Iconic Mediterranean port excursions

[Opi]

Looking for suggestions for extra excursions that were worth booking in advance

[Peregrina651]

Whatever you decide, it is worth booking in advance. It is a lot easier for Viking to add buses o a tour if the demand is known in advance. 

[Heidi13]

Have spent considerable time in the Meddy, but not with Viking. If you list the ports visited we can make some suggestions.

[Opi]

Barcelona, Montpellier (Sete), Marseille, Monte Carlo and Florence/Pisa

I truly appreciate any helpful information!

[Dauntless]

3 hours ago, Opi said:

Barcelona, Montpellier (Sete), Marseille, Monte Carlo and Florence/Pisa

I truly appreciate any helpful information!

 

Viking has many options in these ports but you need to look into what they have to offer.  If you are unsure, check out some Youtube videos to see what looks interesting to you and some cities have a top 10 or 20 options for the port.  I loved Barcelona and we spent a total of 5 days there and did only the included through Viking though we did 3 through other options, A couple on our own and also a museum and cooking class.  Marseilles was our next stop, many of your ports but not your cruise.  We tried to do 2 through Viking but the times didn't sync so we only got one.  Later I found out a company we were using in some other points did have the excursion I was trying to arrange but by then it was too late.  Monte Carlo we wanted to take it in along with Eze and Nice but the Viking excursion was booked.  We toured with 2 couples form the ship through Italytours.eu with two other couples from the ship and did Florence/Pisa with the same company.  In Rome, where  your cruise end,s we did a tours with 2 groups of 6 that joined up for our tour of the Vatican in the afternoon with the same company.   They  picked us up at port but I bet they could just as easily take you to your hotel or airport for you drop off.  I know a group that went on your cruise and didn't know why they went to Sete, but I think that is the included tour.  If it were me, I would check out to see how to get to Montpellier from there and then see if the ship is running a shuttle to that town.  I didn't research the town but my cruise buddy's grandparents came from there so I did check out a few videos.  Not really an option from our ports though.  It did look like it had some more to see there though.

[Heidi13]

Barcelona - for us the top attractions were the unfinished cathedral & Nou Camp football stadium tour

 

Monte Carlo - early visit to the Casino before it opened, driving part of the race track, changing the guard at the palace, palace tour & tour of Monaco Cathedral

 

Livorno - Walking tour of downtown Florence then to Leaning Tower of Pisa.

[molymoo]

We enjoyed all of our excursions (okay, one exception ...).  We did the pre-extension in Barcelona so booked the tour to Montserrat which was absolutely lovely.  The additional time in Barcelona with the tour was redundant but Montserrat was the focus of the trip.

 

Our itinerary did not include Montpellier.

 

We took the Aix en Provence tour in Marseilles and it was very nice ... there was a nice tour and enough free time to enjoy the town a bit on our own.

 

 We did the included tour in Monte Carlo ... it was a beautiful, sunny day (we cruised over the winter holidays) and the tour was delightful.  Full disclosure ... we tipped our guide and broke away from the group after seeing the changing of the guard at the palace.  It was easy to make our way back to the ship and enjoy some free time in a lovely city!

 

At the Florence stop we opted not to go into the city ... we have been to Florence before and had the Ultimate Italy / Tuscany extension booked so we opted instead to do the "Tuscany Wine Tasting".  It was great ... lots of wine, snacks, and very hospitable Italians.  Others we spoke to raved about the "Day in Tuscany".

 

The second day we did the Carrara Marble Quarry tour.  It was interesting but the trip up to the quarry and the ride around the quarry were not for the faint of heart!  Hairpin turns, steep drops and switchbacks made for a full fledged white knuckle experience!  There was a nice snack and some welcome wine after the ride ... but probably could have used the wine before we started!

 

Its a lovely cruise ... you'll have a great time!