what is offered by cruise lines so that travel agents look like rock stars!
Almost 50% of ShoreTrips business has become group trips. The friendly staff is open to customizing trips and take the time to understand any special needs. They’ve realized that the way to increase group size is by planning unique and meaningful experiences, and they always do their best to design those types of trips. Their goal is to make you shine and have your customers book again!
Some of ShoreTrips’ most popular and newest trips are in beautiful Alaska, America’s frontier! The Helicopter and Dog Sled combo tour is a big favorite. It starts with a flight through snow covered mountains and a landing on Herbert Glacier where travelers are greeted by ~80 huskies. Then they’ll set out on a 1.5 to 2 mile loop with the dogs, stop for photos and listen to some amazing stories from Iditarod mushers. This trip is incredibly popular; it sells outs quickly, so book early!
Another popular ShoreTrips adventure is located in the Caribbean, a visit to Stingray City with some snorkeling. Travelers get to interact with the stingrays up close and personal. They’ll also stop to snorkel at the barrier reef, where they’ll have a chance to see nurse sharks, moray eels, and the gorgeous Coral Gardens. This trip is special to ShoreTrips because of its group size. Cruise lines book groups that are large and that means lots of waiting time and crowding. Our trips are small, personal and comfortable!
Some of ShoreTrips newest excursions are in the Pearl of the South – elegant Cienfuegos, Cuba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They offer city tours via foot, pedi-taxi, or in style riding in a cool classic car. Some destinations of interest in Cienfuegos are the Tomas Terry Theatre, the Cienfuegos Cathedral, La Punta, the Prado Promenade and more!
Along with these great tours, ShoreTrips also proudly offers European Premium Shared Van Tours. Premium shared van tours are a perfect choice if you are looking for a deluxe tour that’s economical but without the crowds of a big bus. Limited to just 8 guests, while priced at what cruise lines charge for a seat on a big bus, these tours are the best buy! They offer these great deals in more than 30 European and Baltic ports.
These are just a small selection of the unique and authentic excursions that ShoreTrips offers. There are more than 2,400 excursions and activities to choose from worldwide in more than 420 ports of call and 180 cities. These trips are available because of the Karp’s expertise; they’ve traveled their whole lives and have been working in the travel industry for over 30 years. They’ve seen the evolution of leisure travel move from the days of pre-computer to what it is now. So they’ve stepped up their game at ShoreTrips to meet and surpass industry standards.
Both Julie and Barry have had a very hands-on approach to servicing their clients in their respective businesses and an intuitive sense of the desires of today’s travel-savvy audience. Their mission is to allow you to enhance port of call, whether clients arrive by boat or plane. They have traveled to every spot they represent to bring you the best and the most unique offerings. They have worked hard to develop a way for you to have smaller, creative, and more personal tours and adventures while still feeling secure knowing that all of the people they represent have an understanding of your expectations.
The truth is, while they live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, their home is the world – because of its beauty, its people, and its cultures. They believe that one day is not too short a time to be moved by it all and create a day you will never forget.
See all of what ShoreTrips has to offer you and your clients at: www.ShoreTrips.com