ports of call that need no shore excursion

[freberd]

Taking the jade in October

Ports of call

Naples

Florence

Palermo

Sardinia

Monte Carlo

Barcelona

Valencia

Tunsinia

 

Wondering if any of these ports you can walk off ship and explore without the high cost of shore excursions

[fabnfortysomething]

Taking the jade in October

Ports of call

Naples

Florence

Palermo

Sardinia

Monte Carlo

Barcelona

Valencia

Tunsinia

 

Wondering if any of these ports you can walk off ship and explore without the high cost of shore excursions

 

Naples is walkable from the docks but doesnt have the reputation of a must see-the main attraction for this port tends to be Pompeii or Herculaneum or the scenic Amalfi coast

 

florence-this is at least an hour from the industrial port of Livorno where you dock

 

Barcelona-long walk or short taxi drive from port to city centre

 

cant help with other ports

 

the Europe ports of call forum has loads of info on these ports and lots of people have posted info on getting around by public transport

[gra2172]

Taking the jade in October

Ports of call

Naples

Florence

Palermo

Sardinia

Monte Carlo

Barcelona

Valencia

Tunsinia

 

Wondering if any of these ports you can walk off ship and explore without the high cost of shore excursions

 

You can walk around at Monte Carlo, theres a nice castle and village there where the prince lives. Its not very far away from the pier. Actually we got some great shots with the ship.

Lots of shops in that village too.

 

Barcelona can be walked I think, but Im not sure Id want to. The local tour guides warn you constantly about crime. We took the shuttle bus from the airport and it stopped several times along the way for sightseeing. Every time we stopped they told us to guard our stuff.

 

Florence is not close to the port. Its a shipping port.

Edited February 5, 2013 by gra2172

[shark with a laser]

It all depends on how adventurous you are. You can do almost any port without an excursion. Barcelona has a very easy to use subway system. The big crime they tell you to watch out for is pickpockets. In Naples it's maybe a 15 minute walk from the port to the train station. From there you can catch a train to Pompeii or the Amalfi coast. There's also a hydrofoil between Sorrento and Naples that docks very close to the ship. In Livorno, the port for Florence, we rented a car and drove to Lucca and Pisa.

[freberd]

I checked and posted on port of call forum

Not user friendly like carribean forum

 

Seems like most ports or away from town

[jdvmd]

Taking the jade in October

Ports of call

Naples

Florence

Palermo

Sardinia

Monte Carlo

Barcelona

Valencia

Tunsinia

 

Wondering if any of these ports you can walk off ship and explore without the high cost of shore excursions

 

Naples - can do on your own but enjoyed a great excursion to Capri, Sorrento and Pompei.

 

Florence - They offer a "do it yourself" excursion providing you with transportation and a guide to ask questions to and from.

 

Monte Carlo - do it yourself.

 

Barcelona - do it yourself; also a hop on, hop off bus.

 

No knowledge of Valencia.

 

Tunisa - If you get off the ship, do it with a ship-sponsored excursion.

[freberd]

Thanks for suggestions

 

What's up with tunsina?

Got me curious i do not know anything about that port

[rachel_menton]

Hi,

 

I have been to most of these places but not on a cruise.

 

We went to Naples last year on a cruise though and docked right beside the city and also the hydrofoil terminal for Capri was literally a 2 minute walk from the ship. You can get hydrofoil tickets to Capri for around 19 euros one was and ferry tickets for 13. It doesn't take long (around 40 minutes) and you can get back in good time. We also walked around Naples. It is a fascinating city and was obviously wealthy in its day. Run down now but still fascinating. We walked to the centre of town in 10 minutes. We had an awesome pizza as it is the home of pizza!

 

I live right beside Monaco and am in Monaco 4 times a week with my children's activities - scouts, choir... Right beside where the boat will dock is the rocher (the rock) which is higher up and jutting out. This is the old part of Monaco and where the prince's palace (with the prince's carabinier - guards outside) is as well as the cathedral (where my son sings). The cathedral is where Grace Kelly is buried. There are lots of restaurants, cafes and shops to buy souvenirs (F1...). There are also lots of governmental buildings such as the general council and minister of state. You walk up the rocher by stairs (they are gradual so one step is 2 metres so not hard) or you can go through the parking des pecheurs carpark which has lifts and escalators and arrive at the oceanographic museum. Between 'the rocher' and the casino is the Condamine port with its very expensive yachts and then on the other side of the port is the casino. Have a drink outside the cafe de Paris and people watch (it's expensive!). You can go into the casino wearing shorts during the day but no thongs/jandals/flip flops. Women can wear flip flops though :) especially if they're sparkly. Funnily enough if you are a Monaco citizen you are not allowed in the casino!!! At a brisk pace you can walk from the rocher to the casino in 20 minutes I would say.

 

You can't see it in the picture below but the ship will be docked just to the top left of the picture.

 

http://www.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tourisme-loisirs-cotedazur.fr/monaco/photos/rocher-de-monaco.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tourisme-loisirs-cotedazur.fr/monaco/&h=552&w=650&sz=300&tbnid=f9UHkGj5TjNfjM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=122&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmonaco%2Brocher%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=monaco+rocher&usg=__frOTnt2XRwyDmwuohCUK62z2xNE=&docid=bV3EfCPCQoPJYM&sa=X&ei=FucjUd2WHcyq0AWdzYCYBA&ved=0CD0Q9QEwAw&dur=1608

 

http://www.visitmonaco.com/en/Places-to-visit/Walks/Monaco-Town,-the-Rock

 

I did not go to Palermo on a cruise. We traveled around Sicily with our first child (then 10 months) for 10 days. But it is a beautiful city. Same as Naples it is run down but seeing past that it is amazing.

 

Barcelona is awesome but I trained in!

 

You have an awesome itinerary. Enjoy!! :D

 

Rachel

Edited February 19, 2013 by rachel_menton

[Sauer-kraut]

Tunisia is a bit "hot" right now politically. After the assassination last week of a moderate politician things got a bit wild with protests again. So, be sure you stick with a guided tour from the ship for that port.

[luvtheships]

Tunisia is a bit "hot" right now politically. After the assassination last week of a moderate politician things got a bit wild with protests again. So, be sure you stick with a guided tour from the ship for that port.

and dress modestly

 

i enjoyed this port in the mid 80's....it was part of the roman empire and has ruins..used to be called Carthage in antiquity

 

stick with a ship tour

Edited February 19, 2013 by luvtheships

[debt]

Taking the jade in October

Ports of call

Naples

Florence

Palermo

Sardinia

Monte Carlo

Barcelona

Valencia

Tunsinia

 

Wondering if any of these ports you can walk off ship and explore without the high cost of shore excursions

 

Palermo has a hop on hop off bus with a stop at the port. This was probably my favorite on my own port. If you arrive on the weekend, the bus passes by a park with a little flea market. There are 2 routes, about 2.5 hours total time to do both routes.

 

Also, if you're into history at all, a tour of tunsia is a must. I was thrilled with the chance to visit carthidge. I would avoid a tour with shopping highlighted as part of the tour. The merchants in and around the shopping areas take agressive salesmen to a whole new level. I made the mistake of buying something from a street vendor. I literally ran back to the bus with 5 other vendors on my heels.

Because of the recent political changes, it's best to do a organized tour. Check viator to see if they serve tunisia, but going on your own right now is not a good idea. But it's still a place you should see!

Edited February 20, 2013 by debt

[cabincop]

I agree with jvd also in Barcelona if you get a chance try and see Montserrat the monastery it's amazing enjoy your cruise

[cabincop]

I have done this cruise or ports 8x's in Naples there is so much to do, Pompeii Amalfi coast, capri poistano. I always saw something different that's why I kept doing to same cruise njoy

[mirsown]

With regards to visiting Tunisia it is a lovely country with much to see. We stayed for a week last year and found the majority of locals freindly, however they definitely go for the hard sell! We went on an excursion and one woman in our group made the mistake of looking at merchandise with interest and then was persued down the road the by the seller trying to pesuade her to buy, an incident she found quite un-nerving!So my advice is don't let them catch you studying the goods and also to buy items in fixed price shops, you may pay a little more but its a lot less hassle! A tour guide is an excellent idea, especially if you go to any of the medinas as it is very easy to find yourself disorientated in all the little alley ways!Enjoy, it is a fascinating country :)

[elaine5]

what level of activity do you want? how comfortable are you with DIY using trains/buses?

in Barecolona, we did an excellent bike tour (plenty of 50-60 yr olds on our tour). We booked on viator.com for about $35PP.

In Monte CArlo, we took a local bus to Eze, then onto Nice, then took a bus back from Nice---fantastic day for 3 euros!

In Livorno, if you can get to/from the train station (can be tricky), you can easily get to Pisa and Lucca. In Rome, it is VERY easy to take the train into Rome for the day. In Naples, if you want to visit Pompeii cheaply, you can get a ticket for all day transport from the tobacco stand right at the end of the port and then get on the tram to the Circumvensia station and then take the Circuvensia train right to Pompeii. All of these DIY have detailed "how-tos" posted on the web if you surf. Also, get Rick Steves port of call book--which will give you lots of info.

[GrandmaHofmann]

Every time I read about dangers of pickpockets, I think, "Why aren't you prepared for them?" We have been everywhere from Beijing to Cairo, have spent much time in Barcelona and Naples and have never been pickpocketed. Why? I do not carry a purse. I wear a lap wallet under my jeans. If it is cold, I carry a few euros in my glove. I carry my camera in a sling bag with a 6 inch wide, thick strap on it, that goes across my chest. My husband does not carry a wallet. He wears a neck pouch in which he carries our passports and money/credit cards. He also wears a backpack that has a metal mesh liner that can not be cut open with a knife. It has hidden zippers that are a bear to open and a strong strap that goes across his chest. Moreover, we read extensively and know the usual scams: the tea house in China, the students who want to practice their English, the dropped ring, the hold my child, gypsies at the Eiffel Tower, and Susan over in Italy whose picture is actually on the net. She stopped us, asking for money, and I said, "Why, Susan, I wondered if we would see you." She ran off, perhaps to reform her ways. You have to be aware and prepared. Then go for it. I actually have found it freeing not to carry a purse.

[garycarla]

Though most of this post is from a year ago, it is still relevant.

 

I would add that you should visit the ROLL CALL for your cruise to find others that are putting smaller tours together.