Positano/Taormina/web cam Questions

[roothy123]

Couple questions: does anyone know where the Oceania anchors or docks when it goes to Positano/Amalfi? Can I assume it anchors off the coast of Positano? Amalfi and Sorrento are also nearby. Also, the same question applies to Taormina, Sicily - does it anchor there, or Messina? Also, does Oceania still have a web cam? If so, how do I access it? Thanks much for any help you can give! (Going on the Rome to Athens trip Sept. 30).

[daquri]

Also, does Oceania still have a web cam? If so, how do I access it?


The web cam can be found at: www.oceaniaatsea.com.

[Benita]

We just returned from the Insignia. In Positano/Amalfi, it anchors off Amalfi and it is a 5 minute tender ride to the pier. You can take a public ferry to Positano, or the ship's excursion included a round trip cruise. If I had to do it over again, I would walk around Amalfi, then take a ferry to Positano and a taxi back.
In Taormina, you anchor in Giardia Naxos, which is on the water. Taormina is up in the hills and it takes about 20 minutes by taxi to get into Taormina. You can also take a public bus, but it can be quite a walk to the bus stop.

[roothy123]

Thanks. We're not big on the organized shore excursions, so I like to try and plan "on our own excursions" when I can. I've been looking at the web cam for the Nautica with interest, since you were in most or all of the places on that cruise that I will be on Sept. 30. Did you have from about noon to 6 in Amalfi? That's what it looks like we'll have, but I'm not positive. I guess that's enough time to see Amalfi and Positano?

Valetta looks pretty interesting, and it looks like the dock is right near the town. Did you go there, and if so, what did you think? Did you have a favorite port? I'm familiar with Civitavecchia and Livorno, so I don't have questions about them. We're staying over a day in Athens, so I guess I won't need port info there, since we'll be taken to the port from our hotel and back. However, if you went to Delos, Rhodes, or Santorini and have any tips to share, I'd appreciate hearing them. For example, it sounds like the ship docks close to downtown, or old town Rhodes, so that might be a "do it yourself" type place? I don't suppose you'll be writing a trip report or anything, will you? I haven't seen much info on this particular cruise itinerary, but I guess the cruises have just started, so hopefully I'll hear more before our Sept. 30 cruise date rolls around. (We are on Insignia. I would ask if Nautica is nice, but I'm sure it's just like the Regatta, which we've been on, just perhaps a little newer! Anyway, thanks for the info on Taormina and Amalfi dock locations.

[roothy123]

Also meant to ask you - when you say that the walk to the bus stop is pretty far, could you give me an idea of how far - 10 minute leisurely walk? 20 minute walk? also, is it easy to find and can you pay on the bus? Also, do you mind if I ask how much the taxi was up to Taormina? Thanks.

[Benita]

The bus to Taormina from the tender stop at Giardos Naxos is probably pretty close. We stayed at a hotel on the other end of the beach and had to walk about a mile to the bus stop in stifling heat. From what I remember, it went along the whole beach before starting the climb to Taormina. I would guess a taxi would be about 20 Euros each way.
I loved Malta. It was a great stop. We took the ship's excursion to Mdina, the Mosta Dome and the Crafts shop. The Dome was pretty impressive and worth seeing. Mdina was great- not too touristy and lovely buildings. The crafts shops are in a converted airstip - it was ok but could be skipped. If you don't do the ship's tour, I would hire a taxi and go to Mdina.
We did not go to Greece on this trip, but have sailed there before. In Santorini, we took a bus to Ia, which is where all the beautiful blue domed buildings are located. You can take a donkey or cable car to the top of hill to catch the bus. You can walk down to catch the ship, but then you compete with the donkeys for the road.
If you stop in Livorno, I would see about catching the public ferry to Cinque Terra, probably one of my favorite spots in the world.

[roothy123]

thanks - that helps. Ia sounds great. We're thinking of renting a car and then driving there, plus down south to the lighthouse, and around the island. In Santorini, do you have to wait long for the cable car up, and if so, were you on Oceania? I can just see getting there when some huge cruise ship comes in and everyone has to wait - or more importantly, having to wait a long time on the way back down! Ferry from Livorno to Cinque Terre sounds like my kind of place, and I didn't know you could get there by ferry from Florence. However, I think my husband wants to go back to Florence, so I'll probably not be able to do that! Maybe the stops in Amalfi and Sorrento will be just as good. Or perhaps my day in Portofino, which was wonderful, will have to do!

[Benita]

The wait for the cable car up was not too bad. There were lots of ships in at the same time, but since everybody tenders, there was not mass exodus. The wait for the ride down was horrendous. We opted to walk down, as I did not want to be on a donkey running downhill. Avoiding the donkeys and their excrement was quite an experience.
Portifino has a beautiful harbor area, but is very small. The walk around takes about ten minutes. Cinque Terra is quite large and you can spend the whole day there. When we went (with Windstar), the ship docked in Portovenere. Most of the passengers went to Florence, about a dozen of us took the ferry to Cinque Terra. I don't know how far down the coast is Livorno, but if Cinque Terra is a possibility, I would grab it. Florence is about a 2 hour drive, each way, from the coast. Pisa is about an hour and is well worth seeing, if you have not been there.

[Jackfla]

We just returned on the Athens to Rome cruise on Nautica May 29th sail date. First of all we were very impressed with the quality of the staff and food on Nautica-people could not have been nicer and had a great attitude.

I prefer to do our own excursions since I dont like crowds and also find the tour guides to be non stop talkers which wear you down after a while.

I would focus on Positano and Amalfi and avoid Ravella if there is a choice. We had a private drive from Sorrento to Positano and it was great.

Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Valetta and most can be done on your own. You might check out the train schedules for Florence but we took the Oceania bus and it was fine.

If you do searches on this website by town/port you can find a wealth of information.

Good luck.

I would be proactive with the concierge and ask specific restaurant questions for cities visited.

[Jackfla]

They smell bad, and you will smell like them all day. At least ride them down but not up. The lift is fast and fun.

[Joanzzzz]

Valetta was interesting and make sure you get on deck as the ship comes in to the harbour, as it is a spectacular harbour. The ship docks in town, so to speak, but the town is way up in steps, and it's a climb. Cabs wil offer to take you up, and they can charge up to 10 Euros, which is a rip off. We walked it both ways, and found it not too bad. The cathedral is impressive, but closes for lunch, so check times. Go walk round the top harbour wall walks, and sit and have coffee in the cafe Cordina, on Republic Street, one of the oldest coffee shops with an impressive inside - look at the ceilings.

If you want to see 'the walled city' by M’dina you can get a bus from Valletta to Mdina frequently.

The buses are numbered but without a destination marking. Buses take off when they're full.

Instead of paying a lot of money for a harbour cruise, at about 35 US and takes half the day, there is a small ferry leaving from Sliema which will take you across beautiful Marsamxett harbour and past Manoel Island for just cents. The boat trip between Valletta and Sliema is short but sweet. Ferries depart every half-hour.

I read a real good book to get me into the Malta flavour before I went, called The Brass Dolphin, by Joanna Trollope. It is set in Malta during the war years.

We bought wines everywhere we went, and Malta wines were the only ones we disliked........got a real nice organic red in Rhodes in the old city.

Rhodes, we rented a car from Frank Lykopantis of Independent Rentals, and he met us at the dockside, and did all the paperwork there, and had it for the day and all for 35 euros, and 8 euros of gas. We went down the coast one side to the Acropolis at Lindos. Get there early, as parking on the top in the free car park quickly fills up. It's a climb up, and make sure you wear good shoes, as it is a rocky cobbled path.....also if you don't like heights, some stairs have open sides!!

We then drove back stopping at a beach area, a waterfall area, and parked the car right at the dock rather that try find a space in Rhodes town. We walked into the old town area, visited the Grand Master's palace, etc., and there is also a small beach area right near the dock if you fancy a quick paddle.

Santorini we rented a car from eurodollar@hol.gr. They were waiting at the top of the lift for us, a short walk to the main office, and we had a car for 40 Euros all inclusive. Went all over the island, and loved it, including the hike up the highest point on the island.......great views. Gas costs for going up and down all over were 10 Euros. Found a lovely spot near Io, called Amoundi Bay, where you find a few tavernas, a nice fishing harbour, and if you go past them, a walking trail round the point. Really enjoyed it there.

Taormina, we waited for a cab at the dock cab spot, and hardly any came. It was Sunday, and Italians have big family meals and spend time with families in Sicily, so there were fewer cabs. Four of us walked up into the town area, had a coffee at a cafe, and the owner (Romeo) tried to get a cab for us, and suggested we also go by bus, which was up a hilly road. We set off, saw a cab coming towards us, and stole him in traffic for 20 Euros each way to Taormino, and he arranged a time to return for us.

Liked Taormino a lot, not just the theatre there, but go round the gardens and the back streets as well. A couple of others even walked up to the fortress town further up which was quite a climb.

In Sorrento we had a driver for 300 Euros between four of us, who even burst into song, and was very proud of his area. He picked us up right at the dock, took us wherever we wanted to go for the day. We started at Pompei, finally meeting up with 6 groups of Oceana buses. If you want a tour guide, just wait for a group and tag along.....for free. However, we did our own thing and loved it there. Then we went to Ravello, which we liked a lot, in fact it was probably our favourite spot, but I guess everyone is different. and ate there in a lovely restaurant with a view next to the Villa gardens, which are beautiful. The restaurant had home made bread and pasta, and I'm sure we insulted them as we couldn't finish it! We went all round the back streets there, not just the main area, and then moved down to Amalfi coast going to Portofino, which was busy, mostly shops, and we all thought looked better from far away than visiting. Had a gelato in the cafe on the beach there, and saw a wedding in the church. Stopped at a few other spots on the hairy drive back to Sorrento including the place you get to the Emerald Grotto. Next day we docked at Amalfi, just a short tender and liked it also. Small town, but nice. We all loved the views driving through the area, including those beautiful terraced lemon groves.

Hope this helps