Do-It-Yourself ???

[kare8ear]

What cities would you consider pretty doable on your own, just to see the major sites?

 

We are sailing on the Grand Mediterranean on the Grand Princess and docking in Venice, Athens, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Mykonos, Naples, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Marseille, Barcelona.

 

I was thinking that Venice, Athens (?), Istanbul (?), Mykonos, Marseille, Barcelona (we are staying longer, so we have more time to explore on our own) were doable on our own. We could just get a taxi/bus to take us to the major sites.

Any thoughts???

 

Thanks in advance!!!

[juliejoe]

We are big on doing ports on our own whenever possible but I'd recommend a guide for Istanbul and Ephesus. There is so much history and so much to see at these ports, if you are only there a day I think you would be happy you had a guide to get you to and tell you about the sites. The cost is very reasonable for a very nice AC vehicle with driver and a guide. We toured with Nejat in 2001 and he is terrifc. We will be in Ephesus again and tour with him this September.

 

Under CC board guidelines, I can only give you contact information for him on this thread if you request it. He's highly recommended and you could probably get it by searching.

 

Julie

[VickiVSN]

As long as it's in the clipboard, this previously written port review might help!

 

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]

superagentnyc: I would appreciate it if you could email me your trip report. My email is kjchen at ucsd.edu. Thanks!

 

juliejoe: Could you please give me the name and contact info of the guide in Ephesus? A private guide would be much nicer.

 

VickiVSN: Thanks for the great review! I will have to check out the more detailed reviews too. We are looking into booking driverinrome too. That is a great idea to do half a day on your own and half a day with the ship.

 

Any more thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

[gdudar]

Hi Ron,

Would you mind emailing me your report also at gdudar@yahoo.com. Thanks.

 

Grazyna

[domingodb]

Ron, Please send a copy of your review. I'm on Brilliance 8/4/05. Thanks in advancedazman99@yahoo.com

[KruzinAl]

SuperagentNYC, please forward your review to

kruzins@hotmail.com

 

thanks

Al

[GWCruiser]

I too would love a copy of your report - my address is jaime747@gmail.com

 

Thanks so much in advance!! :)

[Juliadlf]

I recently went on a cruise to some of the cities you are visiting and we did almost everything on our own. I would be happy to email you my trip report to help you.

 

Ron

 

Have you posted your review on the Reviews section on CruiseCritic?

What Cruiseline and Ship did you sail?

 

Thanks

[stingraylagoon]

Superagentnyc...would you mind emailing your report to me as well.

email is stingraylagoon@yahoo.com

 

Thanks

[candbhoneymoon]

I recently went on a cruise to some of the cities you are visiting and we did almost everything on our own. I would be happy to email you my trip report to help you.

 

Ron

 

If you have not already posted th review on the board somewhere (and I missed it). Could you e-mail me a copy? brinorm@aol.com

 

Brilliance 6/28/05