site logo
0207 980 2845

FREEPHONE   9am - 10pm

  • Home
  • Cruise Advice
  • Find your Perfect Cruise
  • Cruise Deals
August 1, 2013  |  By Emma Smith In Experience

Excursions the Segway way

Segway Cruise Excursions by runneralan2004

If you’ve been on a cruise before which included stops at one or more large cities, you’ll no doubt have been presented with the option of the inevitable city tour excursion. A guided tour is a great way to see the best of a city for sure but growing in popularity is something else which you may have spotted on your cruise line’s excursion list; the Segway tour.

In case you’re not familiar with this relatively new form of transport, here’s the science. Giving it it’s full title, the Segway PT (Personal Transporter) is a two-wheeled battery-powered electric vehicle which is completely self-balancing, kept upright by its computer and motor housed in the base. You tell the Segway which way you want to go by shifting your weight on the platform and the clever computer detects this change in the centre of mass, with the help of gyroscopic sensors and levelling sensors, so it knows when you want to move. If you want to turn, you simple press the handlebar to the left or right.

The brainchild of American inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen, the Segway first rolled onto the world stage in 2001 and since then its became much more than a transportation curio, with numerous worldwide cities offering rental services to the public for tourism purposes and China’s police force now using locally-produced version of the transport to help them patrol large public areas.

With a top speed of around 12mph, Segways are certainly quicker than walking when it comes to getting around, which makes them a logical choice for seeing all the sites on your cruise ship’s city excursion. Speed limits and rules for use vary depending on which countries and cities you visit but with lines such as Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises,  Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises all offering excursions by Segway, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to try one out for yourself the next time you sail.

Celebrity Segway fans
You’ll certainly find it difficult to picture them all hanging out together, but former US President George Bush, teen icon Justin Beiber, musician Akon, TV’s Piers Morgan and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay have all been spotted riding Segways, with it has to be said, varying degrees of success. Ac tress and National treasure Dame Helen Mirren, MP Lembit Opik and martial arts legend Jackie Chan, meanwhile, are all confirmed fans.

By Simon Brotherton
Google

Share this:

Emma Smith
Emma has more than seven years' experience as a writer and has been in the travel industry for nearly five years. She loves learning about new places and cruise ships coming to market, as well as discovering fun and exciting activities to do while you sail. She has cruised with Princess Cruises, Cunard, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Avalon Waterways and Royal Caribbean and is looking to get something in her diary for 2024! Her favourite things to see on a ship include excellent entertainment, a delicious cocktail menu and extraordinary dining venues.

Comments: no replies

Join in: leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

Previous StoryCruising to the world’s tallest buildings
Next StoryA history of Cunard

Recent Posts

  • Princess Cruises to feature in new Channel 5 TV series
  • Norwegian Cruise Line Welcomes Guests Aboard the All-New Norwegian Viva
  • Cunard announces partnership with Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux Jr
  • Ambassador Cruise Line Announces New Festive On-board Events
  • Celebrity Cruises Unveils New Culinary Experiences On Celebrity Ascent

Search for Posts

Categories

  • Cruise lines
  • Cruise News
  • Destinations
  • Experience
  • Industry
Magazine WordPress Theme made by ThemeFuse