RCCL ventures outside cruising with launch of tour-booking site

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) has launched a new subsidiary, GoBe, an online seller of tours and activities – and not just to cruise customers.

"We're thrilled to officially open GoBe to every type of traveler, from hotel guests and staycationers to business travelers with a long layover," managing director Billy Campbell said in a statement.

GoBe says it offers thousands of tours in 97 countries, and it plans to triple inventory by the end of the year.

There are three main product categories on GoBe: high-value group tours, private excursions, and exclusive "Travel Creations." RCCL said Travel Creations are tailor-made tours that can be "found nowhere else online."

Users of the site can search by destination, interest or group requirements. The site can also search cruise itineraries for nearly 20 cruise lines. Certain tours and activities are designated as "cruise-friendly," enabling users to identify which tours depart from areas close to ports.

GoBe offers a variety of products, like a sea kayak expedition in Port Frederick, Alaska, during which participants can spot humpback whales and enjoy scenic bays and estuaries; a private helicopter ride over Rome; and surfing lessons in Brazil.

If searching by interests, users can select from about 25 categories, from event tickets to family activities to full-day tours to budget tours.