Poesia sept 5 (venice) - daytours?

[FinleysDad]

Hi everyone. We are booked on the Poesia departing Venice on September 5. Has anyone booked daytours for Olympia or Dubrovnik yet? I have not been to either destination previously and would appreciate any advice or suggestions.

For Ephesus and Istanbul, we are going to book daytours with a company we used on a previous NCL cruise - Celsus Travel. They were excellent to work with and Bekir, the owner, was extremely helpful and friendly. If anyone is interested in joining our tour, please feel free to e-mail me. The prices are reduced for larger groups and I would be happy to coordinate with Celsus if others wish to join either of our tours. My e-mail address is: stephen.jacoby@gmail.com

Here are the itineraries for the two tours we are planning:

EPHESUS
Date : September 2009
Port : Izmir Port
Duration : 5 Hours
Meeting Time : TBD
Ship Name : MSC Poesia
Itinerary : Ephesus Ancient City - House of Virgin Mary - Temple of Artemis
Prices :

85 USD per person for 4 adults ( Group of 4 Pax - Private Tour )
65 USD per person for 6 adults ( Group of 6 Pax - Private Tour )
55 USD per person for 8 adults ( Group of 8 Pax - Private Tour )
50 USD per person for 10 - 13 adults ( Group of 10 - 13 Pax - Private Tour )


Tour Programme:
Meet at Kusadasi harbor and continue to Ephesus Ancient City - Enter through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route takesyou past the Odeon, the Celsus Library, theTemple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater. Thetheater had seating for 24,000, which wasthe site where it is believed St. Paul preached to the Ephesians, andis used today for a local springfestival.
House of the Virgin Mary - The Vatican has recognized this small house in the Solmissos Mountains as the final resting place of the Virgin Mary. A small shrine dedicated to St. Mary was found when the ruins of the house were first discovered.
The Temple of Artemis, which had been built at first during the Archaic period, today it's known one of the Seven Wonders of Ancient World.

On your return to Kusadasi, you have the opportunity of remaining in town to view a carpet-weaving demonstration or to shop on your own in the bazaars. Walk back to the ship at your leisure.


ISTANBUL
Date : September 2009
Port : Istanbul Port
Duration : 5 Hours
Meeting Time : Please Inform
Ship Name : MSC Poesia
Itinerary : Hagia Sophia - Blue Mosque - Grand Bazaar
Prices :

80 USD per person for 4 adults ( Group of 4 Pax - Private Tour )
63 USD per person for 6 adults ( Group of 6 Pax - Private Tour )
52 USD per person for 8 adults ( Group of 8 Pax - Private Tour )
47 USD per person for 10 - 13 adults ( Group of 10 - 13 Pax - Private Tour )


Tour Programme:


Hagia Sophia - The Emperor Justinian built St.Sophia when Istanbul was Constantinople. This magnificent example of Byzantine architecture boasts a massive done, a lengthy nave, and an interior decorated with marble, precious stones, and pillars from Ephesus.
Blue Mosque - Six graceful minarets adorn the elegant mosque, one of the city’s most recognized landmarks. The superb interior is decorated with more than 20,000 blue Iznik tiles.
Grand Bazaar - Today,shop selling the same kind of merchandise tend to be congregated in their own street or in hans as this was originally the Ottoman system.In addition to two bedestens there are also 13 hans in the grand bazaar. The atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar is very interesting for tourist and has consequently become a very popular place for foreign visitors. It is open during working hours on week days,closing earlier on Saturdays,while on Sundays and religious holidays it is closed.


Included:


Transfer from port and back.
Transportation by a comfortable AC non smoking Luxurious car / Van with professional driver.
Professional and experienced licensed guide( In English) during the tours.
Entry fees to the museums and sites.
Parking fees.




We are looking forward to this cruise. This is our first cruise on MSC. Any tips and suggestions regarding this cruiseline?

[navybankerteacher]

The price for Istanbul tour seems very steep - get a decent city map, then all you will need is cab fare from port to Hagia Sofia -- all else is in immediate area and walking in the old center is part of the magic - a simple guide book will give you all details. Try going across Golden Horn and taking the ancient subway to old European quarter -- worth the extra 30 minutes.

[AmoMondo]

I did the MSC shore excusriosn in Istanbul, Dubrovnik and Katakalon. This was my first cruise and I'd also not been to either country before so had not considered DIY.

The Istanbul one was the best- although our one was longer - it also had a vusut to a carpet making workshop (loved the apple tea there!) and the magnificent Tokapi Palace. It was a long day - 8 hours with no time for lunch (or least none of us managed it) but very interesting and the guide was excellent.

In Dubrovnik we did a walking city tour. To be honest wasn't that good. She basically walked as around the main sq and took us to the town hall and a convent that were just off the main square. We could have easily done this ourselves with a map and for a lot cheaper.

At Katakalon, I did their Olympus tour. the guide was extremely knowledgeable but it was just too long and too much information. we were there in mid June and the temp was up in the 90s. Walking around every last pile of rubble and waiting whiles we got a detailed explanation of the history of it was too much (for me anyway).

I'd recommend that you go to the European Ports of call section and then the Greek and other Ports sub section for the Med. You will find loads of info there on doing ports on your own or usuing local guides and tour operators. that will help you compare cost with the MSC tours.