Italy Land Tour vs. Med. Cruise - Your Opinions

[LynneL]

My friend & I would love to see Italy. Leaving the husbands at home (now that I see prices - they can't come even if they want to - lol). Originally we were considering a Med. cruise. Carnival had some nice prices. I've cruised many, many times - cruise #17 on Carnival coming up shortly, but I'm not locked into any one cruiseline. I've enjoyed all the various lines I've been on.

 

Here's the thing...went to a block party yesterday & someone started telling us about an upcoming 11 day trip to Italy with Perillo tours. Now I've started looking at Perillo & Tauck Tours. Both pricey but when you factor in all the tours are included (on the ship I'd have to add all that on), almost all the meals so similar to cruising, both highly regarded tour companies, & the intineraries list 3 days in Rome compared to 1 day if I'm on a cruise.

 

Total confusion here!!!!!! Most cruises seems to leave from Barcellona so the thought of arriving in Rome a couple of days early to give us extra time there doesn't seem to work out. Also we would have to add on hotels costs, meals, etc. if we do that. We don't want the cost to get too crazy cause then the husbands will say, "What the heck??!!!! How much??? & we're not even going!!!!" - lol.

 

Sorry for the rambling & sort of thinking out loud. Anyone else been in this situation of weighing one route over the other - or best yet have tried both ways & have an opionion which you thought was better? Thanks for any help you can give us.

[cruisemom42]

If you primarily want to see Italy, I'd recommend the land tour. You will see a lot more and will also get to experience evenings in places (like Rome, Florence, Venice) -- which is a big part of the magic of Italy for me.

 

The only problem I'd have with a land tour is that things are often very regimented. You may not have much free time to explore on your own. Maybe that's not a big deal for you, but it's something to consider. (It would make me nuts as I usually have very specific things I want to see and do when I travel somewhere!)

 

Also, meals on a land tour can be a plus/minus experience when included. Breakfasts are fine; most hotels provide a pretty similar spread for tourists. But lunches and dinners may be disappointing if you are taken to large, touristy restaurants (which seems like on a bus tour).

 

If you are looking to experience Italy and want to basically put all the details into the hands of someone else to do the planning, then this type of tour would be an option. Some agencies provide trips for a similar number of days that basically include transportation (usually via train) and hotels only. To me, that would be preferable, but again I'm not a big fan of tours and tour guides in general....

 

As for cruises -- is there any particular reason that you are only looking at Carnival? Many other lines cruise the Med at reasonable costs (particularly when I looked at how much the Perillo tours are!) and some of these either begin or end in Rome, allowing you extra days there. Princess offers an itinerary that starts in Venice and ends in Rome (or vice versa), doing mostly the Greek isles in between.

[riffatsea]

IF you just want to visit Italy then a land vacation would allow you to do it in much more depth than a cruise.

I like cruises very much but in Europe I think that the ports are sooo much richer in what they offer that they deserve more than a few hours!!

[LynneL]

If you primarily want to see Italy, I'd recommend the land tour. You will see a lot more and will also get to experience evenings in places (like Rome, Florence, Venice) -- which is a big part of the magic of Italy for me......

 

Also, meals on a land tour can be a plus/minus experience when included. Breakfasts are fine; most hotels provide a pretty similar spread for tourists. But lunches and dinners may be disappointing if you are taken to large, touristy restaurants (which seems like on a bus tour)....

 

As for cruises -- is there any particular reason that you are only looking at Carnival? Many other lines cruise the Med at reasonable costs (particularly when I looked at how much the Perillo tours are!) and some of these either begin or end in Rome, allowing you extra days there. Princess offers an itinerary that starts in Venice and ends in Rome (or vice versa), doing mostly the Greek isles in between.

 

You definately bring up some good points, such as seeing the cities at night. Didn't think of that one. Also true about the meals. One thought on doing a cruise is it's easy with regard to eating & hotels - no unpacking & packing, etc., but we really won't get to experience Italy in the same manner.

 

With regard to the cruises, I wasn't looking only at Carnival. That was just our starting place because I saw they had an 8 or 9 night cruise starting around $899. pp. Seemed super cheap. I then went on an internet cruise site & just put in "Western Europe" & got a ton of choices & then it started to get really confusing. I hadn't even saw the Princess one you mentioned. That would have been an excellent option except years ago I took a Greek Islands/Turkey cruise, after doing 1 week land tour in Greece. That was the best of both worlds....before marriage & kids...all my money was just for me - lol. If I hadn't done that already I think that cruise would have been my choice this time.

 

As I read both your reply and the other posters I beginning to lean towards doing a land tour. Think I should research more tour companies and try to find something with good feedback but not as expensive as Perillo.

 

Thanks for your help. This is why I love these boards!

[mapleleaves]

would you not consider a DIY tour? Pick up Rick Steve's books/dvd's of Italy and it's so easy to plan your own following his recommended itineraries or make up your own. His company also leads tours but they're more along the B&B style than hotel. And Rick Steve's isn't the only guide either so there are plenty of great resources available.

The big advantage to DIY is that you're going to see only what you want to see and on your time schedule. Just borrow a DVD from the library and see for yourself.

[riffatsea]

Lynne, I am a 62yr. old woman who travels withOUT my husband to Europe. We do cruises together but he really hates flying so only close to home.

I have found it really easy to get info and plan all my trips with the help of the forums on the Trip Advisor web site which is the "sister" site to this one!

I have been to Italy now 4 times on my own and am meeting a friend in Barcelona for my 2 nd trip there.She also usually travels alone and has been to Italy many many times for 2 weeks each time!! It is possible to go without a tour if you don't mind doing a little "homework".

Enjoy!!:p

[chipmaster]

By land or sea gets you something very different and then whether in a tour or DIY is another choice one needs to make.

 

If one wants to really get the taste and sights of a country, not just the iconic things but the culture, the food, the backroads and other smaller things that set countries apart that only comes with a land tour or with multiple trips.

 

A cruise gets you a whirlwind tour, often less then 8 hours in ports. Combine that with the distance from port it really becomes a cliff notes of visits. Even if you do private tours you can only scratch the surface. Fine if you want to get a quick taste or see a lot in a short time, but very unsastificatory if you want to dive in, enjoy leisure days shopping, eating and random exploration, nothing beats a landtour.

 

BTW: I'd pick the cruise based on the ports. Carnival has some great ships and port stops but IMHO pick the lineup of ports and the ship that gets you the most of the ports you want, that is most important

 

Good luck

[Drifting Happily]

Having toured Italy both by cruise and land tour, I'd have to say I preferred the cruise. The land tour was very regimented, so we only had an hour or two of free time in each city. (It was a private tour for a school group.) While you do spend more time--and evenings--in the cities, you are in a large group on a bus and staying at chain hotels which tends to distance you from the culture.

 

I preferred cruising because once the ship got us into port, we could see whatever we wanted. We generally struck out on our own away from the crowds from the ship. Some days we took 1/2 day tours, then had the afternoon free. It all depends on what you want to do. If you want to experience a lot of different parts of Italy (such as Naples, Capri and the Amalfi coast), the cruise works best. If you're content to see Rome, Florence and Venice, then a land tour works best. Smaller ships tend to go to smaller ports and some itineraries do have overnights.

[GSPLover]

From a cost standpoint, a cruise is much more economical. We have done a combination of cruise and DIY land in Italy the last couple of times. About 6-8 days on land. The land portion - meals, hotels, and transportation was at least 2½ times the cruise on a per diem basis.

 

Some cruise lines offer cruises that overnight in some of the ports. Our upcoming cruise does overnights in Sorrento, Venice, and Livorno (Florence). Most of the other ports we are there until 10PM at night.

[Hlitner]

We have cruised in Europe many times (more then 20 cruises) and also driven through much of western Europe including about 10,000 miles of driving just within Italy. We love to cruise, the port days are fun, but its not the way to truly see Italy (or any other country). Good tours such as Tauck will let you see a lot more plus get a good chance to enjoy European cuisine which is an important part of the culture. We do find that organized tours do a great job of letting you see the most in the least amount of time which is why we dislike tours :) In the end, we have found the best way to really see Italy (and other countries) is to simply rent a car and do a nice relaxing driving trip. We generally prefer a formula where we will stay in one place for 3 days (sometimes more) and then we just explore that particular region. What can be even more fun is to rent an apartment for 1 or 2 weeks and use that as a base to explore. Getting back to Med cruises, it is a great way for a first time visitor to get a feel for several different countries which can help decisions on future trips. For example, we had been in Naples on several cruises and had samples a lot of the day trip options in the area. This led us to return, when we were driving through Italy, and spend a week on the Amalfi Coast (we later returned for another week). The cruise helped us determine this was an area that we wanted to explore in depth which turned out to be a good decision. A few years ago we were on a cruise that stopped in Zebrugge and we grabbed a taxi and went to nearby Brugge and immediately fell in love with the city. Finally, next spring, we will be in a position where we can simply drive to Brugge and spend a few nights in this enchanting place. I guess my point is that there are good points to any kind of trip :)

 

Hank

[euro cruiser]

I've done both, and the others are right when they say you really don't see much of Italy on a cruise.

 

Some tour companies are very regimented, others are not. I've had very good experience with a tour company that is local for you, Club ABC (http://www.clubabc.com/). They offer a variety of different types of tours, from the escorted tour with every day planned out, to transportation and hotel only options, and others in between. They are also far less expensive than the companies you've been looking at, while offering comparable service in terms of the quality of hotel, guides, etc.

[spatsmcd]

If you want to just Italy, having done land and cruises, I would do land you see so much more. There are tours that give you enough free time, there are also tours that will just do the tranportation and 1/2 day tours. You will have to do some research online.

[maryann ns]

I have been to Italy three times by land and once on a cruise. Land is the way to go. Rent a car and go. There are many inexpensive places to stay if you are not fussy. If you think you can't handle the driving, the trains are excellent but the prices are higher.

 

I would never take a bus tour for the same reasons that I avoid ship's tours. I hate being regimented, having no choice and having to wait for a busload of people to turn up (or use the washroom).

 

I do think a cruise may be a good introduction to Europe if you have not been before. Pick a cruise that just does Italy and starts and ends with Venice and Rome (Civatavecchia). Plan to spend time on your own in both these places. The big drawback is not having enough time for Florence and Tuscany. Azamara is starting to do seven day cruises designed to be combined into back to backs. These give you overnights in several important ports.

 

I learned on my cruise last year how great Turkey is and will be going back for a longer time by land.

[MomtoCCC]

Great question and one I've debated with myself for the past few years... I've never been to Europe and definitely want to see Italy. I'm currently booked on a cruise that starts in Venice and ends in Barcelona with stops in Naples, Civit (Rome), Livorno (Florence) plus Toulan, France and Dubrovnik. I'm leaning this way for our first trip to Europe to get the "lay of the land". We are going to spend a few days in Venice beforehand so we'll get to experience that city.

 

I think I definitely want to do the cruise rather than a tour bus scenario for our first trip. Next time I go back I think I would do the rental car/train route and spend more time in the areas we like. Good luck in your decision!

[Hlitner]

Great question and one I've debated with myself for the past few years... I've never been to Europe and definitely want to see Italy. I'm currently booked on a cruise that starts in Venice and ends in Barcelona with stops in Naples, Civit (Rome), Livorno (Florence) plus Toulan, France and Dubrovnik. I'm leaning this way for our first trip to Europe to get the "lay of the land". We are going to spend a few days in Venice beforehand so we'll get to experience that city.

 

I think I definitely want to do the cruise rather than a tour bus scenario for our first trip. Next time I go back I think I would do the rental car/train route and spend more time in the areas we like. Good luck in your decision!

 

Well, it's pretty obvious that most on these boards are big fans of cruising. We think you have it absolutely correct for a first trip to Europe and often urge folks to do exactly what you are doing,,,,choose a cruise with different embarkation and debarkation cities and extend at both ends. You get the best of both worlds and it will help guide your future trips.

 

Hank

[LynneL]

... I've had very good experience with a tour company that is local for you, Club ABC (http://www.clubabc.com/). They offer a variety of different types of tours, from the escorted tour with every day planned out, to transportation and hotel only options, and others in between. They are also far less expensive than the companies you've been looking at, while offering comparable service in terms of the quality of hotel, guides, etc.

 

I'll certainly look into Club ABC. I work for a school district & I remember years ago that many of the teachers used Club ABC & were happy with them. Maybe I can ask around if anyone still is a member & look over their brouchure to see if I should become a member.

 

If you think you can't handle the driving, the trains are excellent but the prices are higher....

I learned on my cruise last year how great Turkey is and will be going back for a longer time by land.

 

I'm a bit apprehensive about the car rental. My friend & I have a tendency to get involved in yacking away and then wind up lost - lol. Probably worth it for us to spring for the train. You are right about Turkey. It wasn't a place I really wanted to go to - was really interested in the Greek Islands when I booked but the 2 Turkey stops we made were the highlight of that cruise.

 

 

Thanks everyone for so much you for all this info. I'm going to get the books/videos that were mentioned & look over the recommended web-site. I guess I have to decide from that what we want to see & how best to accomplish that & keep it within budget.

[KirkNC]

We have had two cruises that touched on Italy. I say touched because that is all you can really do on a cruise, get a feel for a city, see a little of it. Our next trip to Italy will be a three week land trip. We will rent a car and explore those things we have missed on the cruise. I am not knocking cruising, we love it but Italy is one place that deserves a land tour.

 

Kirk

[letsgo39]

If you want to see a city 8 hours is not long enough.Sure you can have your check list and run around and check tourist sites off but that is not seeing Europe.Seeing Europe is wandering the streets,sitting in a sidewalk cafe and taking public transportation.We have taken several land tours in Europe and also been there on our own.If we take a land tour we always go about 5 days early to the departure city and stay a few days later after the end of the tour.We have always traveled with Globus on tours. A few years ago we took their "Leisurely Italy" tour which was 3 days in Rome,Florence and Venice. We stayed a extra 4 days in Rome and 2 days in Venice. So we actually had 7 days in Rome,3 days in Florence and 5 days in Venice. This year at the beginning of our France river cruise we were in Paris for 5 days at the beginning of our river cruise.I would love to go back again as I thing we just scratched the surface.Now that we have seen so many of the tourist sights I would love to go back again.For me,I am never in Europe long enough.Be sure if you take aland tour you have one that spends at least 2/3 days in each location and than add days on the beginning and end. If you do that you will at least START to get a feel for Europe.Careful though as Europe is pretty addictive. I went for the first time 8 years ago thinking that was my trip of a lifetime. I have been back every year since!:D

[LynneL]

If you want to see a city 8 hours is not long enough.Sure you can have your check list and run around and check tourist sites off but that is not seeing Europe.Seeing Europe is wandering the streets,sitting in a sidewalk cafe and taking public transportation.We have taken several land tours in Europe and also been there on our own.If we take a land tour we always go about 5 days early to the departure city and stay a few days later after the end of the tour.We have always traveled with Globus on tours. A few years ago we took their "Leisurely Italy" tour which was 3 days in Rome,Florence and Venice. .....Careful though as Europe is pretty addictive. I went for the first time 8 years ago thinking that was my trip of a lifetime. I have been back every year since!:D

 

Thanks for this info. I checked the Globus site (I had never heard of them) & they look like they have nice tour options. Yeah, I know what you mean about Europe. Before I got married (now 28 yrs.) I visited Europe a few times - toured around England, France, and a week in Greece & a week long Greek Island/Turkey cruise. I just loved the history, the biblical background to some of the places, the countrysides were beautiful, the cities had much to offer....just enjoyed everything. My husband has no desire to go to Europe and gets annoyed when someone will say, "What was your favorite vacation ever?" and I respond with, "A week in Greece on land then a cruise to the Greek Islands & Turkey." Then when he is asked how he liked it he says, "That vacation was without me!" - lol. What can I say....I'm not going to lie! I enjoy my Caribbean cruises, which he likes, but there is no comparison. I'm also itching to go to Ireland (my heritage), but told my friend we'd do Italy first (her heritage).

[H2Otstr]

We took a 3 week land tour with Grand Circle. We spent 1 week in 3 different areas. It was very nice because you were not living out of a suitcase. You could either take GCT optional tours, do your own touring, or do nothing. I have also taken a Trafalgar tour of Italy and we were in a hotel only one or two nights and then we were on the bus. GCT was much better.

[whatnot]

We did the 14 day day Perillo Italy tour, Milan to Rome, several years ago. It was FABULOUS! It was a very intense trip. We went so many places and saw SO much in those 14 days. They got us into all the best sights BEFORE the cruise people got there. All dinners and breakfasts were included as well as wine at dinner. The restaurants included and the hotels were excellant. We did it as an intro to Italy. Have been back to Rome and Capri since that trip and we leave Thursday for Rome and an 8 day cruise on Sea Dream that does Sicily and 4 days on the coast of Croatia and ends in Venice. We are then going to drive to Tuscany for a 3 day Cooking School in the hills near Arezzo and Cortona. We think a land tour is a great way for you to find what area of Italy you want to return to and explore in depth. Cruises in Italy, if you want to see the major sites (Florence and Rome for instance), have great travel distances just to get to the sites. And 1 day trips DO NOT do these cities justice. We enjoyed staying right there on the land tour.

 

Good luck on making your decision. Will be glad to answer any other questions about our Perillo experience, if you have any.

[Adsmama]

One of the best part about traveling to Italy is experiencing the cultures, especially the leisurely meals, cappucino in piazza's, etc. If you want to only see sights, go on a cruise of Italy. If you want to EXPERIENCE Italy, take a trip. If you are comfortable driving in Italy you can rent cars with GPS units or bring one frm home with european maps! Easy peasy! You can easily take the train too. Start in florence, go to Venice, then to rome, etc. Italy is amazing and cruising does not do it justice. If nothing else, PLEASE schedule more then one day in Rome. It's overwhelming. Venice, I think can be done in a day. Not Rome.

[CathyCruises]

We spent a month there earlier this year and I think a car with GPS (which we did not have!) would be ideal. OTOH the train is a ton of fun as well, IF you pack lightly. If it were me, I would do my homework and go DIY--you will save a ton of money AND have many more opportunities to really experience Italy. Of course I have a horrible aversion to buses and traveling in a large pack of people; I had some friends who did a bus tour ad after listening to their experiences I was horrified--but that's just me! YMMV

[wantocruisemore]

This is actually the same decision we're trying to make. Originally we were going to do one of Magic's summer cruises, but then started looking at the time in ports and decided it was not enough. Plus, with a cruise you pay for all meals, but with the Italian ports you would need to pay in Italy to eat lunch and dinner. Plus, in order to be sure you didn't miss the boat, you would need to pay for the tours too. When we started looking, and then it seemed we would not get to enjoy the ship that much, we decided to check into a land tour.

 

We're leaning to renting a villa/apartment in 2 places with 5-6 days in each. That way we can hit the major sites. Right now leaning to Rome and Sicily.

 

I'd love to do a Mediterranean cruise someday, but for next summer I think the land tour will be best.

[blyle]

We flew to rome for 5 days and then took the Perillo 14 day tour and it was excellent. We saw so much more than you can see on a cruise!!1