edinburgher

How many would they need? Could you ask on your Roll Call if any fellow passengers would be interested in joing the small group?

i think only one member so far https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=aigai&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=463 Vergina past threads here https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=aigai&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=463

I personally would not be too focused in tour details as they will all follow much the same itinerary. I would be more inclined to book by price, because do remember that, should the weather be less than perfect that day, if rainy and cloudy you won't see too much anyway, so the less it cost the better. Trollstigen (we went from Aldasnes, a shorter distance than from Alesund) and Mt Dalsnibba from Geiranger were the two most expensive tours we booked on our Norway itineraries, and we did stress a little in case one or both would be spoiled by poor weather. As it turned out the weather gods smiled on us and all was well,but it could have been very different. Should you decide to instead stay in Alesund where there is lots to see and do, reading past posts might help you decide. Choose from these https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=alesund&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=116 the following two past threads would likely be of most interest to you. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2942612-alesund-norway-my-75hrs-trolls-rd-tour/#comment-65505188 And should you decide to stay in Alesund instead, a favourite with cruise pax, there are many suggestions on this past thread, again only one of many to be found. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2826391-alesund-norway/#comment-62526938 This current thread would be a definite to read if you are planning to take the Trollstigen tour in the next few weeks. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/3006356-trollstigen-closed/#comment-67332014

no experience sadly, although we have seen a few of these small ships/yachts docked at Gruz Dubrovnik just a little further along the harbour from the cruise terminal and very lovely they looked too. A friend was interested in taking one of these and has booked a "Croatian Coastal" through ROAD SCHOLAR as she had read and heard many good comments about their programmes and thought booking on one of their small boat/yacht private charters rather than booking with strangers would give her more confidence in the overall trip. Cannot yet report on her experience as it was only recently booked and isn't until next year, but she will be onboard a 38 passenger ship/yacht called the Vigor or something similar to that. Maybe check the Road Scholar website for insiration? And also other companies which do similar small group exclusive charters.

In that case, fingers crossed that, in any emergency situation, she never needs to use a cruise ship lifeboat!😉 Enjoy your dau in SM/P however you decide to spend it.

VV, you will know from your other European cruises that nowadays Europe is busy almost year round, numbers slowly increasing throughout the summer season, but taking a huge leap in August. Sorry to say that, unless in Europe in winter months such as January or February, crowds are to be expected, only fewer of them. Sadly, overtourism has no boundaries. Friends and neighbours have been remarking this past month or so that Edinburgh appears to be more crowded with tourists than usual for the time of year.

some competion then for the several gin distilleries!😀

Sorry, no, not recent experience, but unless there has been a very recent change, timing could be tighter than you expect as it was until recently at least, the norm to have to collect your hold luggage on arrival at your connecting airport, (for you JFK) then recheck it for the next flight.

Should they provide one, (and most do as they are a good money earner for the cruiselines) it will probably cost more than the public bus both ways. Or a taxi if there are more than two of you. There is not a lot to gain using a shuttle as it starts at the port and will only run to Pile Gate, the last vehicular access to the Old Town. The buses and taxis also run to there, with taxis also at the dock and public buses just outside the port gate. For the Old Town buses stay on that same side of the road, do not cross, but when returning you would get off on the opposite side. For the return, shuttle buses, taxis and buses all leave from Pile Gate and depending on how many they are running and the number of passengers wanting to return, there may be long lines for ship shuttle buses.. In addition to running from A to B, taxis also offer tours. Buses are regular and quite frequent. LIBERTAS is the local bus company and timetables can be easily found online. NCL ships are "big girls",😀 so assume you will be at GRUZ harbour not tendering into the Old Town, so look for GRUZ (and Pile) on the timetables. Past threads for Dubrovnik. choose which to read from these https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=dubrovnik&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=149

Only now noticed that i should have pointed out tha, having once exited the station to the main road, it is necessary to cross that road to enter the historic walled section of Lucca.

Reading some of the past threads might help, in addition to the usual Tripadvisor, Frommer's, Fodors, YouTube, Rick Steves and anything else which appears when you google eg "Chania (or Mykonos) Tourist Information". You could also google something like "self guided walking tours Chania (or Mykonos)" I take it you are not planning on walking all of Mykonos island either? if staying in the main town on both, you really would not need any tour guided or self guided, as both are quite small but pretty towns and it would be difficult to get lost in either.. Choose from these Chania https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=chania&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=463 Mykonos https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=mykonos&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=463

it is only a little under an hour from le Havre to Rouen by train, direct with no changes. There have been a number of past threads about doing this, and if you have not already done so, reading some of them might help. Choose from these: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=rouen&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=462:

There is also the Johnnie Walker Experience on Princes St.😀

One of the people in my group likely won't get on the ferry, How strange , because if that same person is also visiting Cinque Terre, I assume you are all doing it by train, not by ferry?

Unless you are trying to use AMEX, (not at all popular with businesses in Europe and may not always be accepted) Croatia is a member country of the EU and their currency is now the euro. You should in theory have no issues using Visa or MC.