Going on a cruise to the Mediterranean May of 2007 any recommendations?

Question

The cruise stops in Venice, Dubrovnik, Santorini, Athens, Naples, Rome, Florence, Nice, Barcelona. Any recommendations as to what to do on shore excursions or anything else.

Answer 1

Having been to some of these ports on cruises myself, let me offer you some of what we did, what we would do again, and what we'd rather not do.

Venice - From where the cruise ship docks, you are tendered to a location a stone's throw from St. Mark's Square, the most prominent thing to see in Venice. You will not need to book a tour to visit the Cathedral, the Campanille, the Doge's Palace, and hang out in the square - you can do this on your own.

You should take a gondola ride while in Venice, especially if you are with a loved one. These take about an hour. Your cruise ship will try to sell you a gondola ride, but you can negotiate a ride yourself with the gondoliers. The benefit of negotiating yourself, of course, is that you will get your own private gondola, instead of sharing with two other couples. When I went (2000), the negotiated price was US$100 - it may have gone up since then, but I would be surprised if you couldn't negotiate your own ride for 100 Euros. Three things we were told about gondola rides - don't take the gondolier's picture, don't ask him to take yours, and don't expect him to serenade you. We violated all of these - our gondolier was happy to take our picture, and serenaded us on his own.....so its probably luck of the draw.

Athens - The cruise ship docks in the city, and a cab can pick you up. If you can afford it, I would strongly suggest a personalized taxi tour from someone like this

http://www.greecetravel.com/taxi/

If you get another couple to split the cost, it will be an absolute bargain, and probably one of the best tourism experiences you have on the cruise. You'll get to far more places than you would on the group tours, and the personalized attention and friendly attitude of the driver make this worth it. (Note: Don't plan on just showing up in Athens and hailing a cab and expecting an English speaking driver. Make this arrangement in advance with a driver who does tours.)

Florence - UNESCO estimates that about half of the world's great art is in Italy, and, of that, over half is in Florence. So there's a lot to see here in a very limited period of time.

The ships port in Livorno, a couple of hours drive from Florence. Arranging private transport here would be difficult,and the distance to and from Florence really cuts down on the time you can spend in the city. Even though it will be much cheaper to go to the train station and take a train to Florence, the group tour may be worth it. Additionally, you should see the Academia d' bellas artes (which is where Michelangelo's David statue is). The group tour will get you past the lines and further maximize your time. For these reasons, the group tour offered by your tour company makes sense here.

The decision you will make on the tour is whether to book a tour that includes a stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa or one that does not. If you go directly into Florence, you will still be able to see the Tower in the distance from the Autostrada - so you will have 'seen' the leaning tower of Pisa. If you go in to Pisa, there really isn't that much there besides the Tower, so that diverts a certain amount of a very limited time frame just to see the Tower.

Naples - When we were in Naples, we took the Pompeii/Amalfi Coast tour, which combined the historical and very interesting ruins of Pompeii with the wonderful scenery of the Amalfi coast. I would recommend this tour to cruise passengers visiting Naples.

Barcelona - I would definitely see the La Sagrada Familia, which, if it is ever completed, will be the second largest church in Europe next to the Vatican. The idea for this church came from the famous architect Antoni Gaudi, whose prominent architecture is seen in many parts of Barcelona. Gaudi died in 1926, but the church was never intended to be completed in his lifetime - in the European tradition, churches sometimes took over a century to construct. In this one, you can even see the difference between the new construction and the old.

The City of Barcelona owns the church. It is a difficult financial decision as to whether to continue building it or not. If they continue, it will become one of Europe's great landmarks, but like other governments, there are more pressing issues than the construction of a church. To me, this is a must see.

If I had a day in Barcelona, I might simply take a taxi tour.....check out Park Guell and drive by La Pedrera (a building with no straight lines), both done by Gaudi. You should also check out the Picasso museum, and walk down Las Ramblas, also visiting the old cathedral. If the Olympic Stadium is of interest, you can check that out as well.

Don't know about the other places - but hope this helps, and enjoy your cruise!

Answer 2

In Naples, you can either do the tourist thing - like the majority will do - and tour the ruins at Pompeii or hire a car/taxi and drive through Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast. Any good tour book will tell you more (I rarely travel without my DK Eyewitness guide on the region to which I'm traveling).

For getting a great feel for Italy, it's near the top of the list.

Answer 3

Lot's of answers for each of those cities

Answer 4

Hello, I'm a travel agent and also I have my own travel business,

I can recommend you some ashore excursion, but is more cheap if you cruise book togeter ,

I don't know what kind of cruise yu have (wich cruise line) becuse the must tell you about excursions, tours, etc,

Be free to email me at
[e-mail]
or visit my web site at
www.aatcheaptravel.com

But anyway I"ll be glad to help you with some ideas:


Best Of Barcelona
Length: 3.5 hours

This easy drive through Barcelona is a wonderful introduction to one of Spain's most beautiful cities. Begin with a panoramic drive up Montjuic, a hill that rises above the harbor and is named after the Jewish community that once lived on its slopes. Today it is the site of the Olympic Stadium and Spanish Village, as well as several important museums, including the Miro Foundation. The downhill drive takes you to Plaza d'España and the old bullring that is used today for political rallies and theater performances. The street is lined with the city's most elegant shops, and some of Antoni Gaudi's most eye-catching buildings. On Barcelona's main thoroughfare, Avenida Diagonal, you get your first glimpse of the city's most eccentric landmark - Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia, left unfinished after his death in 1926. Pause for a photograph of the church or buy a postcard of this strikingly surreal structure. Your tour concludes with a view of the Olympic Village and the new marina.

Cost per person: $ 38

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Athens & The Acropolis
Length: 4 hours

No excursion available offers more in the way of history, both real and mythical than this Athenian adventure. Those visiting Athens for the first time, this outing provides an excellent introduction to one of the great cities of the ancient world. The drive from the port of Piraeus to Athens takes about 40 minutes. You will see the marble Olympic Stadium, site of the first modern Olympic Games, and the former Royal Palace, with its colorful guards. When you reach the Acropolis, your motorcoach must park below the top. You will have to walk the rest of the way in order to see the Parthenon and other incredible buildings up close. Most of this climb involves walking on smooth marble, which can be slippery. At the top, you will be rewarded as these monuments of ancient history appear before you. A guide will show you all the extraordinary sights, starting with the Propylaea, one of the masterpieces of classical architecture and the entrance to this lofty city. You'll see the Temple of Apteros Nike (Wingless Victory) and the Erechtheum, with its classical stone-draped maidens, the Caryatids. And of course, the Parthenon. Before returning to Piraeus, you'll see the Theseum and the Agora.

Cost per person: $ 49

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Panoramic Dubrovnik & City Tour
Length: 3.5 hours

Depart the pier on a panoramic drive of Dubrovnik and its Riviera before continuing to Dubrovnik Old Town. The walking tour will commence by entering through the Pile Gate and down the main street called the Stradun.
During the guided portion of the tour, you will visit the 14th century Franciscan Monastery which houses the oldest working pharmacy in Europe and whose cloister ranks among the most inspiring sites in the city. The remaining stops will be at the 15th century Rector's Palace that used to be the seat of Dubrovnik Republic government and the Cathedral, one of the few baroque buildings that contains a very interesting treasury with artifacts in gold and silver. Other fine monuments such as Onofrio's fountain, the Sponza Palace, St. Blaise's church will be viewed from the outside.
Note: Guests must be able to walk approximately 0.5 mile (2 hours) over even and cobblestone surfaces with extended periods of standing and 10 steps into the monastery. Time permitting; you will have approximately 1 hour of leisure in the old city.

Cost per person: $ 39
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Athens
Ancient Pompeii
Length: 4 hours

One of our "Cruise Director's Choice" excursions. This highly recommended tour features the remarkable ruins of the city buried under the ash of Mt. Vesuvius. You will enter the fabled city through the Sea Gate as you experience a walk down the cobbled street to the agora, surrounded by temples, porticoes and law courts. It was the religious, civic and business center of the city. Because Pompeii was so well preserved, you can see many fine details that reveal the lifestyles of the residents, such as mosaic floors and colorful frescoes in some of the homes. As you wander through this ancient city, you can't help but notice the still-active Mount Vesuvius towering above This tour is one of the musts of any visit to Naples.

Cost per person: $ 69
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Enchanting Imperial Rome
Length: 9.5 hours

With only one day in Rome, one obviously has to select carefully among the city's endless attractions. The sights included in this tour are considered to be among the most important and popular. This tour will be conducted by deluxe minivan or minibus to allow you to access places where large coaches are not allowed. You will be able to visit more sites, and to fully enjoy your guide's commentary. The major points of interest that will be visited during this tour are:

St. Peter's Square - Created by Bernini is considered one of the loveliest squares in the world.
St. Peter's Basilica - Christendom's most magnificient church, which was begun in 1452 on the site where St.Peter was buried.

The Vatican Museums - The Museums contain an incredible collection of art and treasures collected by the popes. Your guide will walk you through a portion of this incredible museum.

Sistine Chapel - It took Michelangelo four years at the height of the Renaissance, to paint the ceiling's wonderful frescos of the Creation.

Trevi Fountain - The most monumental of Rome's baroque fountains was designed by Bernini.

Spanish Steps -

Some of the main points of interest that will be viewed from the vehicle during your sightseeing drive are:
Piazza Venezia -
Pantheon
Roman Forum
Arch of Constantine
Circus Maximus
Colosseum (PHOTO STOP).
Cost per person: $ 169
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The Village of Ia Fira and Winery
Length: 4.5 hours

From the ship you will board a local tender and disembark after 15 minutes at the island's main port Athinios. Here we will board the motorcoach and ascend the colorful rocky sides of the caldera wall while enjoying panoramic views of the island. Once the top is reached will make your way to the highest peak of Santorini (883 feet) to Mt. Profit Ilias where the monastery of the same name was built in 1712. From this point you have a magnificent view of the entire island.
Departing from the village of Pyrgos you will board the bus and drive through traditional villages towards Ia on the northern end of Santorini.

On the way to Ia you will have the opportunity to see the different layers of lava that the volcano has produced over the years in every phase of its activity. After a drive of about 50 minutes you will arrive in the traditional village of Ia which is particularly well preserved, its pristine white houses and brightly colored vaults, courtyards and mansions endowing it with a special beauty.

Leaving the village of Ia you will be driven to a local winery for a small tour and wine tasting.
After the winery visit you will continue to the capital of the island Fira, where you will have free time to walk and browse in the local small shops and cafés.

You will return back to the ship by cable car.

Cost per person: $ 69
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Gondola Serenade Starting from USD $49.10 per person


Duration: 50 minutes
Commences: Venice, Italy

Introduction:


Take a gondola ride through the canals of Venice
A gondola ride is the quintessence of romantic Venice! Book a Gondola Serenade Group Tour and enjoy a soothing journey along the canals. You will be captivated by the glamour and elegance of such an experience. This is the best way to soak up the atmosphere and feel part of this unique city.


Schedule Details

Float on the Venice canals onboard a gondola
Dates:
Daily


Location:
Tour departs from the Gondola's mooring point of Santa Maria del Giglio Square (next to the entrance of Hotel Gritti Palace)


Time:


7:30pm - April to October
8:30pm - May to September
3:30pm - November to March