Private vs Cruise Excursions

[kare8ear]

Hi!

 

I have some questions regarding private vs cruise excursions.

 

(1) By going with the cruise organized excursion, does it cut down your wait time in line for tickets? Specifically in Rome at the Vatican, would you still need to wait in line for tickets (I have heard wait time can be up to 2 hours)?

 

(2) And how about lines for private excursions? Some tour guides say that for extra they can arrange tickets in advance.

 

We're just trying to maximize our time in each city.

 

(3) Was the "tour" part worth it? I have done large tours (40 people) before and often times it is difficult to hear the guide. Did you encounter this? Or did you find what they were saying helpful?

 

Thanks in advance!!!

[Wendy P]

We have always done private tours and they can't be beat! We have never waited in line anywhere, not to see David in Florence, not in Pisa and not at the Vatican. Each time, our private driver had made arrangements and brought us right to the front of the lines. This made me feel a little uneasy, but very happy inside!! :-))

 

You can't beat the private tours - no waiting for everyone to return to the bus, no long lines boarding and unboarding and you get to see so much more and with a personal touch from your driver. In a van with no more than 7 or 8 people, everyone should be able to hear the driver speaking. Some of them have microphones anyway to be sure the people in the back can hear everything. Also, one time when we couldn't hear in the back - we switched around so everyone had a chance to sit up front for a while - that was only fair. But you can also ask them to speak up a little! I can't say enough about them - the ships tours to me are a ripoff. So much more expensive for so much less personal attention! Hope this helps.

[Janice621]

We just came home from the June 20 sailing of the Millenium. We had never used private drivers or guides before but gave it a shot after all the enthusiasm on these boards. It was terrific. We never waited on any lines. In Rome, our driver knew a different place to purchase tickets for the Colisseum (at the Roman Forum end) and we walked right it. I have to admit I was a little reluctant as I was afraid of returning late to the ship. However, in each port, everything was fine.

 

Janice:)

[VickiVSN]

This was originally written for another post, but I think you might find it useful here as well:

Cannes (optional port to Villefrance) - Did train on our own to Monte Carlo.

Off the ship at 11:00a. This worked well and was easy to figure out. Monte Carlo is kind of a confusing town to figure out but not that big. We walked to the Castle, stopping often to make sure we were headed in the right direction. We then walked down to the Aquarium to take the tourist train. Got off at the Casino and spent sometime there and had lunch near by. We got back on the tourist train (the casino is the only place you can jump off and back on) and landed back at the Aquarium. If I had to do it over, I'd probaby to straight to the Aquarium as the tour on the train through the castle was adequate for a quick view.

 

Livorno - Train on own to Pisa

Off the ship about 10:00a. In theory we could have also done Florence but didn't want to push it and it sounded like there is too much to do in Florence. I also wanted to keep the early mornings down to a minimum. A private tour might be good to fit both in. We walked to the tower from the train station. Quite a walk but doable. Spent a bit of time in the area and shopping with the vendors. Walked back to train slowly stopping often to shop. We had planned on lunching in Pisa, but skipped to make sure we caught the 3:04p train to make sure we had cushy room to get back to ship.

 

Rome - Private tour with CC group (driverinrome)

Met group at 7:30a, and off ship just as soon as cleared which was late closer to 9:00 then 8:00. An excellent way to go. The guide asked if we'd want a Vatican guide at the beginning of the tour and the group voted yes so he arranged this from his cell phone. Saw the forum, Colisium from the outside, had pizza at a local Pizzeria a great value has the charged by the kilo at locals prices, went to the Trevi Fountain, two hour tour through Vatican City, then for Gelato at another locals favorite spot. (see full review by olliekl at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=193170)

 

Mykonos - Town on own

Off the ship about 10:00. Took ship transfer $4pp each way. Loved the town, my favorite port. Probably could have found a better lunch spot, but oh well. Hubby wanted to do a beach but I felt crunched on time given uncertainty of bus service. In hindsight, we could have easily taken the bus to the beach that is on near the port. This was my favorite port for wandering on own.

 

Kusadasi - Ship tour of Ephesus AM, PM on our own

Met at meeting location at 7:30. First experience with the cattle call. Getting settled on our tour was a bit of a hassle, but once on board was okay. There was probably close to 40 on the bus. Went to Ephesus and had a good tour through. Upon returning to Kusadasi, where hearded into a carpet store to hear their sales pitch, but it was very low key so I was okay with that. This was about lunch time so we walked around town dodging merchants best we could. Had an excellent lunch at a good price on the far back end of town. Shopped. Pushy merchants. Most of the time as long as you looked they left you alone, but hubby had one experience of the merchant throwing stuff in a bag, showing him the price, and expecting him to walk away. We bought hubby a new wedding band at Christ's, a ship recommended store. Low pressure there and very happy with the ring. Walked to Pigeon Island for some beach time but no real beach there. Once pebble beach near the spit, with the island and rocks and decking. Decided instead to take a cab to Ladies Beach and arrange for cab driver to pick us up later to go back to ship. Worked out well.

 

Athens - Beach on own in AM/Ship tour in PM

Hubby had taken a cab to the beach in the AM. Make sure the driver turns on the meter. He was ripped off by betting charged 30 euro for a trip that should have been 6,50 based on his ride back. The ship information materials makes note to ensure cab drivers turn on meter, but hubby hadn't read that before he left.

 

Took the afternoon Acroprolis, Plaka, and Shopping with ship. We were not very happy with this tour. In part our own fault as I missed the part of the description that said it only stopped at the base of the Acropolis and did not provide time to go in. Spent most of the tour trying to take pictures from the bus window. Only stopped at the stadium for 10 minutes and base of the Acropolis for 30 minutes. For the Plaka, bus stopped about a 10 minute walk away and was only given an hour. We barely had time for lunch and ended up spending too much for appetizers, water, and beer and had to hurry the waiter so we'd meet our group on time. Managed to buy a couple of souvenirs. I would probably recommend either taking public transportation or a cab (with meter turned on) to visit Acropolis and Plaka.

 

Santorini - Toured town on own

Off the ship about 11:00a. Used ship transfer for cable car at ~$4pp per way. I think their cost was in line with the private cost as you can easily by tickets from the cable car operator. You can also hire a donkey or walk up the 500 stairs to get into town. Had an excellent yet slight pricey lunch at a taverna. Did a lot of shopping. We could have taken a bus to a beach, but they were on the other side of the island and I talked hubby out of it.

 

Naples - Private tour with CC group (driverinrome)

Meet group at 7:30a off ship by 8:00. The bus that they had planned for us had broken down that morning so we had a 14 passenger van for our group of 14 which left no room for the guide. We made due by taking turns standing, sitting on laps, etc. Guide was more than happy to stand the entire time, but he wasn't feeling well so we made adjustments. Drove to the top of mountain, stopped for pictures, down the other side for the Amalfi coast. Stopped at some town for pictures and "whistle stop" (toilets). Stopped at a grand hotel and spent about 30 minutes touring it for 1 Euro tip apiece for the door man. Drove some more, had an excellent but very expensive lunch at a great stop with view. Then on to Pompeii. Again, we opted to let Remo arrange a guide at Pompeii. Had 90 minutes. A site guide is the way to go when time is limited, but if you were to down Pompeii on your own or with more than 3 hours, probably no need for a guide. Then back to ship. (see full review by olliekl at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=193170)

 

Bottom line

I'd recommend doing things on your own when the sites are easily accessible either at the port or via train. Private tours (with referral and in a group to share expense) when there is a lot to see so you don't have to waste timing figuring out where to go. And avoid ship tours as they were crowded, organizing was a cattle call, and the tour may not be up to what you are looking for.

[kare8ear]

Wendy P: Would you mind referring me to who you booked for your private excursion? Great to hear what a positive experience you had.

 

Janice621: Would you also mind providing me with the contact info of the private guide you booked? Another great review...glad you made the ship!

 

VickiVSN: Thanks again!

 

Anyone who took the cruise's shore excursions that would like to comment??? Long lines? Well organized? Thanks!

[Andym]

I feel that you can beat the private tours. I have just read a post where the group had to take it in turns to stand up to make room for the guide as the mini bus for the tour was too small and was a seat short..!!!!!

[Wendy P]

We used Dream Tours in Villefranche - the tours were fine, the only problem we had with him is that when the group got larger, he increased his price and charged each person. Most of the tours charge you by the car, and if you get more people, it gets cheaper. I've heard that Sylvie is very good and we were going to use Revelation Tours this time as they got very good reviews.

 

In Florence and Rome, we used claudio@limoinrome. He knew his stuff and was very informative, but fairly serious. We are going to try Danielle at driverinrome.com this time because we heard he is more entertaining and funny, and to get a different perspective on those ports. If you get his father, Remo, he may play his accordian and sing to you on the mountaintop!

 

I don't know what other ports you are going to - we did Dubrovnik, Santorini, Barcelona and Venice on our own, didn't need a driver for those.

 

In Athens, we used George, but it wasn't him when he came, it was another man who drove very slow. He was nice, but we kept asking him to "pick it up a notch".

 

Again, private tours are just the best - even when things aren't quite as you planned, they are always better than the cattle call on the ships tours! Good luck - enjoy!