DIY Greece in February? : Corfù, Katakolon (Olympia), Heraklion, Piraeus (Athens)

Hello CC,

My DW and I will be in Europe for our honeymoon. We'll be in Greece in February on MSC Orchestra: Corfù, Katakolon (Olympia), Heraklion (Crete), Piraeus (Athens)

Is it worth it to try to find a private tour or can these be done on our own as first timers?

We've been looking for shared excursions that have started but there are none available, I guess it's not the busy season. Thanks.

DATE  PORT  ARRIVAL  DEPARTURE    
Sat, Feb  10, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Italy/Civitavecchia.aspx"]Civitavecchia,  Italy[/url]    -  7:00 PM    
Sun, Feb  11, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Italy/Genoa.aspx"]Genoa,  Italy[/url]    9:00 AM  5:00 PM    
Mon, Feb  12, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/France/Marseille.aspx"]Marseille,  France[/url]    8:00 AM  6:00 PM    
Tue, Feb  13, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Spain/Barcelona.aspx"]Barcelona,  Spain[/url]    9:00 AM  6:00 PM    
Wed, Feb  14, 2018  At Sea  -  -    
Thu, Feb  15, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Malta/Valletta.aspx"]Valletta,  Malta[/url]    8:00 AM  4:00 PM   
Fri, Feb  16, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Greece/Corfu.aspx"]Corfù,  Greece[/url]    2:00 PM  8:00 PM    
Sat, Feb  17, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Greece/Katakolon.aspx"]Katakolon,  Greece[/url]    8:00 AM  5:00 PM    
Sun, Feb  18, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Greece/Heraklion.aspx"]Heraklion,  Greece[/url]    8:00 AM  6:00 PM   
Mon, Feb  19, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Greece/Piraeus.aspx"]Piraeus,  Greece[/url]    7:30 AM  4:30 PM    
Tue, Feb  20, 2018  At Sea  -  -    
Wed, Feb  21, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Italy/Civitavecchia.aspx"]Civitavecchia,  Italy[/url]    9:00 AM  - 

We are doing the same trip on april 18! Same ship and same port of call! Give us a feedback of what you did and what we should do [emoji2]

Envoyé de mon iPad en utilisant Forums

Hello CC,

 

My DW and I will be in Europe for our honeymoon. We'll be in Greece in February on MSC Orchestra: Corfù, Katakolon (Olympia), Heraklion (Crete), Piraeus (Athens)

 

Is it worth it to try to find a private tour or can these be done on our own as first timers?

 

We've been looking for shared excursions that have started but there are none available, I guess it's not the busy season. Thanks.

 

 

DATE  PORT  ARRIVAL  DEPARTURE    
Sat, Feb  10, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Italy/Civitavecchia.aspx"]Civitavecchia,  Italy[/url]    -  7:00 PM    
Sun, Feb  11, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Italy/Genoa.aspx"]Genoa,  Italy[/url]    9:00 AM  5:00 PM    
Mon, Feb  12, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/France/Marseille.aspx"]Marseille,  France[/url]    8:00 AM  6:00 PM    
Tue, Feb  13, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Spain/Barcelona.aspx"]Barcelona,  Spain[/url]    9:00 AM  6:00 PM    
Wed, Feb  14, 2018  At Sea  -  -    
Thu, Feb  15, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Malta/Valletta.aspx"]Valletta,  Malta[/url]    8:00 AM  4:00 PM   
Fri, Feb  16, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Greece/Corfu.aspx"]Corfù,  Greece[/url]    2:00 PM  8:00 PM    
Sat, Feb  17, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Greece/Katakolon.aspx"]Katakolon,  Greece[/url]    8:00 AM  5:00 PM    
Sun, Feb  18, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Greece/Heraklion.aspx"]Heraklion,  Greece[/url]    8:00 AM  6:00 PM   
Mon, Feb  19, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Greece/Piraeus.aspx"]Piraeus,  Greece[/url]    7:30 AM  4:30 PM    
Tue, Feb  20, 2018  At Sea  -  -    
Wed, Feb  21, 2018    [url="https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Cruise-Destinations/Mediterranean/Italy/Civitavecchia.aspx"]Civitavecchia,  Italy[/url]    9:00 AM  - 

Corfu we hired taxi for 80 E. took us around island to Paliokastrica monastery and doped us in old city for shopping.

Katakolon we took bus in port 3 E pp round trip went to Olympia . 13 E pp entry

Piraeus took Hop on bus in port went to Museum and Acropolis. Make sure you go early .

I don't think you need any excursion there but it's up to you to decide

From Pireaus into Athens city centre is easy all year, either by bus or metro.

In Heraklion, there will be buses into the city centre from the port & a service to Knossos, however this will be limited during winter. The timetables are available online, the public bus service is ktel, but I suggest checking the timetable just prior to travel as it changes regularly. Knossos is only a few km outside Heraklion so you may prefer to take a taxi if you don't want to use the cruise's offering. Within Heraklion city, the archaeological museum is highly recommended.

As an update:

Genoa, Italy - Did this on our own, subway was easy and it's not too hard to walk the sights like the fountain, museum and the mansion.

Marseille, France - Did this on our own. We went to Notre-Dame de la Garde and did some walking by the quay. The free shuttle bus is over 1 KM from the port. Remember this if you have mobility issues, but the walk was worth the €30 we saved.

Barcelona, Spain - Hired a semi-private van through BarcelonaDayTours. I've used them before and had great service again.

Valletta, Malta - Did this on our own. Easy to walk around. TIP: When you get out the port and to the main street, walk 5-10 minutes right to the elevator at Upper Barrakka Gardens. It's a €1 ride up but it avoids the uphill walk you'd have to take if you turn to the left. There is also a free cannon show.

Corfù, Greece - Ship skipped this port due to high winds, we ended up going to Messina, Italy instead. Easy walk around the city. The Astronomical Clock of the Cathedral of Messina was great, but get there before noon. With better planning, I would've taken the trip to the house in Siciliy where parts of The Godfather were filmed.

Katakolon, Greece - Took the Katakolon Express (n) to Olympia for €20. Wasn't the greatest service (we weren't fond of the attitude and even though we booked them for Piraeus, we switched to another tour operator we met in Olympia). We would've taken the train to Olympia but weren't sure it was running and many of the shuttle buses were filling up.

Heraklion, Greece - Exit the port to the main street, walk about 7 minutes right to the local bus terminal (requires crossing the street). Took the local bus for less than €4 for a return trip to The Palace of Knossos (where the Minotaur was located).

Piraeus, Greece - Went with Piraeus Express (y) (met them in Katakolon) and received great service to a bunch of sights in Athens for €20 (normally €25): Kastella, Panathenaic (Olympic) Stadium, Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch (photos only, didn't enter), House of Parliament in Syntagma Square & changing of the guards (the tour operator will give you advice on how to get the best video or pictures), Athenian Trilogy (Academy, University and National Library), Acropolis and Parthenon, shopping in Plaka.

Tip for Plaka, don't buy at the first shop you see. We walked 2 intersections down, turned left and eventually found a shop selling the same trinkets (bracelets, keychains, etc. with the Mati (Greek Evil Eye)) as the other stores for less than half the price). If you have children or are a prude, beware that there are a lot of sexual themed and phallus objects in public view.

I hope I helped others.

P and K

thank you for the update. Will be cruising in Nov to some of those places, so your review is a great help :D

Mossie

P and K

thank you for the update. Will be cruising in Nov to some of those places, so your review is a great help :D

 

Mossie

No problem! Enjoy your trip!

Piraeus, Greece - Went with Piraeus Express (y) (met them in Katakolon)

To clarify, the Piraeus Express website is http://piraeusexpressbus.com/index.html , it seems Katakolon Express has a similar "Piraeus Express" website in order to trick people.